On my phone, I keep reminder lists. I use them to keep track of nearly everything in my life, such as tasks for my job as a professor, food needed from the grocery store, and yard and interior tasks that we need to do for our home. My many lists allow me to work more efficiently. Every day I try to name three top priorities for the day. Maybe these include focusing on my teaching, meeting a research deadline I have set for myself, or remembering to get a family member a birthday gift.
It all made me think: what would be on Jesus’ reminder list? After all, as Christians our first job isn’t necessarily the things that make it to our everyday phone lists. There is no app that tells us how to live. How we live out our specific lives with our individual gifts and situatedness depends on discernment with prayer and with others in our lives. However, in looking at Jesus’ life, I think we could still imagine, just for fun, what a phone app task list might look like if we prioritized as Jesus did. Here are some ideas:
- Be merciful and caring with everyone you meet.
- Connect to those on the margins.
- Remember not to be afraid.
- When you are afraid, sad, or stressed, go pray and share your heart with God for a while.
- Spend more time looking at beautiful flowers or birds and remembering God’s care for them.
- When you are grateful, go pray and share your heart with God for a while.
- Visit the sick.
- Visit those in prison.
- Welcome the outsider.
- Practice all the corporal works of mercy, as the occasion arises.
- Sit with people you love at gatherings, and don’t worry too much about whether everything is perfect for the party.
- Share your food.
- Care for everyone in the community.
- Remember everyone is in the community.
What would be on your Jesus-inspired reminder list?