What I Paid For (11/02/2024)

Yesterday my internet went out. Again! I have been fighting with the provider of my phone line, internet, and cable since May because of intermittent service. One or all three go out several times a week. Some of the time I can get it back by shutting everything down and starting it up again. However, sometimes, it requires their help. Yesterday was one of those days. As I sat on the phone on hold, I contemplated what I was going to say this time that maybe would resolve the problem. When the real person finally answered, I blurted out my problem ending with, “All I want is what I have already paid for.”

It took an hour with her. Then it took another hour on my own because she said the issues that remained weren’t hers to solve. I must admit that my mood during this period was not good. As I went from device to device reconnecting it to the router because part of the issue this time was that our original network had failed, and we had to set up the network entirely again. And I mumbled as I went. I eventually got everything back online – for now.

Last evening, as I sat on my porch, reflecting on the day, the issues were very much on my mind. And my words to the woman came back to me. “All I want is what I have already paid for.” And that statement rattled in my head. I knew I was being asked to go deeper and that it had nothing to do with my relationship with my telecommunications provider; I knew it had everything to do with my relationship with my LORD. “All I want is what I have already paid for.” My hand went to my pocket cross. My thumb rubbed the raised image in the dark. And I got it. I could hear my savior telling me that all He wanted for me was what He’d already paid for with His love and His life – namely my life to be lived with Him in abundance. The signal was quite clear and quite strong.

And I spent the next few minutes realizing that in the grand scheme of things, my telecommunications issues were small. In the grand scheme of things, what I should be focused on is my life in loving relationship with my LORD and with others.

The stresses of this era are everywhere. Mine yesterday was small compared to those being faced by my sisters and brothers across the world and even in my own community. Last night reminded me that I need to put things in perspective and recognize what it is essential. I also was reminded that these daily distractions can lead me away from the LORD and the relationships I wish to continue to grow lovingly. And I put myself n the shoes of my Savior and felt the sorrow He feels when we stray away from Him.

In today’s gospel from John, Jesus speaks of his love for us, for each one of us,

Jesus said to the crowds:

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” John 6:37-40.

Let us go forward in faith, with hope in our loving LORD, knowing with all our being the price our Savior paid so that we might have life and have it in abundance. And then let us focus on living that life as He calls us to – with love.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.