stop whining ...32nd week monday 2014

Today we read from the letter of Paul to Titus.  Titus was for a time the secretary of Paul.  And you and I know very well how secretaries always end up.  Titus was sent by Paul from Ephesus to Corinth.  In fact he was sent all over to organize the collection for Jerusalem.  He was called again to Nicopolis and from there he was sent again to Dalmatia.   We never hear Titus complain.  Probably as a secretary he got so used to being pushed and pulled about by his mentor.  In this letter we know that Paul left him again in Crete to organize the church there and then.   He was left to minister to the people of Crete, an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.  It was not an ideal assignment.  In fact in the next verse Paul said that he was told that the people of Crete are" liars, evil beasts and idle gluttons."  Nevertheless Paul told Titus to stay behind and set right what remains to be done.  Titus accepted this job as a grace and he faithfully set out the foundations of the church of Crete.

Not all assignments and responsibilities given to us are to our liking.   Not all of the duties assigned to us are pleasant.  We receive our marching orders and we do as we are told.  But as I often say to my students love is not always love at first sight.  You can always learn to love even what you thought initially was unlovable.  And so, stop whining and bloom where you are planted.