October 8th - Reflection

Psalm 23 (NRSV)
You spread a table before me
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff --
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Reflection
Everything is focused on God. God takes care of us, watches over us and is always present. It's all focused on God, as it should be.

Focus on God inside and outside. Focus on God in danger and in peace. Focus on God in  the presence of good and the presence of evil. Focus on God when times are good and when times are bad. Focus on God when we need to follow and when we need to stop and rest and listen. Everything is focused on God.

God is our guide through life. Picture the shepherd guiding the sheep. God is loving and giving and benevolent. Everything is focused on God.

Yet as we focus on God, we notice... God is focused on us. God is focused on us as a group and as individual.

God's loved focused so intent that Jesus came to earth, lived, ministered, suffered, and died for each and all our sin. Lived in a focus on you and me and all people in a love that penetrates all things earthly and heavenly.

As we focus on God and see Jesus and the Spirit moving in and through us; we know that God has focused on us. Let the feast begin... let the cup overflow with the love that God has given through Jesus to all the world and to you and to me.

Prayer
Lord, I give you thanks for focus. Focus my life and actions on you and your love that I may love all people ... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen