Christian Reflection and Prayer

Recently I had a birthday and I came to the sudden
realization that I'm getting old. The follow is so
very true.

I suppose you've all heard at least a few of the "how do
you know you are getting older?" quips. But this morning,
I am happy to report that someone has finally compiled
the ultimate, TOP 10 list of reasons. So here goes.

You know you are getting older when:

Number 10: Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt, doesn't work.

Number 9: The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bifocals.

Number 8: Your little black book contains only names ending in M.D.

Number 7: You get winded playing chess.

Number 6: You begin turning out lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.

Number 5: Your back goes out more than you do.

Number 4: A fortune teller offers to read your face.

Number 3: The little gray-haired lady you help across the street is your wife.

Number 2: You sink your teeth in a steak, and they stay there.  

And finally, the number 1 reason you know you are getting older:
You decide to procrastinate, but never get around to it!
  
Too slow! Always "a day late and a dollar short." Does that
describe anyone you know -- late for work, late for Church, late
for appointments? For example, there was a certain funeral
director who had just laid to rest the husband of an old friend.
After the graveside service, the widow was the only mourner to
get into the big funeral limousine. She had no children, and no
other relatives. During the drive home, the funeral director
spoke in earnest tones to the widow. "Mary," he said, "I want
to tell you something, but please don't be offended. I've been
secretly in love with you all these years. That's why I never
married. Because of John, I never said anything about it. But
now he's gone. All my life I've been a procrastinator. All my
life I've been too slow about everything. But this time I'm not
going to wait. So, Mary, if you should ever think of marrying
again, just remember I asked you first." To which Mary replied,
"Tom, I appreciate that very much, but John's doctor has
already asked me."  

WHO WAS JESUS?

For some reason I have been recently in discussions
with several people about, "Who was (and is) Jesus:?

How do you explain faith?  How do you explain
belief?  How do you explain how Jesus has transformed
your life and transformed the world?

Who was Jesus? Why did he come? Some people
think it was to save them only from their sins, so
their spiritual focus is only personal salvation.
Others appreciate Jesus' teachings but see little
connection between the wise teacher of old and
how they live life here and now.

I believe both groups have lost the true vision of who
Jesus is—a vision that changes everything about us
and our world. What we believe about Jesus has the
power to transform how we treat our neighbors—
including the poor, the marginalized, and our enemies
—and promote the common good.

That's who Jesus is to me. Yes I truly believe and
have faith, that He died for my sins, so I don't have to
carry the burden of those wrong things that I do in
my life. But He really transformed me and how I treat
others, the poor, the marginalized, people who so
many don't give a damn about, people who don't like
me, people who hate me and my country that I
live in, my enemies. Jesus has changed me and
how I think of all these people and how I treat them.

All my life I have been different, some thought odd,
some put labels on me like liberal, agitator, hippie,
coward, and many other labels. And I know why!
It's because Jesus changed me, He transformed me.
That doesn't make right all the time, but it does
make me changed, and it does make me different.

I really love Jesus, and what's even more amazing is
that He loves me.  I guess that makes me who and
what I am. It certainly makes me different because
I have been transformed by the Savior of the world! I
believe that with all my being.

Peace, peace, to those far and near,”
      says the LORD. “And I will heal them.”
Isaiah 57:19

 It’s easier to make peace with those far from us first,
and then turn to those closer to us.

Some of us carry around decades of resentment
toward the people closest to us, but can we overlook
a slight by a stranger? God is telling us to start by
making peace with those far from us – with the person
who cut you off on your morning drive, the rude cashier,
the irritable coworker. We can start by making peace
with those who are distant from us and next considering
those closest to us. With God’s help and healing, we
then will see peace in the world.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

(excerps from Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein)