Green Pastures and Still Waters
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Jackson Browne’s 1978 hit is lyrically catchy and musically memorable. I confess, I like the song—until I really consider what he is saying. Like many songs of our time, it is a song without hope. “I don’t know where I’m runnin’, but I’m runnin’ on.” And, what’s even worse than not knowing where we are going is trying to get there on empty! Lord willing, we’ll return to our study of 2 Corinthians this weekend. This letter is an honest report of Paul’s struggles and the complex relationship he had with the Corinthian believers. At some point, it seems like Paul must have wondered if he should keep going. Certainly other people must have suggested he take a long break, maybe even quit. What kept him going? Why did Paul keep trying? 2 Corinthians not only describes Paul’s struggles, it gives us a rich theology for endurance and resilience. The truths in this letter remind us not only why we should keep going but how we can continue in the face of real struggle. Paul may have been a jar of clay, he certainly wasn’t an empty one—and neither are you!
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You may not understand what that phrase means until it happens to you. I have a story. I was enjoying a mountain bike ride with a friend. We were zipping through the woods on a beautiful summer day; there were twists and turns and challenges. I was wearing a helmet, as is recommended by every mother. My helmet has large openings for ventilation. A hornet must have thought it looked inviting or I simply rode into his flight path, I’m not sure. What I do know is that the hornet entered my helmet. I shook my head which probably enraged the pest and it stung me, and I crashed, hard. I learned that it is really hard to concentrate on the trail ahead when there is a bee in your bonnet. There are lots of bees in the bonnets of life that distract us from keeping our eyes on the important things. There’s the “busy-bee,” and the “lazy-bee,” the “expectations-of-others bee,” and the ever present, “what’s-on-TV” bee. We have grand intentions to exercise, read more, volunteer or clean up—until we get a bee in our bonnet. Sometimes we just give up, believing that life is meant to be one distraction after another. Have you set some priorities for 2020? I’d like to share some thoughts with you about that subject on Sunday…if you don’t get distracted. 