It is still barely morning as I write this. Some days there seems to be so many things to do that the day seems over before it has begun. But this is a terrible way to look at it. Whatever it is that fills our days whether work or play it is all an opportunity to see the glory of God at work around us. The passage I've chosen for today speaks of the glory and beauty the surrounds us.
1 Corinthians 15:39 (The Message)
39-41You will notice that the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies—sun, moon, stars—all these varieties of beauty and brightness. And we're only looking at pre-resurrection "seeds"—who can imagine what the resurrection "plants" will be like!
With this passage in our hearts let's share our gratitude.
1) I give thanks to God for the life and work of his servant, John Updike. John Updike spent more than 50 years of his life describing the beauty of God's creation in novels and poetry and essays. Nothing for him was outside the glory of God. Even a stray pigeon feather blowing in an alley=2 0carried within it the beauty and glory of God. He once said that the true praise of God is the act of description. He was gifted by God to do just that for us. I began reading Updike in college and his voice of praise has been a constant inspiration for me. Thank God for the "varieties of beauty and brightness."
2) I give thanks to God for the life of Michael George Wiglesworth who died from a bout with lung cancer last night. Michael is the brother-in-law of Mike and Rhonda Spears and the the father of Mike and Melissa Wiglesworth. I visited Michael last week in the hospital. Though he was decimated by cancer and a staph infection he nonetheless showed forth the pre-resurrection seeds of glory as he prayed for God's love and forgiveness. As we pray for his family we thank God for the "varieties of beauty and brightness."
3) I give thanks to God for the joy and revelation a good movie can bring. I have not seen a scene expressing more joy than the multitude of women, young and old, dancing on a dock and singing "Dancing Queen" in the movie Mamma Mia! Such expressions of joy are infectious and cause tears to come to my eyes. The same can be said of performances in the movie Gran Torino. In this movie an angry, racist old man is transformed by getting to know his neighbors from a different culture. In the end he gives his life for them when he won't even give his car to his spoiled grandchild. Thank God for the "varieties of beauty and brightness."
4) I give thanks to God for our musicians and singers at Grandview Park. Each week we get to hear them grow and expand in their abilities. Again, it is the musician's job to describe God's beauty through varieties of sound. Sometimes the sounds are sweet, sometimes the sounds are agressive and confrontational and sometimes the sounds are pure joy and love. Thank God for the "varieties of beauty and brightness."
5) I give thanks to God for the beauty of winter. Too often I am complaining about the cold when I should be paying attention to the different angles of light as the sun slinks by us to the south. Too often I am complaining about the roads when I am ignoring the beauty of the snow and ice transforming the dark world around me into pure white and reflective light. Too often I am holed up in my house when the sun's light begins to disappear leaving the sky dusted in a brilliant collection of pinks and roses and reds. Thank God for the "varieties of beauty and brightness."
So, how can you praise God by describing his beauty and glory in thanksgiving? I'm waiting not only to read of your gratitude but to feel it in my heart and to pray it with you.
Peace,
Pastor Rick
No comments:
Post a Comment