A Letter

In his second letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes:

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all, and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)

Yesterday we reflected on the question: If your life is a letter, Christ’s love letter to the world, who has helped prepare that letter? 

Today, I am remembering a couple of others who have impacted my life for the better.

I think about a young student I taught in Jamaica who had a deep faith. Many of my students came to school hungry. Many lived in homes that had dirt floors and no running water. She was one of them. Yet, I often watched her share what little food she had with the younger kids. I remember her telling me with all sincerity that she among all people was so blessed. She had this light in her, this inner joy. And remember thinking – I want to live like that…

And also I remember a few years earlier when I was teaching high school up in North Carolina. At that point in my life, I had been away from the church for a number of years, and, I struck up a friendship with another teacher. We used to surf together.  I remember noticing that he often spent evenings and weekends mentoring youth – going to youth groups and soccer games and plays. And this was not because he got extra compensation – he didn’t.

I remember asking him why. Why do you do this? And he said: You know these teenage years can be so difficult. And with all they are going through, I know it is hard for them to find a place to feel accepted just as they are. And if they don’t find it, they’ll keep looking. Maybe they think they’ll find it with alcohol or drugs or the wrong crowd. Joe, I believe God loves them and accepts them with no strings attached. And I can’t just tell them, I have to show them. 

I remember thinking: If that’s what following Jesus is about, I’m in!

If my life is a letter, being written by Christ… there are many along the way who have helped prepare it. And I’m sure that is true for you as well. 

If our lives are a letter, we are ever faced with the question: What do we want it to say? And who do we want to allow to shape it? 

Let us pray: God of grace, we thank you today for the people who have impacted our lives for the better, and for those who are even now helping shape our faith. Keep us also mindful of those who are looking up to us; through Jesus Christ. Amen.