Do you have an Amazon wish list? I do... Actually, I have four wish lists there. It's the place where I hold on to things I'd like to have in the future... books, kitchen appliances, books, clothing accessories, books... you get the idea. Every now and then I go out and update it - sometimes I've checked a book out of the library, or I've decided I'd rather have something else more. In my advancing years, I think it's also a little piece of my memory... if you haven't yet, you'll ask yourself the question, "What was that thing I was looking at the other day?" More than likely, I've saved it to my Amazon wish list or to Pinterest, but that's a whole other topic.Jesus has a wish list, too. But the gifts he wants can't be found on Amazon or Pinterest or any other website. Jesus' list is all about what we do with what we've got. There are many places that Jesus taught this lesson - the feeding of the 5000, turning the water into wine, the telling of the story of the sheep and goats. Again and again, the disciples didn't get it, so it's understandable that we often don't get it either. Jesus' main message revolved around a simple synopsis of the Ten Commandments - love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength - and love your neighbor as yourself. That's all. Simple, and oh, so hard to do, each and every day.
We want to make it more complicated than that, but Jesus' teachings emphasized over and over this message: we serve God when we serve others. Whatever we have - our gifts, our talents, our resources - God wants us to use them to help those who are in need in his name. It's easy to think, "Someone else will do that." But it's not our job to expect that from others. It's our job to focus on that easy, hard commandment for ourselves.
We have very good excuses for not giving when we can. We get drawn into our own drama. We imagine the worst for our own futures and squirrel away more than we need. One of my favorite quotes from the book is this one:
"But...but...but..." It is time to commit to losing our big buts. After all, Jesus doesn't save us to get us into heaven, but to get heaven into us. Jesus saves us for the purpose of channeling the resources of heaven onto earth. Jesus needs the five loaves and two fish that you have in your hand, not matter how futile your financial situation may seem (page 59).And this one:
God releases the resources of heaven through obedient people. You are created to be the channel through which God's blessings flow to meet the needs of God's children. But Jesus needs what you are holding in your hand! (page 61)This fall, my little friend has been learning to walk. At first, she pulled up on furniture, then she walked around the edge of the couch and coffee table. But eventually she wanted to venture into the middle of the room - she wanted to be where the action was. And she held on to my fingers very tightly to keep from falling down. And it didn't take long for her to realize the freedom that came with venturing out into the world unimpeded. Now we have to run to keep up with her. She is all about making the most of all the time she got in her waking hours. There are places to go and people to see.
Many of us, at one time or another, are still walking around the furniture. We're afraid to go out into the world where there is some much to see and do. What are the "big buts" that keep us from living outside our comfort zones? What excuses do we need to overcome in order to serve God and others with the gifts we have?Sometimes it takes a group effort. In our Wednesday bible study, we took on a service project to help a young couple by contributing to a date night basket for the nights when they could not leave the hospital while the husband is undergoing chemotherapy. It was the idea of one person who knew of a need and shared it with our group. Withing a few weeks, we were able to help put together something very special. It wasn't a big sacrifice for any one person, but it was a huge blessing to the family in need.
Another group decided to have a small baby shower for Jesus. They collected diapers and wipes, warm sleepers, onesies and socks so that the youngest members of our community could stay dry and warm this winter. We often forget that it's the smallest gifts that can make the biggest impression.
I saw this graphic the other day, and thought that it suited the spirit of this lesson very well. It's easy to keep gathering "stuff," thinking it will give us satisfaction. But real contentment comes from understanding something very different - may be we find gratitude in our hearts so that we can live in joy, simplicity and generosity, each and every day.
Peace, Deb
The Shadows of Advent: navigating the holidays through loss
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tara-woodardlehman/the-shadows-of-advent_b_4374498.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
Christmas Flash Mob Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIoSga7tZPg
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