Are we among the fearful?

Facebook has some interesting posts especially with the political wrangling that goes on all the time.  Someone posted a wonderful article written by a retired United Methodist pastor for the Argus Leader in South Dakota.   For me it puts words to what I'm feeling and thinking these days... let me share a bit.   

 Back in the 1960s, First United Methodist Church of Sioux Falls had built a high school building at the American Institute (in Bolivia), and the bishop was there to celebrate all of the contributions the graduates of that school had made to their country.  One of them asked the bishop: “I have noted how worshippers in the churches down here always seem so happy and full of joy when they sing and dance and worship. Most of them are so poor, I don’t understand what they have to be so happy about. Why do you think that is?”

The bishop smiled and said: “I think it must be because you in the richest nations live with a fear that you might lose what you have, while we in the poorest nations have little or nothing, but we live in the hope that God is gracious and good and will give us all that we need to live. We are just very thankful for food and a place to be sheltered from the cold or the rain.”

I thought of the bishop’s words when I read a Dec. 30 headline in the Argus Leader, “Market drop is first ‘cliff’ fear.” Followed was the news that “Anxious South Dakotans race to shield assets against tax hits.” It is interesting that our courthouses were being mobbed by wealthy citizens afraid of losing what they have rather than by people on food stamps who might not know where their next meal will come from. Many of the poor already have fallen over the fiscal cliff and are just glad to be alive.

 Here's a link to the full article in the Argus Leader.   

 



Celebrating the opening of the United Methodist Women Organization convention. 

 
To say that we didn't all envy the joy and spirit we experienced each time we were with the women of Sierra Leone would probably be an understatement. We loved each and every worship time...and some were impromtu. The singing and dancing will long be remembered.   Are we fearful of losing what we have?  Or are we open to the sheer joy of being one in Christ?