The blog network is quickly approaching 200 members. (We're doing our very best to welcome everyone, and visit your blogs.)
L.L. Barkat of
Seedlings In Stone has been with us almost from the beginning.
More importantly,
L.L. understands what we're trying to do here. L.L. caught the vision.
And that vision is expressed beautifully in her recent book
Stone Crossings. The subtitle is "Finding Grace in Hard and Hidden Places." Which makes me wonder. Where has God shown you grace today?
For example, L.L. finds grace in doubt.
When Peter is faced with the reality that Jesus will die a criminal's death, doubt assails him. The truth is too difficult, too bloody, too dirty to hold... When we see Jesus in a new unexpected way that fails to meet expectations, we are tempted to falter and say: This is hard; who can accept it?
As an example, L.L. tells the story of a former professor, "David D." He was "an excellent customer service representative," she explains. "The attendant who goes beyond the company script, who makes you feel you are a person with read needs and concerns." When L.L. went to his office with doubts about God's mere existence, David didn't flinch.
She writes, "An unquestioned faith is questionable... Covering doubt and demanding unexamined allegiance holds its own special dangers."
So true.
Here's another example, L.L. finds grace in sacrifice, the daily living sacrifice that Paul describes in Romans 12:1-2 and that Jesus requests in John 21:17.
Tending sheep is a mundane job. It is a lot of same old, same old--the way we feed kids breakfast, lunch and dinner, or drive to the office and deal with the same people day after day. It is repetitive... So it's easy for us to overlook the power of small acts...
Recently, I sat across the table from a friend who does all sorts of mundane tasks. She drives her daughter to eight specialist appointments a week. She feeds her family. She and her husband are opening their arms to a new baby from another country.
As we sat at our corner table, this woman raised her cup and sipped. Then with much earnestness, she said, "I just wish I could do something for the Lord."
I'm not the type to get sappy over tea. But when she said this, I just about spit out my scone. It took a second before I could speak.
"It hurts so much to hear you say that," I told her... My friend is a rich gift to her family, a shepherd given them for life's journey. No one is going to put her on TV for what she does every day. She will never be an American Idol star.
Because the rewards are quiet, being dependable in common love is not always inviting.
That's what high calling blogs is all about. We want to remind people every day to be dependable in common love. Find grace in hard places like the workplace and the grocery store and your daily commute.
Where has God shown you grace and common love today?
One more thing. People often ask how they can help us out. They want to be more active in the network. Believe me, we're working hard on building tools to help connect you. But here are three
FOUR different things you could do.
Option 1, you buy L. L. 's book. It's only $12.00.
Option 2, at least click through to IVP's website so they'll see our referrals coming in.
Option 3, you can support L.L. by posting about her book and getting the word out.
Option 4, show up on L.L.'s blog and leave an encouraging comment.
If this network is going to be more than just another link exchange, we need to support each other! Be active! Be encouraging!
Comment. Post. Link. End of sermon.
Now back to that question. I really do want to know the answer.
Where has God shown you grace and common love today?
