What a fine morning. Cool, windless, and quiet, not even any yellow boxes rumbling around on their errands. So I give thanks that God has allowed me this time for thought. Oh, here comes that little mutt again. Now and again he shows up, making it his business to check on every shadow and new bush planted, and then he disappears again. But he makes the walk sort of companionable and so safe!
And the disaster in Haiti is uppermost in most minds right now. Help is on the way, being sent from all around the globe, it seems. But just the logistics of getting help to where it is needed is overwhelming. President Obama has called on two former Presidents for help in raising funds for the relief effort. Both have responded with a quick, “What can we do? How can we help?” May the Lord lend wisdom and patience to this effort so that those who need help will receive it, and we also pray for the wisdom to establish government for the safety of the nation.
Here in Houston yesterday was a Marathon. There were over 25,000 runners from around the globe, and the first ran that 26 some miles in a little more than 2 hours. Others needed better than 5 to finish the race. More than 200,000 people watched, encouraged, offered water or juice along the way, and just gave encouragement by being there.
And I thought how needed that is, that business about encouraging another in their way. People are watching, everyday eyes see what is going on. Here is a fellow Christian facing some real heavy way, do we stand ready to either lend a helping hand, or at least speak a word of encouragement and a “Nice going”?
We had had a nice summer rain when I was growing up. Refreshing. But weeds also responded, and the thing to keep ahead of them was with a hoe to stir the soil. That was my job that morning. Hoe the kitchen garden. The rest were busy elsewhere. So I hoed, the sun was warm, the job was boring, but I knew mother had her eye on me, so I kept at it. The hours passed, and soon mother came out and rang the dinner bell. It would take a while to get in from the field, so she stepped through the gate, and checked my work. She was pleased. I had one row of beans to go, and she took her hoe, always ready at the gate, and started on the other end of that row. My pace picked up, she talked of this and that as we worked, and we soon met, finished. Just having some help made the job easier.
St. Paul speaks of this for the Christian. He writes, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, walking as children of God in this crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the Word of Life” Phil.2, 14-16.
That’s the word for this day for us, being encouragers, and making the life of others easier because we are here for them.
GPD 1/18/10
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment