Friday, January 24, 2014

The Last Tuesday

This week I happened to get in the elevator with someone I didn't really know.  While making small talk I mentioned that it was only Tuesday.  To which he responded that it was his last Tuesday.

Without additional clarification this statement would have been rather disturbing, but he went on to say that he was retiring at the end of the week.

Thus it was his last Tuesday as a full time employee.

I was struck by the importance of the occasion for his life.

What will he do with his time now?  Will he relocate to live near family?  Finally have hours of uninterrupted time for a favorite hobby?  Volunteer more at church?

It's also an interesting perspective for me as I'm still early in my career.  But one day if God does not return before this time in my life arrives, I too will face retirement.

What do I hope to accomplish between now and then?

What kind of a difference do I hope to make in the working world?

And am I using my talents and abilities where they can bring wisdom, joy, and hopefully blessing to others?

These are types of questions that we would all probably do well to ponder from time to time as we ask God to continue to guide and bless and lead.



"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."   Philippines 1:6


Sunday, January 12, 2014

Doing what you were meant to do

Last night I was walking to the mailbox when I saw a strange sight.  In my neighbor's driveway was a possum laying down.  And he didn't move as I walked by.  Instead he just watched me with sad eyes.

I was surprised and concerned so I paused and watched him for a bit.  Finally he struggled to his feet and limped across the driveway and into the bushes pulling his injured leg(s) with him.

Now I do not have a fondness for possums.  I generally find them dirty and unappealing.  But I felt sad for this possum.

Why is it that as humans we can have sympathy for creatures that we don't really even like when we see them hurting or unable to function as they normally do in nature?

The movie Hugo explores the idea of people and things having a purpose.  And the sadness that can accompany the sight of something not able or willing to do what it was meant to do.

Which leads me to the question, what am I meant to do?   And am I doing it?

In Acts 1:8 Jesus gives what can be called the Great Commission.  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

What does it mean to be witnesses for God?  We are not all called to be preachers.  We do not all have extroverted 'evangelistic' personalities.  But yet, every Christian is called to be a witness.

May we each continue to learn what that means in our individual lives.  May we know when to speak and when to be silent.  And how to live in such a way that our lives point to Jesus as our Hope, Redeemer, and Friend.





Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A Quiet Day

I love the holidays.  I love festive parties, special food, Christmas traditions, and the excitement of a long stretch of time off from work to spend with friends and family.  I enjoy the excitement of New Years Eve for the year a head and the time of reflection it often invokes for the year behind.

But after what can feel like a month long celebration, I find myself drawn to solitude, to quiet, and to time at home.

Today, with it's gray sky and slight but continual rain, provides just such an opportunity.

As Ecclesiastics so famously points out,  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

"A time to keep and a time to throw away....A time to be silent and a time to speak."

I think it's good to have times of energy and laughter and conversation, and also times of quiet, reflection, and recharging.

It's easy to imagine God as having part of the later, but I imagine he also wants to be part of the social gatherings and family traditions as well.

In closing, below are a couple more thoughts from King Solomon that seemed appropriate as we consider the new year ahead.

"Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?"  For it is not wise to ask such questions."  Eccl 7:10

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.  Always be clothed in white and always anoint your head with oil."  Eccl 9: 7,8

May God's purpose prevail for each of us this year!