Today, I’m thinking about our lives as examples for others. Most of us don’t feel worthy of being examples. Most of us see only our own mistakes. Whether or not we are aware of it, we are examples.
Saturday morning, we received an invitation from our friends, Ian and Sandi. “ Could you come this afternoon for a swim in the pool and hamburgers on the barbecue?”
“We’d be delighted,” I responded. “I’ll bring some leftover dessert.”
I heard Sandi cheer in the background. Thus began our little adventure. The day was blistering hot. Together, we soaked in God’s beautiful world, as we hung out in Ian and Sandi’s pool and shared a meal. St. Paul said we are all given God’s gifts. Our job is to use them as blessings for others. (Ephesians 4: 7-16) Among so much more, Ian and Sandi have the gift of hospitality. Sharing it with us appeared to be just a friendly last minute invitation. For Tom and me, it was so much more.
In sharing their time, their home and their friendship, Ian and Sandi gave us an opportunity to set aside our need to “get things done.” They gave us needed rest and renewal. I’m sure at that moment, our friends weren’t conscious of being living examples of God’s love, but they were.
As we live, running errands, going to work, enjoying time out with friends, we are always providing others examples of something. A few weeks ago, I was having a simple conversation with my adult grandson, Chris. Four years ago, Chris started up a landscaping company. He was telling me about his business practices. “I don’t work weekends,” Chris said casually. “Saturdays, I hang out with Riley.” (his four-year-old son) “We do lego, or play games, or whatever. We have time together.”
Think about those four short sentences. Chris is setting a wonderful example for his son, for me, for his customers, for young fathers everywhere. Every week he and Riley make precious memories of their time spent together. Each week they are both living examples of God’s love.
Today, I had a task to do, and Chris’ four short sentences inspired me. Besides writing this article, I needed to write something for “Words on a Wire,” an upcoming art exhibit in which visual artists display their works. Beside each painting is a piece of poetry or prose that members of my writers’ group have created in response to the painting. My assigned painting portrays the backs of a man and a young boy, possibly four or five years old, walking on the beach carrying a pail between them. The man carries a fishing pole. Here is what I have written:
Come Follow Me
Let’s hang out together,
Let’s feel the sand squish between our toes,
the water caress our feet.
We’ll share love; we’ll learn about living.
Together, let’s enjoy the adventure of life.
I’ll do my best to lead you well.
Together, we’ll create precious memories.
Come follow me.
The Northumberland Festival of the Arts “Words on a Wire” is one event in the weeklong Northumberland Festival of the Arts, held September 13-22, in towns throughout Northumberland County. Check it out online. Come to some or all the events. Immerse yourself in the arts. Soak them up. You will be mightily blessed.
Today’s Faith by Rev. Janet Stobie