God Found Me!

    OK then, let us see if we, (I), can get a reasonable facsimile of the walk I just finished and the accompanying thoughts that seem to flow like a stream once they get started. First of all, in case I haven't already mentioned it, I love Dollar Tree. It must be my favorite place to shop. So I went for a walk to get a bite to eat with the turn-around point being Braum's. Since I was there anyway I bought a double dip hot fudge sundae to enjoy. This is the second time Braum's has offered a near miss for me. As I bowed my head to thank God for cows, and milk, and chocolate, and farmers and freon etc. etc. It began to soak deep within me. Again I was left amazed at God's work in creation including man's ability to manipulate and massage what God made into such wonderful-tasting treats.  Sounds a bit silly I know, but if you sit and think about all the steps, the processes, the people between me and the part of God's creation that makes that sundae possible it is truly amazing. My taste buds fully appreciated all those steps and the job which offers me the resources to buy it. On the way home I was accompanied by what looked to be a full moon. It was shining bright and giving great depth to the clouds that were gliding in front of it. I stopped a couple of times just to stare at it for a while. The noisy traffic was sent away for a time as I considered the wonder of the night sky. As I continued my walk I was reminded of a thought that had visited me many years ago of how the full moon looks a bit like a flash light. I would think of myself as a cold and lost child huddled in the woods hoping to be found. As I stopped again to gaze at the beauty that was the sky I noticed that a clear spot was approaching the moon so I waited for a few minutes for it to make its pass. As the cloud gave way to the full, glorious, unobstructed moon I heard God say, Bert! I found you! I found you! My heart was overcome with that same old joy that is ever new as I became profoundly thankful, once again, that God has found me.

It's Easier Not Being Rich

On first glance being rich looks like the way to go. Our default position, when watching a once regular joe lottery winner ruin their lives is, "still, I'd like to give being rich a try". Watching immature individuals destroy a wealthy families name brings responses other than sympathy from most of us. "I know money can't buy happiness, but I'd like to see for myself", is another common thought. In my life I have tried to fulfill my basic obligations in life without taking on any more responsibility than I have to. (I've come to see this as a character flaw) Money equals responsibility and I sometimes wonder how I would do with millions of dollars. I know what I think I would do but I have to assume many with wealth have seen good intentions evolve, in time, into nightmares. "No one can serve two masters,for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." these words are straight from the horse's mouth. The horse, in this case, is the one they called Jesus. He goes on to say, "For this reason, (because you cannot serve God and wealth), I say to you, do not be worried about your life ......) With lots of wealth and power it becomes increasingly hard to worry about anything else. Keeping focus on serving others becomes difficult when all of society is falling at your feet, celebrating your arrival to the top of the heap. Not sure how I would fare with such a test. But I would say many fare well and reap a great harvest with the money and influence they possess. A harvest that is not for sale but comes with devotion to our Lord's calling. Obedience to their faith, to their God. "If salvation were a thing that money could buy, the rich would live, and the poor would die". This is a line from a song I occasionally sing. What do you think of it?