Perseverate

Flipping through the pages of my tattered notebook I notice a reoccurring theme…It seems I perseverate on my demise…my death…my passing on to the next life, the eternal life.  There always seems to be some question as to where or how I will spend that eternal time.  Even as I understand the promise of salvation I worry about my mustard seed size faith, which never seems to be enough to reassure me…especially in the light of God’s instructions “love thy neighbor as thy self”.  I’ve got the “love thy self” down pat.  But, that love my neighbor stuff…that’s difficult…especially when he irritates me.  And even more worrisome are the words “Love thy enemy” recorded in Matthew 5:43 and Luke 6:27.  That is really counter-intuitive to my selfish way of thinking.  I have to go through the mental gyrations of “love the sinner not the sin” in order to cope with that.   

Dear Lord Jesus,

I am afraid we are headed for difficult times in this land of the free and home of the brave.  I have enjoyed a prosperous life in a prosperous country and I thank you for that.  But I see troubled times on the horizon and religious persecution around the corner.  My prayer is that you water my tiny mustard seed of faith that it might grow into a large tree.

Amen