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Today
I find myself alone in the house. My spouse is out of town visiting
her family and also seeing our son. Colby (our older son who lives
in Belgium) is in Chicago and Phyllis (my spouse) can see him and her
family in the same visit. I am sure she is having a great time
making and sharing memories. But here I sit alone. Of course I am
not really alone. Pablo, our dog, is with me and so is God’s Spirit.
Obviously I miss my spouse but I am also using the time to get
caught up on some work projects and some leisure activities that I
enjoy. In fact I believe that each individuals needs to spend time
alone with God and with themselves.
I
find that when I am by myself I am given the opportunity to mature
and reflect. Strange isn’t it that so much of life is done with
others and yet our relationship to ourselves is so very important and
sometimes so overlooked. Let me make a gentle suggestion. Take time
each day to be alone with yourself and learn to be your own best
friend. This is not to say we don’t need others but it is to say
take care of you. Jesus once said that we should ‘love our neighbor
as ourselves.’ Learn to love yourself.
This
past Sunday was a great day. For me each worship service was a
delightful. But more than that fact was I felt God was speaking in
them too. The music seemed to proclaim it message of God’s love
clearly and I felt good about the preaching. But what was most
impressive was the fact that I could sense that many came to worship
God. When people come to worship, worship happens.
That
last sentence sounds so simple but so easy to overlook. As a pastor
I can make plans for worship. There are songs to be chosen, sermons
to be prepared and certainly many prayers given. But the main
ingredient in great worship is worshippers with hearts that are open
to God. When a person comes in a church looking and wanting to find
God they will. God shows up when people of faith gather with hearts
of faith.
My
own heart was blessed last Sunday in worship because I needed to
sense God’s presence. So, I thank all who showed up and helped in
making it a time of real worship. You helped me to worship.
Last
week was a rough one for me personally. A close friend of our family
died suddenly. That death has caused me to do some deep thinking. I
have wondered about the meaning of life and also thought about how my
time on this earth is limited. Of course, I also thought about how I
would not be able to spend any more time on this earth with my
friend. This tragedy has also caused me to re-evaluate my friends.
They are my most valuable resources. My life is so rich having those
that I call friends and who call me a friend.
As
I think on the remaining days on this earth, I hope I can keep an eye
on what really matters and friends are at the top of my list. With
the remaining year that I have I want to be a friend to others and to
be ever thankful for those precious lives that God has allowed me to
know and have been a great help to me throughout my life. Today I
thank God for the many who have enriched my life greatly.
The
last few days have made me wonder about the weather. Who would have
guessed that February would start out with such warm weather? I
actually found myself going outside without a jacket. So far
February has not felt like itself to me. I am not sure what to make
of this happening. But then again am I supposed to make anything of
it? The weather happens and in many ways is a mystery. Sure we can
‘predict’ and predict we do. But we really cannot control it.
It is beyond us in many ways.
During
the last few days I have learned of some friends who are facing some
serious health issues. I find myself at a loss not only of what to
say but what to think. It has caused me to acknowledge once again
that life is a mystery. I try my best to control my life but much of
it is beyond me. So, today rather than complain about the weather or
my life I am going to acknowledge the mysteries around me and thank
God for them all. They certainly keep life interesting don’t they?