University Baptist Church Bloomington, Indiana

November 29, 2011

“Not my favorite,” my 3-year-old nephew says when served food he doesn’t like or want.  “Not my favorite,” I thought about the weather this morning, driving my son to 5:45 am swim practice.  Cold, rainy, with slushy snow this afternoon according to wunderground.com. Yuck!  I’ll be damp all day and Global Women attendance will be low or nil and I have to go out twice tonight to drive kids.

     If I think hard (not too hard) I can probably come up with even more about which to complain.  Complaining  is a spiritual malady, of course, grounded in certain assumptions; the main two being that I am entitled to my favorites every day; my favorite weather, my favorite meal, my favorite schedule, and that my needs/wants should always trump the needs/wants of others. 

     So the struggle between Christ and culture lives on ~ in me and in the life of the church too.[1]  Which shall interpret the other?  Which shall rule our  thoughts, hearts and attitudes?  Complaining, if only in thought, amounts to the rejection of grace.  When I complain I push away the plate full of time, space, opportunity, connection and joy this day might otherwise contain.  “Not my favorite,” I say to God, imagining God doesn’t hear, doesn’t mind, isn’t disappointed at the sight of me tuning out and turning away to wait for a better time to be blessed.

     Jesus is everywhere.  Holiness abounds.  They are not bound by the weather or my attitude.  And who knows: maybe in less bright light Jesus becomes all the more visible.  Whatever the weather, may we be found looking, expecting and full of joy!  Peace & Prayers, pastor annette

[1] Reinhold Niebuhr, Christ  & Culture, 1956