Kelley Ponderings

In 1900, the average American could list thirteen things that were essential to a normal life. By 2000, that list had grown to over 90 things. That’s right from thirteen necessities to ninety necessary things.

Matthew 6:24-33 reminds us that God will take care our things as long as we care for his kingdom. But I still find myself so concerned about trying to grab all the things I see my friends desperately clutching that I have no energy left for pursuing the kingdom.

I imagine that in today’s more complicated world, a person can be totally devoted to God and still need more than the 19th century’s thirteen things. But I’m absolutely convicted that if I desperately grab for everything I see my neighbors grab for, I’m going to miss many opportunities for expanding God’s influence.

Things I used to think were necessities that I wonder about after 4 months of unemployment:

• Vacation
• A different set of clothes for every different occasion
• A car for each adult member of the family
• Throwing away left-over food
• Storing things because “we might need it some day”

One of the things I want to regularly dialogue with God about is “where am I wasting energy in holding on to something that you want me to release?”

I just read a great Advent post reminding us to seek freedom for today’s residents of Bethlehem: Palestinians.

The devotional on Luke 2:1-4 reminded me of the paradox of human sin and God’s grace. Joseph and Mary were forced to leave their home in Nazareth and travel (walk) for three days while Mary was “great with child.” They left Nazareth in submission to an edict from the oppressing power (Rome), who was worried that they weren’t getting enough taxes out from their conquered countries.

As one concerned for human rights, freedom, and dignity, I cringe at imperialism, and feel compassion for those forced to change lives due to greedy economic power houses. Yet . . . the Roman edict moved Joseph and Mary to the perfect, predicted place for Jesus’ arrival.

So God can use even the acts of corrupt foreign empires to serve divine purposes. I see this in my own life, when I stop to reflect (mostly, I just gripe about my life!). I’m unemployed and one reason is the greed of powerful economic forces outside my sphere of influence. The unemployment hurts — but it is also serving God’s purposes in my life.

I wanted to simplify my life: its much simpler. I wanted to define my life apart from possessions; I’m apart from my possessions. I wanted to trust that God was meeting my needs, not an employer; God is meeting my needs.

We are called to work for justice; we are also called to see God’s grace in life-as-it-is.

I’m reading some of the entries for the Advent Tour Blog 2010.

You can jump (and should jump — its worth it) to December 10’s entry right here.

What I heard Jesus saying to me while reading the blog is something like this: “Mark, you’ve read advent too narrowly; you’ve interpreted the gospel symbol of light too literally. I came to bring light to wherever there is darkness. Only rarely is that to people’s minds. Sometimes, I bring the light of healing to the darkness of sickness. Other times, I bring the light of hope to the darkness of despair. Some times I even bring the light of peace to families at war.”

What darkness are you stumbling in today? Could it be that Jesus is the light that will dispel your darkness with the light of his presence?

I’ve been looking for a blog that would keep me engaged Biblically with advent, and I found it here. A great blog with a Bible reading and devotional by a different blogger each day of December.