Being miserable in God's service

Do what most enables you to fly

and brings a feeling to the heart

that makes you glad to be alive

                Hafiz

______________________________________________

when I was in college

there were some

not me

I was not that into God at the time

who seemed to feel that following God

was a matter

of sacrifice and renunciation

in fact the more miserable they felt

the more assured they were

of their righteousness

"I am miserable"

they would intone

"I must be following God's will!"

really?

if that is true

perhaps God should give each of us a martyr card

we get to punch it

each time we

are miserable for the kingdom

and cash it in for some future reward

and yet I wonder

about the God who made this morning

of pinks and blue

this crisp air

my agile and marvelous cat

who even now plays with my toes

I wonder if this God 

of spring mornings

of

granddaughters

really means for us to be miserable in God's service

does God not want us to 

greet the day

with the joy and brightness of the sunrise

greet our lives

with the hope and promise

of spring?

 ah yes

God is all about life!

God wants us to do what enables us to fly!

and makes us

(and those around us)

glad to be alive!