Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (NRSV)

As I walked into our church office, a small Christmas tree caught my eye. The women of our congregation had made it at their annual Christmas craft gathering. This one was special, however. They had used entirely recycled materials.

The tree had been made from a branch of an old plastic tree no longer needed. Blown out Christmas tree light bulbs had been turned into mischievous looking elves. Old clothespins had become angels. It was a delightful little decoration to brighten the end of the office counter.

How like our faith, I thought. In a sense, we are all recycled materials. God has filled the world with the glorious light of self-giving love in Jesus Christ. When we turn in repentance to that light, the glory of the Lord recycles us from the dark ways of our sin. We then begin to reflect the glow that God's grace provides, and the risen Christ can be seen again in the darkened world around us.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Gracious God, source of the life that is the life of all people, the light which the darkness has never overcome, let that light so shine in us, that others may see the way to eternal life. Amen.

Galatians 5:22 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering… (KJV)

We have no way of knowing the exact nature of Paul's weakness. It may have been some chronic ailment or physical disability. Some scholars believe it had to do with his vision. Others have said it was epilepsy. It may also have been a continuing temptation, which he had been unable to overcome. He called it his "thorn in the flesh" and "a messenger of Satan to torment me." The point he made was that God had given him the grace to live with it, despite frequent prayers for deliverance from it.

Paul also told the Galatians that one of the gifts of the Spirit is patience. The KJV uses the English term long-suffering to translate the Greek word Paul used. Long-suffering was the way he approached his affliction. He had learned to endure it regardless of how it affected him. God had given him the grace of long-suffering. When we encounter illness, disability or other kinds of trouble, we pray for deliverance just as Paul did. If we have a health crisis, we need to seek whatever medical attention we can find to relieve our condition. We also need to pray, not just for healing, but for wholeness of body, mind and spirit. Sometimes all God may give us is the grace to endure. True wholeness lies in drawing nearer to God, for in life, in death and in life beyond death, God is always with his people.

Prayer: Gracious God, we know that we are not always in control of our lives, but you are. When crises come, help us to have patience to endure whatever happens. Remind us that you have promised never to leave nor forsake those who have turned to you in faith. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts."

Then the water bearer said the old cracked pot, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on its side of the path, but there were no flowers at all on the other side.The bearer said to the pot, "Because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it, I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Prayer: Loving God, we are all cracked pots, so make each of us aware of our own unique flaws. In your caring hands, even our flaws can be used to grace life's table. In your love's economy, nothing goes to waste. May we have the grace to know that in our weakness you find our strength. Amen.