16 June 2019

 

Amis letter 23  (06/03)

 

Dear Amis

 

Today I share with you the follow-up story from last week. You will remember that the theme is Hospitality.  On day 3 we discussed the question: How can we be hospitable towards ourselves? What do we do with our own limitations? How do we overcome our own perceived shortcomings? The reading was Matt 11:25. How did Jesus respond to his own shortcomings? When he visited some towns, they did not listen; they rejected Him. He then responds not by doubting Himself or the Kingdom… or his own mission. He responds by saying: I praise you Father…

 

In our following discussion, we talked about how we respond to life – not only our limitations but to life in general. The conversation bounced back and forth between the members of the group. But it moved us towards rethinking the importance of praise.

How do we acknowledge God’s Godness in our lives? Our highest response is praise.

 

This discussion was a blessing. Another blessing was to follow. After our meeting I wanted to reflect on the what and how of praise. I walked from Taizé towards the next village reflecting on “praise” in my life. For some reason I focused my attention to the trees around me. I saw the early spring trees with arms raised up in praise. Beautiful and so vivid! As I walked through the small village of Ameugny, a very peculiar tree attracted my attention. (picture)  A many-times-pruned tree – almost in agony! Yet, I could not miss the tree looking like someone in pain yet praising.

It came as a blessing.

The point of my story: I made a re-discovery of the primary importance of praise as the basic work of my life.

To ponder on:

How do we react to the challenges of life? What are the distractions in our lives? What is more important in my life than constant, humble praise?

 

With kind regards

 

Jan