Nothing on My Own

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” John 5:30-47

I am learning to bead while I am here in Alaska. A dear Athabascan woman named Sarah is teaching several of us and she laughs as we work. Every time I think I can work on my own, things get messed us and she has to help me get untangled and back on tract. We talk together and she shows us little tips and techniques. I couldn't do it without her constant watch care.

Jesus is explaining the intimacy of relationship between son and the father, between us and our Creator, and among all of us. Our reliance of God is complete. We are often proud of our singular accomplishment. Rarely do we see or acknowledge the great crowd of love, teaching and support we have received. How lovely then for Jesus to acknowledge dependence and interconnected need. We are invited to cherish our need of others and our dependence on God and one another. Love, care, support and kind teaching which enable us to thrive are true gifts of God for us, so that we and others may flourish.

Today I ask God to help me see all the people who have helped me to this day. May we give thanks for the throngs of folks who have nurtured and helped us through our lives. May we offer the gifts we have, knowing that we are simply passing on what we have been taught. May we share God's wealth and blessings, since they do not belong to us and were always given to be shared.