Busy Living...

Busy Living Life

Theology in the Trenches

by Kathleen Kjolhaug

The old pick-up wound its way up the driveway, lumbering along in order to gather the firewood. A tree had been downed holding the potential to provide sustenance of winter warmth for the little family who gathered. The tall frame of a man, along with his son, came to do an honest day’s work.

As the humble servant stood with clothes tattered and stained, he would have it no other way. It’s not for the weak, but the hardy, the willing. Survival is the name of the game, and as the season of fall recently ushered itself in, he was readying for just that, survival.

No doubt the tall frame had been out and about visiting thy neighbor before he stopped in, or perhaps the call to care for a child or two was stacked upon his list of to do’s. He, ever faithful, would have followed through on whatever the task. As his handshake of greeting was solid, solid he was for the call.

He came to serve.  Picking up the firewood to use for his family mid-winter masked the true gift. You see, we needed that wood taken off our property. A tree was felled and it had been lying in our path, literally. It needed clearing. From our perspective, it was he who was serving us. From his humble perspective, it was us who had gifted him the wood for the taking.

He served as he gathered the back of his pickup to full. He serves as he strums his guitar to the tune of what the little ones sing on Sunday morn. He serves the elderly. He serves as he gardens, plants, and reaps that which has been sown. Overall, he stands tall because his faith is the backbone which upholds.

A silent voice round town, he is holy only in that he serves the Holy One. Thus, the outpouring of faithfulness is on solid ground. The demeanor from which he holds himself stems from a fountain of faith. His living faith exemplifies what it looks like to live the Gospel. Humbly before his God, he stands. Humbly before His maker he bows as his hands and heart reach.

Those who come before the Lord our God of heaven and earth serve as an encouragement. Brother to brother, sister to sister we spur one another on during our time here on earth. What a joy it is to see truth lived and Who gets the glory because of it. No easy task it is to turn from the empty promises of this world.

For food, for clothing, for work, for wood… trust is lived out in the form of “Thy will be done.”

As the seasons change and the coolness of fall enters in, the tall quiet figure is readying for a time when it will be cold and the season of winter will be upon his little family.

“He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you. To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God” Micah 6:8.  Amen.