July 13, 2012
One of my favorite storytellers
is Garrison Keillor. He is famous for his yarns about a fictional small town in
Minnesota called Lake Wobegon often told on the syndicated radio program "A
Prairie Home Companion". The parody is about the fact that, from the outside,
nothing much exciting happens there, but if you live in Lake Wobegon, there is
always "news". Keillor finishes every newscast from Lake Wobegon with the
phrase; "where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking and all
the children, above average".
It is a bit of an overstatement
to say that we don't live in Lake Wobegon. We live in the extremes of stress and
escape. We are either so busy with so many important things or we run away to
mindless, self-indulgent, sometimes dysfunctional endeavors. Psychologists call
it "fight or flight".
God calls us to the simple joys
of everyday living. God calls us to appreciate the ordinary experiences in our
lives that are extraordinary because of God's love. Philippians 4: 4-7 says:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness
be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God.And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Garrison Keillor states:
"Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith rules through
ordinary things: through cooking and small talk, through storytelling, making
love, fishing, tending animals and sweet corn and flowers, through sports, music
and books, raising kids-- all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace
shines through."
This week are you living in the
extremes or in the places where "the gravy soaks in and the grace shines
through"?
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