#VisionofLove Learned on the hills and in the valleys

Probably not a long one tonight.  I am hot, I am tired, and I am ready for bed.  By the way, my preference in a choice between standing for 5 hours in the Trading Post, helping customers, or walking a lot outside in the heat, would be the standing.  But only because of the AC.  Standing on concrete doesn't do the feet any good.  No bother.

Tonight, a thought occurred to me, in conjunction with my reading in the book of Judges, that it is when we cease to acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God, and start to think that it is by our own merit that we have achieved whatever success we have, that things really start to go downhill fast, for aren't we all really at that point saying to God as Lucifer did: "I did it, so thy glory is mine"?  Before you all go Atlas on me, I would point out that those that DO, or BE, do so acknowledging those around them.  The Gulch was not built by John alone, or by Midas, or any of them, it was done together, understanding that each had a role to play.  Or as Midas said to Dagney in the Gulch, "Well done".  The book of Judges is a seesaw, as the people of God are obedient, they prosper, when they prosper, they become prideful, thinking that their prosperity is their doing.  While it is their labor, creativity and initiative that found success, who gave them their talents?  Their faith to go forward, when all seemed lost?

Back to the narrative.  One thing that I have never really thought was that any position that I had, or anything that I had received, was deserved.  No, this is no false modesty.  Most of the staff are Eagle Scouts, I am the odd one out.  Not only that, but I hold a position in the Camp's Honor camping society, that when I came through as a boy, I should never have received, as the one before it, Eagle rank is a  basic requirement.  Yet here I am.  I am very grateful that they rolled the dice on me, and am working every day to earn and keep their trust.  I am in awe not only of the attitude of the leaders of the staff, but the enthusiasm they generate in the boys.  It is infectious. 

God relies on men to be his hands on earth.  Miracles are wrought, spectacularly at times, in ways that seem impossible.  They are also wrought by those who heed his voice, who serve their fellow man, however it seems right.  Those who comfort the sick, who help those that need it.  Not coerced by some government, or even, frankly by some ecclesiastical authority.  Coerced "charity" mocks the word, it mocks the purpose, and frankly, it mocks our Father in Heaven, and His Son.  Charity comes from the heart.

How does that look here?  It is helping a young man to learn a skill, to help a leader with his boys.  It is to provide an example of what a Scout should be (except to earn the Eagle), or that maybe their scoutmaster, who wasn't in scouts as a boy (or maybe he was) and didn't earn his Eagle still has merit, and can serve his young men in equal fashion to any Eagle Scout. 

I pray daily that I can be God's hands in someone's life, even if it is just to smile and say hi.  After all, no one really knows how far that smile can go.  This is our Father's vision for us.  To help each other.  It is His Vision of Love.

If you are interested in joining us for the production Vision of Love, the tickets will be available soon, or may already be at familiesareeternal.org  Hope you come out.  Aug. 1-4