One of my former bishops was visiting a church I served as we celebrated our 100th year of ministry. He asked me, "Jack, if you had to sum up the guiding points of your ministry practice what would you say." Now notice that he was not asking about theology. He was asking about practice.
I answered him, "I am on time. I pray hard. I work hard and I play hard." He was amused at the first item. The bishop chuckled and said, "You are ahead of more clergy than you realize just by showing up on time!"
My father worked in radio and television all of his life. Most folks do not realize how much this industry is run by time. Every minute and sometimes seconds are set in a log. The producers of the show have a menu of items to be run, played, and started on a time cue. Loss of time means loss of revenue and content. When my father visits my church (to this day) he will tell me if I started on time, ended on time, and how long the sermon was. He has taught me the economy of my most precious possession--time.
As the New Year begins, we look at our time. Some of us look back and see how time has passed us by. Some of have found that during this year, time seemed to stand still. Resignation has replaced resolution. Fewer of us will look forward to the gift of time before us!
In his book, Drew Brees reveals that the mantra that made the Saints successful in their journey to the Super Bowl last year was "Finish Strong!" The team and its leaders realized that winning was about using the will and the ability to complete the game. Maybe that is why we continue to see the Saints win many games this year in the fourth quarter.
The men from the East showed up despite all that would keep them back. They resolved to find the Christ child. Their wisdom led them to turn life's "I could'..s" or "I should...s" into "I will..." Isn't it interested how much of life that we choose to do that is not really high on the meaning scale?
The question that all of us face as we begin this year is what will we do with the year ahead of us? A theological way of saying this is to ask the question, "What will you do with the news that Christ is born?" Will you begin the journey that God has invited you to make? Will you finish the unfinished business of life that really matters? Or will resignation win out over resolution?
It all begins with the will......you make the call.
No comments:
Post a Comment