Jesus Loves Me

It has been a while since I have written a post but a lot has happened in the intervening time. I have notes everywhere for blog entries and a book that has been accumulating pages for years…

As a reintroduction- I am a hospice chaplain and have done an assortment of jobs to make ends meet over the years. I have included the list on LinkedIn so I won’t share in this context. Right now I am wondering if writing may provide some income at some point. That’s where I feel God is leading. I have recently realized something about myself though. That is: I am a recovering perfectionist. I have experienced a shift in perception lately from aiming for perfection to doing the best I can do in the moment. I have also always had an issue with the phrase “getting out of your comfort zone.” I don’t like it because a) that could cover a lot of territory b) maybe you can accomplish a lot right where you are according to the gifts you have c) it does not go far enough d) it does not allow for something way beyond us that only God can accomplish. The concept that I would rather reflect on is being willing to be remade time and time again according to God’s plan and purpose for us individually and as we relate to one another. The best visual aid I can think of is God as the potter and us as the clay. There may indeed be a level of uncomfortable-ness involved in the re-shaping. But, what marvelous transformations we can find in the Bible and in the lives of those around us.

This week I experienced being re-shaped and being blessed as a result. At a recent interdisciplinary group meeting our volunteer coordinator was looking for someone to sing a favorite hymn for one of our patients. I said that I could do it as I sang in the choir (and had done so occasionally when patients or family members requested it). I did not anticipate that it would include sharing the interaction on Facebook! Although I have preached hundreds of sermons, led many meetings and services the thought of singing a solo still causing significant angst. Well I enlisted the choir to teach me the hymn that was written in 1858. “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” was the hymn. I don’t think it was a coincidence that about a week prior to this I had prayed for opportunities to say the name of Jesus out loud. A week prior to my Facebook singing debut I visited the dear lady that I would sing for. Her faith is very clear and she shares it with everyone! I asked her about her favorite hymn and her answer surprised me. She said, “Jesus Loves Me This I Know.” She proceeded to say it was because “I know it is true.”

Needless to say, when the day arrived I told her that she would receive a few more people at our visit. She was very welcoming and shared her love of the church, Jesus and family. It wasn’t the hymn that I practiced but the impromptu duet (Jesus Loves Me”) that she and I sang that was quite lovely and memorable. I forgot about my fear as I was singing for and with my dear friend. The volunteers who came with me were blessed by her expressions of faith and her care of them! What a wonderful expression of God’s love and power through her!!

Blessings,

Glenn.