Love in a broken world...

As I write this, I am sitting at home with a sick kid, and I am kind of bummed out. My first grader woke up with a sore throat yesterday, and he continues to feel a bit crummy. Thankfully, he seems to be on the mend, and my entire family is repeatedly testing negative for covid... In the end, I know it is not a big deal, but I'm still feeling a sense of loss. First, it is never fun to see someone feeling this way. Second, my family was planning on taking a vacation this weekend, and it looks like that will have to be delayed or canceled. My son also missed his first-grade award ceremony, and he is missing the final day of school with his classmates. Finally, my wife and I have to figure out which one of us will work from home to take care of a sick kid and another healthy and VERY energetic three-year-old. :)

There are times our plans fall apart. This can leave me feeling frustrated or even lost. I think I also have to remember there is much more going on in the world than my own trivial complaints. The news of the shooting at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas that is so tragic I can barely bring myself to read the details. We are living in a world where there is unimaginable brokenness, but I understand it is also easy for the smallest things to derail or even overwhelm us. 

Today I hope we can look beyond ourselves. Whatever we may be feeling today, I hope we can absorb the fact that there is a bigger picture. There is also a larger calling in our lives to find a way to love. Plans will fall apart. There will be troubles in this world. I wonder how we are being called to love in the midst of this pain. Are there opportunities, large or small, that you have to love those around you? 

Today, I do not know if I will spend my vacation on the road or at home with a sick kid. I do not know what is going to happen in the world around us. However, I do know that I want to spend whatever time I am given with love. I will love my family. I am going to share God's love with the people around me. I am also going to live with the faith that all of this matters. I hope all of you are going to live with this hope as well.

Blessings,

Brian 

Radical Grace

When was the last time you forgave someone?

When was the last time you were forgiven?

Forgiveness is not always easy. In fact, it is often tied to a lot of conflicting emotions. It may be possible to say, "I forgive you," but sometimes we continue to carry our grievances around with us. There will be times when our anger and frustration lash out at the world. Other times resentment will lurk deep inside of us, only surface in some very unexpected ways. 

I think about forgiveness everyday... Yes, it is a big part of my job as a pastor, but it is also a very big part of my family life. My two children are constantly knocking each other over, jumping on each other, and smashing one another's toes with the furniture. It doesn't really matter what they are playing... It usually takes about five minutes for everything to go off the rails! Then we work on apologizing. :)

Forgiveness is an important skill for anyone. However, my children know that they have to live with each other. They also know that we are going to insist that they say they are sorry... As stressful as life can be, it is such a joy to hear them tell each other they are "best friends." Especially when we know they mean it!

My kids know they are going to be living under the same roof. They also know they do really love each other, and forgiveness helps to remind them of that. Two thousand years ago, Jesus taught about God's Grace and Forgiveness. In some ways, the people living in those ancient times could not just walk away from each other either. If they were wronged, they could not just just dismiss the other. They had to find a way to work together. They literally needed each other.

We have a lot to be grateful for in our modern day society. At times, it is very important for us to draw boundaries with unhealthy individuals, but this can turn into an excuse that ignores God's gift of Grace. 

Today I hope we can take a little bit of time to think about our relationships. Where do we need to bring truth and grace to create something better? We all need relationships. As much as my two boys can become frustrated with one another, they also know they are better together. The same is true for the rest of us. God wants to be in relationship with us, and it is my prayer to honestly allow God's Grace to wash over us.

Blessings,

Brian