The Difficult Path: Challenge Accepted

My husband and I have discovered the joy of hiking trails. The Gorge trail runs behind our house, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park is only six miles from here. We’ve recently hiked in state and metro parks in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina, plus part of the Appalachian Trail. Each one offers spectacular views plus unique challenges: steep terrain, fallen trees to climb over, massive rocks to squeeze between, shallow rivers to cross… you get the idea. 

While flat trails are easier – and sometimes we do take those easy trails – the hike is more enjoyable when the trail is more difficult. The challenging parts are what reward us with an exhilarating feeling of accomplishment.  

This idea to ‘take the more difficult path’ isn’t new, nor does it apply only to hiking. Anyone who has worked hard to excel in their field of work, master a skill, or grow in virtue knows what it feels like to do what others can’t or won’t do. Those who make extra sacrifices for their families or give more than they’re asked also know that, “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”

How does this translate to living our faith?

We, as maturing Christians, know that we will be rewarded for following Christ’s Way even if others don’t. Taking the less popular path isn’t easy. It sometimes means accepting the challenge to go where others refuse to go. That may look different for each of us. These and other questions may help us see how closely we’re following Christ:

Do I take time each day, and one day each week, to thank God for my life and everything I have?

Do I spend time in prayer and try to understand what God is asking of me at this stage of my life?

Do I treat my neighbors, especially those who are different from me,

as I want to be treated?

How do I treat the stressed wait staff or the customer service rep on the phone?

Do I cling to my possessions?

Do I censor what I watch and listen to on my electronic devices?

Am I hiding anything?

How do I treat my parents and in-laws? Have I forgiven them?

Do I hold a grudge?

Do I ask forgiveness when I’ve wronged someone?

Do I envy others’ possessions or accomplishments?

Following Christ may not be the easy way. But He promises us that His Way is the way to eternal life.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13-14

“Lord, show me Your way and help me follow You more closely.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

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p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

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Rain and God Don't Play Favorites

I suspect that the local farmers and gardeners danced in the rain last week. After nearly a month of no rain, the heavens finally opened up and drenched the crops. Surely, a huge sigh of relief went up to the heavens from those who grow our food.

If you could control the weather, you’d make sure your own garden got plenty of sunshine and rain, right? Would you be concerned with your friends’ gardens also? What about your cantankerous neighbor’s garden? Also, you’d let the sun shine on your own family’s cookout; would you provide sunshine for that neighbor’s picnic also?  

Notice that God doesn’t play favorites. He lets the sun shine and the rain fall everywhere, on everyone. The same is true of His love. 

Christ continually showers His love on all of us, trying to get our attention, hoping we notice, wanting us to let His Spirit of love and peace permeate our fearful hearts just as the rain soaks the dry, hardened earth. He does all this because He desires to bring us closer to Himself. He wants us to believe that He will always love us, and to see ourselves as He sees us: beloved children of God. 

Jesus didn’t discriminate when He called His disciples; He saw the good in each person and their potential for even greater good, even in individuals who had been labeled ‘bad,’ like Matthew the tax collector.

We tend to judge ourselves and each other as being ‘good’ or ‘bad,’ but Christ sees the good in all of us and the potential for greater good. He sees your goodness. He wants you to see it, even if you’ve let yourself be labeled as ‘bad’ by someone else. You are precious to Him!  

Christ asks us to look for the goodness in others, too, and share His love and peace with them, especially those who are the hardest to reach. That cold and angry neighbor… have you reached out to her with a sincere, friendly greeting or any tangible sign of kindness? Have you considered that maybe she feels unloved or unlovable? Have you prayed for her? Maybe your persistent kindness – God’s love for her expressed through you – could be all that’s needed to soften her heart, just as the rain softens the parched soil. 

“I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for He makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” – Matthew 5:44-45

“Lord, help me see my neighbors as You see them, and love them as You love me.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

Love's Reward

The Wizard of Oz said to the Tin Man, ‘A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.’ 

