Saints Notes    February 2, 2010

Happy Groundhog Day!  The Punxsutawney Ground Hog saw his shadow - so six more weeks of winter.  The Sun Prairie Ground Hog didn't see a shadow - so it's an early spring! (In about six weeks)

Either way, it's okay.

Each week, small groups of faculty and staff gather for what we call Noontime Nuggets - it's a small gathering during 22 minutes of lunch to eat and discuss a verse from the Bible.

Today's verse was Phillippians 4:12-13:  I (Paul) know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty, I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Boy, is that everything our see it now - buy it now culture isn't?  It's a huge problem for me, and I suspect for most of us.  It's a difficult problem for students as well.

How can you like this perfectly fine cell phone you bought yesterday when there is a newer and faster one that allows you to wash the laundry when you aren't at home?

How can we possible like our perfectly fine television set when there is a super-deluxe LED, HDTV, flat panel on sale?  Oh, and wait, there will be 3D TVs out this fall!

There's a song by the Rock Group Queen called, "I want it ALL, I want it ALL, and I want it NOW!"

But as we talked about over a quick sandwich, soup, and some veggies - that's not the answer.  We can never have it all, because there is always going to be something else.

So how can we be content in 2010?  It's easy to think Paul could be content because there wasn't a brand new techno-thingy with the latest widgets on display at the local hh gregg.  But times really haven't changed - Paul was wealthy and Paul was poor.

I've been out of work, and I've been employed.  I'm very thankful to have been employed most of my adult life, but the time not working makes me appreciate the gift of employment.  There's no doubt, I don't know the answers, and frequently can't come up with the questions... but I know today another thing I appreciate is working at a place like Lutheran High School - where we might pause over a bologna sandwich and contemplate God's Word and see that is only through His love that we will ever be truly content.

Have a Blessed Day!