Mark Your Life in Faith


 

It is hard to believe that I have walked through another season of beautiful blooms on the neighborhood Magnolia trees. In spite of the heat, these grand flowers literally glow in their whiteness. The scent easily spreads the length of the block on the evening breeze. These are stately trees that are, to me, one of the primary markers that Summer has come.
We mark our lives in many ways. Many of these ways are happy: Birthdays. Graduations. Baptisms and Confirmations. Proms and driver’s licenses. There are other markers that are sad to us, yet they delineate time as we look back. Before the diagnosis. While our parents were still alive. When our family was together.
In some of the older stories of the Bible, people would pile up rocks to mark important places and important times. They did so in hopes that their children and grandchildren would ask about the strange sight. This would provide the opportunity to retell the stories in order that those who were coming after might learn the importance of marking their lives as well.
The disciples of Jesus in the Bible, and the disciples of Jesus today, are joined in fellowship by the way they mark life. The bread and cup. Lent and Advent. Sunday gatherings. Prayer and service. Scripture and devotion. If we mark our lives in such ways, we will be asked about it as well. Then we get to tell our stories to those who follow us. Who knows? They may choose to mark their lives in faith as well.
Peace.

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