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A Change in Plans

I have some thoughts concerning Mary and Joseph’s flight to Egypt after Jesus was born. Traveling with a newborn certainly wasn’t in their plans. They were just in Bethlehem to register for the census! They probably didn’t even have much with them, because it was going to be a relatively short stay. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, in the middle of the night, and instructs him to leave Bethlehem immediately (not after daybreak, mind you) and head for Egypt. Talk about dreading late night phone calls! Now the young family was setting off on a long journey that would delay their returning home for several years. Imagine flying to California to sign a few important papers only to be informed that you had to fly to Canada in the middle of the night and then spend several years there. All you had with you was carry on luggage!

God often leads us where we don’t want to go or didn’t plan to go. As humans, our response can range from surprise to irritation to fear to anger. Once again, I am reminded that God is more concerned with my response to events and people rather than what is actually happening. He is building a temple – foundations must be laid, marble chiseled out of the mountain, columns used as supports. He does this by strengthening our character and making us more like his Son. This can only happen as we are obedient to him and malleable in his hands. His promises to walk with us and to never abandon us are our comfort and our joy in the journey, wherever that may lead us.

Holy God, my husband and I are on that journey to Egypt. We don’t know why or where we’re going, but we know it’s an uncharted path for us. Remind me that you are more concerned with my responses each day to events and people rather than my navigation techniques. Just as you didn’t tell Joseph everything that lay ahead for his little family, you have not revealed your plans for us. All you ask is for us to look to you for guidance, direction and strength for each day.

Joseph left his job, tools, resources in Nazareth, not thinking he would need them for the short trip to Bethlehem and back. There was no time to return to Nazareth and collect his tools before heading to Egypt. He had to trust you to provide for the daily food and shelter and clothing. He didn’t have a job waiting for him in Egypt. He would have to find work when he arrived. Lord, this is so applicable to our present situation. Thank you for revealing these promises to me and reassuring me of your presence in every situation.

I Believe This Is Yours

One of our favorite PBS programs each December is the Christmas concert of St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Last evening, as we were enjoying the program, the choirs broke into the joyous proclamation of the birth of our Savior with the Isaiah passage of Handel’s Messiah – For Unto Us a Child is Born - taken from Isaiah 9:6. It is a portion that I have heard hundreds of times and wonderfully captures the excitement and miracle of this holy event. This time, however, something strange occurred to me. The angels did not say, “Unto Mary and Joseph is born a child.” They proclaimed, “Unto you is born a Child.” They were addressing the shepherds! The birth of this Child was to have a personal impact on them. Indeed, this Child was born for everyone to claim. He was a Gift to the entire world, not just to Mary and Joseph. All of a sudden this becomes very personal. A Child is born for you. When someone gives you a tremendous gift, you have to make a decision as to what you will do with it. Put it in a place of honor and cherish it, ignore it, relegate it to storage or throw it away. Likewise, you must make a decision about this Child and what role He will have in your life, if any at all. Living your life as if He doesn’t exist is a choice in itself.

This is a good time of year to consider what you have done with this amazing Gift. You will never receive another as great.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

What are my other choices?

I appreciate the honesty of one of my favorite bloggers - Abbot Joseph. Today's reflection - Where You Do Not Wish to Go - spoke directly to my situation and perhaps it will touch you also. Here are some excerpts (to read the full article, go to Word Incarnate)

One of the things that characterizes the life of one who would follow Jesus ... is that by agreeing to be a disciple of Christ, we are agreeing to be led where we do not wish to go (v. 18). This doesn’t mean that we do not wish to follow Jesus or that we do not wish to go to Heaven as a consequence. But it means that discipleship is costly, and the demands are such that we would not choose for ourselves the hardships and sacrifices that the Gospel requires. The immediate context in John makes it clear that Jesus was referring to St Peter’s martyrdom, but the whole of Christian life is a witness (Greek martys) to Christ and retains something of that character.

“Can you drink the cup that I must drink?” (Mark 10:38).

