Remember the three things that everyone must do in the New Year according to AnnVoskamp
...choose a word for the year
...choose a bible memorization project
...count 1000 gifts
These are the plans I have made. My word for the year is "presence". I have gratitude lists everywhere. I must admit I don't want to reveal my memorization project. Mainly because if I tell you and fail...just quit in the middle which I have a tendency to do, then you will know I have failed too.
This memorization project has been changing the way I am...the way I look at others...the way I react. It begins with the beatitudes. And I hear the words "blessed are you" echoing through my thoughts. Right after Jesus speaks of the pure in heart and peacemakers he says, "You are the salt of the earth." (Matt 5: 13)
I've camped on this verse for a couple of weeks now...waiting for God to reveal more about this salt. I mean really....of all the spices in the world...why salt? Why not ginger or chili powder...basil...sage? Why wouldn't he just say..."You are the spices of the world." Then at least we could all be different.
Hmmmm...maybe I am on to something. Don't we spend much of lives trying to figure out how we can stand out, be better, do more? So much of life is built around moving to higher ground...being better at something than someone else...being the best. I can't count the number of times I have pushed my child to be the best in some way. I am almost offended by this comparison to salt. It is not hard to obtain, never expensive, every kitchen has a salt shaker in this town...restaurants give it away upon request. The bible study I am participating in, the teacher, she calls it common.
This week on Wednesday, we will teach the story of Eli. Ask children if they believe God is calling them. Try to get them to recognize that God is calling them right now...they do not have to think in terms of being all grown up. That they are called this day, at the age they are at this moment. Not some distant thing in the future when they are old...you know...like 35 or something.
And this is where calling and salt collide. At least the teachings anyway...we are called "salt of the earth". We are called right where we are...in our own homes (Jerusalem)...our neighborhoods, workplace, community (Judea)...places we would rather not go (Samaria)...and all the world. (Acts 1: 8)
It may seem like a disappointment that we are called to be common salt...in our own homes...right where we are. After all who doesn't have aspirations of being famous...doing what the world considers "big" things for Jesus.
Yet in God's economy...least will be greatest...and last will be first. (Matthew 20:26-27) And little things becomes enormous in the kingdom of God.
