Seeing the Face of Christ in Ourselves--Sunday, February 26, 2012

Isaiah 61:1-4

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; ²to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; ³to provide for those who mourn in Zion —  to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. ⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

A while back, I was asked to consider serving as a Board member of a prestigious institution.  My first reaction was to say, “Thanks for asking, but no I’m not really interested.”  Instead, I said I would give it some thought and get back to the person who had asked me.  What later struck me was that person saw something in me that I did not know existed in me.  After some soul searching and reflection I decided to accept that awesome responsibility.

At one of our first meetings together, and with quite a large group, this basic question was posed to all of us; “Do you run in the pack or are you more prone to be out front leading the pack” (are you a leader).  That first year was a real learning experience.  I noticed the blank stares, with eyes cast downward and virtually no one wanting to make eye contact with either the moderator or even other Board members.  Sometimes, the silence was just deafening.  What it made me realize was each of us have to get involved, if you’re going to have an impact on things going on in your life.

The ascent to the mountaintop is never easy.  It’s usually filled with twists and turns and a lot of unknowns that lie ahead.  I thank God for my positive outlook on life and know that encouraging and working with others builds camaraderie, trust and a true sense of being.       

Rick Lindstrom     

For reflection:

Think of a situation which stretched you or challenged you.  What new things did you discover about yourself?

Talk a family member or trusted friend that knows you intimately, and be bold to ask, “What do you see in me, that you think I might not see in myself?”  Then, turn the tables and do the same for your conversation partner.

Consider Lent as a time, not just to “give up” something, but as a time to discover new ways to serve the Lord with boldness.