It's the school's "summer" now as the last weeks and days sped into a passing reality. I am back to sitting on my deck and looking at raindrops on the petals of my potted flowers. Bliss!
One of my goals this summer is to memorize Romans 8, and it's a slow-going process. Another goal is to help my son figure out his next step. He is 18 now, and we become more engrained in his transition process to work or education.
He had an internship at a local church which we were hopeful about. However, they want to keep it a short-term assignment and not offer him a job (although his salary would be paid by the city). Again, cynicism about the feel-good pleasure of short-term ministry trips (help) wants to bite. But, darn it, I can see clearer now about such things so I don't run it away and say it's something else. Yet I know that we are all guilty of wanting to simply feel good and not put ourselves out too much, even myself, so I must excuse these fellow Christians because I'm this way too. We all stand condemned in our self-interest, even those who preach about helping others on Sunday morning. The truth is -- we must help ourselves and trust in God only. If it happens that we fall into the good favor of others, then, wonderful. But, beware of those who only want to feel good about their charity, and understand we are all in the same boat ourselves. It's a bit disheartening, but this is why Christ came.
As Romans 8 says, "for what the law is powerless to do because it was weakened by flesh, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering (8:3)."
For my son, he needs to go it alone with his family, God, and the grace of others who see the potential in him, whether they are Christians or not. I am thankful for God's loving spirit which far surpasses our own and filters through in various ways. Amen.
