Life on the Pasture

Today began with me walking to Beautiful Savior in the midst of a snow shower. I found myself listening in my head to the Vince Guaraldi trio performing Christmastime Is Here, made famous by the Charlie Brown Christmas special. For some, snow in October might not be their favorite way to start a Monday, but I was kind of enjoying it, finding beauty in the mix of white flakes and colorful leaves and getting in touch with my inner child's excitement at the first snowfall of the season.

The day continued with me taking my coat off in my office and promptly having the strap on my face mask break (that happened with two more masks within two hours). Then as I was gathering things in my office to take into the classroom, I could not find my reading glasses, only to realize a bit later that they were already on my face and I was looking right through them. I started to laugh at myself as I considered the irony of looking for glasses that I was looking through.

I'd love to say I always take the positive approach to life and rejoice in the Lord always, but unfortunately that is not the case. For instance, when Ellen and I awoke to a rather strange sound very early on Sunday morning and, upon investigation, discovered water dripping through the ceiling in our bathroom, the first thought in my head was not to offer a prayer of thanksgiving. But even then, the leak could be managed and there was no major flood to worry about. Thank you, Lord!

If I were asked to identify one particular factor that would be responsible for being more positive than negative, I would say it is the people around me. For instance, when water was dripping from the ceiling at 1:30 in the morning, Ellen gently suggested that I get buckets to catch the water, wipe up what I could, and go back to bed. And as I was walking through the snow shower this morning, I was thinking about being with my students who had to be instructed via zoom meetings last week. It was so good to be with them in person.

And, in fact, this is what separates Christianity from many other religions. As the saying goes, it's a relationship, not a religion – a living, loving, personal relationship with a God who not only created human beings to be in a relationship with Him and other people, but who would also come to this world in Jesus Christ as true man while still being true God. And with that Person around me, how can I not be more positive than negative? As the Christmas hymn declares: O rejoice, ye Christians, loudly, For our joy has now begun; Wondrous things our God has done. Tell abroad His goodness proudly, Who our race has honored thus, That He deigns to dwell with us. Joy, O joy, beyond all gladness, Christ has done away with sadness! Hence, all sorrow and repining, For the Sun of Grace is shining!

– Pastor Schmidt