Salt is Good

Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. “Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” Luke 14:25-35

There are times when life is full of joy and hope and other times when we feel as if the flavor and joy has been drained out. Often times, when we are on the verge of great forward progress, all sorts of things happen which knock the stuffings out of us and we lose our "saltiness", our strength and flavor. My wise mother used to say, "you know you're getting close to God when the devil starts working overtime!" All of us have those times, and yet we are needed in this world. We might want to toss ourselves on the manure pile, but God needs all of us to do our part, however small or feeble we might feel.

Loving Creator, you bless us richly

and give us communities of strength

to walk with us when we are stumbling

and to hold us when we are despairing.

There is always more work to be done

yet you promise to be with all of us 

as we shoulder the burdens we carry

as we bring light and flavor here.

Renew us today with your spirit

inspire us today with your love

heal our hurts, assuage our fears

so the world might know your love. Amen.