Friday, February 22, 2013

The Kindness of Snow Blowers


          It snowed last night and this morning I cranked up the snow blower and blew out my driveway and then a path for the letter carrier.  Since I had some more time and the snow was light, I walked across the street and blew out two more driveways and the sidewalks for my neighbors.

          As I was cleaning the blower off and putting it away, I wondered for just a moment if they would ever thank me... and then I realized whether they did or not didn't matter. 

          What I did was a kindness to them that had cost me only a little time, money  and effort.. and this morning I had some of each.

          Next, of course I wondered whether I would do it again – if I had less time or if the snow was heavier and more difficult to move with my little snow blower.  Would I be as kind if the next time if it was less convenient?

          I don't know, but in a few days it will snow again and I'll have a chance to find out.

          What I do know is that our wonderful God is busy dispensing kindnesses every day.  Our Lord is never too busy, the work is never too hard and there is always plenty of time.

          … and I think that often we forget to thank God for the gracious mercy he has shown.  Perhaps we're too busy.  Perhaps we're too concerned with other things to notice.  Perhaps we think God owes it to us.  I hope not.

          So far today the neighbors have gotten into their cars and driven away to work and so far there have been no knocks on the door with words of appreciation.  It still doesn't matter.  It's a kindness from God and me to neighbors who may need a little kindness in their lives and no words of thanks are necessary.

          But I hope that tonight when I head to bed, I'll remember to thank God for my little snow blower and the good works it can do and while I'm at it I hope I give thanks for lots of other things, too.

          Easter is coming and the long Easter weekend will begin with the cross on which Jesus gave everything. Let's all remember to give thanks.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Annual Reviews

            I just finished writing my annual report for my work here in Windom and I'm exhausted!  It's not that writing the report was so taxing, it's just that as I wrote I was reminded of all the things we had accomplished in ministry this year and the sheer volume of our accomplishments and the memory of all the hours that it took to make them happen just overwhelmed me.

            Just when I was thinking about how little we had done, I was reminded that we have done so much and come so far - it's truly amazing.

            I was reminded of our upcoming Lenten preaching series on the Fruits of the Spirit. Wow! What a lead in to thoughts about that.

            Each year I plant a garden and then fuss over it endlessly.  Watching every day for things to grow, coming away everyday not sure that anything is really happening.  Of course as the weeks (and months) go by I realize that a lot has been happening - it was just too subtle, to gradual, to see on a day-by-day basis.

            The Fruits of the Spirit in us are like that: subtle and gradual, but real and growing.  The Fruits of the Spirit include love, joy and peace a host of other worthy attributes ( Ephesians 5:22-26).  But none of us will ever wake up one morning to find we have them all in abundance.  They have to grow - and they have to be cultivated which means we have to work at it.

            And even though we work at it, it may seem that we are making no progress, no growth, at all.  I think when that happens we should all do an annual review to look back and see how far we've come and this will give us the enthusiasm we need to keep looking to God as we continue on.

Grace and Peace.  Sarah