Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Reflection: Global warming aside, I would be delighted to see the snow melt tomorrow and to feel the temperatures rise beyond 20 degrees Fahrenheit. While I'm dreaming, I would also welcome the dawning of world peace with tomorrow's sunrise; I'd even be willing to wait for peace to arrive on Saturday, if it needs a few extra days. Amidst a world that values instant gratification and preferences argument over compromise, Paul's teachings promote an entirely different perspective. He writes in essence, "Trust in the time and process of growth. Work hard together on God's projects." Like spring must wait for the earth to tilt its face toward the sun, like a seed must be nurtured before it can grow, our wisdom and our faith and our worldview cannot be expected to mature instantaneously; neither can peace arrive at a moment's notice simply by the power of our wishfulness. Peace takes time. Peace takes work. Faith, too, takes time and work. Daunting though those tasks may be, it's amazing that God invites us to be part of the Divine process: to commit ourselves to growing and to being built continually for the glory of God ... in other words, to work together for God's gratification rather than our own instant gratification. --Rachel Hackenberg, United Church of Christ Minister and former CML Staff Member Prayer: We are seeds, ready to be nurtured. We are watering cans, blessing the growth of one another. We are gardeners, working the soil with faith for what will come. You alone, O God, know what will grow amidst it all. We trust you as we (re)commit ourselves to the work of growth. Amen.
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