SPRING WATERS

As we sat around McDonalds Sunday afternoon looking over snapshots of this weekend's rendezvous with the Master, I was feeling the hesitation to go back down. The feeling was summed up in my friend's comment, "Now it's time to pay bills again." I felt the same way. Can't we just stay up here? How about another skit? Maybe one more praise and worship? How about another session on holiness?

Then I am reminded of Jesus' disciples when they felt the same way when their Master took them to the mountain. They did not want to come back down anymore. Like them, I missed the point for the whole experience at the heights. Now the work begins. We follow the footsteps of Jesus as he left all heaven's glory to fulfill the will of the Father. Just like spring waters from the summit, purified by the Lord we cascade down to the valleys below to bring the love of God to the most unlikely places - perhaps a PTA meeting, or a school, a corporation at a high rise building, the sick, the homeless or wherever the Lord sends us.

ON GLORY AND INCOVENIENCE

I still remember the panic I felt when I started to hear about these giant companies going down. I panicked because the quality of life that I have been so used to is being threatened. I have become so spoiled with all the modern conveniences that I panicked at the thought that all this might be coming to an end.

It reminded me of when I was still in the Philippines back in the 80's. I didn't have a car, a cellphone, computers - not even a colored TV. But we felt content, and we were happy. That's why even when the Volcano erupted and we had to flee cramped inside a jeepney with 16 other people, we took it in stride. Now, we panic when our Direct TV is out even for just a moment.

This also reminds me of how far away I am from the teachings of Christ. He willingly left the glory of heaven to be born in a stingy manger. He lived here on earth as a carpenter, and He willingly laid down his life to die a most humiliating death. If I really call myself a disciple of Christ, I need to hold on to these earthly things more loosely, and be willing to be inconvenienced if it is for His glory.