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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

Not My Favorite

11/29/2011

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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

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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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Bloomington, IN 47401
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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