By now fatigue has set in.
Do you remember what fatigue feels like?
Just get me away. We will do all that is necessary to escape fatigue. Our mind is tired. Our body is weary. Our soul is not at its best. But just when we think we have escaped, there it is again.
Jesus knew the physical aspect of fatigue. You see it in the moments he wanders away to pray. You see it in the boat when he is sleeping during the storm. To sleep during the storm, "It rained?" They must have looked at him strangely. Jesus did not allow fatigue to stop him from compassion, prayer, and yes, healing.
Tony Campolo tells a story of Mother Teresa I had never heard. It seems that in her later years of life, she had great problems with her feet. It became very painful for her to walk. The story is told that every time she would get a pair of shoes to fit her well to help her with her pain, she would give them away. She would meet a person with no shoes and readily give hers away. So she was left with the shoes that no one else wanted or even would wear.
There is a grave marker high in the Alps. The inscription reads, "He died climbing". He could have settled for less. Gone back down but continued upward.
When compassion fatigue sets in, climb. When you feel as though you can give no more. Give. When you have to choose comfort for yourself or for others, choose others. When you get tired of seeing the suffering of the world (like Haiti), FEEL the suffering.
When the day comes that my journey on this earth is done, my prayers is that one of the words used to describe me is "spent!" May I use up more than I ever dreamed of holding on. May my fatigue be because of the work of the Kingdom.
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
30 seconds
30 seconds.
In 30 seconds the world around you can literally fall in. That is how fragile our world is. We like to think that it is more stable than that. But in 30 seconds, life can change drastically.
A young man whose life is filled with hope went to work. Perhaps he stopped at the store on the way and spoke to friends. As he rode his bicycle, he dreamed of places he would see, things he would do. He loved his work even though it was not the most exciting job. It was a beginning.
30 seconds later. It is all gone.
A mother drops her daughter off at school. She kisses her goodbye and watches her run into the building. They are a family with many blessings. She is a good student. The family is living a stable life. The mother turns and walks away from the school towards the market place.
30 seconds later. Life is gone.
An archbishop arrives at his church. He goes through his usual morning prayers. These prayers are filled with passion for a country that is struggling. He prays for the neighborhood. He prays for the sick. He listens for the words of God that come to him. He makes his way through the corridor to his office where he begins to sort through the daily administrative work required of him.
30 seconds later. His earthly ministry is over. The church building is in rubble.
Jesus of Nazareth taught his disciples that it was through the suffering of the world that one can come to know the power of the redemptive God. It is there that God does God's best work. It is participating in the pain of others that one finds the meaning of love.
So you now have 30 seconds or even more. What can you do? Say a prayer for the people of Haiti. Say many prayers for them. Pray for those who are helping. Write a check to your church or a helping agency. Instead of disconnecting with the pictures, look at them and wonder what life was like, what life will be like.
Make a difference with your 30 seconds.
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
In 30 seconds the world around you can literally fall in. That is how fragile our world is. We like to think that it is more stable than that. But in 30 seconds, life can change drastically.
A young man whose life is filled with hope went to work. Perhaps he stopped at the store on the way and spoke to friends. As he rode his bicycle, he dreamed of places he would see, things he would do. He loved his work even though it was not the most exciting job. It was a beginning.
30 seconds later. It is all gone.
A mother drops her daughter off at school. She kisses her goodbye and watches her run into the building. They are a family with many blessings. She is a good student. The family is living a stable life. The mother turns and walks away from the school towards the market place.
30 seconds later. Life is gone.
An archbishop arrives at his church. He goes through his usual morning prayers. These prayers are filled with passion for a country that is struggling. He prays for the neighborhood. He prays for the sick. He listens for the words of God that come to him. He makes his way through the corridor to his office where he begins to sort through the daily administrative work required of him.
30 seconds later. His earthly ministry is over. The church building is in rubble.
Jesus of Nazareth taught his disciples that it was through the suffering of the world that one can come to know the power of the redemptive God. It is there that God does God's best work. It is participating in the pain of others that one finds the meaning of love.
So you now have 30 seconds or even more. What can you do? Say a prayer for the people of Haiti. Say many prayers for them. Pray for those who are helping. Write a check to your church or a helping agency. Instead of disconnecting with the pictures, look at them and wonder what life was like, what life will be like.
Make a difference with your 30 seconds.
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Remember Your Baptism!
A little boy was asked about the prodigal son.
You remember the story of the prodigal son. The youngest son goes to his father and gets what is his. Then the youngest son does what young boys do. When all is gone and the son has nothing left, he decides to go home. As he is traveling home, he rehearses his forgiveness speech. Only when he arrives, his father has been waiting for his return. His father greets him with a great celebration! Unbelievable story that Jesus taught.
What do you think the little boy said? The little boy said, "The young son forgot who he was."
Two of the greatest elements in life come together this Sunday. This Sunday is a day we remember the baptism of our Lord.
The two elements are memory and water. Try to do without either of them and see what life is.
Memory is that great story book of life. It enables us to overcome all sadness. Memory enables us to know what we know collectively and individually. There is great power in the words, "I remember...."
Water is necessary for life to continue. Scientists have searched the moon for what? Traces of water. When our pipes freeze and there is no water, we panic. Water is that which cleans us as well as quenches us.
So in our baptism, we feel the water of eternal life come into our present life. And we remember--we are a children of God.
This Sunday, remember your baptism and give thanks! Remember whose you are!
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com
You remember the story of the prodigal son. The youngest son goes to his father and gets what is his. Then the youngest son does what young boys do. When all is gone and the son has nothing left, he decides to go home. As he is traveling home, he rehearses his forgiveness speech. Only when he arrives, his father has been waiting for his return. His father greets him with a great celebration! Unbelievable story that Jesus taught.
What do you think the little boy said? The little boy said, "The young son forgot who he was."
Two of the greatest elements in life come together this Sunday. This Sunday is a day we remember the baptism of our Lord.
The two elements are memory and water. Try to do without either of them and see what life is.
Memory is that great story book of life. It enables us to overcome all sadness. Memory enables us to know what we know collectively and individually. There is great power in the words, "I remember...."
Water is necessary for life to continue. Scientists have searched the moon for what? Traces of water. When our pipes freeze and there is no water, we panic. Water is that which cleans us as well as quenches us.
So in our baptism, we feel the water of eternal life come into our present life. And we remember--we are a children of God.
This Sunday, remember your baptism and give thanks! Remember whose you are!
Pray for me as I pray for you.
In the Master's Name,
Dr. M. Jack O'Dell
www.thewellumc.com
www.midweekmanna.com
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