A Word from Dean: Saving and Savoring

One of my favorite quotes is from E.B. White, who authored Charlotte’s Web and contributed to The New Yorker Magazine for many years. It goes like this:

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save)

the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes

it hard to plan the day.”

We had some glorious days in the merry month of May, didn’t we? Now at my computer, I’m enjoying the view of our garden, with the doors and windows open to the fresh, warm air. Today is clearly a day to savor!

That’s not to say that I didn’t read the Times and the Post earlier this morning at breakfast. News items large and small were disturbing; the wrenching reports of the on-going war in Ukraine, and then an outlandish story of a company claiming to sell make-up inspired by various biblical women. Oh, how I wish I could save the world from ugly violence, or even from gross commercialism.

As a church body, we can also be torn between our desire to save or savor. Some churches are so caught up in working for good causes that they neglect their spiritual grounding and faith development. Other churches err on the side of focusing entirely on their inward goodness, wanting nothing to do with the evil, outside world.

As a result, “saving” members may get burned-out from all their improvement efforts. On the other hand, “savoring” members may become too self-satisfied and preoccupied with themselves.

Worship, Bible study, prayer and other spiritual disciplines are needed to prevent burn-out. Service in the world for and with others keeps us from complacency and pride.

Each of us individually, and each congregation as a whole, needs to regularly assess where we stand. Do we need to replenish our inward, spiritual lives, or do we need to get up and out in ministry? A healthy balance between the two is the goal; a goal that will, indeed, help us in planning our days to the glory of God and for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Dean McDonald

6.15.23