October 22
Beloved families of Good Shepherd,
Peace be with you! This past Sunday Emily Greenfield, one of our wonderful Godly Play storytellers, shared the “Story of Jeremiah” lesson with our 2nd-4th grade children during children’s chapel. This story describes the resistance of the people of God to listen to Jeremiah’s warnings to turn back to God’s ways of love and justice. Prophets are people who come so close to God and God comes so close to them that they know what God wants them to do and say. God called Jeremiah at a young age to encourage the people to trust in God and God’s ways of love instead of succumbing to fear, anger, division, and self-will. Unfortunately the people of God did not listen to Jeremiah’s words and the Babylonians soon destroyed the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. The people of God lost their freedom and were forced to leave their homeland.
At the end of this story Emily asked the question, “I wonder why the people of God did not listen to Jeremiah’s warnings?” One girl replied, “They did not listen because it is hard to be kind and it is easier to be mean.”
Emily and I found this child’s description of our human condition to be wise and true. In my own life I’ve found that it is easier to take the low road of being mean toward others than it is to take the high road of following Jesus’ Way of Love. Meanness can subtly manifest itself as judgmental thoughts toward others who irritate me or lack of patience toward someone with whom I disagree. St. Thérèse de Lisieux, a 19th-century French saint who practiced doing small things with great love, said, “True charity consists in bearing all our neighbor’s defects—not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues.” St. Thérèse made it her spiritual practice to spend more time with individuals in her community who were extremely annoying to her. Additionally, she prayed for these difficult individuals and practiced little acts of service and kindness toward them to grow in love of God and others. Another Christian saint, who is the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing (the book we are reading in Fr. Hendree’s Monday night Mystics class), said, “If we want to be mature disciples of our Lord, we must strain every spiritual muscle learning to love our neighbors, who are our brothers and sisters.”
Is there any one in your life who is rubbing you the wrong way right now? I have a few in my life right now (and I am certain that they find me to be annoying as well). I wonder how our relationships might shift if we prayed for these individuals who irritate us, or spent extra time with them, or did something kind to brighten their day? It might be just the spiritual workout we need to gain a new brother or sister in Christ this week!
We hope to see you this Sunday!
Many Blessings,
Patty
P.S. We appreciate the generous number of pajama donations from our church and day school families in memory of Zac Goodpaster. Thank you so much!