All Behavior Has Meaning

      It is said,  “All behavior has meaning.”  I’m not exactly sure if I completely believe it but I do think behavior sometimes reveals more about who we are as people than we realize.  Every once in a while, I have fun analyzing what I am doing(or what I forget to do) and what it reveals about my psycho/spiritual self.

      I slipped back in to church on Friday to go through some mail and get re-oriented to what has been happening.  I started to resume my usual "pre-sabbatical" morning routine but immediately experienced a difference.  Noah is driving himself to school. (Motorists beware of a rusty blue pickup J)  For the first time in 17 years, I don’t have anyone to drop off or pick up from school.  What will I do with all my extra time?  Instead, I went to my favorite coffee shop, (you might know which one) and filled my to-go mug.  They brew Hazelnut on Tuesdays and Fridays so those are always good days.  I wore jeans and a sweatshirt to church so no one would take me too seriously.  I pulled in to the parking lot but in spite of my routine, I discovered that I had left my calendar at home.  Oops.   I carefully packed my bag the night before, like a kid going to the first day of school, but left it in the kitchen.  Yes, all behavior has meaning.  I guess I am ready to be back at church by the end of this week but maybe not for the calendar of activities and commitment to a schedule.  In fact, I haven’t worn a watch for two months and I actually misplaced my calendar for over a month during my sabbatical.  You don't have to be Freud to figure that one out.

     On a completely different note, however, I arrived at church only to discover a whole other way that all behavior has meaning.  Extraordinary things have been happening with many extra-ordinary behaviors by our church members.  What was the spark of the Holy Spirit moving in one person’s life to do something of incredibly generous proportion for the church, has been fanned in to a “wild fire blaze” of activity since I have been gone.  Kitchen renovation, demolition of the old parsonage, new carpeting, stained glass repair are part of what appears to be contagious generosity, excitement, and caring .   Benevolence has abounded through time, talents, and unexpected charitable gifts.  All behavior has meaning and the meaning of Jesus' gospel teachings have truly found expression in multiple kinds of behaviors in the last two months at church.  I am humbled to minister to, with, and ministered by such a wonderful group of committed servants of God.

      And so I was led from my external parking lot self examination of what I forgot to do, to an internal soul searching of what I ought to do.  If all behavior has meaning, and the church is filled with good stewards and disciples, then what am I to learn from their examples?    How do I prioritize what is meaningful in my life.  Do my actions reflect the hierarchy of importance?  What does my charitable giving, or lack there of, demonstrate about who I really am as person? And through it all, thanks be to God for the meaningful behavior of so many people.