In a book on running titled, Run Like a Mother, the author related the observations of a guest Oprah Winfrey once interviewed. Oprah’s guest commented that we can only do three things well in our life. After that the quality, commitment, and benefit of doing other things begin to wane. The author observed this to be true of a person training to run a marathon. Usually work and family/marriage are two things they need to do, and then training for the race is the third. Therefore, do not be surprised if other parts of a runner’s life, such as house cleaning, laundry, socializing with friends, etc., fall by the wayside.
The observation that we can generally do three things well probably holds true for a good majority of us. I hope one of those things is your marriage and family and another your job or vocation. But what of the third thing?
The observation that we can generally do three things well probably holds true for a good majority of us. I hope one of those things is your marriage and family and another your job or vocation. But what of the third thing?
Before I explore the “third thing” permit me to share a recent experience. Recently, one of my sons had his last hockey tournament. They did quite well, won all their games, and lost in the championship game to a better team. Leading up to the weekend, as is the case each week, there was an exchange of emails from parents communicating last minute plans, changes, and odds and ends. As we approached this last weekend, the emails had a different tenor to them. Many parents were grieving the loss of the winter weekend fellowship that came along with the tournaments and the travel. There were sentiments of “we’ll be sure to stay in contact this summer and get together” but it rang hollow
because everyone knew that the next season’s sport or activity would likely dominate our time. A few us welcomed the end of the season and were relieved, more than sorrowful, to see the last hockey game.
A parent nearby made the insightful observation that for many of the families this is their “church,” in that it was their community from which they received support, strength, and fellowship. This is a good thing and they were naturally grieving that community coming to an end. She further observed that the end of hockey season was not as “big of a deal” for us because we had our church communities and had a different perspective. The church, the Body of Christ, is where we “have all things in common” (Acts 2:42ff), and to which we turn for spiritual support, mutual encouragement and continued nourishment in the fellowship of word and sacrament. The hockey community also offers a “spiritual support and nourishment” and these parents were grieving hockey’s conclusion and the resulting loss of community in their lives.
This brings me to our community, the Body of Christ at St. Peter. I do thank God everyday for the community of believers at St. Peter and for the mutual support and encouragement we share as we grow in the story of who we are and whose we are. It is an imperfect community apart from Christ. Jesus is the glue, the light that scatters the darkness, the person through which we come to understand our narrative.
So what of that “third thing.” Is it Jesus? Jesus directs us in the Sermon on the Mount “to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” and in doing so promises that “all these things will be added to you.” “All these things” refers to God’s all encompassing provision over our bodily needs, worries, anxious moments, hunger, shelter and clothing. In the same way that God provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, so God provides for us. Jesus directs us to “seek first the kingdom in all things,” not just some things or in the thing you do at church. This means that in this life we seek first God’s kingdom in our marriage, our job, our family, and yes, in anything
else we do, even in our kids sports.
Perhaps we should be wary when in our unfaithfulness we turn the many “things” of our life, including our kids sports and activities into replacement kingdoms of God. However, I do suspect that on some level the thing that these non-church-going hockey families experienced was real, even if it was also fleeting. It was “real” because in that hockey fellowship experience they tasted in the story of Jesus and the church and they wanted more. Jesus is the more, the ultimate expression of the thing that was being grieved at the end of the hockey season. Those who have a personal faith in Jesus and have a public expression of that faith in a church home where they are connected and nourished have experienced that Jesus is so much more. Ultimately, it is through the ministry of the church that their spiritual needs are met and where Jesus meets them in bread and wine, Word, and Christian service. It isn’t so much that Jesus must be the “third thing” we give our lives to. When “Jesus” is the first in all the “things” we do, then all those “things” we do begin to gain perspective in our life and take a different shape.
I don’t know what your “three things” are that you can do well. I do know that the “three things”, apart from “seeking the first thing”, is a train wreck waiting to happen. Holy Week is a great opportunity for all of us to “get perspective” in our life and to reflect upon Christ’s story for our lives. We are given more detail on these seven days of Jesus’ life than any
other part of His life. The services of Palm Sunday and the Holy Three Days (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil) are a gift in perspective for all the “things” going on in our lives.
because everyone knew that the next season’s sport or activity would likely dominate our time. A few us welcomed the end of the season and were relieved, more than sorrowful, to see the last hockey game.
A parent nearby made the insightful observation that for many of the families this is their “church,” in that it was their community from which they received support, strength, and fellowship. This is a good thing and they were naturally grieving that community coming to an end. She further observed that the end of hockey season was not as “big of a deal” for us because we had our church communities and had a different perspective. The church, the Body of Christ, is where we “have all things in common” (Acts 2:42ff), and to which we turn for spiritual support, mutual encouragement and continued nourishment in the fellowship of word and sacrament. The hockey community also offers a “spiritual support and nourishment” and these parents were grieving hockey’s conclusion and the resulting loss of community in their lives.
This brings me to our community, the Body of Christ at St. Peter. I do thank God everyday for the community of believers at St. Peter and for the mutual support and encouragement we share as we grow in the story of who we are and whose we are. It is an imperfect community apart from Christ. Jesus is the glue, the light that scatters the darkness, the person through which we come to understand our narrative.
So what of that “third thing.” Is it Jesus? Jesus directs us in the Sermon on the Mount “to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” and in doing so promises that “all these things will be added to you.” “All these things” refers to God’s all encompassing provision over our bodily needs, worries, anxious moments, hunger, shelter and clothing. In the same way that God provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, so God provides for us. Jesus directs us to “seek first the kingdom in all things,” not just some things or in the thing you do at church. This means that in this life we seek first God’s kingdom in our marriage, our job, our family, and yes, in anything
else we do, even in our kids sports.
Perhaps we should be wary when in our unfaithfulness we turn the many “things” of our life, including our kids sports and activities into replacement kingdoms of God. However, I do suspect that on some level the thing that these non-church-going hockey families experienced was real, even if it was also fleeting. It was “real” because in that hockey fellowship experience they tasted in the story of Jesus and the church and they wanted more. Jesus is the more, the ultimate expression of the thing that was being grieved at the end of the hockey season. Those who have a personal faith in Jesus and have a public expression of that faith in a church home where they are connected and nourished have experienced that Jesus is so much more. Ultimately, it is through the ministry of the church that their spiritual needs are met and where Jesus meets them in bread and wine, Word, and Christian service. It isn’t so much that Jesus must be the “third thing” we give our lives to. When “Jesus” is the first in all the “things” we do, then all those “things” we do begin to gain perspective in our life and take a different shape.
I don’t know what your “three things” are that you can do well. I do know that the “three things”, apart from “seeking the first thing”, is a train wreck waiting to happen. Holy Week is a great opportunity for all of us to “get perspective” in our life and to reflect upon Christ’s story for our lives. We are given more detail on these seven days of Jesus’ life than any
other part of His life. The services of Palm Sunday and the Holy Three Days (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil) are a gift in perspective for all the “things” going on in our lives.
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