Rural Chapel

We expend vast energies attempting to make an impact and establish our significance in this world, and for what?  Has any human ever altered--really altered-- the substance of creation? No! In fact, we have established that the substance of creation is finite (e=mc2).   So, we either accept this and the sense of futility it carries with it, or we deceive ourselves into believing we can and will impact this world in a lasting way.  UNLESS... We choose to live our lives focused on another far greater Truth:  We have already been granted a profound dignity and significance in the amazing fact that God has intentionally and individually created each of us into this awe-inspiring cosmos and given us the joyful, dynamic responsibility of caring for it.  Think about it:  We have been handed the keys to something more fabulous than the largest yacht, grandest house or fastest car imaginable...by the Owner and Maker Himself!

If I told you that 3 days ago I transferred $1 million to your bank account, and then asked how you felt about being a millionaire, you'd look at me say "What?  I never knew!  I haven't felt anything or done anything different."  Likewise, if I gave you a sack of money and you looked in and saw $100 bills, you may begin to wonder "Can this be real? Am I rich?" but you wouldn't start to feel and live like you were rich until after you had counted it all and established that it was real.  To truly live graciously, we must be aware of all the ways God blesses us.  We need to pay attention to our lives and all the ways we are blessed without even asking, and then we need to return our gratitude to God in thanksgiving.

Whenever we travel a significant distance, we have the kids pack a backpack of things to keep them occupied along the way.  We also do a backpack check before we leave.  In preparing her backpack before an overseas journey that would involve trains, planes and lots of walking, our youngest had taken lots of books, crayons, and the like.  Her pack weighed 28 pounds (she probably weighed 60!)--far too heavy for her to carry long distances comfortably.  As I tried to explain this to her, she said  "But mom said the plane ride would be more than 8 hours and that I needed to have enough to keep me busy."  I continued to explain:  "But you will also have to carry this all by yourself when we have to walk places; I won't be able to carry it for you."  "I CAN carry it--SEE!" was her reply.  So I suggested that she continue the test...and keep the backpack on for an hour.  After about 10 minutes, I discovered her taking everything out of her backpack.  When I asked why, she replied  "No WAY am I carrying all this stuff around for an hour."   Jesus said "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."   NB:  Jesus says we'll find rest and ease when we adopt HIS  yoke, HIS burden.  He doesn't promise us that we can expect him to carry all the extra junk we've chosen to slog around this life with to keep us busy.  Ask in prayer:  Are the burdens weighing on my life right now truly the ones Jesus wants me to bear?  What can I unpack and leave behind to lighten the load that I am choosing for myself?

One critical component of any successful experience is readiness.  I love watching meteor showers, but I seldom experience them by accident.  I need to know the best season, time, and orientation if I want to see them.  And I must look.  The same is true in living our faith:   1 Peter 1:13 says "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."  The Bottom Line?  You will not see grace unless you look for it, and you will not live faith unless you prepare for it.  Pick a challenge for today; commit it to God; pray; be ready to act out of faith, not fear; then act--and when you are blessed, praise God!