Why does Jesus say all that stuff about drinking cups of suffering and having to go where we don’t want to go and denying ourselves and taking up our crosses and losing our lives for his sake? Probably because if we don’t do all that we will end up as self-centered, navel-gazing, spineless, complacent, arrogant, obnoxious, hard-hearted schmucks, and we’ll probably forfeit the Kingdom to boot. It’s just that we spontaneously shrink from hearing the summons to suffering and the call to the Cross. Nobody wants to go where they don’t want to go; nobody wants to drink what they don’t want to drink. But the Lord says that this is how it is going to be.

In order to wean us away from the tantalizing tinsel of this world, the Lord needs to set us upon the demanding yet invigorating and enlightening path of service, self-sacrifice, and genuine love. The cup He offers may seem bitter, but that’s only because we’ve become addicted to cokes and kool-aid. We need to acquire a taste for something a little more demanding. We may not wish to go where He calls us to go, but that’s only because we’ve become spiritual couch-potatoes who would rather not venture to climb Mt Everest, even if it promises to be the most exhilarating experience of our lives.

We have to overcome that resistance which is an inheritance of original sin and be persuaded that the Kingdom of Heaven is worth whatever it takes to enter there.

But I’d rather that the Lord give me a hard word than that He simply ignore me, leaving me to my own deficient devices. I’d rather be led to the Cross than left out of the Kingdom.

These are appropriate words for me. This is where I am. This is where I've been. This is where I'm going. I am being led where I wouldn’t have, on my own volition, chosen to go. This is not the comfortable path that I was traveling. I have been launched out into an unknown country with uncertain developments. I don’t even know at this point how we are going to pay our “daily bills”. But all praise be to God, he loves us enough to keep us from our self-centeredness. There is no growth when we are self-sufficient. The muscles of faith cannot be strengthened without exercise and stretching. We can look back at times in our lives when life was difficult and uncertain and be grateful for God’s leading and blessings. We say, “I wouldn’t trade those times for anything in the world!” And yet we hesitate the next time the slats are pulled out beneath our feet – so great is our desire for predictability and security.

For those of us who have been or are currently parents of small children, recall those times when your child was upset, rebellious or out of control. What did you say to them? “Look at me…” You wanted to change their perspective and give them assurance. They needed to look into your eyes in order to benefit from your strength and protection.

Lord, keep my eyes on you and my ears attentive to your words of comfort and direction!

Prayer Warriors

Luke 9:29-31 - As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Here we have the Transfiguration passage. This miraculous event has been the topic of many sermons with an emphasis on God the Father’s endorsement of his Son and what was about to happen. Not much has been noted about the presence of Moses and Elijah in many sermons, other than the fact that Moses represents the Law and Elijah the Prophets of the Old Testament. This is indeed significant in light of Jesus’ words as recorded in the gospel of Matthew.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished (Matthew 5:17-18).

Christ’s life, death and resurrection are the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament. It is fitting that Moses and Elijah should appear right before these events take place. But let’s step back from the theological implications and observe a few other things. The Son of God was facing the culmination of his mission on earth – the restoration of mankind’s relationship to God. He knew the pain and suffering that waited for him in Jerusalem. Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he would pour out his heart to his heavenly Father, asking that this bitter cup be taken from him. Christ wasn’t the only one who knew about this impending atonement. Moses and Elijah certainly knew and understood what Christ was facing. What an act of love from the Father to send these two holy men to his Son to speak with him, encourage him, and pray for him. Jesus would have known these men and loved them.

This passage also gives us some insight into the universal church – those saints in heaven and those living here on earth. The concept of believers who have died having a ministry of intercession for those of us here below was unquestioned before the Reformation. Somehow, this connection with the saints above has fallen by the wayside in the last 500 years. Undoubtedly, corruption in the Church led many to throw away the baby with the bath water. As a result, we Protestants have little understanding or appreciation for the ministry these believers can have in our lives.

