We are taught to do it.
The world does it all the time.
Jesus never does (read Romans 8:1).
Jesus never condemns us, ever. The world does. We condemn ourselves. Others condemn us at times. But Jesus never does.
I am so thankful (so if you hear a voice condemning you that isn't God).
Saturday night I lost my tomato plants to a frost. I forgot to check the temperature. We'd been out of town visiting friends and I just didn't think about it. And remember all those great seedlings I was growing in the eggshells? Well, none of them survived. I realized the eggshell seedling thing wasn't for me. I'd wanted to try it for years so it was good I did. But all those seeds I planted came to naught.
This reminds me of the Seed Sower Parable. Jesus talks about the sower sowing seeds in four different places: on the road, in the thorns, on rocky soil and on good soil. Have you ever thought that Jesus never condemns the sower for sowing seed that never came to anything? He never condemns him for wasting seed. He just focuses on the seeds that sprout and take root. In fact, it seems Jesus is happy about all that seed that was sown. The guy was trying. The guy kept at it even though most of his efforts failed.
Sunday afternoon we finally were able to put our horses on grass. Oh, they are happy. I checked on them this morning. They were all sleeping. Happy and feeling full.
We're not expecting much if any honey this year. We just want a colony to establish itself in the hive. If we don't get bees by July we'll probably buy some online.
I may fail miserably as a beekeeper, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try.
Why are we all so afraid of failing? Or being just ordinary in things? Ordinary is a good thing really.
When I was walking back from my beehive Ruby was waiting for me. Here's a picture of her:
One day she'll belong to my son-in-law but until then we will enjoy her.
Jesus was ordinary in one way -- his appearance. He wasn't some super good looking or distinctive looking kind of man. He was ordinary in his appearance (this is found in Isaiah). It's okay to look ordinary. Jesus did it so well.
Ordinariness and no condemnation. Not sure how those go together but they are good things to know, good things to embrace in our own lives. You're loved. Don't forget that.