only way to keep a secret.....

... is when someone is actually embarrassed by it!! Unless it is someone else!! Then it is straight to the National Enquirer!! What did you think of B Mc's paraphrasing of the four gospels on page 73? The vast scope of the task can make us tired just thinking about it! That is why all this ministry stuff is a team effort. Jesus asking people to step beyond their own tribal inclinations (how many times have we heard "we have to take care of things here at home first"?)and engage a much larger purpose seems hard. But as Mc. continues, the task is not one that is "hard" but one that requires passion. The mention of guitars always tickles my ears and the story of Master Crabb brought a smile to my face. A chance to learn led to a passion for music which brought the song to others. And all began with 5 chords and some advice... we don't always have to do spectacular things to live out the gospel... in fact, talk about a misdirection! "Our community must be big" or "we have to feed all the hungry" diminishes the impact of a single act of grace bestown upon another. When we don't share a word of encouragement, the gospel remains hidden. When we fail to help someone on this day, the gospel remains secret. We don't have to move mountains for the gospel to be proclaimed. Just walk the valley with eyes open and hands ready to be extended. Then the secret gets out.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where the is hatred, let me sow love
Where their is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as console
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love;

For it is giving we receive, in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.