This blog installment was published originally on 20 May 2001 as a column in “The Pastor’s Pen,” a feature of a weekly newsletter of a local church where I served as Pastor.
Last week, I had the blessing and delight of playing kick ball with CJ in our yard. My initial aim was to tire him out before bathing him and putting him to bed. However, I found myself renewed as we played. Where I saw a dull and monotonous lawn, CJ found many colorful and interesting things. He constantly stopped playing to pick up pieces of grass, leaves, petals and pebbles. It was refreshing to see the world through his three-year-old eyes. What began as a chore with an ulterior motive became a simple and spiritual gift.
As we played, I thought of how blessed I am to have such a wonderful son with whom I can play. I marveled at his energy and enthusiasm in discovering new things about the world. He also ran after the ball with all his heart and might. Needless to say, when time came to go inside the house, he simply did not want to do so because he was having so much fun. Yet, I found several spiritual blessings and gifts in our playtime.
This technologically advanced world speeds along so quickly that we easily ignore the simple gifts of life. In fact, we probably devalue them because they do not readily demonstrate monetary worth. Having dinner with the family, sitting and talking with your beloved, cheering at a little league game, playing in a park, or walking at dusk, all barely make our “things-to-do” list. They are not priorities. We hope to get around to them because they would actually be nice things to do. But, the pursuit of wealth and security in this rapidly paced world arrests us.
It is easy to become personally and spiritually jaded in life. The daily routine of rising, commuting, working, returning home and repeating the cycle resembles a merry-go-round. Dizziness and lack of balance are the end products of that ride. Perhaps, we should get off and participate in life. Interestingly, some of life’s greatest gifts are simple. They also are not monetarily expensive. They cost time and attention. However, the weary who fight for material possession and societal achievement do not have this type of currency.
As summer arrives, may we appreciate the smell of freshly mowed lawns, potent honeysuckle bushes, the bumblebee’s search for nectar, and the sunflower’s beauty despite the scorching heat. If we take the time, we will receive incalculable spiritual dividends. Nature’s simple gifts remind us of the creativity and majesty of Almighty God. He employs similar time, detail and patience in our spiritual relationships. God desires that our growth parallel the splendor of creation. Moreover, observing nature teaches us gentleness, goodness, patience, and self-control. Money cannot buy those simple and enduring gifts of life.
In Galatians 5:16-24, you will recall those attributes are four fruit of the Holy Spirit. Nature vividly illustrates the process of obtaining spiritual fruit. Her mysteries, from the grandeur of the peacock’s feathers to the reliability of perennials, demonstrate the gentleness of God’s handiwork and the total goodness of His creation.
A casual glance at a botanical garden shows the time God took. Time is an acronym which means Things I Must Earn (TIME). Nature carefully uses time for life sustaining purposes. We similarly should prioritize our time toward the enduring things of life: love, truth, peace, joy and justice. When we seek these things, we find abundant and eternal life in Christ Jesus. If we chase fleeting things, we squander life’s valuable gift of time.
Patience yields tremendous surprises. Nature only produces her best prizes in time. We will acquire spiritual rewards, if we are patient. Quite frankly, we have to wait on ourselves. There are unnamed talents within us. They will emerge after a process of sustained spiritual development. Patience is essential to discovering the very best of us. Finally, self-discipline is key to mining internal treasure. The daily practice of prayer, meditation and Bible study are the necessary tools.
Is it said “time, patience and nature are the three great healers.” I trust you will spend some time this summer being healed and made whole by the simple gifts of life. Take a long walk. Make a new friend. Read a good book. Play with a child.
Last week, I had the blessing and delight of playing kick ball with CJ in our yard. My initial aim was to tire him out before bathing him and putting him to bed. However, I found myself renewed as we played. Where I saw a dull and monotonous lawn, CJ found many colorful and interesting things. He constantly stopped playing to pick up pieces of grass, leaves, petals and pebbles. It was refreshing to see the world through his three-year-old eyes. What began as a chore with an ulterior motive became a simple and spiritual gift.
As we played, I thought of how blessed I am to have such a wonderful son with whom I can play. I marveled at his energy and enthusiasm in discovering new things about the world. He also ran after the ball with all his heart and might. Needless to say, when time came to go inside the house, he simply did not want to do so because he was having so much fun. Yet, I found several spiritual blessings and gifts in our playtime.
This technologically advanced world speeds along so quickly that we easily ignore the simple gifts of life. In fact, we probably devalue them because they do not readily demonstrate monetary worth. Having dinner with the family, sitting and talking with your beloved, cheering at a little league game, playing in a park, or walking at dusk, all barely make our “things-to-do” list. They are not priorities. We hope to get around to them because they would actually be nice things to do. But, the pursuit of wealth and security in this rapidly paced world arrests us.
It is easy to become personally and spiritually jaded in life. The daily routine of rising, commuting, working, returning home and repeating the cycle resembles a merry-go-round. Dizziness and lack of balance are the end products of that ride. Perhaps, we should get off and participate in life. Interestingly, some of life’s greatest gifts are simple. They also are not monetarily expensive. They cost time and attention. However, the weary who fight for material possession and societal achievement do not have this type of currency.
As summer arrives, may we appreciate the smell of freshly mowed lawns, potent honeysuckle bushes, the bumblebee’s search for nectar, and the sunflower’s beauty despite the scorching heat. If we take the time, we will receive incalculable spiritual dividends. Nature’s simple gifts remind us of the creativity and majesty of Almighty God. He employs similar time, detail and patience in our spiritual relationships. God desires that our growth parallel the splendor of creation. Moreover, observing nature teaches us gentleness, goodness, patience, and self-control. Money cannot buy those simple and enduring gifts of life.
In Galatians 5:16-24, you will recall those attributes are four fruit of the Holy Spirit. Nature vividly illustrates the process of obtaining spiritual fruit. Her mysteries, from the grandeur of the peacock’s feathers to the reliability of perennials, demonstrate the gentleness of God’s handiwork and the total goodness of His creation.
A casual glance at a botanical garden shows the time God took. Time is an acronym which means Things I Must Earn (TIME). Nature carefully uses time for life sustaining purposes. We similarly should prioritize our time toward the enduring things of life: love, truth, peace, joy and justice. When we seek these things, we find abundant and eternal life in Christ Jesus. If we chase fleeting things, we squander life’s valuable gift of time.
Patience yields tremendous surprises. Nature only produces her best prizes in time. We will acquire spiritual rewards, if we are patient. Quite frankly, we have to wait on ourselves. There are unnamed talents within us. They will emerge after a process of sustained spiritual development. Patience is essential to discovering the very best of us. Finally, self-discipline is key to mining internal treasure. The daily practice of prayer, meditation and Bible study are the necessary tools.
Is it said “time, patience and nature are the three great healers.” I trust you will spend some time this summer being healed and made whole by the simple gifts of life. Take a long walk. Make a new friend. Read a good book. Play with a child.
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