“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10
“He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.” – John 15:2
Yesterday in worship I talked about change and asked you to consider the question, “What permanent changes would you like to make or keep from this time of crisis?” As I have shared before, I am most often preaching to myself and you just get to listen in. So I have been wrestling with this question.
I am finding that this is a time of pulling back and refocusing on the core elements of life. Both at home and here at the church I have quite literally been clearing out and giving away items that are no longer of use. (Saturday’s Green and Clean event came at a perfect time!)
Of course this isn’t just getting rid of stuff. It is making way for new growth in what remains. This season is like a time of pruning in our lives. We are able to place our energy and focus into the most important things.
As I was reflecting on this, I heard a voice in my head. It wasn’t the voice of God, it was the voice of Jack Palance from the 1991 movie City Slickers, in which his character Curley engages in this dialog with Billy Crystal’s character, Mitch:
Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is? [holds up one finger]
Curly: This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don’t mean ####.
Mitch: But, what is the “one thing?”
Curly: [smiles] That’s what *you* have to find out.
Jesus figured out what was most important. He knew his purpose. He lived simply. And all that he did was to bring new and meaningful life to the world. Jesus is the secret of life.
Jesus helps us to figure out our “one thing” as well. We must work out the details of how it will play out in our lives, but the big picture? Our basic purpose?
“He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’” – Luke 10:27
Pastor George
Loving God, help us to remember our one thing. Help us to love. When understandable worry, practical fear, and reasonable anger get in the way, help us to recycle these into works of justice, mercy, and peace. When obligations, busyness, and boredom take up too much space in our hearts and minds, prune them back so that we may bear the fruits of righteousness and grace. Empty us and fill us anew we pray, in Christ our Lord. Amen.