reflections from the park
(from my journal yesterday)
I sat at the park yesterday finishing a book (Speaking My Mind see left), started a new one ( Searching for God Knows What ) and people watching. I was sitting near a “lake.” Really more like a pond. There was a young family near me - 2 young girls with parents in tow. Kids enjoy “fishing” like no one else I know. It is in quotes because I am sure it doesn’t meet the standards of many anglers. How many times is it physically possible to reel in a line in a minute? They hardly had lines in the water before the youngest had a bite (she was a young two-ish). What a fun scene. There was also a fish in the water directly in front of me. I was sure of this because it kept coming and nipping the surface. After awhile, I thought “I wonder if fish eat cheese.” I am sure this was on your mind also. Yes, in fact they do. It was gone just shortly after it hit the water. Then of course my brain started thinking. Just down the way they were offering food also - it was just on the end of a pointy hook. My cheese had no conditions. In fact I did not see the fish or evidence of it again. So being a minister I headed down the path of pratical application. (It did not help that I had just finished Tony Campolo’s book). How often do we (Christians) offer things to the world with conditions or hooks in them. How often when we reach out as christian ministries or churches, do we put conditions on what it takes for assistance (come to church being a big one)? Have we created an ugly pairing? By doing this have we distorted the image of Jesus. I firmly believe that in a world such as ours - ministry to the immediate needs of individuals opens doors to verbally sharing the gospel (I also believe that it is shared in the actions) - but it being a condition scares the heck out of me.
the end.