Well,...I was hoping to find that I wasn't the first to write on this weeks topic, as I wasn't really sure where to start, or what I was going to write. This weeks reflection has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me. But anyway, I'll begin with this... God's love can not be 'earned', it is to be 'received', and in receiving God's love, and following Jesus, we become disciples. God chooses us because he loves us, not because we are perfect, but just as we are. Surely I knew this already? So why have I found this such a powerful message this week? I'm sure I've never thought of myself as a disciple, and I'm still not sure I do now. For a start, prayer. I know that left to my own devices I do not pray enough. I don't pray every day, I don't pray regulalry, and if I try to pray in bed, I fall asleep (...definitley not perfect!). I know I should, but I don't. My days are so busy I forget to make time to be still with God. I'm sure I am not alone in this, but today this has made me feel just awful. Something to work on...
We have been asked to think about whether our 'natural talents and dispositions' are gifts from God, or a result of our 'character, upbringing and chance'. Perhaps both have a part in who we become and how we respond to God's call. God gives us the potential, our personal stories shape how we respond. We do not all have the same gifts, and we are not all expected to reach the same level of attainment (as measured by society), but we are all called to love God, and to love our neighbours as ourselves, in everything we do. This might be a bit simple, but is this not what God wants of us? I have this idea of us as God's jigsaw pieces. We are all different shapes based on our talents, ability and experiences, but when we come together to love and serve the Lord, we interlock / fit together to build God's Kingdom.
A year ago my faith was at a very low ebb. I was disheartened and struggling to feel God's presence in the community were I live. I was missing the fellowship of others. I was ready to give up. I'm not quite sure what kept me going, but I'm in a very different place now. I have a job more suited to my skills and experience, have sought fellowship in a neighbouring parish, and have stepped up to support worship in my village church. I hope I am starting to fulfill God's purpose for me at this time in this place. Perhaps I am becoming a disciple after all.
reading your first paragraph struck a chord with me , I've a busy hectic life i sometimes struggle to find a few minutes to focus on God but I know he's there with me. I agree with you that all our abilities and experiences together interlock but by doing this we can become stronger in our faith and not feel alone
Thank you Phillip. I can work with 'apprentice'. The more I study the more I realise how Jesus has been guiding me, and helping me throught the difficult times. I think what I went through last year was maybe necessary to help me re-evaluate what God want's of me, and what I should do about it. Always learning, always growing, always moving forward...I hope.
Thanks for sharing your personal reflections Amada - you raise as always some very good points, and I appreciate your openness and honesty in your reflections, gives all of us courage to do the same :-) I was especially struck by your comment about not feeling like you are a disciple which I too can relate to, perhaps as one way to look at this is thinking of ourselves as apprentices of Jesus - we are his travelling companions on a journey, learners who are being transformed by being on that journey, so as his students we are constantly learning and evolving and always willl....so we aren't that finished product of discipleship yet, and will always be learning, but know we have the love of God along that path.