Next time you start asking friends to pray for you, stop and consider those who are close to the throne of God and request their prayers for you too. What a prayer team!

Dark Alleys

His 12 year old daughter was dying – the light of his life. Although he was a respected, religious leader, he could do nothing to restore his child to health.

She had been to every doctor possible. No one could help her. She was weak from twelve years of bleeding and an outcast in her society.

Their brother was dead. He had been in the grave 3 days. They couldn’t understand why their best friend hadn’t come when he heard of the illness. He might have been able to help him.

He had everything a man could want – wealth, grown children who enjoyed being together, the blessings of God. All was taken away from him in one day. Then his physical health plummeted, and his friends concluded that it he brought all this upon himself.

She was down to the last bit of food for her son and herself. There was nothing in the pantry and no hope of any food to come. She had used every ounce of resources she had.

The city was soon to be attacked and captured by a foreign nation. Two men from that nation had promised her and her family protection and freedom. As she huddled in her home, waiting for her rescuers, she wondered if she had been foolish to trust their words. What if they had lied to her?

In every situation, a person has come to a dead end – an alley with no escape. They have exhausted all their options. They have used up all their resources. There is grief, sorrow, fear, anxiety, and little if any hope. These situations are God’s specialty! This is when his glory shines the most. This is when we see the power and might of the God whom we serve. He shares his glory with no one.

O, child of God, he wants to bless us with his power and might, but we need to be willing to go to the end of the alley where there is darkness and no hope of escape. He will not abandon us. He will walk down the alley with us and wait with us. He knows all about dark alleys. Remember Gethsemane? Remember the cross? I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be in a dark alley with than Jesus.

The Seemingly Insignificant

We have always had a love-hate relationship with the honey bee. Honey is a delight to our taste buds, but getting stung by the producer of this sweet liquid can be a traumatic event. For most of us, our knowledge about this insect revolves around the bees gathering pollen to make the honey for their hives, and we’ve learned how to harvest that honey over the centuries. For centuries, monasteries engaged in beekeeping in order to utilize the beeswax for the many candles they needed and the honey for food preparation and medicinal purposes.

Recently, there was a documentary on PBS that examined a troubling trend around the globe.

In the winter of 2006, a strange phenomenon fell upon honeybee hives across the country. Without a trace, millions of bees vanished from their hives. A precious pollinator of fruits and vegetables, the disappearing bees left billions of dollars of crops at risk and threatened our food supply. The epidemic set researchers scrambling to discover why honeybees were dying in record numbers -- and to stop the epidemic in its tracks before it spread further. – PBS, Silence of the Bees

Most of us would be saddened upon hearing this, thinking that we might have to give up one of our favorite culinary delights. But the impact of this global extermination goes far beyond what we put on our toast in the morning. The agriculture of the entire world depends on this tiny insect. No pollinators – no plants – no food – worldwide famine. If you thought our planet was fragile before, well, the ice just got a little thinner.

I can’t help but be (no pun intended) amazed that God would create such a small creature that would have such an enormous impact on all of creation. For the most part, we go about our lives completely oblivious as to the role of the honey bee’s contribution to our “daily bread”. Such unawareness of the delicate balance in God’s creation is a reminder to me that He often uses the very small, the very weak, and the seemingly insignificant to have a tremendous impact in His kingdom. We are easily impressed with the strong, the verbally gifted, the over achiever, the highly intelligent. We may feel we don’t have much to contribute and that no one sees our efforts to reach out, to love, to show kindness to others. In God’s kingdom, no one is insignificant and even the smallest gesture or word can have eternal consequences in the lives of others.

