Dear Rose Park,
I’m an early riser; most days my alarm goes off at 5:00am. I like the stillness and quiet of the mornings. I also learned relatively quickly after having children, if I want quiet and solitude it either has to occur early in the morning or late at night. Seeing that I’m falling asleep before 10:00pm on the couch I choose to rise a bit earlier than most, take the dog for a walk, brew a pot of coffee and maybe get a crossword in before 6:30am.
On Saturday’s, I rise early to go for a run. Sometimes I’ll join the Holland Running Club on various routes throughout the area, but a few Saturday’s ago I drove down to Kollen Park to get in a few miles before the group. I ran west from Kollen Park towards Heinz Pickle Factory on the boardwalk. As I listened to the rhythm of my steps I noticed the stillness of Lake Macatawa. I saw the reflection of homes across the lake, gulls flying high in the sky, and the beautiful blending of oranges, reds, and yellows as the sun started to rise behind me.
It caused me to think about reactions and reflections. In other words: is the way I react to my circumstances a reflection of God’s faithful love? Am I speaking in such a way that reflects God’s kindness and love to others? Am I treating others in such a way that reflects the goodness of God’s love? Am I listening to others in such a way that reflects God’s patient love? Or am I reflecting something completely different? When I get cut off in traffic without a wave of apology, do I react and reflect God’s love? When we endure another season of political-campaign commercials, we we react and reflect God’s love?
Each and every one of us are filled with God’s love; Paul’s opening words to the church in Ephesus remind us of this foundational truth: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Before we were even born, God poured His love into us. As followers of Christ, we are now called to reflect that love to everyone around us. Keep in mind, reflecting the love of Christ has less to do with our emotions and more to do with our faithfulness. I don’t always feel like reflecting His love in my speech or actions, but if I can put my feelings aside temporarily, I can remain faithful to the Kingdom and point others back to Christ with grace and truth.
So, are you reflecting the love of Jesus to your spouse, children, neighbors, colleagues, and even adversaries? When the sun reflects off the lake or even the windshield of a car, may you be reminded that He poured Himself into you before the creation of the world so that you might reflect His love to others.
Grace & Peace,
