Again, it's been too long in between posts but a lot has occurred since I last sat down to write something here. We have had a number of meetings – some personal, some church related, all focused on the future. In this season of Lent and the call to sacrifice, it has struck me at how hard it really is to give up thinking mostly about myself.
Recently, I took some time and got away from everything – home, church, even Kathy – and spent some time just listening for God's voice. I watched two videos – PBS Presentations "A Taste of Passover" and Veggie Tales' "The Girl Who Became Queen". The first was a night of music and readings associated with the celebration of Passover and was both moving and funny. The second is Big Idea's take on the story of Esther and was moving and funny also.
Passover, from a Christian perspective, is a foreshadowing of the grace of God as played out on Golgotha's hill at the cross. We move from the celebration of Purim to the celebration of Passover and I see in both celebrations a moving from bondage to expectation and hope – Esther saved her people's lives by her actions, Jesus saved His creation by His actions.
What always comes to mind when I think about Esther is Mordecai's challenge to Esther – that she was born for "such a time as this". It is interesting that God is never mentioned in the book of Esther but the story is one full of God's presence and His grace. God uses Esther to bring the people to a place of relying only on Him so that He could show His love for them.
I have gotten wrapped up in my health problems, trying to figure out my future, and realizing that I have been striving to control things far beyond my reach. I finally scheduled a doctor's appointment and after two weeks of dread, I went and it was not a bad experience at all – and I got a clean bill of health!
I have long held that one of God's signs of His favor toward me is blessing me with seeing hawks (which I dearly love) – a few days ago, I saw 3 in less than 5 minutes – just outside the house! I've seen one daily for about 2 weeks. And on returning from the doctor, I saw the most beautiful and largest red-tailed hawk I've ever seen!
I told God that I would praise Him whatever the outcome and I'm definitely praising Him now! This was my wake-up call and I'm not going to let it go to waste! I've spent nearly 2 months building some good habits. To go back to my previous habits would be a waste of God's grace. I may not be here to save a whole race of people but I am here for "such a time of this".
I can't make a hawk appear on my own but God can. I can't see the future but God can. I can't do much but He can do it all. I can only rely on Him because He can and will provide. So if in this season of Lent, I'll sacrifice my foolish pride and surrender to His love and mercy, God will lead me to the place of hope and rest.
Lord of all things on the earth and in the sky, praise you for your wonderful creation! In the beauty of the red-tailed hawk, we see how you engineer both small and great. In the hands of a young queen, we see how a people can be saved. In the blood of the Lamb, we see how we can be restored, renewed, redeemed. Lord, show us the ways that we are called to action in "such a time as this". Remove our prideful focus on self and give us eyes to see as You see. In the name of the blessed Redeemer, Jesus. Amen.
A lot has happened since I last posted. We've celebrated the passing of one of our church members on to heaven's realm and we've celebrated the fiftieth wedding anniversary of two of our church members. What does this have to do with Ground Hog Day? Well, just like the conflicting predictions for spring's arrival from Puxatawney Phil and Beauregard Lee (though as a good Southern boy, I'll have to go with Beauregard Lee's pick for an early spring 
), life can bring some rather conflicting events.
This year, I'm reading a chapter of Proverbs a day. Now the basic theme of Proverbs is that wisdom is a good thing and that wisdom and knowledge is the beginning of knowing and loving God. But you see there are places where it seem like Proverbs contradicts itself (sometimes one verse right after the other). I think it is like some of the commentators have said – you can't take the "rules" out of the whole context of the book. And besides, I'm found of saying that God is not a God of methods (and that from someone who enjoys being a METHODIST).
The God I believe in wants a relationship more than mere obedience. He wants our hearts more than He wants our "sacrifices" of good works and right actions. And regardless of what some furry critter coming out of a hole says or doesn't say about the coming of better weather, my God has it all under control and spring will come as always.
Father, we trust the shadows of ground hogs more than we trust You! Give us the wisdom to see where our hearts should be and that we worry far too much about things over which we have no control. Show us the way to fully lay these things at Your feet and rest in the midst of all of life's joys and sorrows in Your shadow. Melt the winter of our coldness with Your Light! In the name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.
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