Nougat 25

Hi

There’s a very contagious disease out in this world and it’s deadly in impact. It’s called, ‘importantitis’. Sadly, it affects millions of people worldwide. The symptoms are varied but those affected by it often suffer from delusions of importance, inflamed sense of their worth to their contexts and expect deferential attention from those around them.

On the contrary, there’s an insidious virus which eats at our faith; and when it succeeds, it leaves us feeling hopeless bereft or purposeless. Both are dangerous to our spiritual health and even the disciples faced them as seen in today’s Holy Nougat

“Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.” John‬ ‭21:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

To appreciate Peter’s statement, we recognize that Jesus had died and had not yet ascended. However, the disciples had not yet gotten their new assignments and they were lost. With Jesus’ absence, they probably felt hopeless, fear and purposeless. But they had had former lives. As fishermen.

Peter’s decision offered them purpose and identity once again. True, they weren’t quite afflicted by importantitis, but they seemed to yearn for something different, the good old days.

How about us; when life (or people) seem to have forgotten us? When it feels like God forgot WHO we (think we) are? Do we find ourselves succumbing to strains of importantitis or do we revert to the old ways?

I hasten to say, the cure for esteem issues is found in the Spirit of God sent to us by Jesus. Through God’s Spirit, we can find the strength to press on, to be vulnerable enough to confess (to God, ourselves and/or others) that we need help. That’s what I found.

May God grant us strength to hold on until we sense God’s presence.

In Christ’s love and grace . . .