“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”

               As foundational as the story of Abram, God’s intent was always that we would become a blessing to others.  God comforts, so that we can give comfort.  God grants peace, so that we will become an attractive aroma.  God instills joy, so that we might impart joy.  God blesses us with vitality and strength, so that we might have energy to love.  God gives grace, so that we might be gracious.  God guides us into success, so that we, from experience, can lead others.  Our story, our witness, is meant to allure, to demonstrate God’s goodness.  In that is direction and purpose.  In that is meaning.

“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.”

               In a storm, thunder and lightning rule the heavens demonstrating God’s power and reach, creating in us fear and wonder.  We get only a sense of God’s pervasive majesty, a sense of the marvel of creation, and we are left awe stricken.  Who can imagine the all-encompassing creative force that lies behind everything?  We are at a loss for words and concepts that adequately convey God’s omnipotence.  We can only humbly submit this far-reaching love.

               “1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?’”

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

               Humility is appropriate.  When one contemplates our small place in the world, in the history of humankind against the enormity of God in his perfect judgement, we are reduced to speechlessness.  Consider creation: its complexities, its intricacies, its interconnectedness, and its attention to detail, wrought with purpose, in all of its grander and minutia.  God spoke this into existence.  He provides.  He sustains.  He makes a way.  Life itself, what it takes to carry this forth, is all in his hands.  That this force is also good, as confirmed in our innermost beings, is a reality to marvel at.  That he cares for individuals so that we can cast our anxieties onto him is immensely reassuring.  Yes, this God is different.

We see it in the eyes of some of the people we minister to: anguish, dismay.  They are tired at the onset of another day, another hour, another minute, quietly baring the tedious burden of dismal prospects.  They feel isolated and alone, but they do not complain.  Though they are in our midst, all around us, they suffer in personal exile having been convinced by the adversary that they are worthless, that life is meaningless.  Had we not been paying attention we might have missed this.  But we are paying attention, and we see them, their souls and spirits crying out in pain, and our hearts go out to them.

When we look out at the world, we take in information without even thinking about it.  In a millisecond, our minds sort, distinguish, and file stimulation into an attitude which we carry into our day.

Can you make yourself feel genuine love? Is your heart tender enough to experience true affection? God has put in each of us the drive towards feelings of wellbeing. We are all on a journey toward wholeness and holiness. We know that Peter’s instruction is good, because, experientially, it feels wonderful to love. This is what our souls yearn for: comradery, a sense of belonging, to feel unity in community, to share.

“Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

I do not think that it is by accident that our daily bread is so closely connected with grace.  Grace is something that we desperately need each and every moment of existence.  It is the balm that soothes, the essential nutrient that enables us to move about with confidence, finesse, and ease.  Grace given is grace received.