A meatball in my cuff
I was rushing to get to our church council meeting last Thursday…it was one of those evenings where time was flying and the kids were in full melt-down mode after a long day. I frantically made supper and tried to get everyone in a good place before heading out the door again. I sat down at the leadership meeting and crossed my legs to relax a bit. My fellow council member, Laun, who was sitting next to me, glanced over and pulled something from the cuff of my pants. Was it some lint, a pen cap? Oh no. It was a meatball. Laun had a harder time identifying it, but I knew right away…one of my kids must have a pretty good jump shot and so there it landed.
Laun smiled and we both laughed. Others look over at this obscure looking piece of meat and quietly whispered “I remember those days”.
Funny, but that meatball is just what I needed at that moment. Something to ground me again to who I am –a pastor, a mom, a regular human being living the details of life at full speed ahead. A reminder that there is more to life that trying to make it all work—sometimes we get a glimpse of those unexpected joys nestled in hubbub of the daily grind.
Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”. Matthew 5: 13-16
I think sometimes we try too hard to figure out what being a follower of Jesus is all about. What if we stopped trying so hard and just were salt and light in the world? Someone who brings out the flavor of faith to others— sharing a word of hope and encouragement to someone in bland situation, offering a hand to someone who needs it to open a crack of light in murky place, generously giving to someone who is searching for the means to ignite a brighter future, sharing the simplicity of God’s love to season the ins and outs of daily life, reflecting on a meatball in the cuff of your pants.
Jesus tells we are salt and light—it is nothing we have to aspire to be—we already have it, God has given it to us. My hope for this blog is that it will be a place to wonder about salt and light in the world—reflections on people, experiences and questions (not to mention supper leftovers)—space to write about where we see God in this world…
So food for thought—literally.
Pastor beth
