Today’s Reflection
AS A THREE-TIME winner of the Indianapolis 500, Hélio Castroneves has probably never had a blue flag waved at him in a race. This flag means you are about to be lapped, and it tells you to move to the outside lane to make way for the car that’s a full revolution ahead of you. …
Heeding the blue flag isn’t mandatory. There is no penalty for ignoring it. That’s why it’s also called the “courtesy flag.” You obey it, Hélio says, “because it’s the right thing to do.” … Many of the important things we do in life are done not because we have to do them. We do them because they are right. “Being humble,” Hélio says, “takes you far.”…
Spiritual blue flags may be waved at us in any number of ways. You may notice, for example, that a colleague looks distraught as you are leaving the office for the day. You ask whether the person needs anything, and you get the response, “No, I don’t want to bother you.” You can keep heading to your car … or you can decide to heed the blue flag.
Or you may be trying to get to your airport gate, but you overhear an elderly couple speaking a foreign language, and they appear confused. You realize they are probably having trouble understanding a sign. You think about stopping to help, but you know it will delay you. You can keep walking to your gate … or you can decide to heed the blue flag. …
No one can anticipate when blue flags will be waved, and they often show up when it’s inconvenient. It’s easy to feel resentful or frustrated at being the one who is getting the signals, but learning to heed them can take us far in life.
Jesus demonstrated a blue-flag way of life for his followers. Paul would later write to the Philippians that moving over for others is the very reason that Jesus came to earth: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness” (Phil. 5:2-7).
– Rob Fuquay
Take the Flag
From pages 41, 43-44 of Take the Flag: Following God’s Signals in the Race of Your Life by Rob Fuquay. Copyright © 2016 by Rob Fuquay. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
What does it mean “let the same mind be in your that was in Christ Jesus”? Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Psalm 29:11, NRSV
This Week: pray for the victims of violence. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.
Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.
This week we remember: Rita of Cascia (May 22).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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13 Comments
Prayers for you Diane- you are surely not alone. Jesus loves you- this I know.
Thankful for all of the prayers from the UR faithful – the graduation weekend at UVM went well. Although my mother and brother experienced day long flight delays and missed one ceremony, it poured rain during the outdoor second ceremony, but the third ceremony was uneveventful and my daughter was happy throughout. I felt honored to be able to meet some of her key professors that have guided her research and her path for the past four years- I was delighted to be invited to dinner with her mentor teacher and to host a dinner for 14 that included some of her dearest friends- all without having to run into my ex who sadly made one late appearance and then was absent claiming he had not been informed of what was happening. It made me sad for him and my children but I was somewhat relieved that I did not have to interact with him. I struggle with this as this may not be waving the blue flag as above, however whenever I have tried to intervene with information he has clearly stated that his relationship is with his children not with me. I was sad for the loss I felt again- we raised a wonderful wonderful person who achieved cum laude status in an honors program with a double major – so proud of her – so sad that we celebrated her separately – but I did the best I could.
I think today’s question is about WWJD- that we should strive to be like Him in our dealings with people. I fail. But I do the best I can for my kids and I know that God loves me and forgives my sin.
May the Lord give strength to the people. May the Lord bless his people with peace.
Thank you Lord for all that you have blessed me with.
Thank you for the support and prayers offered here that help me through these days.
amen
Glory!
From the class of ’69 to the Class of ’18 at UVM congratulations! Thankful for the good newsy post about graduation or commencement as it is also known.
Can’t change the weather, just have to deal with it. You did well, Lou. Yes, parts of it were not what you expected, but as you correctly say you did the best you could.
Thankful you are all safe at home.
UVM may be a mystery to some, it is the initials for the Latin words that mean the University of the Green Mountains known to the world as The University of Vermont.
This is an excellent reflection. I learned what a blue flag at a car race is, and what it means for Christians, Yes, I agree, WWJD fits well here. Be like and do like Jesus.
Amen, Gail. Glory is a great word here.
Lou – thanks for sharing with us about the weekend. Huge congrats to your daughter – how proud you must be. And big kudos to you…keep following His lead – you are doing well.
Having the mind of Christ…always looking to assist the other before oneself. Oh so hard for our carnal self. Yet, He calls us, He empowers us through His Spirit. We need to be as mindful as possible.
Grateful for my new roof, a good rain yesterday and the hope of much planting in the days ahead.
What a blessing: a new roof, them rain to test it water your plants!
Glad you can get into the garden. it’s very therapeutic. God was at work.
What good news from Lou. Thankful you had a joy filled and safe weekend. Many good wishes for your daughter as she begins a new chapter in her life. You seemed to handle a difficult situation with grace.
Prayers for Gail, her friend and her friend’s son.
Prayers for Robert and his need to find a way to get to his Alzhiemer’s testing. Prayers for Erich and his new job. Prayers for Pearl and Anneliese.
Prayers for Jill and her continued good health.
Yes, we should ever strive to attain a heart like Jesus’. Loving others as Jesus loves us. Doing s Jesus did while on earth.
Blessings and prayers for and thank you to all of the UR family
Have I done an unselfish thing? Well then, I have my reward.
Marcus Aurelius
I echo your prayers Julie. Thank you for prayers for Erich, Anneliese, Pearl, and me. Had a very good session with my counselor today. Have a homework assignment. I’m amazed that my railroad modeling has a following here. It is very much appreciated. Made the maple muffins and delivered them to church, another batch in the morning. Had a good walk. Supper soon and a hockey game tonight. Wonderful weather today and a surprise package in the mail. Picked up some needed items today as well.Thank You, Lord.
I am a great opponent of violence, it almost always achieves nothing. Not to say that there are those very few times when it can help achieve peace. It’s not the first option and should be considered very carefully. Thankful that as a soldier I never had to use violence, came close to being in war, but close was as close as it got.
Lou, so glad you had such a fulfilling day. You did the best you could and you do very well! You sure didn’t wave the “white” flag when you were confronted with all you have been given.
Yesterday I visited the Living Prayer Center with a prayer request. It was answered. God heard me and the prayer warriors at the Upper Room Chapel and I thank Him. I am so blessed to have all the support here also.
Thankful Connie’s prayer request is fulfilled, Mary is doing what she loves-teaching, and I agree with Andrea’s way for us to be like Christ.
Grateful for the joy of doing what i love, teaching
Blessings to all
Lou, I am so happy to hear the graduation celebration went well for you and your family. Congratulations to your bright daughter. Mary, it is so good to hear you feel joy for teaching now. Connie, I give thanks for your answered prayer.
I believe the statement “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” means that we can invite Jesus to suffuse our minds, to give us strength and help us be more Christ-like. On our own, we are all too human and weak.
Prayers for dear UR friends and for those who visit Upper Room. Prayers for those who have experienced violence are are experiencing violence; may you be healed, may you be safe.
Blessings.
typo correction: *Prayers for those who have experienced violence or are experiencing violence.*
Teaching has been my passion for many years. I started teaching sunday school when i was a teenager. Then i was a piano teacher…
I think the system and management make a huge difference. Of course the colleagues you work with and the students also make a difference.
Blessings
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