God-Seasoned

Good Tuesday, Y’all! How is your coffee this morning? I keep having to remind myself that it’s summertime and for many, even post-COVID isolating, this means our daily routines change. We don’t have to get the kids ready for school; we are planning vacations; spending the long evenings outside. And perhaps, because of our transitioning out of COVID precautions we are doing more traveling and more day-cations on the weekends.

For me and my husband, things haven’t really changed much because of the season. We don’t have kids at home. He’s retired and I’m in the transitional space between leaving one parish and going to another, so my days remain the same. I always wake early, spend time in prayer and writing (with my coffee, of course!), and then move into whatever is on schedule for this particular day. Some days I feel quite filled with purpose and reason and other days, not so much.

I have really enjoyed writing about the Beatitudes as we have pondered together Jesus’ description of Kingdom Life as Matthew tells us the Gospel story. I pray these reflections have been a blessing for you, too. So, let’s continue with to walk through this sermon of Jesus. If you need to refill your coffee, please do.

Following the descriptions of life in God’s Kingdom, Jesus tells us our collective purpose: to share these blessings we’ve received with the world. We are to season the world with God seasoning and shine God’s light so others can see the amazing God colors in this world.

Jesus said, “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?”
‭”Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.”

Matthew 5:13-16, The Message

Instead of thinking of ourselves as the actual salt, I think we are more like a salt shaker. That I am aware of, salt cannot not taste like salt but a salt shaker can run out of salt and needs to be refilled.

A flame can go out and need to be relit. The fuel a lamp uses (oil, wax, electricity) can run out and need to be replenished.

We all need regular replenishment spiritually, physically, emotionally, and yes even intellectually. And there is so much more to being replenished than just taking some down time. For many of us, we’ve had too much down time this past year-plus and we are ready to go-go-go. And how many times have you returned from a vacation only to need a vacation to rest from your vacation?

Replenishing our salt and our fuel requires intentional time of slowing down and listening to God’s voice so that we can hear “you are my beloved.” Allowing God to replenish us at our very core is the foundation of living the Kingdom life Jesus describes. It is God who provides what we need to be blessed when our world changes, our hearts are broken, we face the inevitable challenges of this world. It is God’s Love for us that enables us to live humbly, walking with Jesus as we share our God-seasoned life with others.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!  

The light we are given is to be used to shine the way to God’s love for others. We must tend to this precious light so that it shines brightly for all to see. We are blessed so that we can share God’s blessings with everyone we encounter. Have a blessed Tuesday, my friends.