Messenger

Today is the day we commemorate the birth of John the Baptist.

John answered, No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him. - John 3:27-28

John reminds us that every gift we are given and every gift we give are gifts from God.

John saw himself as a messenger, a deliverer, one who receives from God and brings to those who are to receive.

You could say that he was the heavenly UPS guy.

Whenever I do something for someone, I take pride in it, giving myself credit for the act of kindness, but maybe I should be more like John, seeing all I give as coming from God and not from me.

But if I become as humble as John, seeing myself simply as an instrument of God, rather than taking credit for myself, would I be more likely to do good, or would I see little reward in it and stop?

On the other hand, if I believe that God is the driving force behind all giving, that I would never even think of doing something for someone else if it wasn't His will urging me on, then seeing myself as His messenger may propel me to be more attentive to His calls.

I could become like John, in synch with God, hearing and obeying, living in concert with the Spirit within.

So long as I seek to feed the ego, doing what I can for the sake of my own pride, I will find little greatness.  But when I diminish myself and open myself up to God's will, I will find true greatness.

That was John's message to all.  Be the messenger and not the source of good, for in doing what is good God works through us and we are made whole.

I like that.

Now let's see if I can do it.

More to come...