Telling our story Everyone has a story. It’s one of the things I’ve learned from ministry. Dozens of times I have walked away in awe after planning a funeral with a family who has recounted episodes of a person’s life. Other times, I’ve been privileged to have someone invite me into his or her life and tell me some part of their story. Sometimes painful; sometimes joyful. And as they pull on the threads of their experiences, a tapestry of God’s grace at work begins to emerge. The Bible is, in essence, a storybook – a book of stories. Through the stories of ordinary and extraordinary people, we piece together a picture of how God’s love and mercy and justice have been at work in the world. And each life tells a part of that story, and each part of our lives – good and bad – reveals the storyline. Even the Apostle Paul, who called himself “the chief” of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15), recognized that his wayward ways opened a window on the wideness of God’s grace. So how would you tell the story of your life? If you were to map out your life’s journey to date and note some of the turning points, some of the highs and lows, what would be the theme it would reveal? Who are the people you’ve encountered along the way – the mentors who guided you, the critics who challenged you? Who loved you in spite of yourself? Who gave you a second chance? To whom did you extend a second chance? This week, we’ll explore some of the threads of our own lives to see the colors and textures that make up the tapestry of our lives. Sometimes what we see make look like a series of misguided threads and misshapen knots. But that’s the underside of the tapestry that God is weaving in and through our lives. Turn that work over, and the beauty of those colors becomes apparent. Maybe that’s why Paul could also write, “We are God’s masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT). We’re not just a piece of work. We’re a work of art – by the grace of God. See you Sunday. Grace and peace, Michael
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 23:36:01 +0000
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