Shade Tree Wisdom 10/29/09

“No matter what the circumstances”, said the Apostle Paul one time, “Live life as unto Him”.

I can think of no better word than that for this time and place. Right now, I stepped out into a sauna, humid, hot for this time of year, rain hangs in the air, weather more suitable for the middle of July than the end of October. But we are living on the Gulf Coast, so I do not complain. There’s no reason to complain, for He has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

I have in mind Paul’s letter to the Philippians. A Happy letter, indeed, filled with joyful suggestions and supporting words. This from a man who is in jail, after all. And even that, he says, turned out for the good, for “My imprisonment here has the opposite from the intended affect. Instead of being squelched, The Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of the Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about Him.” 1,12-13.

Then he adds, “Not only that, but the followers here have become more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah”. V.14

So, the morning news brings the sad fact that two hunters arguing over deer stands are killed, one suicide, the other shot. Then I read the rains are making the feed growing in the lowlands where wild fowl eat inaccessible because of 3 feet of water, rivers are at flood stage and disaster faces the wild life, all because of the aftermath of IKE. And the news agencies are at war with the White House. What next? I wonder.

History informs us the world of the Philippians Church was just as upsetting as is ours today, maybe even worse. And what does the Apostle say in his letter? Do we read, ‘Poor people, just hang in there, it will be O.K.?” No, read it for yourself in chapter 2,13-16. “It is God who works in you both to will and do His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining. Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people a glimpse of living with God. Carry the light-giving message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns.”

What a line, “as lights in the world”. An example, a picture of what life in Christ is, can be, ought to be.

That’s aimed right at us who are God’s children by Holy Baptism. Ask, do I do “all things without complaining or disputing?” Especially, for example, after a worship service that “ran five minute over time", or something? Our record is not very good, is it?

But, you are LIGHTS in the world by God’s work and Will. You are blessed.

GPF 10/29/09