In much of the world today we required documentation as proof of anything and everything. For the most part this is good,I don’t want a doctor who hasn’t had training of some form. Although there are many areas that may not require a degree to be certified. I have a degree in crop science and while in school I was constantly asked why do you need a degree for agriculture, can’t you learn all you need working? I hated this because it is clear that they didn’t know what all is required in taking a seed to a crop. I often responded by asking them what they were studying, several were studying accounting, to which I responded can’t you learn to add and subtract on the job?
Ok I know there is much more to it than adding and subtracting, but the truth is the truth. Most of what we learn in universities we can learn in real world experiences. But that doesn’t mean we should bypass an education. In the same breath we don’t need to focus too much on education either. A person can have a dozen degrees and still not know how to apply their learning.
What is odd is those people that know these thing without intensive training. This is what surprised people about Jesus. He didn’t have the degrees behind His name to attract attention, but He inspired and impressed people. This angred those that spent so much time and effort in education. He was untrained yet he had a following greater than anyone expected, and it kept growing.
This was an argument used against His disciples also. That is intresting as well. Today we have professional organizations in pretty much every field. These organizations build tests, degree programs, and rules. If one works without their approval they get irrate, just like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. Yet Jesus didn’t care He did what He was called to do.
This reminds of the man in “the Kings Speech” that help the king overcome his speech impediment. He didn’t have a degree, but he had results. What would happen if we allowed people to gain licencing and credit without th education? If they are able to passthe tests and get results shouldn’t that be enough?
I am impressed with Jesus as he defends us who work even though we may not have the great education. Let us all listen to our passions and calling and pursue them, if we need the training lts get it but let us live according to the work God calls us to, and make judgments according to reality and not paper.
Scripture for reflection: John 6:63-64
What do you live for? What really gets you going? These are questions many people are asked by their high school guidance councilors. What do you want to do with your life?
It is funny how often we run away from his question. I ran as far from it as I could. We don’t want to face the truth about ourselves because we are really scared of what we will find. You may not agree and that’s fine, but I encourage you to spend 15 minutes in silence and solitude. You will see just how afraid of yourself you are.
Why do we fear ourselves? I think it is because we have each wounded our spirits to a point we can no longer face it. we have lied to ourselves, we have told ourselves that the quick fixes we pursue are really the answer. Jesus says here that the flesh of no help. The things that only fulfill the desires of the flesh do not truly give life, these actually cause deeper wounds. This I clear when we see people turning to drugs and other substances to ease pain, eventually being so consummed by the substace that the substance has become a worse problem than the orignal issue.
We have all been in tha situation. Maybe we were lucky enough not to have easy access to dangerous substances, but we have all done something to escape the pain and stress of the flesh. Later we find that we regret the decission later, only to run back again later.
We cry, we yearn for more but we run from the truth we hide from ourselves and the God who loves us. The people fed by Jesus wanted a messiah to take away all need to toil and strain. They hid behind their piety but really they are just like us focusing on the flesh because we and they are too afraid to face the truth. Jesus call them out on the truth and He calls us out too. He calls, asking us if what wedo with our bodies are enhncing our spirit our if it is just empty darkness. He is asking you what makes you live!
Today let us focus on our friendship with Jesus.
Today’s scripture: John 6:16-21
One of the phrases that has entered into our vocabulary over the past couple of years is “in this economy”. I find it very… well for lack of anything better stupid. What other economy would there be in the USA than this economy, it’s not like we can easily just leave it and go somewhere else. But that isn’t the point of the phrase when people say “in this economy” they mean in this economic slump. The crazy thing is that the reason people are concerned with “this economy” is that they have lost perspective and lived outside their means so when a slump occurs they can’t adjust. Well slumps and darkness happen. Its kindof the norm in life. There are cycles, seasons so to speak. The wisdom of the writer of Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything war and peace, want and abundance, a time for everything under heaven. So what will we do about the more depressing aspects of life?
Jesus’s disciples today were in a slump. They went from Jesus feeding a crowd of people to being sent away across the sea and Jesus stayed behind. I haven’t really thought about that aspect of these verses before. They were sent away and Jesus stayed behind. He didn’t want them to stick around but wanted to be alone. Can you imagine the fear and hurt they must have been feeling. Jesus just performed something amazing and then sent them away. They were excited about the posibilities, and they were sent away. I have felt that way. I have thought something great was on the verge and then suddenly evrything changed. Does that mean I was in the wrong and missed God’s will, no I believe those times are times of preperation, and growth.
The strom and wind blew how do you think you would feel? After something amazing we feel a natural excitment carrying us, but there are always storms that blow us off course again. This is where we really spend of time. In the dark nights, on the dark path, in the storm a place where we don’t see what God is doing, leading, or going. During these times we may lose ground, we may even lose our faith, we nearly always lose our desire to pursue God. But God is there. The disciples were in the middle of their storm and fearing for their life and there was Christ calming the sea. And intrestingly enough as soon as they were back in His presence they found themselve right where they were wanting to be.
Storms of life are around to strengthen, to thicken our faith. Although they are hard we only need to know Jesus does have our back. Seek Him and His ways pursue the passions He gives us and row on to the other side becase He will not leave us. In these darker days of our history what will the end result be? Who knows for sure but what we can know is we will become stronger, smarter, and more effective witnesses. Before we know it we will be through the storm safely on the other side learning what we needed.
Fear not! He is there. He is a friend that sticks with us no matter what. What kind of friend will we be in this storm?