COFFEE ON THE DOCK

It is truly heartfelt as I say: "Happy New Year to everyone." I do not mourn the close of 2012, yet, I predict that many future blessings will be rooted in it. It is the finish of a foundation on which greater things will later rest. This past year has amplified for me things learned long ago: Evil masquerades as self-righteousness, forgiveness is central to spiritual progress and truth offered in love prevails.  Lord, into Your capable hands I entrust both the past and future. Please do not let me ignore the lessons that have emerged in this pivotal year.

Each act of obedience to God begins a chain of unending blessing and invites new opportunities to make genuine spiritual progress. That we are granted such partnership with The Almighty is remarkable enough, but to understand that He DESIGNED us to partner with Him is at once humbling and too wonderful for words. Dearest Father, my life for You. Teach me to obey swiftly and completely.

That God would trust any of us with something as valuable as a little baby is difficult to grasp, but to think that He entrusted to our hands the Son of God is impossible to comprehend. From Celestial Throne to musty hay, from the praise and service of ten thousand times ten thousand to a bewildered young couple in a world ill-prepared to receive the King of Kings. The Nativity shouts the love and faith of God. My Lord, My God, My Redeemer, grant me this day Your love, Your faith.

It is often said that we learn from our mistakes. I should be absolutely brilliant by now. One of my spiritual fathers, Costa Deir once said to me, "Son, if all of your mistakes are new ones, you are making progress." I conclude that learning what not to do is a vital part of knowing what is best. Lord, guide me today through the maze of decisions along the way. Grant me wisdom, progress and smiles.

It seems that potential Doom and Blessing are always just ahead. At times, one appears more imminent than the other, but one or the other always approaches. As it turns out, neither ever arrive exactly the way I had previously imagined, nor have the impact I had envisioned. So I am left with this: fear God and keep His commandments. Blessed Father, because You love me it is all working for my good. I get it. Baruk ha Shem Adonai!!

When each of us is created God places within us an internal compass that always points to true north, the direction of His created purpose for us. What does it mean to live a “pointed life?” It means when obstacles appear we may temporarily detour but true north never changes. A pointed life never looks to current surroundings as evidence of arrival. Lord God, grant me strength to resist diversion. Point me faithfully to Your destiny for me.

While having lunch at an airport restaurant I watched a young mother and her child. Her obvious delight in interacting with her baby made me wonder, does God delight in nurturing us?   I remembered Zephaniah’s words: “He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Father, I am so humbled and amazed to think of You singing over us as You nurture our created purpose.