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Pastor Annette's Blog

"OF ALL THE THINGS GOD HAS SHOWN ME, I CAN SPEAK BUT A LITTLE WORD . . . NOT MORE THAN A HONEYBEE CAN CARRY AWAY ON ITS FOOT FROM AN OVERFLOWING JAR."
~ MECHTHILD OF MAGDEBURG, 13TH CENTURY MYSTIC

Do Your Work and Then Step Back

3/15/2016

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Beloved:
    My favorite quote recently is from the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu:  “Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.  Do your work and then step back.  It is the only path to serenity.”  
    I realize that ten times, twenty times, fifty times a day I catch myself caring what others think of my decisions.  Of my thoughts, even.  Even now I care what you think of me quoting a Chinese philosopher!  Shouldn’t she be quoting the Bible?  From a practical standpoint, such cares get in the way of ministry, like the chain constantly falling off the bicycle.  From the spiritual standpoint, such cares get in the way of everything. 
    To do my work and then step back is to trust in the endlessness of God’s patience, the abundance of God’s grace, the consistency of God’s goodness and, as Julia Cameron calls it, the divinely driven pace of time.  To think how small my life is in the grand scheme of all things is a comfort actually.  And yet, to do my best with and for the people alongside me is no small thing at all. 
    I pray the day treats you gently.  Be gentle back to it all the same. 
~ peace & prayers,
​pastor annette
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    I write a Tuesday morning devotional to members and friends of UBC.  It is also posted here. 
     
    Enjoy!  
    Pastor Annette

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    Everything on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons license, which gives you permission to copy freely, provided that you attribute the work to me, that you use the work for non-commercial purposes, and that you do not produce derivative works.

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  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Staff
    • Annette Hill Briggs, Pastor
    • Rob Drummond ~ Music Minister
  • Listen & Read
    • Sermons
    • Pastor's Blog
    • #ITSYOURCHURCHTOO >
      • About >
        • When & Where?
        • Ministries >
          • Worship >
            • Music
            • Worship Arts
            • Worship Resources
          • Fellowship >
            • Wednesday Night Supper
            • Church Recipes
          • Service >
            • MCUM Collections
            • Habitat for Humanity Project
          • Vacation Bible School
        • Our Story >
          • Denomination
          • Who We Are
        • Contact
        • Calendar
    • Social Media Feed
  • Give
  • Newsletter
  • Recommended Reading