The Work of our Hands

            Many years ago before cable television and when most persons only had less than a dozen television stations to watch, there was a television show called “Dobie Gillis”.     One of the characters on the show was named Maynard G. Krebs and was played by Bob Denver.   As I remember Maynard G.  Krebs,  he always had an adverse reaction when the word “work” was said.    Maynard G. Krebs was a character who wanted to avoid work like most of us want to avoid a toothache. 

            I think about Maynard G. Krebs as another Labor Day approaches.  I give thanks to God for those who work and add  to my quality of life.    While many folks are looking forward to having a long weekend with a view of the mountains or water,   Labor Day is a time to celebrate the American worker.    Perhaps there was a time when what people ate, wore, and lived in was a direct result of the work of their own hand.   I think it generally true that such a time is no more in the part of the world I live.   Most of us everyday eat food that someone else produced or prepared.    Most of us wear clothes that someone else made and live in homes that someone else built.  In many cases,  we know not the name of the person that produced that food, built our home, or made our clothes.   We are indebted to workers whose names we know not. 

            The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle of Jesus found in all four gospels.   The stories are similar in nature, but Johns gospel tells us something the other gospels do not mention:  the few loaves and few fish that Jesus used to feed thousands of men, women, and children were the direct result of the generosity of a little boy who shared his food with Jesus.    As Labor Day comes, I encourage you to enjoy a holiday and time away in your favorite places.  However,  I also encourage you to take a moment to give thanks to God for the worker who adds to your quality of life.  You may not know their name anymore than we know the name of a little boy whose food  blessed by Jesus fed thousands long ago.     Have a joy-filled week and Labor Day.-  Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:  Lord and God, thank you for the blessing of work and the difference it makes in our lives.   I give thanks for those whose name I know not who bless me through the work of their hands; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

Where Have You Been?

            “Where have you been?”    That seems like an appropriate question for readers of this blog to ask this writer since it has been about 2 months since I wrote in this blog.    I am glad that to say that I have not been ill of body or spirit nor have I been pouting about a comment someone made about this blog.    “Where have you been?”  Well, let’s see.   Since the last time I wrote in this blog I have had  fun-filled hours playing with my 5 grandchildren… and some short trips to the coast with my beloved wife, Ann.    I have read books and listened to books on CD.   I have enrolled in a conversational Spanish class at a local community college.   I have watched new movies and old movies.    I have exercised regularly and finally started doing a daily log of the foods I eat.   

“Where have you been?”    I know you were specifically asking to know what happened to my blog and the answer is this:  I simply decided I needed to take a break from writing.   Those of you who have known me for several years  may recall that I have been writing a blog of some sort for some time.     The earliest record that I can find is back in 2004, 12 years ago.   I have written a devotion or blog as least once a week for those 12 years though I did take a break over  some holidays.   After 12 years and since I am in this new season of my life called retirement (or semi-retirement),   I felt that I needed to take a break.

            When someone takes a break and goes “below the radar”  we often think that someone must be mad or something must be wrong.    We have this expectation that people must always be busy and productive.    One of the things this new season of life called retirement is teaching me is that it is okay to take a break and rest.    It is not only okay to rest, but it is also Biblical.  We see that truth in the scriptures.    If you read the Bible from the beginning,  you  only read through one chapter of the Bible before you encounter rest in Genesis 2:2-3 where we read:

² By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

            Everyone and everything needs a time of rest.   I not only wish that for you, but I believe that God desires that for you.    I will be back with my blog again on a regular basis, and will talk to you again soon.    Have a joy-filled day.-   Pastor Randy Wall

 Prayer:  Living God, forgive our arrogance to think that the world is indispensable with us.  Remind us regularly, Lord, that there is a time to work and a time to rest;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.