November 14th - Reflection

Time after Pentecost - Lectionary 33
Luke 21:5-19 (NRSV)
Suffering for Jesus' sake

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."

They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them.

"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Reflection
At a distance of a mile or so up the mountain, we had clear sight of the wrecked red plane that our son was in at the time. It seemed as if my vision of that airplane were so clear, that I could peek inside the window and see all. But in reality, the airplane was a mile up a steep slope, covered in vegetation. So, off on my trek went my friend and I.

Always keeping that airplane in sight, we battled through streams, trees, hills and valleys. The path was not easy. But, beyond that, I can't even remember what the path was like. My focus was on getting to that airplane. My mission was clear in my mind. But I had no idea what I would see, do, or say when tough situations on the way presented themselves. Somehow we just battled through and the ideas flowed when problems arose and we overcame it all. Not a hair on our heads was lost on the journey.

And then we arrived at the site of the red airplane. Inside was life! Life abundant! Life so worth the journey. Life so worth the struggle on the journey. The journey faded into memory and we celebrated the joy of life!

Looking back, I realized that all the struggle, pain, fight and injury, was nothing at all in comparison to the life at the end of our trek.

I wonder if the things of this world, the decisions, the fights, the materials, the buildings, the budgets, and all those things that exist in our momentary life, will fade away likewise, if I would only keep my focus on Jesus and the cross. Keep my focus on Jesus and his life. Keep my focus on Jesus and the resurrection. Keep my focus on Jesus. Will all the rest fade? Will it? Especially when we see the life at the end of the journey. Or will that just be the beginning of an entire new journey?

But for now, I'll battle through the jungle, knowing to always keep my focus on Jesus. And the journey will take care of itself, because something so much more is awaiting. Something amazing beyond anything I could ever fathom.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, keep my focus off of the temporal things of this world and my focus on you. I know that you will help me solve all of the temporal things on my journey. And I will do my part in that journey. I will struggle in pain. I will pay attention to detail. I will live the life you have given me in the midst of the jungle, knowing that with you in my sight, all will be well...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen