What truly matters...

Last night my son was working on some of his first-grade homework. He had to write about a place that was meaningful for him. After thinking for a while, he chose to write about a trip we took to Florida to see his Great-Grandpa before the pandemic. We did a lot on that trip two years ago, but it was interesting to see what he remembered. He was only four years old when we took that trip, so it isn't surprising that he can't remember every detail. He did not have a great recollection of Lego Land or some of the other touristy things. Instead, he remembered eating ice cream with his Aunt, seeing his grandparents, and going on long walks through the "jungle" with his family. It was its own kind of mountaintop experience. He was able to see the world in a new way, and he found a new perspective. It also highlights the fact that sharing these moments with loved ones was the most important part for him.

There are times we forget the significance of the Love that surrounds us. We search for meaning in the small or insignifcant stuff. In the Bible, there is a story of a Samaritan woman who was finding meaning in all the wrong things. Jesus speaks to her saying:

"A time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… The true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth."

-John 4:21, 23

This unnamed woman in the Bible would have been seen as an outcast. By talking to Jesus, she realized that she was focused on all the wrong things. She was worried about where she fit in. Jesus tells her to come to God with honesty. God values the love she brings, and she does not have to hide her imperfections.

I think we all get caught up in the details. It is important for each of us to open our hearts and take note of God's Love. Let's take time to notice the grace that is present in our lives, and let's take time to experience these blessings with the people around us.

In Peace and Hope,

Brian Ward

Following Love

“My people have been lost sheep;

their shepherds have led them astray.

-Jeremiah 50:6

Have you ever felt led astray? In our scripture passage this week, God’s people listened to the voices of false prophets. They wanted to hear an easy message that told them that everything would be all right. They wanted to hear that they could blame their mistakes on someone else. They didn’t want to see the victims of their own injustices, and they didn’t want to hear about their responsibility to make things better…

This text was written over 2,500 years ago, but it is still one of our most relevant passages. Today, we live in a different context, but there are still a lot of similarities. Humans have always wanted to pin their mistakes on someone else. Like Adam and Eve, we want to hide from our own sin, but God is still calling to us:

God’s people will ask the way to home

and turn their faces toward it.

-Jeremiah 50:5

Are you listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd? The shepherd who is calling to us to learn from our mistakes. Jesus came to tell us that there is always a new path, but we have to face our own sins with vulnerability first.

This past week I spent a lot of time working from home with a three-year-old boy. Our daycare had to shut down for a while to stop the spread of Covid. This has sent me right back to life in quarantine and a lot of frustrating situations. I am getting pretty anxious to get back to normal. However, it has also led to a lot of one on one time with my three-year-old. It is hard to get a lot of work done when he is around, but he is certainly cherishing every moment. He is also really tuned into the things that matter. He knows exactly where I am putting my attention and love. He will catch me immediately if I grab my phone or try to tune him out to do something “important.” 

There are so many distractions in this world that try to keep us from the love that is right in front of us. These distractions, or false idols, try to lead us astray from Love. They say they can give us happiness or joy sooner and better than anything else. However, the scriptures tell us that the greatest gift is love. God is with us. Let us take the time to follow the Good Shepherd and find God’s Love in our own lives.

Blessings,

-Brian