Be Like A Roomba

Dear Church Family,

Our dog sheds - a lot! He’s a Border Collie, so it comes with the territory—but it means that if we don’t stay on top of it, dog hair takes over the house fast. Enter the Roomba, our robotic vacuum cleaner. 

Two years ago, I asked for one on Father’s Day, and it’s been one of the most practical gifts I’ve ever received. If you’ve never seen one, they look like a giant hockey puck. Every night, this little robot makes its way around the house sucking up dirt, small particles, and, most importantly, large clumps of dog hair. 

What I find fascinating is how the Roomba handles obstacles. It has bumpers on the front and sensors underneath, so it knows when it hits a wall, piece of furniture, or even the actual dog itself. When it bumps into something, it doesn’t stop. It makes tiny adjustments - a little left, a little right - until it finds a way around. Then it’s right back to its mission: clean the floor.

I'll admit sometimes I find myself just watching it, a little mesmerized. There's something almost inspiring about that kind of quiet, unshakeable determination.

Jesus didn’t know anything about robot vacuum cleaners, but he did know something about staying on mission. In the sermon on the mount, he said:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
  – Matthew 6:33

He makes this statement in the context of our daily worries. Don’t exhaust yourself on the little things. Instead, focus your attention on striving to bring the Kingdom of God into reality on earth as it is in heaven.

What does that look like? Jesus answers that question early in the sermon. It looks like being a light in the world. It looks like reconciling with people rather than hanging onto anger. It looks like turning the other cheek, giving to those in need, and going the extra mile. It’s loving your neighbors - the easy ones and the ones who make your life difficult.

Right now, I think a lot of us feel like we are bumping into walls constantly. The division, the uncertainty, the exhaustion of these times - it can make us feel stuck. 

But I wonder if Jesus might remind us to be like a little Roomba: don’t stop; make the small adjustments; find a way around; get back to the mission. 

Love is stronger than hate. It always has been. Love can change the world. And by making those tiny adjustments, we become a part of that change. 

With God’s Love,
Pastor Karl