October 25th - Reflection

1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NRSV)
Hannah's song

Hannah prayed and said,
"My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in my God.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in my victory.

"There is no Holy One like the Lord,
no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble gird on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low, he also exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
and on them he has set the world.

"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness;
for not by might does one prevail.
The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered;
the Most High will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king,
and exalt the power of his anointed."

Reflection
I have a friend who began one of our maintenance meetings by introducing topsy turvey day. He took all of the maintenance assignments, and who they were usually assigned to, and the locations in which they were assigned, and turned them all topsy turvey. It was amazing how upset people were getting. Men had to move from one building to another and work on equipment they were unsure of, knowing that another person that was assigned to that building and possessed the skills to repair the equipment easily, had been likewise moved to a yet different building, to work on unfamiliar equipment to him. The entire group was in an uproar, until my friend declared..."April fools!" It has April 1st that day and everyone, including myself were taken by surprise.

God seems to turn so many things topsy turvey also. Who would expect God to take on flesh and die for us. Who would expect a virgin to have child. Who would expect so many births to occur from barren women. Or even the calling of so many prophets and just normal people that took on earthly power. People died that you would expect to live. Some were persecuted that you would expect would have had happy lives. The story goes on and on.

Thanks be to God for topsy turvey, though, for without it, we all would die in our sin. We would not be given the privilege of a call from God and a changed life that results in the action of Jesus in our lives. Thanks be to God for topsy turvey and the actions we are called to do that bring hope and surprise to the poor, sick, mourning and lost. Thanks be to God that God cares for the children beyond any earthly evaluation but using an evaluation of the Father. Topsy turver...Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, take me topsy turvey once again this day. As we run in the Kingdom, lead me down another one of your wild paths. You make life exciting! Thanks! --- Amen