A New Attitude - June 9, 2025
Today’s Readings - AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; Deut. 30:1-10; 2 Cor. 10:1-18; Luke 18:31-43
This past week I spent an afternoon at Camp McDowell with the campers and staff at Special Session and another afternoon with the staff who had volunteered to spend the week in Greensboro with the campers who attended Sawyerville Day Camp. Both ministries serve youth and adults who for the most part have very few resources and look forward to these sessions from the minute they leave until they arrive again the next summer. I know from having spent time at Sawyerville the children in the surrounding area have no other summer activities other than what they are provided by attending Sawyerville. Very few have ever had access to a pool much less learned how to swim. Many of the Special session Campers live in group home settings and seldom have the opportunity to go swimming, dance or sing.
I realize I’m fortunate to have been exposed to these ministries. It could be easy to completely underestimate the impact they have on not only the campers but also the youth and adults who volunteer to be there. I can guarantee that many a college application includes an essay about how serving at one of these camps has changed the course of a young life.
When I hear the expression, “They did not have ears to hear or eyes to see,” that’s what I think about. We can pass right by truths, gems of information, glorious manifestations of God’s creation and we can completely miss them. We can miss the opportunity to see the kingdom.
In today’s gospel the disciples do not have ears to hear or eyes to see Jesus’ message. Then when they are passing through Jericho, they don’t see the opportunity to care for someone in need of healing. In many ways the disciples were as blind as the beggar who receives his sight.
After we returned from Special Session someone mentioned to me that he had what he described to me as an epiphany. As he sat there surrounded by people he cared about, folks of all sorts of abilities and stations in life, varied vocations and ages, he realized he was seeing the kingdom of God. It might have looked like a hot chaotic mess to some, but he saw the holiness in the moment. He saw the presence of God and he realized the kingdom was all around. What a gift that was for him and for those of us who shared that moment with him.
There are opportunities all around us to see the Kingdom, to make a difference, to help heal a broken heart or help a child learn to swim. If we don’t grab these opportunities as they come, we miss what could be lifelong treasures.
There’s a quote in Douglas John Hall’s book Thinking the Faith that I believe applies here:
"Jesus says in his society there is a new way for people to live: you show wisdom by trusting people; you handle leadership by serving; you handle offenders by forgiving; you handle money by sharing; you handle enemies by loving; and you handle violence by suffering.
In fact, you have a new attitude toward everything, toward everybody. . . . . . . . Because in a Jesus society you repent, not by feeling bad, but by thinking different." Hall is describing life in “the kingdom.” Simply by considering what we see and hear with more intention we can make a difference.
Questions for Reflection:
What are some ways we can stay focused to see and hear the opportunities to follow Jesus, to do his work? When was the last time you realized you had just missed an opportunity to serve God’s kingdom?
Faithfully,
Sally+