so. today me and the wife go for a ride. checked out the local Harley store, took our time coming back. tooling along these beautiful twisty turny country roads in south central PA. popped over a hill and my worst nightmare is unfolding right in front of me. with out looking, a car shoots out of the driveway.
i lock her down, tires screach and we get sideways just a bit. the car stops. my lane...car, 1/2 the other lane...car. i lean hard to the left and get control, just barely making it past the car...the bumper of the car grazes the wifes pant leg, just missing us.
merciful is our God. not becaue we did not get killed, not becasue we made it through without damage, not because we were safe.
merciful is or God. because he reminded us at church tonight what matters.
loving God with every fiber of my being, and loving others.
not theology, not education, not who was wrong, not who was right. loving God and loving others.
i sat there tonight realizing that the love i should have given my kids when i was their youth pastor (my son and daughter), i gave to study and church. and truthfully, the love i owed God was given there as well.
time and efort given to another for what ever reason.
could have ate it today. could have been in a box, on a stretcher, in a bed, broken and banged up. then, all that would have mattered is did i love God, and did i love others. did my kids learn to lvoe God by my actions, by my words? will their love for their kids come from their love for God? what if my chance at teaching them is over? did i talk about Jesus enough to them? will they be like me? or will they take the time, savor the moment and sit and bask in the wonder that is our God.
funny. i needed this long ago. i spent way to much time on theology and not near enough time on love.
sure, i would say, God loves you, BUT...
no. God loves you, and he wants you to love him and love others. if wecan truley get that, i mean let it soak in our souls like a misty rain...everything we know, everything we think we know, everything would be different. the world as we know it would be different.
i am glad Jesus did not say " they will know you by you theology." cause they do, and that is why we are such a stench to non believers and believers alike.
i have not been know for my love.
but all that is about to change.
4 comments:
glad you are well.
thanks for the reminder...yes...it does boil down to Love God. Love others. Love Self.
a reminder to make the main thing the main thing.
Glad you are still with us. The Grace covers our mistakes also. Love you guys!
Brent Jones
We had an experience on a run this weekend. A Dice Run, never done one Dan and I tend to ride alone, to be in a pack as Dan says relegated to a slot was a stretch for us.
We prayed before getting to the run amidst all these people/bikers to just be aware....
There was a wreck, not of our group but a motorcycle (2) and a car...backed up traffic, snarled things...a woman got seperated from her husband and fearfully asked Dan and I if she could ride with us....it was a cool connection...we just loved the time with her.
I don't know what this has to do with anything other than it's about LOVE, being aware and loving others all others....
Good post. See you next week. Drive carefully. -L
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