Dressed for Action

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:32-40

We had a wonderful pumpkin carving party at church last night. Families bring their pumpkins to carve, one of our faithful folks orders pizza and provides drinks and the children dress up in their costumes. It is a wonderful time for all with face painting and music. We all delight in the varieties of carving styles and ideas each other has. The night culminates with each pumpkin lit up, the lights going out and four or five minutes of oohs and aaahs as we look at the wonderful creations all lined up on display. We talk to the children about their clever costumes and how they are prepared for Halloween. There is a great deal of energy that goes into getting ready for Halloween.

Jesus tells his disciples to be ready, by having no fear, giving to the poor and being dressed for action. Ready at all times to serve God wherever we find ourselves. Ready to face the tasks ahead of us in a changing world. And yet, we struggle with that, we don't like surprises and we wish we had a schedule for everything. But God's work and God's actions are mysterious, unpredictable as weather, childbirth and the hearts of others. So we are reminded to be fearless and preprared like little ones are for Halloween, full of faith and excitement.

Today I want to be ready and willing, having no fear of what lies ahead and trusting that God is in the middle of it. Asking God for the strength and calm to step out in faith I ask God to make me a servant of Christ, offering my time and my life to those in need around me. May we all be fearless and ready knowing that God will lead us through today and tomorrow and always.