RUNNING AWAY OR RETURNING

 

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is from Henry Nouwen, and the scripture is Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 

The voice of despair says, "I sin over and over again.  After endless promises to myself and others to do better next time, I find myself back again in the old dark places.  Forget about trying to change.  I have tried for years.  It didn't work and it will never work."

           

Jesus came to open my ears to another voice that says, "I am your God, I have molded you with my own hands, and I love what I have made.  I love you with a love that has no limits, because I love you as I am loved.  Do not run away from me.  Come back to me--not once, not twice, but always again.  You are my child.  How can you ever doubt that I will embrace you again, hold you against my breast, kiss you and let my hands run through your hair?  Come, come, let me wipe your tears, and let my mouth come close to your ear and say to you, 'I love you, I love you, I love you.' "

 

This the voice that Jesus wants us to hear.  It is the voice that calls us always to return to the one who has created us in love and wants to re-create us in mercy.  It is not easy to let the voice of God's mercy speak to us because it is a voice asking for an always open relationship, one in which sins are acknowledged, forgiveness received, and love renewed.  It does not offer us a solution, but a friendship.  It does not take away our problems, but promises not to avoid them.  It does not tell us where it will end, but assures us that we will never be alone.  A true relationship is hard work because loving is hard work, with many tears and many smiles.  But it is God's work and worth every part of it.

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

 

Laying Down Your Life

                                                                                                  Laying Down Your Life

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is from an unknown source.

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.      

 John 15:13  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Know the Cleaning Lady's Name!

Everyone is Important

Dear Champions,

I do not know who the short excerpt is from.  The scripture is Romans 12: 3, 16  … do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. … Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

 "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

 Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?  I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

 "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining