"God's Big Dream" - Pastor Cindy's Devotion - December 27, 2017

Good morning!

Last week I went to the movie Wonder.  Have you seen it?  It is based on a book of the same name by R.J. Palacio.  It’s the story of a fifth-grade boy named Auggie.  He was born with severe facial deformities.  He has had 27 surgeries to repair his face.  His mother has homeschooled him, but as he reaches 5th grade, his family decides it is time for him to go to school with other children.  Off he goes.  It is a difficult adjustment.  Here’s what I love about the movie: everyone (eventually) does the right thing.  A friend who saw the movie thought it was predictable and contrived.  Ok.  But it is my kind of contrived.  Every person in the movie (eventually) behaves in a way that makes life better for others.  The characters are brave, courageous, encouraging, forgiving, repentance, supportive, compassionate, wise, patient, and loyal.  Each a hero in their own small way.  At the end I found myself cheering for them all. 

So is a world where people are all (eventually) heroically good possible?  My cynical mind says “no!”  Look at the violence and greed in the world.  Look at the hatred.  Look at the suffering of one human being at the hands of another. 

But last night as I was shopping at Hy-Vee I looked around at the other people shopping.  It was miserable cold outside and we were good-naturedly complaining.  The woman working at the checkout had moved to Iowa from California this year.  This was her first winter driving in snow and facing bone-chilling temperatures.  The man in front of me laughed with her and told her she would be ok.  It may seem like a silly thing, but last night at HyVee it did seem like a world where people are all (eventually) heroically good was possible. 

This morning I posed that same question to God in prayer.  You know how God answered.  A world where people are all (eventually) heroically good is God’s big dream.  It is what God put in motion from the beginning of time.  It is what God has worked so hard for, sacrificed for.  This is the kingdom. 

Getting to such a world is inefficient and messy and “eventually” can be a very long time.  But God seems to have great faith in us. 

It is a cold world out there today.  Perhaps if we live as heroically good people, we can warm it up a bit. 

Stay warm today.  And heroic. 

Blessings

Pastor Cindy

Pastor Cindy Hickman
West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Avenue
West Des Moines Iowa 50265
515-279-0826 

We will worship at 9:30 this Sunday.  We will be looking at the year ahead.  You are invited!