This statement has bothered me for as long as I can remember. Maybe you’ve questioned it, too? How much we’re loved by others may have nothing to do with how much love we give. 

Celebrities are greatly loved by many; this has nothing to do with how much the celebrities love anyone. Mobs of adoring fans pack stadiums to watch athletes perform, regardless of how they treat the people around them. 

Contrary to what the Wizard of Oz said, we are called to love others, not get them to love us. 

There are people whose love for others is much greater than the love others have for them. Jesus is the #1 example. As a man He was Love Incarnate. He used the power of Love to teach, heal, forgive, and free people from emotional distress. Large crowds followed Him, but there were many who mistrusted Him. Some people were so disturbed by His Way of loving that they killed Him. He knew they were plotting to kill Him and yet He continued to love those who came to Him. His love to the point of death was rewarded with His resurrection and eternal life in heaven. 

Mother Teresa expressed love in the dignity she gave to the poorest of the poor, the sick, and the dying. She did it out of love for Christ: she loved them because she saw in each person the image of Christ. Probably few of them could love her back because they were so close to death. She undoubtedly is being rewarded now with eternal life with Christ Himself.

Jesus said, “Love one another'' not “Make sure people love you” or even “Love others so that they love you back.” 

And so, each of us is called to show the love of Christ to those around us – in our own ways, with the talents God has given us – whether or not they also love us, and especially if they don’t love us (see Luke 6:34-36)! We have the capacity for great love because Christ’s Love already dwells inside us. We claim His Love; we thank Him for loving us and we treat ourselves kindly. We look for opportunities to give this Love for the benefit of others, everywhere we go and in everything we do. We know that the more love we share, the more it grows and the stronger it becomes inside us. And we give it with joy and confidence, remembering that Christ assured us that we, too, will be rewarded for sharing His love with others, regardless of whether we’re loved in return.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” –Matthew 5:12

“Lord, let my joy come from loving You in the people around me!”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...

Celebrate and Give Thanks

The joy of June is upon us! 

It’s time for graduations, weddings, and summertime getaways. These momentous events let us celebrate hard-earned accomplishments, look with excitement to the future, and refresh our minds and bodies with relaxation and new adventures. Our degrees, our jobs, finding the love of our life, and the privilege of taking a vacation are sources of great pride and joy.  

When we have reason to celebrate, there are people we want to thank. Graduates, the bride and groom, and most young people who reach a milestone thank their parents for the countless ways they’ve supported them. Any time we celebrate reaching a goal or achieving something that’s important to us, we acknowledge the many people who helped us get to where we are.

While we’re celebrating, let’s remember to thank the Lord, too. All of our accomplishments were and are made possible by the power given to us from God our Creator. Thank Him for blessing us with our physical and mental abilities to explore, learn, and create. Thank Him for creating the people we love and all those who are celebrating with us. Thank Him for creating the world we travel around, with all its diversity. Thank Him for creating the people we meet, with their varied cultures that we learn from. 

While we’re taking our vacations, whether it’s a day trip or a far-off destination, let’s thank God for the gifts of nature, too. Let’s not only marvel at the tiny wildflowers and massive rock formations on the hiking trail but also thank God for creating them. Thank Him for the shady trees that bring relief from the heat, and the expansive vistas that take our breath away. Thank Him for creating the produce we buy at the farmer’s markets, and for the farmers who labored so we can enjoy it. Thank Him for creating the sandy beaches and the refreshing waters we swim in.  Thank Him for the gift of time to share with our friends and family.

Thank Him for everything that lets us celebrate and create happy memories with those we love. 

“So now consider what He has done for you, and praise Him with full voice.” – Tobit 13:6

“Thank You, Lord, for all you have given us!”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2023 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

p.s.

We continue to pray for an end to the war. If you’d like to help the people of Ukraine through the Cleveland Maidan Association, you may use either PayPal or a credit/debit card here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/...