Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. ~ Philippians 3:17
Even as we aspire to hope for new life, if we are honest, new life scares us. New life is annoying. Change is hard. We just get stuff figured out and something happens (Blizzards in March, best made plans, graduations, getting older, you know- life!) and everything is in flux again. New life is complex. As faithful followers of Jesus, Easter is our apex. In Christ’s compassion and wisdom, Jesus knows that faithfully following a path to new life is daunting. So Jesus shows us examples that we can imitate. We may need to see it before we can be it. New life does not have to be invented, it percolates and emerges from rich examples all around us. We just have to recognize the opportunity and copy from the best.
As it happens, incarnations of Christ can be encountered every day. We don’t have to be creative; we just have to recognize Christ and then be more like that. We, too, can be incarnations of Christ in our daily activity. In our time, we have witnessed what it looks like to be less than who we should be. Our allegiances to impermanent things thwarts our ability to recognize who and how we need to be faithful. However we may have sidetracked ourselves away from new life, we need to be reminded that the world needs more charity, gratitude, compassion, courage and faith in God. The good news is that we have an example to imitate and the opportunity to be an example for others who need to know the presence of Christ in our world. Keep alert for great examples to copy and so that we all can become our best version of the manifestation of Christ’s activity in our time.
Rev. Jeff Hagaman
Associate Conference Minister
Designated Search and Call
Tri Conference UCC