Greetings colleagues and friends,

 

Summer is upon us and the temperatures are confirming this. School is out and children are "free." Vacations are on the horizon, even with the high price of gasoline. Summer is a time of replenishment for body, mind and soul. For those in the church, there are camps, conventions, camp meetings and retreats abounding.

 

In the midst of our seeking for replenishment and relaxation, here is something to "chew on" for the entire summer. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness...." Once upon a time I read the Cotton Patch version of this verse and the last part of this verse is translated, "...for they shall be given plenty to chew on."

 

Righteousness is an uncommon word in our society. It is not a word heard at the race track, the bowling alley, athletic events or in a check out line at the super market. What thoughts are conjured up in your mind when you think of a righteous person? Is it the elder at church (all week)? Or is it a monk in a monastery?

 

This summer, as I am involved in the pursuit of replenishment, I want to "chew on" this word and experience called righteousness. And how does this word and its accompanying meanings influence who I am, in the sight of God and my relationships?

 

My imagery, as I "chew", is not so much about clothes and posture. Rather, it is about 'relationship.' This righteousness is about being right with God, about trusting God, about believing God and trusting God's wisdom rather than my intellect.

 

It has become more and more apparent to me that God is interested in me, has started a dialogue and initiated my faith journey in what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called the "irresistible Yes." Bonhoeffer said that God invited us to covenant, expressed His being right with us, and now as I "chew", expressing my hunger and thirst, I commit myself to this lifelong journey in learning how to give back, to reflect and to "be."

 

My pursuit of right relationship requires me to confront anything that detours me from following God's call. Like a child, I will put one foot in front of another and in my daily living will keep on, and I will get up when I fall.

 

Vacations have not always been the picturesque ideals of the brochures. It has rained. Children got hurt or became ill. there were other irritations. So "chewing" is often (more often) done, not in a blessed state of detachment from the world. Now this is the hard part, righteousness is discerning what it means to be right with God in a traffic jam.

 

How do we use this imagery of "hunger and thirst" as we relate with God and one another? I can hunger, then eat and am satisfied. But shortly I am hungry again. Perhaps we can realize that we need to return again and again to 'the table' and eat and drink, because we continue to hunger and thirst.

 

There will be "highs and lows" throughout the summer. Will you join with me in having a summer filled with consistent "chewing"?  I want to maintain an intense focus on God, be in the Presence and share in the numerous satisfactions at "the table."

 

In the meantime, I hope to see you at the International Convention of the church, at a  youth camp or one of the numerous other gatherings of God's family this summer.

 

James W. Bradley