| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Enjoy the journey by redeeming the time” Our Bible verse for today: “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring – what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.” James 4:14 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Reject what drains you; embrace what gives life” In his excellent book, “The Rest of God: Restoring your soul by restoring Sabbath”, Mark Buchanan recounts a scene from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. In this scene the hobbits, along with their guide Strider, are on a perilous journey through dangerous lands, on a mission that could prove fatal for many of them. Halfway through the journey they come to the kingdom of Rivendell, and the Lord of Rivendell, Elrond, offers them a safe haven to rest and recuperate before they continue on to an even more dangerous part of their journey. It’s a wonderful time of renewal for all of them. We read: “For awhile the hobbits continued to talk and think of the past journey and of the perils that lay ahead; but such was the virtue of the land of Rivendell that soon all fear and anxiety was lifted from their minds. The future, for good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have power over the present. Health and hope grew strong in them, and they were content with each day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song.” J.R.R. Tolkien was a Christian, and his stories, although fables, were woven through with Christian themes. Here we read of what is essentially a sabbath orientation, or sabbath thinking. The hobbits were living in the moment, fully embracing it, redeeming the time, and reaping the rewards of doing so, “The future, for good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have power over the present. Health and hope grew strong in them, and they were content with each day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song.” Sabbath thinking; this sabbath orientation to all of life; living in the moment and fully embracing it; includes intentionally rejecting that which drains us and embracing that which gives life. It is life with a restful spirit and a sense of joy and wonder. I love that thought, “Reject what drains you; embrace what gives life.” That sounds like some pretty good advice. I think I’ll do that today. I hope you will too. God bless, Pastor Jim |
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