(Unofficially) Summer's Here...Now What?
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Well, now, it seems we have passed the unofficial start of summer - the Memorial Day holiday. In our last Let’s Do Lunch, I offered some reflections on this sacred holiday; as we move into what seems to be the summer season, I want to draw upon an implied if not explicit lesson from what should be our perspective on Memorial Day.
In many Memorial Day posts and comments, there is, quite rightly and most appropriately, expressions of gratitude for those who gave their lives in service to their country. Along with these expressions are mentioned the parents, spouses, children, and communities who sent their boys and girls to serve; again, a most proper tribute.
But what about us? What are we doing with the gifts we have been given by God through Christ, gifts empowered by the Holy Spirit? Coming off a weekend where we remember with sacred attitudes those who have given the gift of their lives, do we consciously consider often enough not only the gifts we have been given but also in what ways we do (or do not) use said gifts?
From First Peter, chapter four, verses seven through ten:
The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
One thing that we see over and over in scripture is those who choose to follow Christ are put on notice that our time is limited. Whether through the natural life cycles of birth and death or through the promised second coming of Christ (of which no one knows the time) we are urged - implicitly and explicitly - to not tarry when it comes to pursuing and fulfilling God’s will using the gifts given to us by our Creator. These words from First Peter echo these exhortations.
However, notice the call for specific action in light of the reminder that the end is coming. He wasn’t just giving them some opaque sentimental drivel to inspire them. As one who likes specifics, this resonates with me; the older I get, though, I also appreciate it because it does not leave me wasting time trying to figure it all out.
In a time where there seems to be so much anxiety and fear, I believe we can easily get caught up in a circle of hand-wringing, being paralyzed by the deluge of information and disinformation, to the point we feel we can do nothing. Especially when we feel a sense of paralysis, I think we can find not only words of instruction but words of comfort as we read these words from First Peter.
We have the gift of being guided to ask ourselves the following questions:
Are we serious and disciplined to live a life following Christ for the sake of our prayers?
Do we maintain constant love for one another, knowing that through love for one another rooted in God’s love for all, love covers a multitude of sins - sins against God and one another, sins we commit and those committed against us?
(This oughta be a biggie in today’s era) Are we hospitable to one another without complaining, or do we instigate, further, or dwell upon those things that cause division amongst one another?
Being cognizant of the manifold grace of God that is poured out upon all creation through Christ, do we serve one another with gifts that we have been given by God, gifts we have received through the love of Christ, gifts empowered in us by the Holy Spirit?
Look, Memorial Day has come and gone. Unofficially, summer is upon us. Many of us are starting to crawl out of the stay-at-home orders that have been imposed across the fruited plain. We can, understandably, just run off and do our thing, unshackled from the the confines of quarantine life.
But that’s not to what we are called. We are called to be intentional in how we live, focusing instead on being those who seek to live a life that is a response to the grace, peace, and love of God, incarnate in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
May it be so now and always.