Monday, August 2, 2010

Monday Wisdom

Today's reading is from Ecclesiastes. No surprise, it keeps us toe to toe with yesterday's Gospel Lesson...the story about the guy who had a bumper crop that was larger than his current barn could hold ... the guy who decided that he simply needed to build a larger barn so he could retain everything for himself.

So there it is... Greed. One of those sins that seeps into our daily privilege of choosing how to save or spend all that we have been given...time, talent, treasure...the very gift of life and breath...our capacity to "be" here today.

How can we prepare for today with an attitude of wise and faithful care? How can we make a truly wise decision regarding how much we will keep for ourselves?

It's still early in the morning...I have so many possibilities before me. I have a body that (thank God!) seems to be functioning. I have a few dollars in my wallet (yes.... money that I can hold in my hand!) I have about 14 hours of waking time (I go to sleep around 9:30 PM) and it has all been given to me for my "wise" care and use.

My choices evolve from the condition of my heart...if I am focused upon my self my heart becomes like the foolish man's barn... a place where I strive to secure my resources and restrict them from being tapped into by others' needs.

But when I start my day with the prayer, "Create in me a clean heart, renew in me a right Spirit", God's love claims all that I have....me, my time, and my resources... and scatters it freely into the time and space of my day...to wherever and whomever needs it most.

And then, oh blessed reality.... the abundant life of living in Christ lavishes my heart and soul with all that I really need.

Now that is Wisdom!

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