Such a long path

Good morning. It has been a while. I apologize that I have not stayed in touch as I had hoped to. I don't know about you but I am very tired. Spiritually, emotionally, mentally, no matter what aspect of my being I speak of there is weariness. The path this year has been demanding and there appears to be no letting up. Is your life like that? Let me know. I will pray for you.

I am sitting at home having just endured a phone call that was one of the most focused personal attacks on my wife and me that we have ever had to face. To have the burdens of another's life in terms of her fears, frustrations, and doubts transferred on to you and assigned to you as your own is very hard to receive. But we are called not to judge but to be gracious, poor in the spirit. But when you are running on empty it is hard to please God, to be merciful and a maker of peace. I can only imagine the heart of Jesus as the people He came to die for hurled their insults and accusations of failure on Him when He loved them so.

So now I sit trying to write a sermon that the main thought is to know and understand the motivations of your heart. Why does it seem so much easier to assess and ascribe the motivations of someone else's heart? Why is it that there always seems to be energy to do that but in addressing ourselves we feel depleted and choose to turn on the TV instead? Can I just write this all off to there being a full moon right now? I suppose not.

I would love to offer some great word of profundity at this moment and rise like a Phoenix above the ashes but I can't. No, today on the path will be one where I linger in the ashes and let the fire that remains do some more purification. When the sermon does not come quickly it is usually because there is something inhibiting me from hearing God. So I must go now on down the path with ears to hear. For only God can replenish us so we can continue walking without growing weary, soaring on eagle's wings.

Live strong my fellow sojourners. Until the next bend in the path.