Talking with Pastor Roy, Iris and Charlie yesterday evening, Charlie quoted the saying of an Iowa farmer, “I am in charge of nothing and responsible for everything.” What a great description of the Christian life.

Wait, you might protest, in charge of nothing – doesn’t Christ call us to be responsible, to act as leaders? Yes. But as Christians, we give our lives over to God. As I heard on a Via de Cristo weekend, “Act as if everything depends on you, which it does. Pray like everything depends on God, which it does.”
Haven’t you heard: “Jesus is the head of the church.” “Let Jesus be in charge of your marriage.” “Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King of your Heart.” Ultimately, we are not asked to be in charge of anything but to act as servant leaders in our responsibilities, keeping God first in all things.
But don’t fret about not being in charge. (Actually, I thank God I am not in charge. I’ve tried my life both ways: me in charge and God in charge – God in charge works far better!) Some of you may be missing those “in charge” opportunities, those opportunities to lead, to serve, to make a real difference. Don’t worry, God and life have many of those opportunities for us.
When Jesus summarized the commandments, he told us that we need only 1) love God with all our heart, mind and strength and 2) love our neighbors as ourselves. And who is our neighbor? Everyone. Period. So there are plenty of opportunities to make a difference. Plenty of neighbors to serve. Plenty of responsibility to go around.
Sometimes this calling sounds grand and heroic. Fredrick Buechner writes, ““The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” But, I find, more often, that the Spirit presents us with moment to moment opportunities to be kind, to be helpful, to pay attention to the wants and needs, the God-created humanity of those around us. God asks us to bloom where we are planted and to serve as Jesus served. Jesus did all things for his Father and made us children of the same Father. He’s asks us to serve as He served and so to glorify our Father.
So, as I prepare to listen to the first U.S. Presidential Debate, I encourage you to read Galatians 5:13-15, and remember: God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY. 
Mike

Today’s reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A+13-15&version=NRSV