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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"Let It Shine"
November 6, 2008
I noticed the bumper sticker before I saw anything else. It said, "What a
friend we have in Jesus." It made me smile. I followed the SUV around the
corner and over the Canada Bridge before I looked at the license plate. I
almost drove up and over the bank when I saw what it said. The plate read
"Awsm Gd."
As the car turned off on Sachem Street I couldn't help but think how cool it
would be to have a license plate like that. Everyone who saw you would
know that you loved God and were praising Him every day. I kept going on
Lafayette Street and the thought hit me that too many of us keep our faith to
ourselves. It's like we bought into this idea that if we let our faith show we
will offend someone who doesn't believe like we do.
I realized just how sad this is during the past week. After nearly two years
of campaigning we elected a new President on Tuesday. I can tell you that
most of the people I know were not embarrassed or shy about letting others
know their political affiliation. From wearing political buttons to
conversations around the water cooler at work or debates in the donut
shop, we all took sides. We promoted the virtues of our person and quickly
shared why we thought the other guy was a liability. Not too many people
worried about offending anyone, After all, politics are important.
At the gym I heard two guys talking about the Giants and the Cowboys.
They were busting each other about who was going to come out on top this
year. I noticed one of them had on a shirt with an NY logo. A third guy
came up who he was wearing shorts with the Patriot symbol and he
immediately got into the mix. I laughed because I am a Steelers fan. I don't
think they noticed my jacket when I walked in. It's funny how many of us
wear our jerseys, t-shirts and hats and no one puts up a fuss. When we get
into an argument, it is always good clean fun. Of course that is the nature
of sports.
So why can't we do the same thing with our faith? Why can't we live it and
share it and talk to one another about what we believe? I have a friend who
is a Jewish Rabbi. I love to talk to him about his perspective on the Hebrew
Scriptures. It helps me understand my own faith. I have another friend
who is a Catholic priest. We have had great discussions about the church
and its tradition. I admire his devotion. The truth is that we all love God. We
just worship him in a different way.
You see when we live our faith, when we let others see what it means to
us, when we declare that our God is an awesome God, we really enrich the
lives of those around us. I'm not talking about pushing our faith on others.
I'm simply talking about living a life that honors God. When you love God
with all your heart and let it show, its like a light that warms the hearts of
others. When you love your neighbor as yourself, that love spills over and
changes the lives of those around you..
So don't hide your faith, as the old children's song says, "under a bushel
basket. Let is shine, let it shine, let it shine."
God bless! See you in Church. Cal
November 6, 2008
I noticed the bumper sticker before I saw anything else. It said, "What a
friend we have in Jesus." It made me smile. I followed the SUV around the
corner and over the Canada Bridge before I looked at the license plate. I
almost drove up and over the bank when I saw what it said. The plate read
"Awsm Gd."
As the car turned off on Sachem Street I couldn't help but think how cool it
would be to have a license plate like that. Everyone who saw you would
know that you loved God and were praising Him every day. I kept going on
Lafayette Street and the thought hit me that too many of us keep our faith to
ourselves. It's like we bought into this idea that if we let our faith show we
will offend someone who doesn't believe like we do.
I realized just how sad this is during the past week. After nearly two years
of campaigning we elected a new President on Tuesday. I can tell you that
most of the people I know were not embarrassed or shy about letting others
know their political affiliation. From wearing political buttons to
conversations around the water cooler at work or debates in the donut
shop, we all took sides. We promoted the virtues of our person and quickly
shared why we thought the other guy was a liability. Not too many people
worried about offending anyone, After all, politics are important.
At the gym I heard two guys talking about the Giants and the Cowboys.
They were busting each other about who was going to come out on top this
year. I noticed one of them had on a shirt with an NY logo. A third guy
came up who he was wearing shorts with the Patriot symbol and he
immediately got into the mix. I laughed because I am a Steelers fan. I don't
think they noticed my jacket when I walked in. It's funny how many of us
wear our jerseys, t-shirts and hats and no one puts up a fuss. When we get
into an argument, it is always good clean fun. Of course that is the nature
of sports.
So why can't we do the same thing with our faith? Why can't we live it and
share it and talk to one another about what we believe? I have a friend who
is a Jewish Rabbi. I love to talk to him about his perspective on the Hebrew
Scriptures. It helps me understand my own faith. I have another friend
who is a Catholic priest. We have had great discussions about the church
and its tradition. I admire his devotion. The truth is that we all love God. We
just worship him in a different way.
You see when we live our faith, when we let others see what it means to
us, when we declare that our God is an awesome God, we really enrich the
lives of those around us. I'm not talking about pushing our faith on others.
I'm simply talking about living a life that honors God. When you love God
with all your heart and let it show, its like a light that warms the hearts of
others. When you love your neighbor as yourself, that love spills over and
changes the lives of those around you..
So don't hide your faith, as the old children's song says, "under a bushel
basket. Let is shine, let it shine, let it shine."
God bless! See you in Church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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