Is that gum on my shoe?

Sunday afternoon thought--

Do you ever wonder why so many little things seemed to get us riled up, get our blood flowing, even boiling? Why is it that something as simple as getting gum stuck on your shoe, or hitting every red light on the way to work when you are in a hurry, can ruin your entire outlook for a day? Did something get amiss, when we know it's not important? How do we so often misplace importance with immediacy, and forget the long-term consequences and goals of our existence?

Are we similar to Israel, in that despite the workings of God, the words of God, and the actions of God, we get caught up in a hustle and bustle of daily life, losing the importance. John Wooden, the famous basketball coach has a maxim that says "Make every day your masterpiece." Will Smith, in Hitch, says, "Live each day on purpose." Why is this so difficult to do sometimes? God is near, and God is listening, waiting for us to call on His name, to give Him our concerns, our worries, our joys, to give Him the glory. How much different could this world be if we lived this way--placing the focus where it is and really living salty.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." --Matthew 5:13-16

Think about it--what can we do to keep salty? How can we make each day our masterpiece for the Lord, to glorify His name? Let's take the next step, right out of the boat. A little scary, the unknown, but Jesus is there to keep us from sinking...