Take Up Your Cross

At the beginning of a new year, many of us make resolutions. Weight loss, getting out of debt, traveling more, or seeing friends more frequently are common resolutions to make on New Year’s Day.

This year, as expected, I’m the one who probably needs the weight loss resolution (grrrr…). But as a follower of Jesus, the most difficult resolution is more of a daily commitment than a yearly resolution. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” This means a different way of thinking and journeying through life. It means being so immersed in fellowship with Jesus that you constantly struggle with the “normal” of the world. It means interacting with neighbors, family, and strangers differently. It means speaking (and posting on social media) differently. It means letting go of things that would provide satisfaction or comfort that Jesus calls us to lay down. It’s really, really hard, entirely contrary to how we are conditioned to live after dwelling in the world for our entire lives. I think that is why Jesus inserted the word “daily” into his teaching here.

Hearing this message sung by dozens of believers in a choir is a great reinforcement, to help this message get deep within my soul. Here is the Brooklyn Tabernacle with Take Up Your Cross.

Rev. Dan Polecheck
Universal Life Church Ministries

The Lone Puzzle Piece

I know I’m not alone in saying that 2020 has been brutal on my creativity and spiritual inspiration. This year we have endured looters, rioters, accusations of racism for not possessing enough melanin, or for being a member of any form of law enforcement. We’ve seen our democratic societies erode under the corrupt actions of fascist actors hijacking elections.

It goes without saying that 2020 has tested a lot of us, while others have reveled in the new advantages that the year’s struggles have allowed them. All the while, we “creatives” have been struggling to quiet our minds and let our muses speak to us. Whether it be writing a book, a blog post, painting, or simply taking a picture of something other than a burning police car. Trying to add something positive and uplifting to the world this last year has been a struggle for everyone.

A Search For Inspiration

It’s a new year with new resolutions worldwide. New starts and renewed commitments. It may be time to look for new ways to be inspired.

Take today for example. I was picking up lunch for my lovely wife and myself at a local restaurant. As I was walking back to my car after placing my order, I just happen to look down at the ground to see a single upside-down puzzle piece amongst the breaking concrete, tufts of grass, and small patches of snow. It seems almost impossible that I would have noticed this small brown oddly shaped piece of cardboard backdropped by its surroundings of almost identical color. But for some reason, it stood out like there was a spotlight on it.

I noticed it and walked right by it. Then it hit me, this may be the inspiration I’ve been looking for. That’s when I did an about-face and picked it up.

This lone puzzle piece appears to be tree branches on a white background. But when I saw it, it spoke to me that it was a work of art in itself and the rest of the puzzle is lessened by its absence. This little puzzle piece had nothing to prove and had no need to explain itself to me. Its lone adventure into the wild unknown is it’s own to ponder and the lessons it learned along the way will probably be lost to my inability to speak its language.

Inspiration From Strange Places

Like the wayfaring puzzle piece, I hope to find inspiration from more obscure places. I know some of these musings will be only ramblings from my own questionable sanity, but I hope that if I look in enough places, I will be able to find something worth sharing with the world that might inspire someone else.

While contemplating the puzzle piece, I was reminded of a quote. I typed it into Google to make sure I got the quote correct and give proper credit. Here’s what I found.

"Becoming me was the greatest creative project of my life." – Lev Grossman

Ultimately, this was the gift the puzzle piece gave to me. I need to focus on myself, my relationship with my Lord and His Word, and if I come across something that moves me, I can share it with the rest of the world.

I hope that in the new year and new decade, you’ll be able to find new ways that God may be speaking to you and then find the patience to listen for its message.

Rev. Dan Polecheck - Universal Life Church Ministries

Content is Good

The other evening, after a long and difficult day, I was sitting on the couch next to my wonderful wife. I was tried, but not feeling bad. My mood could best be defined as feeling content.

In a world that is all about adventure and happiness, I think contentment has fallen out of fashion. Now I’m all for adventure, excitement, new things, and being happy, but we can’t have any of those all the time. We can, however, learn to be content the vast majority of the time. We can learn to be okay with quiet moments and days when nothing spectacular happened. We can accept not feeling bad as being a good thing.

We can also work at being content in our marriage. That doesn’t mean we ignore problems or stop working on making our marriage better. It does mean being less demanding and being okay with a bit less now and then. Sitting together quietly is actually a great way to spend time together – give it a try!

Rev. Dan Polecheck - Universal Life Church Ministries