Face the sun and Son!

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. - Maori proverb


The Maori people are native to New Zealand. I thought this proverb was very interesting. Too often, I think we find ourselves in a state of disarray with our back to the sun so that the shadows are projected in front of us. You can also think about this in a different sense – when we have our backs to the Son. Isn’t that what usually happens? When we turn our back on God, doom and gloom begin to appear in front of us. However, when we turn around and face the Son, that doom and gloom turns away and behind us and we can look to a bright future. Much like when we turn and face the sun – the shadows fall behind you.

What does this have to do with Connectional Giving you ask? Part of being facing the Son is giving of our time, prayer and offerings. Doing this is abiding by God’s mandate to give back a portion of what he has given us.

Do you find that when things aren’t going your way that you fall behind on your giving and fall out of the shining light of the Son? By giving generously through the hard times, we can continue to see the bright future – a future with hope. I’m not saying that it will only be sunshine and roses with the Son, but it’s so much more worth it than the doom and gloom of turning your back to the Son.

It is my prayer for you that you will always turn your face to the Son and sun and let the doom and gloom be forgotten.

--Tracy Wood, Web Content Coordinator, United Methodist Communications