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Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Happy Hanukkah! (or is it Chappy Chanukah?)--Just Enough is Plenty
Happy Hanukkah to you all! This Feast of Lights begins at sundown tonight.
This Jewish festival commemorates when Maccabees successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting. The story can be found in Maccabees 1 in the Old Testament.
In my family, we will be ackowledging Jewish traditions as we welcome my niece Lauren's fiance, Jordan, to our clan. I'm looking forward to this so much.
We as Christians can embrace the spirit of this festival, too. Part of the significance is that the Temple was restored and purified. What can you do to restore and purify the temples in your life--your church, your home, and even your body? Perhaps you can clean out some of the junk in your home, or be a better steward of your body--or even fast for a cause.
Here at the Ben Library, we have a charming children's book about Hanukkah titled _Just Enough is Plenty_ by Barbara Diamond Goldin. I find myself thinking about that title, in this season of excess--excess stress, excess consumption, excess spending, etc. Perhaps we should try to have "just enough" for ourselves this season, and be wiser stewards of our resources. Do we really need to go overboard with gifts this year? Do we really need to be gluttons? Why not give more to those with too little? It would be a blessing to give to our food pantries, and to adopt someone from the many Giving Trees in stores, churches, schools, and libraries. That way, someone else can share the blessing of having "just enough."
As I was reading up on Hanukkah traditions, I took note of the modern focus that has started as we ponder the significance of this Festival: conservation of resources, especially energy resources. I happen to work in a green building, and we are conscious of being good stewards of our environment and resources. I will try to extend this to my home. It just happened to start the snow season today, but I will keep the thermostat down and bundle up at home in my Snuggie, sweater and warm slippers. (Luckily, my family is willing to comply with this too.)
So, Happy Hanukkah, everyone! In this Festival of Lights, let us keep first and foremost in our minds and our deeds the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ--the Light of the World. Let us let His love shine brightly through us this holiday season.
This Jewish festival commemorates when Maccabees successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting. The story can be found in Maccabees 1 in the Old Testament.
In my family, we will be ackowledging Jewish traditions as we welcome my niece Lauren's fiance, Jordan, to our clan. I'm looking forward to this so much.
We as Christians can embrace the spirit of this festival, too. Part of the significance is that the Temple was restored and purified. What can you do to restore and purify the temples in your life--your church, your home, and even your body? Perhaps you can clean out some of the junk in your home, or be a better steward of your body--or even fast for a cause.
Here at the Ben Library, we have a charming children's book about Hanukkah titled _Just Enough is Plenty_ by Barbara Diamond Goldin. I find myself thinking about that title, in this season of excess--excess stress, excess consumption, excess spending, etc. Perhaps we should try to have "just enough" for ourselves this season, and be wiser stewards of our resources. Do we really need to go overboard with gifts this year? Do we really need to be gluttons? Why not give more to those with too little? It would be a blessing to give to our food pantries, and to adopt someone from the many Giving Trees in stores, churches, schools, and libraries. That way, someone else can share the blessing of having "just enough."
As I was reading up on Hanukkah traditions, I took note of the modern focus that has started as we ponder the significance of this Festival: conservation of resources, especially energy resources. I happen to work in a green building, and we are conscious of being good stewards of our environment and resources. I will try to extend this to my home. It just happened to start the snow season today, but I will keep the thermostat down and bundle up at home in my Snuggie, sweater and warm slippers. (Luckily, my family is willing to comply with this too.)
So, Happy Hanukkah, everyone! In this Festival of Lights, let us keep first and foremost in our minds and our deeds the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ--the Light of the World. Let us let His love shine brightly through us this holiday season.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The King's Scribe: Inventory of our God-given talents
Today's meditation:
God does not give us talents for our own pleasaure and purpose; rather, God gives us talents primarily to serve the world in simple and generous ways.
from _Good Words_ (Saint Anthony Messenger Press, 2010)
This is the time of year when we count our blessings and give thanks to our generous God. We also share with our less fortunate brothers and sisters in charity. Why not also take inventory of the talents that God gave us, and examine how we share them with others?
Some guidelines to get your inventory started:
1. Pray for wisdom and insight from the Holy Spirit.
2. Look at what you do well. Think about when others complimented you and gave you feedback for a talent. Write them down, so you have the concrete evidence right in front of you.
3. Think of how you use this talent. When do you use it? How often? On a regular basis (weekly in church or ministry, daily in your family, in your job)? Just as needed (when someone asks for your help or a situation arises)?
4. Notice the last line in the quote: "to serve the world in simple and generous ways." Think of the simple ways that you use your talents. Think of "simple talents" that you have: the ability to listen, the gift of a kind word when needed, a servant's heart that will do the "dirty work" like cleaning up after a meal, the insight to know how to assess a situation and solve a problem. As you ponder these simple ways, does it add to your talent inventory?
5. Thank the Lord because you are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139) Ask the Lord to open you eyes to more opportunities to use these gifts in service to others.
One of the reasons why I love to teach is because I get to know all my wonderful students. When I teach the StrengthsQuest unit, I see some of their talents. I am always thankful for the variety of talents represented in those students. It's like looking at a meadow full of beautiful flowers, each different, each special, each adding to the whole lovely picture.
Give thanks to God, for his mercy and his generosity! Grace and peace to you all!
God does not give us talents for our own pleasaure and purpose; rather, God gives us talents primarily to serve the world in simple and generous ways.
from _Good Words_ (Saint Anthony Messenger Press, 2010)
This is the time of year when we count our blessings and give thanks to our generous God. We also share with our less fortunate brothers and sisters in charity. Why not also take inventory of the talents that God gave us, and examine how we share them with others?
Some guidelines to get your inventory started:
1. Pray for wisdom and insight from the Holy Spirit.
2. Look at what you do well. Think about when others complimented you and gave you feedback for a talent. Write them down, so you have the concrete evidence right in front of you.
3. Think of how you use this talent. When do you use it? How often? On a regular basis (weekly in church or ministry, daily in your family, in your job)? Just as needed (when someone asks for your help or a situation arises)?
4. Notice the last line in the quote: "to serve the world in simple and generous ways." Think of the simple ways that you use your talents. Think of "simple talents" that you have: the ability to listen, the gift of a kind word when needed, a servant's heart that will do the "dirty work" like cleaning up after a meal, the insight to know how to assess a situation and solve a problem. As you ponder these simple ways, does it add to your talent inventory?
5. Thank the Lord because you are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139) Ask the Lord to open you eyes to more opportunities to use these gifts in service to others.
One of the reasons why I love to teach is because I get to know all my wonderful students. When I teach the StrengthsQuest unit, I see some of their talents. I am always thankful for the variety of talents represented in those students. It's like looking at a meadow full of beautiful flowers, each different, each special, each adding to the whole lovely picture.
Give thanks to God, for his mercy and his generosity! Grace and peace to you all!
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