Rick Reflects: August 17, 2011

I’ve been reflecting on “reflecting”.  It might be more accurate to say that I have been thinking about how hard it can be to reflect.  Those of you who follow “Rick Reflects” have noted that it has been a while since you received a “Reflects”.  I have even gotten  emails from people who wondered what was going on.  The truth is, it is hard to reflect when you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off.  The end of June found me preparing to come to the States.  I have been to a meeting inIndianapolis, General Conference, a number of churches, and have been the camp missionary at a summer camp.  I will admit to a few family visits (I am a grandfather) as well.  There have been endless phone calls fromHaitias one thing or another has arisen.  It has been an endless cycle of travel and preparation and activity.

One of the challenges of missionaries in our system is to raise both financial and prayer support.  Because of the earthquake inHaiti, Cookie and I were deployed earlier than is usual without being able to build the relationships that are needed to go the long haul in the field.  This summer we are trying to make up for lost time.  It has been good to connect with people from the many churches that stepped up to the plate and supported us.  It has been good to make new connections.  But it has taken a toll as well.  There have been several too long spells where personal devotions have been too hurried, if they happened at all.  That is dangerous.  The most important connection in life is our connection with God.  If that isn’t what it should be, it will begin to flow down into our relationships with the people in our lives and even with ourselves.  I’m feeling a bit weary in well doing.

I need to find a way to make sure the first thing is the first thing.  I suspect I am not the only one.  How about you?  In Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) Jesus says the most important thing in life is to:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

Does the way you have been investing your time this week show that God is #1 in your life?  Or are you running on the treadmill, intending to put God first, but first you need to . . .  Maybe we all need to slow down, reflect on where we are when it comes to God and to the important people in our lives.  I can do better; so can you.

Rick

Cookie and I are supported in our work in Haitiby people like you.  If you would like to be a part of our team and support us financially or prayerfully (both are needed) go to our website at www.servinghaiti.com where you will find links under the “Join Us” tab.