>>I would like to share a story about drinking and driving. As many of you know, some people have been known to have brushes with the law from time to time on their way home after having some drinks with friends.  

Well, two weeks ago, a friend of mine was out for an evening with friends, had way too many beers followed by some rather nice red wine. While feeling very jolly, he had the sense to know that he was way over the limit. That’s when he did something he had never done before. He took a cab home.  

Sure enough, on the way home, there was a police roadblock. But since it was a cab, they waved it past. He arrived home safely without incident. This was a real surprise, as he had never driven a cab before. He does not know where he got it. And now that the cab is in his garage, he doesn’t know what to do with it.  

[laughter] 

Oh, my. Sometimes we all get so caught up with our own agenda, success, doubts and troubles we cannot see Jesus as He walks with us. Even at times running after us. In the movie City of Joy, which came out many years ago, starring Patrick Swayze. Swayze goes off to India to find himself – to discover life’s real meaning and purpose. He becomes friends with a woman who runs a clinic for the poor and the sick. She is constantly challenging Swayze , who finds it very difficult to express his feelings.  

At one point she looks at him and says, “In life we have three choices: to run, to be a spectator, or to commit. The choice is ours.” I like that. In life we have three choices” to run, be a spectator, or to commit. And the choice is ours.  

The same holds true for all of us. If we are rooted in the Lord Jesus, we may at times still doubt. Part of being human. We will never really get lost. I think I’ve discovered life’s deepest secret. And it’s this: To hunger is good. To hunger is good. We all seek fullness. We all seek meaning. We all want life to connect and to make sense. All of us seek joy and happiness. Allowing the Lord to be part of our life can open up new doors of peace, joy, meaning we never dream possible. And also, please know this: There is nothing we can do in life that God will not forgive. Nothing. Many people can’t forgive themselves. Allow the Lord into your life to forgive, to love you as part of that journey – who always forgives. The Lord fill our deepest hungers.  

A believer acknowledges the gift of life and embraces the dream of Jesus. We live in a world where there is much sin, suffering, pain, wrongdoing, violence, killing. Sin is not always doing something wrong. Sin is sometimes doing nothing at all. Do our lives grow as weeds? Do our lives grow as wheat? Weeds choke. Wheat is life for others. May we need to begin today sorting the weeds and the wheat in our lives before it’s too late. In life, if we want the rainbow, we have to put up with the rain.