Reflection
Jesus said to his disciples,
Matthew 16:24-25
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
I don’t think Matthew would get the position of Ad Writer for any of our media companies today…or maybe he would? Deny myself and then take up my cross? I will lose my life if I try to save it? This is confusing, to say the least.
A long-time (we met in 1959) friend and associate of mine asked me the other day: “What gets you up in the morning?” Off the cuff, I answered: “the sun”. I’ve been thinking about that question and my response for a few days now.
Each morning as I get up, before I get out of bed, I sit up and say:
“Thank you for the gift of another day and help me to do your (my creator’s) will especially helping me to use the gifts and they have given me in the service of all of creation.”
Then I continue my day with a regular routine, eventually leading to the time when I really get to choose.
This morning I choose to write this reflection. I write this reflection not just to impress any readers, or to meet my earlier commitment, but most importantly because I believe I can best use my gifts, serving those I love by doing this. I did not make this decision by myself, but only in consultation with people I love and respect. Some of these people I actually know, most of them I don’t.
The other side of the decisions above is what I say “no” to or deny myself. I say no to a whole lot more than I get to say “yes” to. I could go out for a walk, turn on the TV, get lost in social media, start responding to emails, listening to podcasts, visit the farmer’s market, make my bread…God, I pray that you will deliver me from the bondage of myself today, and help me serve when and where I can, with you showing me the way.
