February 9, 2016 SHARE: Reading time: two minutes. What makes the Bible unique among all the “religious books” of the world is it’s grounded-ness in the real lives of real people. For the most part, the Bible recounts the appearance of the one true God into the real lives of ordinary people like you and me. Scripture is the inspired, God given testimony of what happens when Jesus touches lives with healing and sends them as bearers of the good news. So what is Jesus doing in your life? And are you curious at all about what He’s doing in the lives of those around you? Our church studied Luke 9 and the Transfiguration on Sunday. Peter takes a few knocks in this account, but his desire to camp-out on the mountain with Moses and Elijah shows a particular kind of intellectual health. Peter and his friends still didn’t quite “get” what the Lord’s kingdom mission was all about. But it was clear that Moses and Elijah did “get it.” They beheld Jesus in His glory. They knew what was unfolding in the mission of the Son of God, ready to make His “exodus,” His departure to Jerusalem to save the world. I like it that Peter wanted more, that he wanted to stay there for a while. He saw these great saints who had gone before him and from whom he had so much to learn, as a treasure of wisdom and knowledge. He cherished the opportunity to camp out with them for a while. I’m curious each day to discover what the Lord has to teach me in His Word. I’m curious each day to learn from the saints who have dictated their wisdom into book form for me. (Watch for Dr. John Eckrich’s new book, coming in a few months!) And I’m learning to be more and more curious about the wisdom that is swimming around me every day in the hearts and minds of the pastors and Lutheran educators I meet, of my friends and co-workers, and of my own family. I led a retreat for our military chaplains recently. I was greatly blessed in the moments I was wise enough to shut-up and listen. I learned lessons about church worker stress and church worker wellness only they and their wives could teach. There’s wisdom all around us. Jesus has given us His Word, not mountaintop revelations, but Epiphanies just the same. And He’s also given us each other. From whom have you received wisdom recently? Are you glad you were curious enough to listen? That’s intellectual health. It’s sometimes how Jesus shows up. A blessed, holy Lenten season to you all! Thanks for reading. A Congregational Wellness Weekend is designed to help create a ministry environment at your church or school where professional church workers can thrive and serve joyfully in their calling at top capacity. Let’s start the conversation today! Find more information on our website or contact Program Director Darrell Zimmerman to learn more.