We all seem to need a strategy for coping with the experience of grief. In the screen adaptation of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are(2009), we follow the adventures of Max, an imaginative child who feels neglected by his mother and older sister. He escapes into a fantastical world of hairy, monstrous creatures. Once these "wild things" threaten to devour him, Max pretends to possess magical powers and manages to convince the monsters to make him their king.

The creatures come to believe that Max has been sent to abolish suffering in their world and to establish permanent peace and happiness. And so they ask him: "Will you keep out all the sadness?" Still playacting his role as king and miracle worker, Max declares: "I have a sadness shield that keeps out all the sadness, and it's big enough for all of us."

Do you ever wish that you had a sadness shield?  I do!  In my ministry, I see more than enough of my share of human suffering in the physical, emotional, and spiritual realm.  It's an easy thing to declare that "Jesus is the answer" to everyone that I meet who is struggling, but that would appear smug and cliche' to most of the people that I minister to.  

Although I recognize that Jesus can bring real, lasting peace to the suffering soul, I also have to realize that sometimes He wants to use me to help relieve those who are hurting.  It would appear callous to say "God loves you," and merely walk away.

You and I have been given the task of being involved in "hands-on" Christianity.  It's often tough to know exactly what to do in situations where people are hurting, but "showing up," and caring allows those that we are serving to see that we serve a God Who cares as well.

Who will God direct you to serve today?

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word