Disciples and Dirt

Notes from the Pastor…

On Sunday, Mothers Day, Kristyn received the traditional Ruidoso Mothers Day present – plants, pots, and potting soil.  It is amazing how much better a deck looks with planted pots rather than empty containers.  It was a wonderful day to spend outside and we all enjoyed it, especially Jack. We are finding that Jack is a typical boy; he loves to play outside in dirt!  Sunday, as Kristyn and I worked on planting our tomatoes, rosemary, and pink geraniums, Jack took to “helping”.  His help was mostly playing in the potting soil, but sometimes he actually accomplished the task of placing the dirt in the pot.  When he would do so, Kristyn and I would cheer and he would light up with a contagious joy.

In 1 Corinthians 3:9 we read, “For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field…”  I imagine the Kingdom of God is like seed in soil; when we as disciples work together to nurture the seed, the seed grows, and there is contagious joy in our labors. Maybe we adults need to be more like children, and take simple joy in playing in dirt!  The dirt that we play in is the fields of forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption, mercy, compassion, and love.  In our labors we may make mistakes, we may get dirty and we may not do things exactly as they should, but in such labors there is great joy in working with our true Father and true Mother, that is our God.

In Jesus with Dirty Feet, author Don Everts maintains, “Jesus was a man with dirty feet… Jesus floated on no pristine clouds.  Jesus was no aloof elitist.  Jesus was no odd hermit.  He preferred the world of dirt and friends and handshakes.  He embraced this relational life on earth [passionately].”
May you embrace the relational life on earth passionately!  May you play in the dirt of God’s field!  May you experience contagious joy in laboring with your fellow believer!

Grace, Pastor Ryan