The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:31,32)

Life's a Blur

At the pace we travel, rushing about, there is very little that we actually see – or that we see for more than a blur. The Scriptures tell us that the pure in heart are blessed for they shall see God. We are not the pure in heart – nor is our heart slow enough to even begin the process of becoming pure. – Father Stephen Freeman, Orthodox priest

Consider the phenomenon of the movie. Traditional films are made up of a series of individual images called frames. When these images are shown rapidly in succession, the viewer has the illusion that motion is occurring. The viewer cannot see the flickering between frames due to an effect known as persistence of vision, i.e., the eye retains a visual image for a fraction of a second after the source has been removed. The result is a perception of motion due to a psychological effect. If you slow the film down, you can actually see the spaces. Our inability to see the flickering doesn’t negate the existence of that reality.

There is a spiritual realm that exists and surrounds us constantly. Scripture has quite a lot to say about this other realm and the fact that it is more authentic and relevant to our lives than the world in which we employ our five senses. We think that we are observant and aware of most everything around us as we navigate through our strenuous and demanding days. Even our efforts to pursue righteousness through spiritual disciplines – prayer, evangelism, bible study, fellowship, church attendance – can result in an impressive “showing”, but caution is advised – you may be merely speeding up the film. The only way to become aware of this parallel world is to slow down enough to be able to see it and then respond to it. We need to take the time to become aware of God’s presence and allow him to speak to us in the “spaces”.

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" – I Kings 19: 11-13

Off the Leash

We have never had a dog like this. Mason is a Golden Retriever who doesn't like to go for walks. I truly think he has agoraphobia. He is afraid of every leaf that falls, every person that walks by, any gust of wind. But, because his desire to be with my husband and me is greater than any of his fears, he will go with us. As we walk the neighborhood, you can sense that he is eagerly looking for the way back home - "is it this house?...is it this house?". We could take the leash off and he would stick close to us, just because he is so afraid of the unknown. There is no fear of him running off. Mind you, previously we have owned an Irish Setter who would scale six foot fences in order to get out into the world and another Golden Retriever who practically ripped your shoulder out of socket with her pulling on the leash. Perhaps it has something to do with Mason being a "rescued dog". We will never know what fears and anxieties he endured as a young puppy that affect him even today. He is terribly afraid of thunder and hides under the bed shaking whenever the slightest rumble occurs.

My husband and I are at a point in our life where the slats have been pulled out from underneath us. His position was scaled back and he needs to look for full time employment elsewhere. It was unexpected and emotionally painful. Thankfully, God's presence through this shaking of the snow globe has been very real and powerful. We know he has shut one door, but we're in that long, dark hallway waiting for another door to open. My fearful dog, Mason, is a good reminder to me. Outside is a scary place for him, but he is happy knowing that he is with us. He knows us well enough to trust us to get him safely home. That's all God asks of us - to be content to walk beside him, trusting that he will guide and direct our paths. We don't need to see the map. He will take care of us. Enjoy his presence, learn from him and give him the glory.

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:28-34

Limitless Resources

Is the world I live in one of scarcity or abundance? The answer to the question has much to do about almost every decision I make. The threat of scarcity tells me that whatever I have, like my own life, is limited. Nothing is ever enough. There is not enough money, enough food, enough love. The abundance enjoyed by another is always at the expense of myself and others because the world is governed by scarcity. Thus I must fight; I must wrestled to gain whatever I can and cling to it till death wrests it from my cold, dead fingers. - Father Stephen

We do view everything here on earth as “limited” – water, oil, gas, food, land, money, time, even the air we breathe. We can’t even imagine a resource that is limitless. And yet Jesus offered the woman at the well such a resource:

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." – John 4:13,14

God commands us to love, forgive, show mercy, and give of our material possessions, because he will keep supplying us with all that we need. We don’t have to hoard and ration and stock the pantry. He will never run out. The source of this goodness and life isn’t a lazy trickle of water coming out of a dry, Texas canyon in August. No, it’s bubbling up and overflowing the rocks and cracks. It is cool, refreshing and life-giving to plants, animals and people. We can’t drink fast enough to slow down the speed with which it gushes forth. Then why do we withhold forgiveness and love from others? Why are we stingy and possessive of the articles we claim as “ours”? We will never be able to exhaust God’s resources. Whatever others take from me is taken from the abundance that God pours into my life. It will be replaced and multiplied a hundredfold!

