Embracing my role with delight!

The Annual Sunday School production was about to begin.  I was helping with the makeup. All the children looked bright with excitement. There were angels in white walking around with glitter on their hair, the boys  with tea leaves for beards were very thrilled to be ‘men’ for today. The stage had been set, the backdrop had been painted, the girls with their long colorful dresses and hair do’s looked very grown up. As I walked around checking on the final details before the curtain opened I thought of the Bible portion I had read that morning from Mark. There were 4 children who had long lines to memorize and big parts to play but there were many who had a few or no lines to speak. And their roles were as important as the other parts for the story to unfold.

What role am I called to play in this stage of life? I asked myself. 

Mark 14:13-15 talks about 3 people, called to play 3 different roles, as Jesus gets ready to meet with his dear friends for a meal for the very last time.

1. Jesus tells 2 of them to go and ‘prepare’- they had to find the place and get the bread and wine and see that there was enough for all. Then, they set off.

2. Now Jesus did not give them a door number or address to go to. Instead, he tells them to look for a man carrying a jar of water. The house he enters will be the house we will use, he says. This man didn’t have much of a role, he just had to go at that particular time to fetch water and walk back in. But he did it well and that’s how the home was identified.

3. Then, Jesus tells the 2 disciples to enter into that house where the owner had a guest room, furnished, and ready to be used. Now this man, owned the house, had a guest room furnished, and Jesus could use it.

 Had Jesus spoken to him before? Who was this man? How was Jesus so sure that this room could be used for his special meeting with his friends? These were a few questions that I wrote down in my journal as I pondered on this passage.

Jesus calls some to write a book, prepare a sermon, or start a podcast. He plans some to clean the toilets at church, design the cover page, manage the parking, or be a welcoming usher. As a college student, maybe he has called you to be a caring roommate and a hard-working student. At a particular time in my life, all I was called to do was be a loving wife and mother. Our roles change as we go through life. As we pray and wait on God, he shows us what we are called to do. He spells out our role!

All we are called to do is to do our part with delight and with love.

Delight in the Lord (as you clean, cook, read, study, help, write,design)  and he will give you the desires of your heart.

“Whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

I am reminded of a poem written by my son, Michael as we ponder this topic. So here it is for you to read and meditate on.

The Solitary Note- Michael Ranjitsingh

A hushed silence filled the air

As through the darkness many stared

The lights came on and I could see

The maestros in front of me.

I saw the pianist smart and shy

His nimble fingers, they could fly

The violin sound serene and calm

As the girl who played it swayed along

My eyes went to the end of the line

Where short and dark with a sweet smile

A little boy and his cymbal stood

Waiting to play the note as best as he could.

The performance went on and on

But the little boy didn't sigh or frown

He knew that his time was near

And when it came clanged loud and clear.

As we play our role we can sometimes feel

Lonely, unloved and concealed

But every note is part of His plan

God loves you and is your number one fan.

-Michael Ranjitsingh

Lord Jesus, help me sprinkle grace and love at home, on the road, and at work, today and everyday. Amen.