The Best is Yet to Come...

I'm reading this morning the Gospel according to John through a commentary by N.T. Wright.  I've stumbled across the story of the wedding in Cana.  Most know it well:  They're attending the wedding and the wine runs out.  Mary (the mother of Jesus) asks Jesus to do something and, although his time has not yet come, he turns the water into wine.

Perhaps the more interesting part to me, and something that Wright touches on in his commentary, is what the head servant says to the Groom:  "What people normally do is to serve the good wine first and the worse stuff when people have had plenty to drink.  But you've kept the good wine until now." John's Gospel is full of hidden meaning, and the thought that ran through my head this morning has to do with our own lives - is this as good as it gets?  We believe we are running the good race, fighting the good fight - but can we be better?  Is the best yet to come?  If so, how do we get it?

Surely, the bride and groom thought they were serving their guests pretty good wine at the beginning of their wedding.  But when Jesus got involved, his version of the wine was much better than what the hosts had prepared.  How can we relate?  I said in my last post that some think of Christianity as a straight jacket, but it's just the opposite -  we can actually live life more fully...we can be more human!  Some, including me, think I'm living a pretty good life.  But maybe there's something more - perhaps we need to invite Jesus into our parties - our lives - a little more often?  When someone sees our lives after Jesus puts his touch on them,  will they ask why we waited so long to give the world the best part of us?  Indeed, the best is yet to come!

A New Start

I've been inspired to write short blog entries as a way to share what I'm learning through study and experience.  I find that in our limited lifetimes, we rely on the wisdom and evaluated experiences of others to help us make decisions, get through tough times and find ultimate purpose - we simply can't do it by ourselves and be any good at it!  The title was inspired by a country song "From My Front porch Looking In."  We always think of the beautiful views we may have from inside of a house, hotel, etc.. looking out, but what would people think who were looking in?  The song writer says "the view he likes the most is his front porch looking in" (the view of his family)! 

Most of what I read deals with religion and faith.  Many of my posts will deal with everyday issues and my inner reflections on how I hope I and others look at themselves in relation to those issues.  I hope you find the observations thought provoking and applicable to your own process of "looking inside."