A Whole Lot of Jesus

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I am drinking my coffee this morning out of a mug that is emblazoned with the following inspirational manifesto: 

 "All I need today is a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus."

 For all you non-coffee drinking folk out there, this pithy statement probably doesn't ring all that true--at least the first half of it.  But trust me...if I didn't get my coffee this morning, it would take a whole lot of Jesus to make me bearable. 

 At any rate, that little phrase got me thinking.  

 I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that I need Jesus. If you asked me, I would unequivocally say that I need to experience Jesus in the world.  I would tell you how I need the example of Jesus to follow in order to live more fully into my true humanity and be the person God has dreamed for me to be. 

 I would share how I need Jesus because I need to be rescued from the prison of my willfulness and pride.  I would affirm my need for Jesus because I long to be restored of my brokenness and frailty.  I would tell you how much I need Jesus because I desire the power of the resurrection to give me the kind of hope and peace that pushes back the darkness. 

 But, since we're being real here...  I have to confess that most days I probably start off the day with this phrase guiding my actions: 

 "All I need today is a whole lot of [Fill in the Blank] and a little bit of Jesus."

 My "Fill In The Blank" needs vary with each passing day---as do yours.  But there are some needs that always seem to make the long list, which includes: time, money, intelligence, power, influence, good fortune and success, to name a few.

 What I have discovered over my years of stumbling after Jesus is that when my focus and desires are fixed firmly on Him, the list of additional things I thought I needed to make it through the day seems to shrink.   

 I've always loved the Prayer of St. Patrick to help remind me of this truth.  I would invite you to pray this bit of the prayer today to help keep you fixed and focused on Jesus, who is truly all you need.  

 Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

 May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.  

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