ONE BUTTON

Rev. Dr. Elenora M. Cushenberry

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

“You ‘send’ to receive [the call] and ‘send’ to make a call,” Mama. These were the words of my exasperated daughter a few years ago as I had just hung up on her again. Why in the world would you use the same button to both make a call and receive a call was beyond me.

Sometimes, we may feel this way about God—which button do I press. Do I press, “The I am in need now button” or “The hurry up button” or even “The stop button”?

One Button. In a world filled with many buttons—many options—with God, there is only “one button”. One button that summons love and mercy, grace and compassion—all intertwined like the threads of a rope, which cannot be undone without undoing the rope itself. This is God, full of mercy, full of love, full of grace. After my daughter’s instruction on CellPhone Usage 101, I was able to both make and receive calls. The simplicity of the “one button” began to make sense. The simplicity of our relationship with God also makes sense that the God we love and serve seeks to be in a loving relationship with us.

One of the lessons of this Lenten season might not be on what we can give up but on what we can take in—the simplicity of God’s love for us and for others. This God who loves us so much that nothing was too much for God to do for us—even to become fully human and be obedient to death on a cross.

And, what or where is this one button? The Name of Jesus.
On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (John 16:26-27)