Lost

"Come to me, all you hard at labor and burdened down, and I'll give you rest," Matthew 11:28.

Spiritually devastated? Mourning loss? Frustrated rights? Pursuing justice (hopelessly)? Yielding mercy (but not getting it)? Whole-hearted God-follower (without benefit)? Making peace (but not finding it)? Punished for doing good? The beatitudes welcome all people overwhelmed in life struggles into God's kingdom's blessings. Jesus calls all who worked hard at the game, but lost big time. He invites us to consider carefully his own life, to learn from him. Jesus himself knows the very same sorrows, yet he presses on to finish God's love's call on his life. The values of the sky kingdom really are not of this world, nor are all its blessings. So we press on, too, trusting Jesus' restful promise.

With a brother or sister, we learn Christ. We speak trust in, and submission to, the one whose love has shown true. We find our hearts' rest in his promise. Together we give thanks. Blessed we are.