Saturday, March 7, 2026

 

A Reflective moment (or hour) on a morning in Kauwai



After reading the above scriptures I have come to the conclusion that if you really wanted to follow Jesus, and/or be one with God, or perhaps a leader of others or followers, that you merely had to be trained and follow some basic principles and be tutoured by one appointed through God.

Specifically, in Mark 6:

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. 

Jesus wanted some rest and a chance to discuss what they had seen and learned. This of course wasn’t to be, as the crowds had followed Him and that about 5000 joined him for dinner consisting of a meal of bread and fish. 

David writes in Psalms of his instructions he received:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?     
By living according to your word.     
I seek you with all my heart; 
do not let me stray from your commands.

The lessons and rules continue in 1 Kings 3:3-14: 

Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?  

Solomon is given the rules by Eli as well as the Lord himself as he grows into the role of King.

These rules and principles as listed above and contained in the readings are straight forward and able to be followed once they are learned and, more importantly, followed.  

In reflection of my own life, I probably followed most at sometime or another. What was missing is the consistency of always. We as children of God are forgiven and of given more chances. It is merely a statement of perfection that we try to achieve and repeat in our dealings with the Holy Trinity and fellow humans.

In our coursework on mission, whether we are presenting or receiving materials and information, we are often told that we are apprentices of the Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The beauty of this designation is that as apprentices, we are still learning the process and practising. We are allowed to make errors and in fact we learn from those errors and gain from them.

As we observe the Lent season, I would ask the you not to focus on the “give ups” but rather focus on the “take ons.” That is to say, take on one or two or more of the suggestions presented in these three readings and work on your gifts to the Lord. Practise and don’t give up. May you be blessed this Lent. And onward throughout the year.

Michael Larsen

 

Here I Am, Lord   Colin Raye


 

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