Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"For the Love of It"

On Sunday, February 27th I want to spend some time looking at what we do and why we do it. I want us to take a look at what motivates us.

There are good reasons to do what we do and some of those reasons are not altogether altruistic. It is important to do what we do for utilitarian purposes. We want to be able to survive and some of what we do is in order to be paid for it. It allows us to buy the food we need to eat, to support the people of whom we are responsible, and to have a roof over our head.

It is true that we can become preoccupied with the need to survive to the point that that motive drives everything we do. We can become obsessed with survival.

When I was appointed to First United Methodist Church in Boulder I got to meet and work with many homeless people. Many of them were without homes because of circumstances beyond their control. Some of them were homeless by choice. I recall the time we found a place for one of the men who came around the church. We found an apartment for him. We found him a permanent job. Bryan was able to last in that circumstance about a month and he left his apartment. He said he needed to see the stars at night and didn't want a roof over his head.

Bryan was a survivor who showed us that the important things are not things; but relationships. I know I could have survived on the street. He taught us that.

The accumulation of things can be a motivation but things are not very satisfying after a certain point.

We can find purpose and meaning in life when we begin to do what we do for the love of it.

When our motivation for work is for the love of it everything takes on a different. When our motivation for all that we do in life is for the love of it then each day is an opportunity and nothing is an obligation.

What do you do for the love of it?

If you have some ideas about that write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster