November 24, 2007
READ: Titus 3:1-7
The kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared. Titus 3:4
Years ago I received a cylinder in the mail that turned out to be an exquisite, custom-made Jim Schaaf bamboo fly rod and Bill Ballan classic reelcostly fishing gear that I could not have afforded. An enclosed handwritten note said simply, I wanted to do something for you. To this day I have no idea who sent it.
Poet William Cowper also had an anonymous friend who sent gifts to him but never revealed his name. Cowpers comment on receiving each gift was always the same: Anonymous has come. I think of that phrase often whenever I fish with that rod: Anonymous has come. I will always be grateful to my unnamed friend for his kindness and love to me.
All through our lives God showers us with His goodnessgifts of truth, beauty, friendship, love, and laughter, to name but a fewand we behave as if we dont know the source. God has been our anonymous Friend.
But He doesnt wish to remain anonymous. If you want to know more about your secret Friend, read the Gospels, for He is seen most clearly in Jesus. Love has always been in Gods heart, but in Jesus it appeared. God, revealed in Jesus, is your kind and merciful Friend. Will you acknowledge and thank Him today?
Thank you, Mayor, for today’s sustenance for body and soul.