STEWARDSHIP: THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY

  “ . .  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.’’ LUKE 12:48

     I need to write about stewardship to remind myself how I need to look at both good and the bad, the bright and the dark side of life.  The dark side of life is the opposite of the bright side.  That is profound!  But think of the times (as often I must), like this week and last week, when there seems to be a preponderance of dark stuff as I continue to deal with surgery to correct some of the aftermath of  prostate cancer. I understand that this is not my whole life, cancer, it just happens to be the focus, presently, the dark stuff of which I am equally accountable.    

     Dark stuff, bad stuff, cancer, lupus, unemployment and the list could go on to include whatever is in your life currently just seems to block out the sunshine and the Son-shine.  Just because I, we, can’t see the light, doesn’t mean that there is no light.  It just means the absence of light, at the moment. 

     I was sharing with a friend who is going through a particularly dark moment in her life as she battles Lupus and its’ seemingly insurmountable list of ways it can affect ones body. I, too, experience those dark days when the storm(s) rage mightily.  And, it is tough for all of us.  But, when the storms are great and the fear and doubt are ever present...I can’t tell God how big my storms are.  I must tell the storms how big my, our, God is.

 

     We can not let our storms take us to the depth of depression but we must take our storms to the mountain tops of prayer where we can meet with our Source...our source of Son Shine. Let not the deluge of despair cause you to wallow in the darkness of self-pity but encourage you to bath in God’s sunshine of compassion.

     “The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”  He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he (Jesus) got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”  MATTHEW 8:25-26

GARDENING TIP:  The purchase of a 'spare' plant or tree which can be parked near by can often be an inexpensive way to replace an invaluable foundation or specimen plant.