Dear Rose Park,
It’s hard to believe another year has gone by. Another Christmas celebrated, another service of remembering those who have passed away and celebrating those who joined our church family, another year of decorations and family gatherings. Given this cyclical nature, it can be so tempting to jump on the hamster wheel, simply throw our lives into cruise control and go through the motions.
Another January has arrived. Maybe you’re preparing for another stretch of classes, another spring semester, another week-long intensive at the seminary, another winter sports season, or even another year of snow-birding down south. Because we are creatures of habit, it can be so tempting to zone out and go through the motions of our daily lives, but when we do, we will miss so much that God desires to show us.
I’ve heard these same kinds of comments as it relates to the worship of the Church. Another Sunday. Another sermon. Another prayer of confession. Another ordination and installation service of elders and deacons. They’re all the same, aren’t they? Absolutely not. The difference between the temptation of the hamster wheel and the rhythms of our liturgy is our awareness to the presence of God. The Apostle Paul writes to the Colossians: since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3: 1&2).
We set our eyes and minds on earthly things when we mindlessly go around the hamster wheel another time; we set our eyes and minds on God when we fully participate (mind, body, and spirit) in the rhythms of our liturgy not just on Sunday mornings but throughout the week as well. We set our eyes on things above when we pray with God on our morning commute. We set our eyes on things above when we revel in the silence and counsel of God before making a life-changing decision. We set our eyes on things above when we remind ourselves of the forgiveness He offers as we bathe and cleanse ourselves each day.
This is all to say, as you begin another calendar year set your eyes on things above, where Christ is, so as to avoid the temptation of mindlessly jumping on the hamster wheel of life and missing all that God desires to show you. Instead, embrace the freshness and newness of each day in order to be drawn closer to each other as you’re drawn closer to Him.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark