As I sit on a beautiful sunny, cool, August day in Michigan,
I find myself a bit melancholy. Is it the winding down of summer, the terrible devastation
that is taking place in Texas, or the riotous nature of some in our country?
Perhaps it is a bit of all that is happening. I suppose when you do forty-plus
funerals in a year you tend to be a little more introspective. Searching one’s heart
to see if there is anything that needs adjusting isn’t a bad thing.
It seems that it is hard for some today to find a foothold
of hope, a sense of peace, or a spirit of long-suffering. I would expect that
those outside the teaching of Jesus would search and find whatever makes them
feel better. However, in the Body of Christ, I would expect that we would be
more patient, less quick to judge, readier to forgive, to first think the best
of others, to keep no record of the wrongs, and to encourage one another to
keep pushing toward the goal of our faith.
Instead, I see much of our culture pouring out of the mouths
of “believers”. I am not sure why we are still so prone to get wrapped up in
civilian affairs (myself included). Perhaps, what is causing this melancholy
mood is that I am a part of this culture. For a while I resist, and then I see
how I slip into the tirades of nonsense. Oh, don’t get me wrong the nonsense
makes perfect sense to this world, I just don’t think it make sense in the
Kingdom of God.
I wonder if I am losing sight of the things of God? Jesus
tells me to fix my eyes on things above. To always remember what it is that God
has left me here for, to remember I’m on his mission. His mission of
reconciliation. I am to cry out in a world of hate, GOD LOVES YOU, PEACE,
PEACE!!!!! Am I really going to die on
the cross of national history? Am I really going to die on a cross of humanistic
freedoms? Am I really going to kill my neighbor over a notebook? Do I really
hate my brothers and sisters in Christ so much that I would alienate them over
earthly politics?
God, I am a bit melancholy. Because there are so many
hurting people, and I fear I may cause more hurt. My words, my thoughts, my
actions, do they really fit in with your mission? I read your word and you have
told me to fix my eyes on you. You have told me that everything above is worthy
of my attention, it will last an eternity. You have told me that the things of
this world are not worthy of my focus. The monuments, the flags, the notebooks,
the cars, the houses, will all wither away by rust and moth. But people Lord, all
people, are so precious to you. Are they precious to me? Help me Lord, to know
your love more, to not simply believe, but to have faith, faith that your
goodness is still coming into the world, and that I will live into that
goodness, so that others may know your love and your peace. Forgive me for
those things that I have chosen that have no place in the life you have called
me to live. Forgive me, as I also forgive others. Help me, to love – Agapé.
Your son!
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