Christ Notes - February 2, 2012

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
     and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves
     in rich food.            Isaiah 55:2

In the days when Vivian rode the bus to school, we would find ourselves standing at the end of the driveway at 6:45 in the morning.  The sun would just be coming up on the best day.  At first, we were none too happy about the early pick up time, but now I feel differently.  While I’m no morning person, I am glad for an early start to the day.  It is a great opportunity to visit the world while it is quiet and to start the day’s work unencumbered by the distractions that come with normal daytime hours.

I am beginning to think that early is good.  As a recovering procrastinator, I am starting to learn the joys of finishing a job without the stress of an immediate deadline.  I am also beginning to think through priorities very carefully.  A common reason that we end up behind schedule or stressed is that we work against our priorities.  It is far too easy for most of us to put aside what is really important for the things we think need to be done right now.   More of our attention often goes to the distractions than to the things that matter.

This happens in our faith life.  I know this.  I earn my living as a cheerleader for faith, and way too often I see us give the ball away.  Any of us who profess the Christian faith would probably agree that our relationship with God and the practice of our beliefs is the foundational piece of our lives – the thing that sustains us now and will keep us beyond this life.  But how often do our schedules reflect something very different?  Then church/faith/ God becomes that thing that we know we ought to do – but it will always be there, and we’ll get to it as soon as we can.  And an opportunity is missed.

I’m not interested in making religion the equivalent of spinach – something you are coerced into consuming along with a heaping portion of guilt.  But I don’t want you to miss an important opportunity either.  I don’t want you to spend your one life on what is not life-giving.  Pay attention to your faith.  How do you practice it?  What time to you give it?  What commitment do you make?  Don’t wait until hindsight makes you see the opportunity missed.  Pour your time into the things that matter.  Whether you’re starting early or late, start now.

Blessings,

Rev. Nancy