No, it’s not anything like Pigs in a Blanket! (If you’re looking for a blog about food, you can read Eric’s “Foot Long Cold Cut Combo.”)
This blog is about the two kittens playing in the tree, outside my office window. They are very young – I know their mother must be somewhere nearby because the kittens look well cared for, although I have not seen the mother cat at all. The kittens are having a grand time playing with each other, in and among the branches of the tree. They are cute, and curious too! They have caught me looking at them through the window, and have slowly come to investigate this new “thing.” I look at these playful kittens, enjoying each other, enjoying their surroundings – and completely relying on their mother to take care of their needs.
It makes me think about us and God.
With all the current economic mayhem, in our nation and in the world, I keep hearing the words “give us this day our daily bread.” We pray it, but – I’ll speak for myself – I don’t think I really mean it. I have a refrigerator and a pantry that would seem obscene to a good percentage of the world’s population. I have a dresser and closet that would be overwhelming to many people. I am able to keep my home at a very comfortable temperature year round. How can I ask God to provide for my daily needs, when I already have so much?
In Exodus 16, we read the story of God providing daily bread – manna – for the Israelites. They were to gather enough for one day (except on the sixth day, they gathered enough for that day and for the Sabbath). And an interesting thing happened. Some people gathered more than what they needed. The next day they awoke to find that it was… well, let’s just say it had turned quite disgusting.
It seems that this lesson of relying on God for our daily needs is one that has been going on for quite some time.
I look out the window and see that the kittens have gone someplace else – perhaps their mother was calling them, saying, “Come and eat; come and drink. Come, bask in the sun, or rest in the shade. Come, and let me teach you what you need to know. Today, I will take care of your needs.”
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Another animal tale
As I was riding down a back road in Virginia on Friday, I say a large turtle crossing the road. It reminded me of a turtle I tried to help 20 years ago.
I was on my way to a summer camp were I knew there would be creeks and marshes that a turtle would like. On that occasion
Oop.
Didn’t expect that to happen.
Anyway where was I? I stopped and took the turtle with me to camp. I was really proud of myself but didn’t stop to think if that was really a good thing for the turtle. It really made me feel good and that was important to me on that day.
As I have grown up. I have begun to understand it is really important to learn as much as you can about people that you come in contact with. As with my new church friend, Gary, the more I listen to him the more I understand how to try to help him. The same rules apply to employees and customers. When I take the time to listen and learn, I can become a better servent.
St. Mark’s has the feel of a listen friend. If we can keep this nature in how we help others, we can multiply all that we do.
Have a great week
Gary