According to Jesus in Matthew 5. They who are part of the out crowd are actually part of the in crowd of the Kingdom of God.

The Beatitude of the world says, “Blessed are the rich, for they will have everything they want.” The rich are the real favored, privileged, and happy winners of the world. Especially in a capitalistic and materialistic society like our own.

But here’s the bummer: Such outward comforts are their own reward. When it’s gone, it’s gone. As Luke says in his corresponding woe, “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” Wealth can attain a certain level of comfort in this today, but it is terribly inadequate to attain comfort in the never-ending Kingdom of God.

Two days ago was Epiphany. And also an opportunity for an epiphany. 

For Christians, at least those who pay attention to the liturgy of the Christian calendar, Epiphany marks the day when the Magi visited the infant Christ. Gifts fit for a King’s palace were brought to a commoner’s barn. The fanfare was quiet, almost entirely unnoticed by the rest of the world, but it was real. Here was the true King!

The government of not just one nation, but of the entire world, would one day rest on his shoulders. Every political, military, economic, and cultural power on earth was very quietly yet emphatically put on notice. A transfer of power was subtly imminent. 

Sometimes it’s all just loaves and fishes. The most we have to bring is less than the bare minimum needed. But it’s what we’ve got. 

The good news is that God is a God of miracles and multiplication. In the giving away the little we have, more is received. 

Usually requires ending something old. Either bringing it to completion, delegating all responsibilities to someone else, or scrapping it altogether. Old is not necessarily worse or less desirable than new; it may, simply be in the way.

Is what you were created to do?

Empty the dishwasher. Call your insurance company. Visit a neighbor. Text your mom. Sweep the dog hair off of the floor. Warm up last night’s leftovers. Send that email. Check the batteries in your smoke detectors. Take out the trash.

Just the next, simple, boring, unexciting thing.

It only depends on when you start counting.

Our gregorian calendar started counting yesterday. 

According to the Christian calendar, the new year began 34 days ago on the first Sunday of Advent. 

We’re often told to vote based on our values. Which is probably good advice. The difficulty is that our values are many, and no one candidate or party shares those values in the same way. So we have to prioritize which values to promote above the others.

But as I head out to vote today, another possibility came to me: What if we voted based on our sins? What if we voted as repentance?

Follow me here.

Whatever is meant by “sin” matters and greatly influences what is meant by “repent.” I’m going with these definitions: 

History is always a mixed bag. Rarely is it all bad. I have much to be thankful for and rejoice in. Yet sometimes one can’t help look back and recall the crops that were stolen. To mourn what what was lost. To grieve dreams that never came into reality. To wonder what could have been. To live with some intangible sense of regret that you can’t name clearly enough to shake off. To name the shame that comes from barren fields.

We live by faith, not by touch.

We live by faith, not by taste.

We live by faith, not by smell.

We live by faith, not by hearing.

Is more significant than whoever is behind you or beside you. Whoever you’re following is more important than whoever is following behind you or partnering beside you. Your guide is the single most important person in the equation.

Everyone follows someone. That’s leadership 101.