Sunday, December 08, 2002
I just got home--Matt and I went up to Dry Ridge, KY, to meet Lisa. Her community choir gave a performance of "The Messiah". It was pretty good for a community choir representing a community as small as Grant County. I knew several of the participants, having visited several times at Lisa's church. A lot of the choir members from there were in it. Also attending as an audience member was Grant County's local celebrity, Rodger Bingham from Survivor 2--the Australian one. I've met Rodger a couple of times, and if you ever watched the show when he was on, he's just the same in person as on the show--a good Christian man, very likeable. They have a bridge in Grant County named after him now--the Rodger Bingham Bridge. There's a sign on it and everything. You know you've made the big time when they name a piece of highway, no matter how small, after you. Afterwards, Lisa, Matt, and I went out for dinner at the Country Grill (which Brian likes to call "Grandma's Kitchen", for some reason). On the way home, Matt and I had the chance to talk and get to know each other better. It was a good conversation, the kind of stuff community is made of. Speaking of community, I haven't shared any quotes from the Merton book lately. Here's a good one: "Scripture teaches us basic things, God's thoughts about human beings. We have to remember that no one does everything right. We are all sinners. God speaks and we do not listen. On the other hand, the mercy of God is constant. It cannot be overcome. God's promises are absolute. Being Christian doesn't mean 'being on the right side.' A Christian does not always know where justice lies, does not always see clearly. But the Christian is aware that, while in the human being there is falsity and infidelity, in the mercy of God there is always absolute fidelity. So we reject no one, but still try to dissociate ourselves from anything that is going to hurt other people. Every Christian has to stand up for the truth that God's mercy is without repentance. God never takes back mercy. We are in a world where many people are in despair. That's where God is really needed. Our Christian witness is not, after all, credible to a lot of people, because it's not very profound. That is why we have to bear witness to the Word of God. The renewal of the whole Church hinges on this. And not just in ideological terms. We also have to dig in and really help those in trouble." Dear Lord, I pray that You will open my eyes to those around me who are in trouble and/or despair. That You will give me the means to really help those I come into contact with who need a touch from You, whether those needs are physical, emotional, spiritual, or whatever. Help me to discern those needs and give to those who need it a portion of the love, the mercy, the patience, that You have given to me. Thank You so much for all that You have provided me with. Help me to look at the portion of the glass which is half full, rather than that portion yet to be filled. I love You so much, Jesus, and I thank You for loving me. Help me to act in a manner fitting of the love You have shown me. I need You so much every day, Lord. Thank You that Your love and mercy are constant and without repentance. posted by #Debi at 9:29 PM | permalink |
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