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Story Archives: May we never lose sight of what is truly important
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May we never lose sight of what is truly important
I realize that reading the local newspaper offers many different things to many different readers. But one thing holds true — each of us is looking for something. Maybe it's information concerning local happenings. Maybe it's that article for the family scrapbook. (If so, you may want to get a few extra copies.) Maybe it's a great deal on a used sofa or maybe reading the newspaper simply offers you a moment to relax.
This week I would like to remind you to take notice – not only of the news in the lives of others - but in your very own. Certainly, I hope you find that special article for the scrapbook, or that great deal, or that bit of information. But when you've finished reading the newspaper, I invite you take a moment to think about your week. What has taken you by surprise? What has made you smile? What has disappointed you? What deed did you fulfill that you know would make your Mama proud? Perhaps you can think of several things or perhaps the week has been too hectic to notice.
The book, "The Sacred Romance," offers a very challenging thought concerning how most of us pay more attention to the oil level in the car than we do our spiritual lives.
As I thought about that I realized that many times I have paid more attention to the stuff in my life than my actual life. For instance, most of us know if our favorite garment is "dry clean only." We know if our watch is waterproof. And, if we are really attentive, we know if the bowl is microwaveable.
If the truth be known, some of us have learned the hard way. Remember your favorite white shirt or blouse that turned pink? And who knew the bowl would melt once the spaghetti began to boil? Easy fix! We buy a new shirt. We get a new bowl. And most of us learn to be more attentive. We also realize that some lessons cost more to learn than others.
Most of us can't afford to be careless with our vehicles, so of course we're going to pay attention to the oil light when it begins to flash. Our favorite garment is our favorite garment for a reason. Of course we're going to pay attention to the laundry directions. We can't afford to be frivolous with such things.
But what about the condition of our prayer lives? What about our peace of mind? Do little things annoy us for no apparent reason? When was the last time we paid attention to the words of the hymn we sang or the Scripture we read? Or, when was the last time we sang a hymn or read a Scripture?
The aforementioned comment from "The Sacred Romance" reminds me that when something is "worthy," I treat it as so. May each of us never lose sight of what is truly important.
So, back to the challenge of considering your week — the past seven days of your life — has it been a blur? Has it been a bore?
In his book "The Alchemist," Paulo Coelho writes, "When every day seems the same, it is because we have stopped noticing the good things that appear in our lives."
I am amazed at how God can weave triumph and tragedy, even celebration and shame, to mold a life into something good. May we each take the time to notice what is good, not only in the lives of those around us, but in our very own.
"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge." Psalm 73:28
Jo Ann Cooper is a United Methodist pastor of the LA Conference. |
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