According to Mark July-August 2016
When I was a boy, I attended summer church camp in Colorado. We did all kinds of fun things: hiking in the woods, collecting rocks and learning about all different kinds of flowers and trees, archery, fishing, and just being a kid in the best way imaginable. It was an experience that was meant to steep us in the wonder of earth’s bounty, and to appreciate God’s gifts to experience that world in a way that was gentle, enjoyable, repeatable, and sustainable.
We talked about how we encountered God and how enjoyable our lives were during those long and languid days in the Rockies. We talked about that while it was fun to enjoy all that was given, we wondered how we could show thanks for our lives, the gifts of our selves and our friends, and begin to develop a gratefulness for all that we experience. We came up with a simple, threefold exercise to end each day that would heighten our “attitude of gratitude”:
1. What went well (or fun) today?
2. Were we able to right a wrong (either past or future hurts of ourselves or others)?
3. How did we love and serve God?
In the context of summer camp, it’s not hard to answer these questions. There’s tons of fun, and there are always little snits with friends or groups of campers that provided ample opportunity for relationship repair, and we worshiped at least twice a day.
But as adults … our lives are invaded by the pressures of our everyday lives. Groceries need to be bought, commutes are sometimes impossibly long, people around us can act oddly or hurtful without explanation, and there are some days where the news cycle might make us believe that the world really is on the brink of total international collapse.
And yet, the three questions remain. I have learned that we are often called not to solve world peace, but if we can bring peace to the world and relationships around us, and we each and all tried this, then Townsend feels the combined effect. Think about it: if each of us who read and see this newsletter each month (about 300 of us) asked these questions each day, we could impact a few people around us, say between 5-10 folks, whether family, friends, neighbors, or work colleagues.
What would our town be like if we could affect 1,500-3,000 people in a town of 8,000? Would we draw a little closer? Care a little more? Visit, or call, or write a note to someone who has been on our minds? Would the world begin to seem a little brighter, a little lighter, a little more connected in a way that feels right and good? That’s what God feels like, and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make big changes in our lives and the lives of others. We have spent two years since my arrival here at TCC talking about how we can love one another as Christ has loved us, my own personal snippet from Jesus’ sayings that I try to live by the most. It’s hard. But it helps to have a couple of reminders, each night, to assess my day.
So as we adjourn for the summer, enjoy it, because it’s spectacular to see God blooming in all the bright green glory of nature. Go fishing. Collect rocks. Do some archery. Hike in the woods. But please also take time to answer the three questions each night, and develop a rhythm of not just wondering about God but experiencing God. And you may be surprised how quickly the world changes, right here, right now, in this place we call home. Have a great summer!
Pastor Mark
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