I think God’s talking to me through movies.  My family and I watched this miniseries called, “The Tinman” based on “The Wizard of Oz”. 

 There is this moment in the final episode, no, through the whole series, that resonates within me.  Simple courage, simple love, seeking to build up and not destroy.  To defeat destruction is not to destroy it, but to cause new life to grow.  To simply love and serve those around us.  Jesus said, “the great must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave,” 

 For so long, I had forgotten that.  For many months, I’ve been tryin to figure out what I’ve been doing wrong.  I knew there was something wrong with me, some block that I couldn’t get over.  I willed it gone, I founght exhausting battles against that gate, I called upon the authority of heaven that it would move.  But it didn’t, it remained a symbol of my failure, a block between me and the grace of God. 

 I’m only writing my heart, not what is doctrinally true.  If anyone wiser than  me wishes to correct me then please speak to me. 

Then, yesterday at a Hannuka thing held at Sar Shalom, I realized that I am here to serve the orphan and the poor and the widow.  those considered the wretches of humanity are beautiful, beautiful children God has called us to serve.  So long, I’ve always been thinking how to intellectually defeat the lies of this world, to show them the truth through logic and reasoning.  I had forgotten this simplicity, this simple longing to mend broken wounds and bring warmth to the shaking and cold.  To embrace the hurting and  bring them comfort, that is my purpose as far as loving my neighbor.  I must not seek someone to serve me, but to serve those God has led to me and me to. 

I need to go to  bed now, so I’ll say goodnight. 

 Simple courage, simple loyalty, simple love, simple joy, simple, simple simple. 

Stephen, you were right all along.  Once again, I bow to the wisdom God has placed in you that flows through you so easily. 

 Brother in Arms
Jack
Salaam-Peace