Today’s Lectionary Readings: Psalm 1; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; John 12:24-32; Hebrews 12:18-29; Psalm 119:89-112
One of the hardest things to gain in life is a sense of perspective. This is especially true when “bad” or difficult things happen to us. We are usually so close to them that it is nearly impossible to step back and see the bigger picture. In today’s passage from John, Jesus reminds us of the importance of perspective when he talks about what happens with a grain of wheat. He says: “Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over” (John 12:24 – The Message). Of course Jesus’ most direct illusion was to what was going to happen with him. The point that Jesus makes, however, applies to other areas as well. Perhaps there is an area of your life where you are currently feeling discomfort: maybe it’s dis-ease in a relationship; maybe it’s frustration with your job; maybe it’s a general feeling of malaise. At these times it’s easy to lose your sense of perspective on whatever it is that you are facing and give in to anger and/or depression. Today, I would invite you to step back from the situation – allow that seed time to germinate – and then see where it takes you. The dis-ease in a relationship, for instance, might take root and finally get you to face dysfunctional patterns that have long been ignored and lead you into a healthier relationship. The frustration with a job might take seed and lead you to a new position that more fully engages your spiritual gifts and graces. The general feeling of malaise might take root and help you deepen your spiritual life as you search for meaning in new ways. Whatever the case, may you open yourself to receiving one of the many gifts our relationship with God gives us: a sense of perspective that is unlike any other. Til next time…
One of the hardest things to gain in life is a sense of perspective. This is especially true when “bad” or difficult things happen to us. We are usually so close to them that it is nearly impossible to step back and see the bigger picture. In today’s passage from John, Jesus reminds us of the importance of perspective when he talks about what happens with a grain of wheat. He says: “Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over” (John 12:24 – The Message). Of course Jesus’ most direct illusion was to what was going to happen with him. The point that Jesus makes, however, applies to other areas as well. Perhaps there is an area of your life where you are currently feeling discomfort: maybe it’s dis-ease in a relationship; maybe it’s frustration with your job; maybe it’s a general feeling of malaise. At these times it’s easy to lose your sense of perspective on whatever it is that you are facing and give in to anger and/or depression. Today, I would invite you to step back from the situation – allow that seed time to germinate – and then see where it takes you. The dis-ease in a relationship, for instance, might take root and finally get you to face dysfunctional patterns that have long been ignored and lead you into a healthier relationship. The frustration with a job might take seed and lead you to a new position that more fully engages your spiritual gifts and graces. The general feeling of malaise might take root and help you deepen your spiritual life as you search for meaning in new ways. Whatever the case, may you open yourself to receiving one of the many gifts our relationship with God gives us: a sense of perspective that is unlike any other. Til next time…
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