The Principal and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius say that we are created to love, honour and serve God. As I swung in a hammock this afternoon, I watched a hummingbird dart around the yard and then drink at the feeder. I know that this beauty is not just created to bring me joy but I wondered what it would be like for God to look down and feel the immense pleasure at creation the way I did right at that moment. God chooses us all the time, time and time again, but do we choose God?

In Joshua 24, all the tribes of Israel are gathered and Joshua demands that they choose that very day who they will serve. As in the Two Standards, Joshua chooses to stand under the standard of the Holy One: as for me and my household, we will serve God.  He acknowledges that this is the God who protected them all the way along and among all their encounters. Joshua and his household choose God and choose to love, honour and serve the Holy One whose mighty hand has rescued and protected them.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus asks his twelve disciples if they also wish to go away  and Simon Peter responds: Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. Jesus had been saying that the people needed to eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood in order to have life. These are challenging words and many left.  To serve God and to follow in the ways of the Holy One requires stamina at times. We may want to pack it in too, but like Joshua and Simon Peter, we know there is none other that will suffice.  We humans can overthink things but watching that hummingbird made me think maybe we just need to serve in joy and trust that God has us. We need to trust that.

I am wrapping up  mini-vacation here, before gearing up to return to fall routine and continued medical treatments. In the past day, I have noticed a shift deep at my core. This trip did exactly what it needed to do. Here in my hammock, ministered to by dear friends I have had time to listen and I am ready to welcome the fall activity and to begin to serve again more practically the God who has protected me thus far. I choose to serve God. I pray that I might be as a hummingbird and deliver Joy wherever I flit.

Peace,

Suzanne

Reflection Questions 

Who or what do you choose to serve? Why?

What do you think God thinks looking at your life?

Prayer

Joy darted by me today

bringing a smile to my face

turning the eyes of my heart

to the Holy One

creating a longing to serve

again with joy and lightness

trusting that this One walking with me

who has taken every step in front of me

and beside me is making the way safe.

Amen.