Where God shines through

Decades ago, a friend taught me this little poem.  It's a gentle reminder of purpose; how to get self out of the way; how to go forward when we're not sure.  Letting God shine his love through us is always progress.

I am the place where God shines through,

For He and I are one, not two.

I need not fret, or fear, nor plan.

He wants me where and as I am.

And if I'll be relaxed and free,

He will express Himself through me.

This little girl wasn't expecting any Christmas gifts.

Life as a river

Have you ever thought of life as a river?

The Mississippi River in the American Midwest is a dandy example of humble beginnings. At its Minnesota headwaters, it’s less than three feet deep. It increases in size gradually as other streams feed into it. What if rocks and boulders get in the way? No matter. The river flows right around them. What if a forest gets in the way? No matter; it cuts right through the forest.

The law of gravity assures that the Mississippi will achieve its purpose to reach the Gulf of Mexico.

Now what if your life and mine flow with a pre-ordained purpose, say to praise and honor our creator? And if that creator is infinite good, then our lives, even though they may seem modest to us, carry that momentum of spiritual purpose to surge around would-be obstacles and to find their paths through unfamiliar forests. Goodness that originates in God flows unstoppably.

And there is a wonderful law of Life that guarantees our lives will realize their God-given intent – to honor God and to bless our fellow men. And nothing can stand in the way of that achievement. No sadness, no disappointments, no economic uncertainties, no accidents can obstruct the good God has for us to do. The thrust of our lives flows around whatever looms ahead as a hindrance. If a rock isn’t contributing to our God-given purpose, it gets left behind, unimportant and forgotten.

Making the most of each present moment on that river of life is what counts. We may wait out a storm in the safety of a shelter, but God doesn’t intend for us to sit tied up at the dock indefinitely. With renewed supplies and vision for our journey, we continue.

What opportunities await?