I still laugh each time I read the humorous line \u201cwhat a stupid question!\u201d There\u2019s much in the ways of God that we cannot understand, and I think it a bit humorous at times to laugh at some of our attempts to rationalize God\u2019s doings. \u00a0Bonhoeffer\u00a0goes on to explain why he believes that the disciples so quickly dropped everything at Jesus\u2019 beckoning: \u00a0“\u2026for the simple reason that the cause behind the immediate following of call by response is Jesus Christ himself. It is Jesus who calls, and because it is Jesus, they follow at once.”<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n As\u00a0Bonhoeffer\u00a0alludes, our tiny reasoning brains are finite. God is the architect of all things, with a capacity to orchestrate much more than I can even\u00a0imagine. Perhaps my daily questions don\u2019t need to ask how God\u2019s plans will work out or how I might recognize Him; rather maybe my job today is to stop asking so many questions.\u00a0 Questions that only get in the way of what our hearts are intuitively designed to do.<\/p>\n I had a trumpet teacher who\u2019s favorite mantra was KISS, short for Keep- It-Simple-Stupid!\u00a0 It was his way of getting rid of unnecessary questions and tensions that get in the way of one basic truth of trumpet playing \u2013 simply that you must<\/em> start with a good resonant sound, always. I often think of this \u201ckiss\u201d method in regard to the spiritual life.\u00a0 In many ways, Christianity can be very simple. Jesus is Lord, God of the universe, and I am not. He created me, loves me and has the best purposes for me, even if, and especially if<\/em> I feel lousy today!\u00a0 This\u00a0isn’t\u00a0to say life\u00a0here on earth can\u2019t be very complicated, for there certainly are many gray areas, and lots of questions arise for all of us.\u00a0 But scripture tells us that on earth we barely see a glimpse of our future glory.\u00a0 It tells us that all things, yes all <\/em>things can be used for the glory of God. We forget who created us, and that He promises to make us whole.\u00a0 Simply put, we need to have faith in Jesus and follow him.\u00a0If we choose to let our hearts trust, then like the disciples, we will recognize Jesus exactly in his timing, and follow him immediately. Now of course we don\u2019t always want to follow Jesus and we rebel and so forth–but that does not change God– and certainly does not change God\u2019s promises to us.\u00a0 I think both\u00a0Bonhoeffer\u00a0and my trumpet teacher would agree on at least one life philosophy, Keep It Simple!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n By\u00a0Melodious Monk This week\u2019s Gospel reading was the story of Jesus calling Peter and Andrew to be his disciples.\u00a0 Jesus says to come and they drop everything and immediately follow him. In Sunday’s Eucharist bulletin we were given a short … Continue reading ![\"The](\"http:\/\/of.communityofjesus.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ollie2-300x234.jpg\")
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