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.
Be well,
Steve
