Job 38:1-7, Psalm 104:1-9 and Mark 10:35-45

Lovely October Fall isn’t it? So far so good. The outdoors beckons as does get- togethers and travel to the hills and mountains. People notice God’s handiwork, Nature, in all it’s awesomeness and beauty!

Such an awareness of the majesty, mystery, and marvel of Creation often leads to a humility in knowing our human place and limitations in the world. Or according to Job and many of the Psalms.

Well, in spite of the disciples having those scriptures and seeing Jesus’ good examples of servanthood, they were not very humble but rather inclined to having power and glory for themselves. Hard lessons were to follow the disciples for years to come.

It’s not much different today or in any generation. Power, ambition, greed, pride beckon us all too often. Al Capone, gangster during Prohibition and beyond, is an example of most of the “vice list” above. On October 17, 1931 he went to prison after years of crime and a clear lack of humility and willingness to serve anyone but himself.

He is an extreme example of the failure to learn from Job, the Psalms and the teachings of servant Jesus. Sadly we all will be tempted in that direction even if to a lesser degree than one of the most infamous criminals.

Let us take to heart the message from these scriptures and examine ourselves during the beautiful, magnificent season in God’s Creation. We are part of that. Let’s just be reminded of our place and role and identity in the world!

Enjoy God’s gifts and be humble!

Pastor Barry †