“Taking It Up A Notch”

Remember yesterday’s BLOG about “only the good dying young …. while the Lord giving the rest of us extra time to get our act together”?  Well today’s May reading might actually add a footnote to that BLOG.

The reading is from Isaiah: “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” (Is. 55:10-11) There’s a persistence in God’s word such that it accomplishes its purpose, even if it takes more time or another nudge (kick in the pants) to the one called to facilitate the word. Hmmmmmm, perhaps someone like you and me. 

You may recall some earlier BLOGS, describing my trips to Shoprite. While assisting my holy wife, I had the opportunity to grow in holiness. Well, yesterday I had another opportunity; I was able to take the grocery list out “for another little run around the track”. Only this time, I got moved up to the NFLfrom the grade school league. Yes, you guessed it…. I went to Trader Joe’s. Shopping at TJ’s is not for the amateurs. As soon as I pulled in the parking lot, sirens were going off in the ears of the employees….”mayday, mayday…battle stations, battle stations….we have a “live one” on his way in…. you’ll recognize him by the glint in his eyes… he has a grocery list the size of a postage stamp, he has reading glasses that he keeps taking off and on … he looks confused.” 

Well, I was able to finally find a parking spot and headed in…. it was like New Years Eve in Times Square. The first thing on my list was a red onion….. I quickly found something that was red and looked like an onion…. I wisely asked a lady nearby, “is this a red onion”…. she gave me an odd look and said, “why yes it is”. My confidence began to build. As I maneuvered thru the chaos, I asked a worker, where are the kidney beans…. she graciously took me to the other side of the store and personally handed them to me along with another can of something. I became friends with 3 other workers who assisted me. The entire store was beginning to cheer as I took a victory lap. Other than the wine, I’m not sure I found anything on my own. Even the checker wouldn’t allow me to help out. They were all very kind, but did seem a bit relieved as I exited the store.

Following up on the above scripture, it appears that the Lord is making a bit of  progress with his call for me to become an accomplished grocery shopper…. or better yet a better servant. Let’s be encouraged….the Lord is not going to allow his word regarding you and me to wither; it shall not return void, but shall achieve the end for which it was sent. And that is very good news.

P.S. By the way, there was an error in yesterday’s BLOG. I was reminded that this is Lent 2024, not 2014. It looks like there’s still room for me to grow.