Dear All of Us,
My little
Grand Son
Ollie
just turned five.
His best buddy
at school is
Patrick.
They're tight.
The other day
Ollie whispered
to his Mom:
"Mommy, Patrick
broke his toe.
He has to ware
this boot thing.
We were having
a race today and
I fell down
on purpose
so Patrick
could win
the race."
Talk about taking a
FALL
for the other guy!
In Ollie's whisper
I hear an echo of Jesus:
"Do unto others
as you would have them
do unto you."
Luke 6:2
Love your neighbor
as yourself."
Matthew 22:39
"Whatever you do to
the least of these
you do unto me."
Mathew 25:40&45
Without all that much
understanding it
in his head yet,
Ollie has a
good start on
his spiritual life
in his heart
and
in his caring.
SIDEBAR:
When he was
a wee, little one
Grandpa me,
got to baptize Ollie
into the
God Goodness
that is now showing
in his care and serving.
His Baptism was
my last official act
as a pastor of these
fifty-eight years.
What a finale.
Pure joy!
As I pray Olie
will one day see,
our spiritual lives are
are powered by the
twin dynamos of
prayer and service.
Immersed in
God's Love
we live it in
Service
A good portion
of that service means
"Taking a fall for
the other guy/gal."
It's a
Sacrifice
of
Service
that gets
the down up.
What might seem
a giver's loss
turns out to be
an up for both
giver and receiver.
As giver
we take a fall,
we take a hit,
we take a loss.
We're living the
down death
the
uplift resurrection
of
Jesus The Christ
Romans 6:3-5
The dynamic flows
from intimacy to service.
In prayer we get lost in
the goodness,
the realness,
the energy,
the dynamic,
the Love,
The Mystery
that is God.
We are filled
to abundance
with
God Good.
It powers us to
Fall In
with the down
for their uplift.
Prayer and service.
Fall Up
Yes, we are living into
the very life of Jesus.
"I live now not I,
but Christ lives in me."
Galatians 2:20
Jesus spent many
a night and more
in prayer.
He was wrapped tight
with his Abba.
It was Love Intense.
It propelled him
into redeeming,
life giving service.
By day he preached
hope and a liberating
Kingdom Life
to multitudes.
They were living under
the oppressive thumb
of the occupying
and cruel
Roman Empire.
Most were impoverished.
The religious leaders
counted them
as of no account.(1)
Jesus fell right in
with them.
Jesus brought
healing and vigor
to the sick
and destitute.
He was a frequent
at table with
"the wrong kind
of people,"
sharing fellowship,
food and wine
and I'll bet
more than
a few good,
belly laughs.
For all that
he got into
good trouble
with the
religious
professionals.
He did all this in
caring and hopeful
closeness.
He shared
who and what he was,
"The way, the truth the life"
John 14:16
FALL UP
We live this
Fall Up
right where
and as we are.
We get married and
generously lose
a lot of our
independence
and preferences
for the lift
of our union.
FALL UP
We have kids
and loose
a lot of sleep,
free ranging,
money,
for their uplift.
FALL UP
We're single,
solid and giving
with those
needing our
Sacrifice Service.
We literally,
actually,
live
The Sermon
On The Mount.
It means deep union
with God
and the needful
that presence him
to us.
In service
we take those
hits,
falls,
losses of
privilege and perks
for the benefit
of the needy
and
surprisingly,
ours!
FALL UP
We come
to the awareness
that God has indeed
filled us with
His Goodness
empowerig us
to fill in social pot holds,
to free up the downed,
to cover the vulnerable,
to mingle in
supportive acceptance,
to advocate
for social and planet justice,
to share our means,
to align with the "put off's,"
to include the lonely
and "left out's."
Our model and
inspiration is
Jesus
What a hit,
what a fall,
what a loss,
he took for us.
What a lift
what a resurrection
for him and for us his
FALL
UP
The wondrous paradox
of it all is that in
taking a fall in
Kingdom Service,
like Ollie,
we all
FALL UP
******
(1) Jesus Before Christianity
Albert Nolan
Orbis Books
Chapter 3
The whole book is a
formidable and
extraordinarily
enlightening read.
WELCOME
ALL
So good to be
here together.
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frankly speaking
Thanks!
See you next week.
Every blessing.
Love to all.
God Bless,
John Frank
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
******
