Friday of 21st
Week OT
Dominican
Retreat House
August 30, 2013
CRISIS ORIENTED
BRIDESMAIDS ++++++++++++++++++
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“The Kingdom of heaven like 10 bridesmaids who took
their lamps & went out 2 meet bridegroom. 5 foolish & 5 wise”
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Are you “crisis oriented”? Many of us are. Crisis-oriented
people only act at that last critical minute
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The crisis oriented among us pride ourselves at
living on the edge, confident in our ability 2 rise against any last minute
problem, convinced there will always be enough time
CRISIS ORIENTED
BELIEVERS +++++++++++++++++++++
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“Crisis-oriented” people:
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Begin a diet day before they go on vacation hoping
to look good in that new bathing suit
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Start the volunteer project we promised the
pastor the night before it is due
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Mail in their registration, ticket orders, or RSVPs
the day the response is due
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Do not think about their taxes until the afternoon
of April 14th
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Read the preparation material for the meeting on
the way into the meeting
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Still have Christmas shopping to do on Dec 24
LONG-TERM COSTS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Crisis-oriented people don’t get it together
until last minute, until deadline looms over them
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Real crisis comes after a lifetime of putting off
getting to know R children, ignoring hurts & divisions within R families,
taking care of business before taking care of life, waiting until tragedy
strikes before acknowledging G in our lives
THE CHALLENGE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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The parable of the ten bridesmaids challenges our
assumption that there will “always be time”
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The reality is that there won’t always be time,
that this lifetime of ours is very finite, very temporary, very fragile
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Now is the time to “take our lamps” and be about
the Bridegroom's work of compassion, forgiveness and justice
CONCLUSION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Help us realize, O G,
the limited time we have on this journey
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May we always have R lamps
filled w/ the oil of compassion and forgiveness to light our way thru long
nights and rocky path to your wedding feast
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
