Feb 18 - Family Day

We did not meet due to the holiday - but i thought I'd throw in a few random thoughts from my week.

My husband and I were in Florida Feb 10 - 17.  We enjoyed the sun and some of the entertainment available in the Orlando area.  While having dinner with some of the other people there representing AMBS, one woman told of her first trip to the"Magic Kingdom".  She had felt somewhat guilty spending time and money on such a "worldly" pursuit - but had decided it was an experience she didn't want her kids to miss.  While on the trip she had two "aha" moments.  I have to admit I have forgotten one, but the other has stuck with me.  She spoke of being struck by how the staff ("cast members") in Disneyworld are so friendly and cheerful and how that really infects the whole spirit of your visit there.  You even find people smiling as they walk miles between rides or stand in line, and people generally being patient in lines, even letting others go ahead in line on occasion, and being very forgiving of mistakes etc.  You don't see that so much in grocery stores.  She asked what would happen if that was the impression people had of the church?  If a secular organization can have that positive effect on people there for purely recreational purposes, shouldn't we be able to influence people seeking the comfort and joy of relationship with God?  Shouldn't we be "The happiest place on earth"?

I've also been reading Bruxy Cavey's book The End of Religion.  I haven't gotten too far as I ended up not reading as much as I thought I would on holidays - but the premise is quite fascinating: that God never intended for there to be "religion" but, rather, planned for an intimate relationship between God and humans and created the rites/rules as a way for us to regrow our relationship with God.  His belief is that Jesus came to get rid of religion and re-establish the close relationship God had with Adam and Eve before they decided to eat the forbidden fruit.  As I said I have a long way to go in reading this fascinating book.  I am challenged already, however, to try to be more Christlike and less caught in rules/regulations, to try to trust God to work things out - and not get caught up in fair and unfair, to try to open myself to what God plans for me - not just do what is expected.

So these are my insights for this week.  To be a better example of God's love and to focus on following Christ.  Nothing too new - but coming from a different perspective for me.  What are you doing to deepen your relationship with God?  Something to ponder.....