TRUITY Spiritual Mentoring

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Jesus sent his disciples out to preach the Good News, saying,

"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me.

Whoever welcomes a prophet out of respect for prophecy will receive a prophet's reward; whoever welcomes a righteous person out of respect for righteousness will receive the reward of the righteous;

and whoever gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these, my dear disciples, in the name of a disciple — I assure you, they will profit by it."
~ the Gospel according to Matthew 10:40-42

The other day I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty." I hadn’t seen one of those in a long time.

I wonder why. Have people given up on good works as a concept? Reading over the local paper, it would certainly seem so: in addition to the emotionally exhausting reports of violence against others, the on-going war in the Mideast, and the abuse of the environment there are the Letters to the Editor. Many of these missives are downright scary: filled with fearful and vindictive comments and angry, personal attacks on those who disagree.

Somewhere along the line our national motto has gone from "Welcome the stranger," to "You’re either for us or against us," — which isn’t, by the way, anything like the Message that Jesus preached.

I was discussing this situation with a friend. She told me that she had found the answer: a way of living that had finally brought her "true peace." Doris had decided to "opt out" of dealing with conflicts, problems, and stress; instead, she was focusing "only on what I can change: the things in my own life." By this she meant painting her bedroom pale blue, listening to relaxation tapes, exercising, and eating low-fat foods.

She cancelled her subscription to the newspaper, had stopped watching the nightly news, and routinely deleted any emails she found "upsetting" — including all of the Action Items from Audubon, the Humane Society, and the Department of Peace.

Listening to her talk about how much better she felt, how much calmer she was, and how simple her life had become ... I was nearly persuaded. Then Doris mentioned — with an odd note of pride — that she has "no idea what’s going on in the world."

Such an existence may be appropriate for an invalid or a misanthrope — but it isn’t the way a Christian is supposed to live. We who follow Jesus have been "sent forth"; the world is where we live and move and have our being: it is the arena in which we are to preach the Good news.

Sometimes our Path is smooth and pleasant, sometimes it is steep and rocky. The Way we’ve been called to follow leads us through cities and towns, deserts and forests, schools and offices and shops. We walk alongside the sick and the dying; past polluted rivers, abandoned mines, and bloody battlefields. It isn’t always pretty, but it is always God’s.

As we trace our Lord’s footsteps, we may encounter troubling situations, meet difficult people, and face challenges that can seem overwhelming. And we always have a choice.

We can run away and hide, or we can preach the Gospel.

In God’s own perfect time, this passage was the lectionary text: when Doris and I — and perhaps some of you, as well — are being tempted to avoid our call to be at work in the world. We see deep-seated government corruption, a culture of fear and anger, rising energy costs and bleak projections for the future.

We are so dazed by the Big Picture that we forget it is composed of many tiny dots of color. We forget that little things can make all the difference. Something as small as a cup of cold water can be a doorway to heaven — for a thirsty traveler, and for the one who offers that simple kindness.

We forget that a phone call can soothe a sorrow, that a cast-off suit can lead to a job, that a gentle touch can restore hope, that a cup of soup can nourish a spirit, that an encouraging word can save a life.

We forget that "the little things" are the most important things.

We forget that Jesus didn’t call us to Save the World — but to live with kindness and compassion. He didn’t send us out to end all wars or to eradicate poverty — but to preach the Good News.

Our Creator is merciful, forgiving, and loving. If we turn to God and do what is right and good, the Holy One has promised to bless and restore our lives. If we turn to God, following the Way that the Lord established, things will change. Healing will begin; hope will grow, love and understanding will increase. The hungry will be fed, the poor will be clothed, the sick will be cared for. One moment, one action, one person at a time.

If we do as Jesus taught us and go forth into the world, living with kindness and compassion, preaching the Gospel of forgiveness, love, and new beginnings — there is no telling what we may accomplish. Wars may cease, the earth may be restored, life may begin anew.

All it takes is a simple action — as small as offering a cup of cold water to a thirsty traveler. And anybody can do that.

Virtual hugs and real-time blessings,

Deborah +

This Week’s Suggested Spiritual Exercise: What one, small, task can you do that testifies to God’s goodness and the Gospel promise? What kindness, mercy, or forgiveness can you show?