Happy It’s-September-and-it’s-still-hot-in-Texas-Saturday, friends!
I’m so looking forward to some more respectful temperatures!
Last night, Mrs. Sweetie and I got to see our favorite stage actor perform for the first time in a while—probably the longest he’s been off stage in the 20 or so years since the theater bug bit him in high school.
Of course, he has given us almost 36 years of entertainment—and joy.
In case you haven’t yet figured it out, I’m talking about our favorite son.
The life of a theater teacher, husband to our favorite daughter-in-law, and father to our three spectacular grandsons has not been conducive to on-stage time for the past couple of years.
So, seeing the energy and joy he brought to opening night of Amarillo Little Theatre’s production of “Come From Away” was special for us.
“Come From Away” is a beautiful production—a true story of hospitality, generosity, and compassion in one of the darkest moments of American history:
September 11, 2001.
The Wikipedia entry on the musical does a great job of explaining this one act musical.
As I ponder on this Saturday morning the upcoming 25th anniversary of that terrible day, it occurs to me how lacking we are in hospitality, generosity, and compassion.
I fear that we have often learned the wrong lessons from the tragedies we’ve experienced.
We’ve spent far too much time listening to voices that motivate by fear, division, and casting blame.
We’ve determined that truth is more determined by the messenger than the message.
And Jesus is far too often our mascot—our means to reaching our goals—rather than our Master who calls us to a life of wholeness and freedom to fulfill our purpose as His beloved creation.
As I read Ephesians 1 this morning, I was struck by Paul’s expression of how he was praying for them.
Essentially, he prayed for them to have a clearer glorious vision and understanding of the amazingness of God.
When we ask someone to pray for us, is that what we have in mind?
But if our vision of God becomes clearer, are we not more likely to be filled with praise rather than anxiety and anger?
Maybe we should spend more time feeding our faith and less time fuming in fear.
Just a thought.
Be amazing today, my friend.
