Can You See It – May 28, 2023 reflection

May 28, 2023 Reflection

“Can you see it”

The late broadcaster Tim Russert, wrote “live a good, and descent and meaningful Life;

Today we are asked to reflect on the relationship of love, God has called us into. And the human obligation we are called to in response to this amazing gift. Our love of God is rooted in justice and love of neighbour. It is not simply a feeling, but is made real through tangible acts of worship, justice and faithful commitment to those around us.In loving those people, we share the love, God asks us to give to God and all people.God is asking us to see the face of God for others and for others to see the face of God in us.

In the Mark passage this morning:

– Love God with all your heart and all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength”

– Love your neighbour as yourself” no other commandments are greater than these.

God requires that we give all of ourselves to him. God wants to be in on all our decisions. When I’m in search of guidance I say” I put myself in your hands O God “He is asking us to love one another. To show love to our neighbour, and family.

Love your neighbour as yourself

As we are emerging from a very long pandemic. As a community of Faith we are family and so reached out to everyone. Glen set up a phone team. I was part of team tasked to do phoning .

In the beginning those I called were scared, fearful of what was unknown. Each call was at least about ½ hour to an hour. Feeling isolated and alone. Folks were scared not having a plan, not knowing how to get basic things like food, medications safety. The Gov’t kept changing what we should do

.What was required to go out and be safe. Wear masks don’t wear masks. Wash all your groceries, don’t wash your groceries. Wear gloves, don’t wear gloves. So many unknowns. For those I spoke to, I couldn’t offer answers but I could listen. A voice at the other end of the phone so they didn’t feel so alone.

But those on the other end of the phone also helped me not feel so alone as well.In this instance I think we were the face of God for each other.

The good news was as we got things figured out Glen and Tony organized some grocery delivery. And Glen began online Church services to help keep us all connected to church. We settled into a routine and the phone calls were not as lengthy and the anxiety had been lowered. But still people were grateful for the call.

Loving your neighbour as yourself. Through the eyes of children

I was a Sunday school teacher for a few years. I am always in AWE at the simplicity children looked at things. On one occasion we had gathered on a Saturday to paint self portraits. We got out the roll of craft paper, each laid down to get their shape traced out. Then they began to paint. One little one was a little sad, when asked by one of the older children what was wrong she quietly said“I can’t find my skin colour in the paint box. Without hesitation two of the older boys said not to worry we can help. Soon they were mixing skin tone paint in every shade for everyone. It melted my heart. They didn’t skip a beat helping her and all the others to get their shade of skin paint. I saw the face of God in those boys.

My granddaughter Sydney on her first day of Kindergarten went into class with tears in her eyes, excited to be a big girl going to school but not wanting to leave mom and dad and what was familiar. At the end of the day when mom went to pick her up the teacher pulled mom to one side and said Sydney has such empathy and caring far beyond her years. Although she was sad she looked around the class and realized there was another inconsolable youngster. Sydney got up and sat beside this child and put an arm around them and told the child” there, there it will all be ok. We are on a new adventure.’To that inconsolable child Sydney was the face of God

I also have to say at the end of the day, (it was a Friday) Sydney came home from school. Her back pack was full of all things that were in her cubby. When my son asked why she brought everything home. She told her dad it was nice but she wasn’t going back. My son simply hugged her and said not to worry you can stay home for two days which seemed to satisfy her.

A group of Second graders were asked the question what is love:Here are a few of their answers

-Love is when mommy makes coffee for my dad and she takes a sip before giving it to him to make sure the taste is ok age 7

-Love is when Grandpa Paints Grandma’s toenails because she can’t reach them anymore cause of the arthritis (pronounce art her it is) age 7

-If you want to love better, you should start with someone you hate age 6

– upon seeing his elderly neighbour crying on his porch the boy crossed the yard and sat on the man;s lap and just sat there. when his mother asked him what he said to the man. he said “nothing I just helped him cry” age 6

I am always in awe of Children and how they show love and compassion.In all of these we see the face of God

Love your neighbour as yourself

Matt is the guidance councillor at Nantyr Shores. He is an amazing man. Matt works everyday finding food for a student who hasn’t eaten in a couple of days, getting warm clothes for those who don’t have access to them or being a caring voice at the other end of the line for a student who is so depressed they can’t get out of bed in the morning. He is a life line to these students. With the Band program it helped that group of students who weren’t an Athlete or an Academic. The music program gave them a haven a place of belonging. Matt says program literally saved some lives.To these students Matt is the Face of God.

As many of you know my father passed away last year. He and my mom were at a concert at the church one evening when he collapsed. This was also the same weekend that Rogers lines crashed. Trying to find someone with a Bell line to call 911 was a challenge but they got one and an ambulance came . After they assessed him they knew he would need to go to RVH in Barrie. Mom can’t drive at night and she couldn’t go in the ambulance. Now mom being independent was going to get a cab and go to the hospital. The same folks that got the ambulance and made my dad comfortable, said to my mom “we will drive you” and they did and stayed with her until my sister could get there to be with her.To my mom that lovely couple was the face of God.

We all have met people in our lives that are just pure sunshine. They are just happy and they make others happy. These folks are not just lucky to be so happy, they choose to be. They made that commitment to find the good.

I have a friend that goes out of her way to speak with people to really talk to them and find out something about them.

In return she has touched a life and made a new friend.

When she was at a very low point in her life her friends and family rallied around her and held her up until she could walk her own path again. To my friend we were the face of God.

God is not asking us to try and change the whole world but to make the place we are in a little better by being faithful.

“I will go where you go, I will live where you live your people will be my people and your God will be my God

This passage shows the deep love between Ruth and Naomi. Looking backward on history, we know how the story ends for Ruth. Just as God used Ruth’s faithfulness to provide support for Naomi, he also used Boaz’s faithfulness to redeem Ruth’s and Naomi’s situations.

I realize the purpose of the verse, is to demonstrate the kind of love and faithfulness that God desires for us.

If we are experiencing a time of great sorrow or struggle in life, know that God is with us. Take encouragement from Ruth’s tenacious faith, devotion and love. Lean on God’s guidance and reach out to family, friends, or your minister.

Remember none of us has it all figured out. Just take the next step God will do the rest.God is asking us to risk, to open ourselves up. God is asking us to stretch ourselves. To look beyond ourselves. We may think we have nothing to offer.

But we have much:

– Saying good morning to the person sitting next to you in church. you could be the only contact they have had with anyone all week.

-Be a telephone buddy.

– offer a ride to someone who needs to get to an appointment

In our Community of faith, we take care of each other like family.To each other we are the face of God

Todays readings are about the faithfulness to Gods plan of faithfulness and kindness and love

-Love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength

-Love your neighbour as yourself

Easy right. For some of us this is as easy as falling off a log. For the rest of us we need a reminder to look beyond ourselves

In closing I want to read you a short story Called

Twinkies and Root Beer

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it might be a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six pack of Root Beer and started on his journey.When he had gone about 3 blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding the pigeons.

The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at the boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted!! So they sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it was growing late and the little boy was getting tired he got up to leave, but before he had gone a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the elderly man and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his home a short time later, his mother notice the look of Joy on his face. She asked him “What did you do today that made you so happy?”He replied “I had lunch with God”. But before his mother could respond, he added.” You know what? God has got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked “Dad what did you do today that made you so happy?”

He replied, “I ate Twinkies on the park with God.“However before his son responded, he added “You know, he’s much younger than I expected.

Too Often we under estimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally