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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Sunday, July 6, 2003 "Thank You for Wasting Time with Me" |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, July 6, 2003 By Fritz Foltz
One of my close friends is a member of the Medical Mission Sisters. These Roman Catholic women are dedicated to ministering to physical as well as spiritual needs of people in the most needy parts of the world. Helen spent a number of years doctoring children in Ghana.
While reporting her many adventures, she mentioned that a very common saying in that African nation is “Thank you for wasting time with me.” At the end of many conversations, the participants will leave one another with those words, “Thank you for wasting time with me.”
There is something wonderful about stopping our work, setting aside our own agenda, and simply sharing time with another person. It might provide new insights into topics and new perspectives on life, but then again it might not. However, wasting time with another almost always strengthens relationships. And everything else is built on that.
From one point of view, observing the Sabbath is wasting time. It is setting aside our work and personal agendas, forgetting about our individual goals for a while. It might provide insight and perspective, but we all know it also might not, at least not on every Sunday. But it does strengthen our relationships with each other and with God. And everything else is built on that.
By the way, thanks for wasting time with me.
Let us pray: Father, grant us always the sensitivity to leave our feverous pursuit of success and waste some time with you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry. Pastor Dave welcomes and appreciates feedback. pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org.