Opportunity

As in missed. Unless I miscounted, my ninety-fifth post occurred on October 30, one day before Reformation Day, the observance of Martin Luther nailing his ninety-five theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. That I missed the opportunity to talk about Reformation Day or my ninety-fifth post coinciding with Martin Luther's address of grievances is beyond me. It is not the first opportunity missed and it certainly will not be the last.

A dear friend sent me a note earlier this week and in the note was a devotional built on Revelation 3:4 discussing "walking in white robes." Just as there is in the prophetic books a future fulfillment of the prophecy, there is also a near realization of the prophecy. So while the passage has a particular meaning for loved ones now with our Lord and walking in "white robes," it also has meaning for us who remain behind as we walk daily with our Lord, being justified by faith and sanctified by the Spirit.

Last year was a tough year. Cynth lost her dad one year ago this Tuesday. We have many friends who lost parents recently. While we mourn their passing, miss their presence in our lives, and grieve the void that is left, we have the wonderful testimony of God's grace in their lives. What we most remember about them is their quiet strength in facing this life. You might think that to bee a crazy statement, given our relative ease. But this life is anything but easy, what with all the brokenness, disappointment, shame and guilt.

Jesus' call to take his yoke is an opportunity not to be missed. For in his call he tells us his burden in light. Without saying so, he has told us that life here is hard. It is made all the more hard for the opportunities (for obedience, for truth, for love) that we allow to slip by even as we are "discussing" within our hearts whether to trust his urgings or ignore them. What a perfect time to discover or re-discover the joy of seizing the opportunities Christ provides? During this season, I pray that all of us, who know the father, and marvel at the gift of his Son, visit his birth fresh with eyes to see and ears to hear.