Friends

Today's sermon on Mark chapters 1-2 sparked a new idea for me. Regarding the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus, I'd always seen them as two characters that interacted only on a few important occasions, each with their own job to do. What I've never considered is that they were cousins. Even today, I know all my cousins well and have spent lots of time with them. I'd imagine that would be even more the case in the Jewish culture of Jesus' time. These two probably played together, spent time together, knew each other well.
Fast forward to age 30 and re-think the statement John makes, "are you the one?" I always put the emphasis on "the one"....two strangers meeting with John trying to decipher whether this powerful teacher was the one for whom he was preparing the way. But today it struck me that the inflection could be on the "you"....You the one I've known all along....you are the messiah?
The possibility of the two knowing each other reminded me of Harry Potter and his friendship with Ron. Ron and Harry both struggle with Harry's fame. Ron is jealous and Harry doesn't want what has been given him. This seems like a very natural reaction when two friends are confronted with the fame of one. However, that dynamic does not seem to appear in the gospels. Christ knew who He was and was not ashamed. John knew who he was, and was happy to play his role. When we die to our own ambition and self, in Christ, we can be free to be just who God made us to be, and appreciate others for who they've been made to be.

Valentine

So, I bet you didn't realize that Valentine's Day is a much bigger deal in Kenya than at home. Maybe its because Kenya is a major exporter of fresh cut roses and other flowers, or maybe its yet another bizarre way that Kenya has adopted to be more "Western." For whatever reason, Valentine fever is in full swing here. Flowers are everywhere, even churches are decorated in red, chocolates are ubiquitous, flowers are in every hand (a dozen roses for a dollar or two), and then there's the cards. Kenyans like big valentine's cards. And I mean BIG cards. Many card aisles are filled with cards 8.5X11 and bigger. Looking at these cards reminds me of those poor people who have to wear billboards or ridiculous man-sized hamburger costumes.....all I could think of is a person wearing one of these larger-than-life cards as a costume.
All that to say, happy valentine's! May the God of love and hope fill you with love that doesn't leave wanting and a wellspring of joy that does not grow dry.