Don’t miss the easy stuff
AM Psalm 80 • PM Psalm 77, [79]
2 Kings 5:1-19 • 1 Cor. 4:8-21 • Matt. 5:21-26
Today’s passages are filled with rich material for a morning reflection. So much so that I grabbed my pen and before I knew it, I had written several versions. I was on a roll. Then I had to decide which one to polish and submit. So, I pondered...and pondered. Only after several days of indecision, did I realize I had not once sought God’s input. So those early, easy versions were destined for the recycle bin. Or were they?
Then I saw a note I had written just above the story of Naaman: “Sometimes it’s easy to do God’s will.” It certainly was for Naaman but he didn’t see it that way at first.
And lots of times neither do I.
Naaman’s story is reflective of the way we sometimes approach doing God’s will. This strong, valiant soldier “but with leprosy” as the writer of Kings bluntly points out, hears good news that there is a path to healing. He goes to his boss and his boss sends him on to Joram, the King of Israel, who freaks out when he reads the letter of introduction. King Joram’s reaction is itself fodder for a morning reflection. After being reminded that there is a Prophet in Israel, the King sends Naaman to Elisha. Elisha doesn’t even bother to greet him. He sends out a “messenger” with the weirdest instructions – go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. At this point Naaman has had it. Any of us who have tried at the airport to rebook a cancelled flight can understand his frustration. I am surprised he didn’t just scream “don’t you know who I am!”
Cooler heads prevail and Naaman does exactly as the prophet instructed. Through this simple act of obedience, he is healed of his leprosy and granted the gift of God’s grace. God heals the whole man.
I venture that doing God’s will is more often than not just that easy. God wants us to love Him with all our heart, mind, strength, and soul; to love each other; to be helpful and kind; to keep His commandments, all of them; and to simply have a relationship with Him. I am not blind to the fact that doing God’s will, or even knowing God’s will, is sometimes very hard. For confirmation of that we need look no further than the lives of Abraham, Moses, Jesus or any of a host of other people in the Bible. I am comforted to know that God smiles when I just try. I have decided to never miss the easy times. I’ve decided to be more mindful and aware of those and to not take them for granted. Those early drafts of this reflection were not meant to be published but they led me to a deeper understanding of what God wants. Maybe they don’t belong in the trash.
Written by Dennis McKinnie
Trying my best to put many smiles on God’s face.