Random thoughts from beyond middle age - as I wonder/wander through life.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Random thoughts (2)
This thought came to me while praying this morning: How much real ministry do we miss because we think it has to be WORK? Life is ministry. May we not forget to live life, for the sake of doing "things" we think we're "supposed to" do.
Hm, maybe its because my mind is in a mental fog from college starting up again, but could you clarify what you mean in the last sentence of this thought? It seems like it could be understood in two different ways...??? Anyhow, I like it. It kind of takes the pressure off of you to be doing "great" things, and instead just do whatever we can, wherever we are at in life.
Hi Emily, Excellent point. I will try to clarify, because, now that you mention it, I can see how someone might take it as though I'm saying we don't need to do ANYTHING. And I'm NOT saying that.
What I was actually thinking about, in particular, was the fact that I need to go visit someone who is having some health problems. They don't attend my church, but there is a "connection" and I felt like it was something I "needed" to do because they're going to be going into the hospital for some tests. And it occurred to me... why do I now consider this ministry, but if I were to just stop and visit with them any other day it wouldn't be? You know, like, shouldn't I try to have the same attitude and do the same things no matter what reason I am talking with someone? Therefore ministry opportunities exist in every conversation, with every person, every day...
I suppose another example could be something my son, Isaac, was struggling with. They are having a dance at college on the same night they eat with the homeless. Some people were choosing to go to the dance instead of go to Indy. I realize there is a choice, and a difference, between the two options. But I think perhaps both of them are ministry opportunities. You could impact someone else's life in a positive way no matter which thing you chose to do. So it's not an "either/or", but a "both/and" kind of thing.
You summed it up well when you said it's "just doing whatever we can, wherever we are at in life." :)
Hope this helps clarify, and thanks for inquiring. Here's to a good second semester!
2 comments:
Hm, maybe its because my mind is in a mental fog from college starting up again, but could you clarify what you mean in the last sentence of this thought? It seems like it could be understood in two different ways...??? Anyhow, I like it. It kind of takes the pressure off of you to be doing "great" things, and instead just do whatever we can, wherever we are at in life.
Hi Emily,
Excellent point. I will try to clarify, because, now that you mention it, I can see how someone might take it as though I'm saying we don't need to do ANYTHING. And I'm NOT saying that.
What I was actually thinking about, in particular, was the fact that I need to go visit someone who is having some health problems. They don't attend my church, but there is a "connection" and I felt like it was something I "needed" to do because they're going to be going into the hospital for some tests. And it occurred to me... why do I now consider this ministry, but if I were to just stop and visit with them any other day it wouldn't be? You know, like, shouldn't I try to have the same attitude and do the same things no matter what reason I am talking with someone? Therefore ministry opportunities exist in every conversation, with every person, every day...
I suppose another example could be something my son, Isaac, was struggling with. They are having a dance at college on the same night they eat with the homeless. Some people were choosing to go to the dance instead of go to Indy. I realize there is a choice, and a difference, between the two options. But I think perhaps both of them are ministry opportunities. You could impact someone else's life in a positive way no matter which thing you chose to do. So it's not an "either/or", but a "both/and" kind of thing.
You summed it up well when you said it's "just doing whatever we can, wherever we are at in life." :)
Hope this helps clarify, and thanks for inquiring. Here's to a good second semester!
peace,
dh
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