Tuesday, 1 October, 2002

People who long to embody the love of God and be called the followers of Jesus within our day must be a people who look at life and put names on actions and themes that are vital to our life together. This happens in many ways. We may call an accident or rename a tragedy - a blessing - an opportunity. It has to do with how we see the events of our lives and how we see ourselves within those events. The people of Israel were to see themselves as a light to the nations. When you come right down to it, that is a mission statement . A small group of people are called - named - and sent out with a life script...be a light for life that demonstrates the reign of God. Stanley Hauerwas offers a fine example of how we are a people who must be very intentional about who we are and how we see our life. He writes: For again we are reminded that God's salvation is not simply knowledge, even the knowledge captured by a story, but rather salvation is the creation of a people who have the capacity to be timeful. To be timeful means to be capable of rest, of worship, in a world bent on it own destruction.

The simple definition of terms used to describe our lives is at the very core of how we begin to define the vision of God's reign as it is contrary to the warring ways of our world. Our time is "filled" with the vision of God's love for creation that is merciful, forgiving, and just - to mention a few attributes. To see our time as focused on this character of God's reign, has the power to transform our lives and offer a life that is not the same-old vicious cycle of winners and loser...war and more war.



Connection: We do not need to buy the line that the "special interests" of one country or one family or one group of people is the word that will lead us through our day. That thinking has always resulted in war and destruction. We can re-view the day and see it within the broad domain of God's passion for the welfare of all. That may be a light for us to shine as we journey through the events of our day.



Lord of Light, you bring us into your future by offering us this present moment to begin our lives. Transform us and give us the vision to see the ways of your peaceable reign and thus bring us new life in the midst of all that is old and broken around us. Amen.