https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI41MtiNsls. Opportunity (An Excerpt from Evan Almighty)

I saw this video, and while this film is over ten years old, I think the message is perfect for today. I think many, myself included, are praying for courage, patience, peace, and unity during this time of unbelief and uncertainty. I don’t know about you, but everyday I am flabbergasted by the behavior of my country. But perhaps we need to see what we are experiencing as an opportunity and pray for that opportunity: An opportunity to speak for those who can’t, to feed the hungry, to protect the vulnerable and to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world.

There is so much confusion and chaos. I listen to both sides of the news and things are so far off that one wonders- where is the truth? Because, both sides claim they have the truth. The old Bob Dylan song comes to mind, “With God on Our Side”.

I am reminded that God is not a God of chaos and confusion. His message is clear and simple: love Me and love your neighbor. For me that means following Jesus- the Incarnate, God here on earth-and following His tenets.

But we have made the message so complicated because of our need to be in charge- we want to be our own god and to lord over others. Completely opposite of the simplicity that God intended. When most of the world is competing to be top god, it gets very difficult to suss out the truth. But as a friend always reminds me, “Where’s the fruit?”

What about you? How do you manage the polarity of “truth” in today’s world? Do you look at the world and see a mess or an opportunity?

And so, I leave you with another song- Burt Bacharach’s 1965 song, What the World Needs Now . As you listen, may you be reminded that today is another opportunity to be a blessing to someone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfHAs9cdTqg&list=RDFfHAs9cdTqg&start_radio=1

Yesterday I received in the mail my twelfth published book. (I have contributed to 12 books of either devotionals or essays in addition to my ongoing contributions to a caregivers magazine). I had forgotten that it was coming out. (guideposts.org)