Humility

January 17, 2026

We were at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee the other day. This is the very rink where they held the long-track speed skating trials for the US Olympic team a couple of weeks ago. I was observing the skaters around the rink, and there was a group of about four men going really fast; they were some serious athletes. I'd only seen speed skating on TV before, so it was a real treat to see these athletes train on the ice. One of them had USA written on their back, so I thought, “What if this is the Olympic team training for the upcoming events in a few weeks?” While these men were training, another woman, older-looking, was on skates, clipboard in hand. Whenever these guys zoomed by, she would yell something at them. I couldn’t figure out what she was saying, but clearly, she was coaching them.

A few minutes later, I approached this woman and asked if these guys were part of the Olympic team. She smiled and said that they were not, but someday they would be. Then she introduced herself to me, saying that she had raced in the Olympics back in the day. Her name was Bonnie Blair, one of the most decorated athletes in US speed skating history. She not only set multiple world records but also won five gold medals and a bronze medal over three Winter Olympics. She is a member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame. I looked her up later when I got home, and it was a pleasant surprise to learn about her accomplishments. And yet, she was so humble. Her demeanor was such that you would never have guessed her achievements. She didn’t tell me that she was an Olympian to brag, but only because I was so curious.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8. The Bible tells us that the King of the universe humbled Himself, became like us, and took the form of a servant. Paul teaches us to have this mind, to be humble like Jesus, and acknowledge what Jesus has done for us. May we be like Jesus and have the humility of Jesus.

Vow

January 10, 2026

After Jacob had his dream of the ladder, he set up a stone and made a vow. “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.’” This is the longest-formulated vow in the Bible.

A vow is a solemn promise, often made to a deity, and in this case, Jacob made a vow to God. Now, the wording seems conditional: You do this for me, and I will do this for you. However, when we consider the context of the story, it becomes clear that this is not the case. “He was responding in faith and commitment to the assurance that he had just received.” (Andrews Bible Commentary, Vol 1, p 174) We should see that it is always God who initiates the act of reaching out and provision for us. It was God who appeared to Jacob in a dream, and in Genesis 31:13, God reminds Jacob of the vow he had made and tells him to return home. “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.” God fulfills His part of the vow and invites Jacob and his family to go back home.

We are in the second week of the new year. Making a vow isn’t something we typically do, but we know that God will lead us as He always does. Knowing of His goodness and leading, may we also make a vow to our Father in heaven, and express our commitment to Him. God is leading us all the way to the end.

And Found

January 3, 2026

Here’s another story of lost and found. This week we went to a natural history museum together with family and friends. I had a lot of fun there. There were a lot of dinosaur skeletons on display on the first floor and they were massive! I was fascinated and I really enjoyed taking videos and pictures! After that we moved on to the second floor and it was getting warm for me. I was carrying my daughters’ jackets (father duties!) and on the second floor I had to take off my beanie to let out the heat. I had the beanie on one hand and with the other I was holding onto the two fluffy jackets.

After seeing the displays on the second floor, we walked up the stairs to the third floor and we enjoyed learning about the Native American history. We were watching videos of it and then, I realized my beanie was missing. I dropped it somewhere. I had to think. Do I go back and find it? Or should I just move on and buy myself a new one later on? It wouldn’t cost too much anyways. At first I decided to forget about it and we all went downstairs. But then I said, maybe I will look. I handed the jackets to Hyemi and went up the stairs and started looking all over the floor. Not there. Went up to the third floor, and scouted the whole floor, not there. I even talked to the staff and she didn’t see anything. I said to myself, I am going to check one more time. So I walked to the third floor once more and, finally, there I noticed my beanie on the floor, camouflaged by the dark carpet colors! It was only a piece of cloth that goes on top of my head, and yet with all the history, I was so glad to find it!

When you read all the three parables in Luke 15 about finding what (who) was lost, there was always great rejoicing and celebration. When the lost sheep was found, the shepherd called friends and neighbors. When the coin was found, the woman once again brought friends and neighbors. When the prodigal son returned home, the father said, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:22-24. What great joy there is in heaven when the lost is found! The new year has begun, it’s time to seek the lost and bring them back to Jesus. Happy New Year, and happy Sabbath.