Dear All of Us,
In anger:
"Who needs you anyway?"
What a put down.
Flipped, what an up lift.
Plenty of people
need us.
God sure does.
It all goes together.
Jesus has a great
two liner for us:
"You are the
light of the world.
You are the
salt of the earth."
Matthew 5:13-14
Free translation:
"I empower you,
I need you,
to make a heaven
of a difference
in a world
that so often
darkens down
its spark and spunk,
whose freshness and
savor sours and spoils.
You are my
point people,
my light and salt
for others.
Your light brightens,
warms to growth.
Your salt
preserve good,
brings out the best,
the zest of things."
In all reality,
Jesus is asking us
to be in on
the right now
continuance
of Creation.
Interestingly,
in the Genesis
Creation Story
the first thing
God did was
splash light
all over the place.
Important, too,
to remember that
in the ancient world
salt was as valuable
as gold.
Light and Salt.
That's us
for others
says Jesus.
Hey, we are
NEEDED
light and salt
these dim days
of spoil.
We can impact
sadly little of
world events.
The money-power
fiends at
the controls
of Empire
have that
locked up.
But we are working
with
Jesus The Christ
to establish
The Kingdom of God.
That's residence in
Relm Real
God Good
from here to eternity.
We not only create.
In The Spirit
we re-create
that which has been
damaged and defiled
by sin and evil.
We bring
light and salt,
enlightening
and
freshness,
right where
and
as we live.
SPECKS OF LIGHT
SPRINKLES OF SALT
We nod and smile,
making room
for another in the
supermarket aisle.
It's a flicker
of light bright,
a pinch of
favor flavor.
We show up at work
going full torque
bringing zip to it.
We don't
get all over
a friend
"going through
something"
and being in a
mood mean
just now.
If we farm,
it's regenerative
farming.
We coach/mentor
needful youngsters.
We set up a weekday
Zoom Prayer Group.
We, our family
and friends,
spend lots of
time together
- meals, reading, sports,
chores, crafts, music,
casual to deep down
conversations,
scripture sharing
and prayer,
having company over.
We do that temperately
not in a frenetic,
multi anything manner.
We glow go it,
slow savor it.
We bring joyful vigor
and generous sharing
to our faith community.
If we are storytellers
we tell,
if musicians we play,
bright zest
for others.
We make sure
the elderly are
as much a part
of things as they
are able.
When they are not
we bring things
to them,
most especially
respect and affection.
We go out and invite
folks to our
faith communities,
to be
God absorbed,
to be
welcome wrapped
in
for real fellowship,
to be
in service to need,
to be
justice advocates.
If we have the
talents needed,
we serve on
school and library
boards.
As "salt of the earth",
we work to preserve
air, water and soil,
all of Nature's
God Goodness.
We seek to bring out
the best
in little children,
in the handicapped,
in people's
gifts and graces.
We work
to preserve the
wisdom and
achievements
of then and now.
As "light of the world"
we help others see
the gifts they
are and have.
We support
their growth
in wholeness.
We don't push or pull.
We just let the
God Light
at our center
radiate as
God chose to
shine from us.
In personal, practical
and communal ways
we are indeed the
light and salt
of the earth.
As appropriate
and possible
we live out the
spirituality
psychology
of
Serve and Return.
It's like tennis.
We serve and
another returns,
back and forth
in simple civilities
to major
soul and social
interchanges.
Living out
the trust of Jesus
is a lot like
planets and stars.
Planets absorb energy.
Stars emit energy.
"You are the
star light of the
planet earth."
Living out the
trust of Jesus is
like salting
the precious,
- preserved
safe and
secure,
flavoring life,
bringing zip and zest
to our world.
"You are the salt
of the earth."
When I was
ministering
in local churches
I used to tease that
"A pastor is a person
who has a job
for everybody."
Well, God is our
Universal Pastor
with a job
for everybody.
We are
NEEDED
Our light and salt
are his for us to give.
They won't make it
to the evening news.
Way, way better,
they make an
eternal difference
for many.
For that
we each and all
are very much
NEEDED
******
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some timers
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first time participation
from
Suriname.
You bless us.
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See you next week.
So good to
shine and shake
light and salt
for the people
and world
around us.
Love to all.
God Bless,
John Frank
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
******
