For day 4, we read some verses from Mark 9 where Jesus addresses his disciples about being a servant. I feel that often during the Christmas season we can get so caught up in ourselves and our families that we forget our real purpose. We are meant to serve others. This is not an inconvenience; it is a blessing. More often than not, the one serving is the person that walks away from the experience having gained the most. It is rewarding mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and eternally. Our challenge is to take an inventory this Christmas season of how our days are spent: are we characterized more by being served or by serving?
"Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:35For day 5, we read verses from Matthew 4, Isaiah 9, and Matthew 5 that focused on being a light for the world. Lights are a popular thing this time of year. You will see them on Christmas trees, lining gutters, on light poles, and if you are our neighbor, on every inch of the outside of your house. But how many of us spend more time putting lights on our trees than being lights for the world ourselves? When I think about how my life has been a light to those around me, I can definitely think of many things I can change to make my light shine brighter. Let's all make a point to be a light for Jesus during this Christmas season.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
On another note, I have done a lot of driving in the areas surrounding us since moving to Wisconsin. One thing I have seen a lot of that was new to me is uncontrolled intersections. If you don't know what this is or have not seen one, it is the most ridiculous accident waiting to happen. On my way to work everyday, I have to drive through 4 or 5 uncontrolled 4 way intersections where two roads cross and there are no stop signs, yield signs, or any other type of law, sign, know fact about how the traffic flow should work if more than one car would approach the intersection. No direction has the right of way and not a single person can tell me what one should do when multiple cars are crossing the intersection. There are a few different methods to maneuvering these roads: 1) drive as fast as you can through the intersection as to not be hit (not suggested but chosen method by many) 2) take the first car to the intersection has the right of way approach (and hope the other person thinks the same way) 3) assume the person traveling straight on the same road and not turning has the right of way (this does not work when cars are going straight on both roads) 4) treat every intersection as a yield sign (which will most likely end up getting you rear-ended) 5) stop at every intersection (which often ends in a friendly back and forth of waving the other to drive first) 6) assume the person on the right will always have the right of way (what if you are going straight and the person to the right wants to turn right to go the same direction you are -- do you stop and let them turn or can they just wait to turn after you have passed?)
Overall, this is a very confusing situation and I do not know how it is legal to have a four way intersection with no rules governing how cars should appropriately travel the intersection. If I was making a city, it would never have any uncontrolled intersections. Control is there for our safety and security.
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