Depending on the season, the time of day, and my mood, many different things seem to be of the utmost importance. This afternoon, ‘sleep’ is probably right up there at the top of the list! My mind and eyes are drooping, and it’s as though all I can think about is fixing this nuisance. Every reaction, every decision, every move is screened through the lens of “Dan is tired.” Right now, it is Priority #1.
But I know that after an anticipated good night’s sleep, I should awake refreshed in the morning, no longer (as) tired and ready to face something new. By tomorrow morning, that which is most important now will (hopefully!) be but a memory, replaced by another “most important matter.”
This seems to be a natural rhythm in our lives. Issues burst upon us, demanding our attention or asking to be solved right away. We fret or worry or focus compulsively on something that will pass soon, yet we can’t help but presume that, in the moment, it is the most important thing.
Yet this asks me to give pause, to reflect. Do I get wrapped-up in that which is, ultimately, not that important? Do I want my life to be a series of vignettes, each with their own pressing sub-plot yet never connected to a broader tapestry of story? Are these temporay concerns worth dedicating my entire self to, or is there something greater through which I can re-vision the cavalcade of issues that bombard me with each new day? What am I fixing my vision upon? What is it that I allow to serve as my ‘screen’ through which I interpret everything else?
President Veazey is going to be giving his annual address to the Community of Christ, an address entitled “The Mission Matters Most,” this Sunday at 6 p.m. U.S. Central. In this address, it seems as though he will be reminding the church — and by inclusion, me — that while there are many things that may consume us from time to time, none are ultimately as important as living and declaring the mission of Christ. That is the dream which catches and compels us, the work which trumps all other, the vocation in which we find abundant life. When we might otherwise be distracted by tangential issues, it is a reminder that in the end what matters most is the mission of God through Christ. That is what we dedicate our lives to. And unlike my tired-ness or what color to paint the santuary or whether to schedule services for 10:30 or 11:00 a.m., this summons is more than a passing blip on the radar. It is something that will be relevant well-beyond the ADD of my concerns; it is eternal!
As we prepare for this address, let us spend some time in prayer and reflection, asking that we may be open to the re-orientation of our lives around this True Priority. What matters most? The mission of Jesus Christ!
To watch the worship and address live on Sunday evening, go to: http://www.cofchrist.org