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6: 37, 38

Mystics

"Fundamentally, the mystical life is a life lived with and in God, being led and “walking” by the Spirit. God is both the goal of our pilgrimage and our companion on the way. We were created for divine communion. “Birds fly, fish swim, and man prays,” is a patristic dictum. When prayer and the awareness of the presence of God characterize your whole life and define your reason of being, you have become a mystic. Congratulations!" - Abbot Joseph

A mystical life means that the life lived is a mystery – we can’t explain it. This drives Westerners crazy! Surely, we can explain it! Or at least most of it. Theologians take great pleasure in learning all the arguments and viewpoints on a particular topic or issue. They are arguing the case for Christ. They are defending the Gospel. They are explaining the difficult so that others will believe. They are fighting against heresy and confusion. Surely, God would be pleased with this. Have you noticed that as theologians (hopefully, most of them) age, they often become more and more unsure of what is correct. They are more willing to admit that they “just don’t know”. They have lived enough of life to understand that God does things that are beyond explanation or comprehension. They are humbled by His workings in their life and the lives of others. They are more willing to acknowledge mystery. When we are young, we want to figure life out, put things in categories, determine what’s right and wrong. We actually entertain the idea that we have come up with the answer to world hunger, conflict and economic woes, even though brilliant men and women have contemplated these issues since the beginning of time. Such pride and arrogance. Why would we imagine that we have the answers after only 18 years of living on this planet? Namely, our culture doesn't value wisdom that comes with experience and age.

I marvel at the spiritual elders I read about – the monks, nuns, saints, missionaries – who have experienced the presence and workings of God for decades. They are the ones I want to listen to – they are the “experts” in spirituality. They are the trained technicians when it comes to our relationship with God. Hmmm…which would you rather believe? – one who has gone to seminary for four years and can argue any theological position or someone who has wrestled with the powers of darkness, experienced the very presence of God, and sat under the wings of the Almighty? If the world was coming to an end, I would gladly move in with the mystic!

Friendly Fire

Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless words pierce like a sword.

How painful are the wounds of a friend. The pain goes deep and lingers. We walk in disbelief that someone so close to us, someone we trusted, someone who has access to our heart and emotions, could cause such pain. Friendly fire: “fire, as by artillery, by one’s own forces, especially when causing damage near or casualties to one’s own troops.” At one moment, you are in the battle together, moving forward; the next moment, you are hit by someone in your own unit. Confusion, shock, and disbelief. How could this happen? The safety and strength you felt as part of a stronger force suddenly disappears and you feel vulnerable and unsure. Maybe I am walking in the wrong direction. Maybe I don’t know my fellow soldiers as well as I thought. Was I too trusting?

When we have been hurt by those within the body of Christ, we can go to our Lord and Savior for understanding and compassion. He suffered in this area more than any of us ever will. The ultimate betrayal – Judas’ kiss – was from one he loved dearly. Did Jesus stop loving him? No, he didn’t even lash out in anger. Christ knew that this was all a part of God’s plan – God would use it for good. This is the part that we can’t get our minds around – how God can utilize hurt, pain, and suffering for good. In our culture, these conditions warrant outrage and even judgment. In God’s kingdom, we are to turn the other cheek and pray for them. Obviously, this is a supernatural act – our human nature recoils at this response. As we consider the hurt we have sustained, let us also be reminded of the myriad times that we have walked in disobedience, dishonored God’s name, and said cruel words that have hurt others. We are not blameless ourselves, and we need as much mercy and grace as the one who has caused us such deep pain and sorrow.

I'm Almost Finished

Let me just admit it. I don’t like things that are unfinished. It seems that 90% of my daily activities involve trying to complete something – laundry, a transcription, a manual, finances, running errands, etc. Then there are the activities that span, not just hours or days, but years – college, child raising, marriage, paying off a 30 year mortgage, etc. Sure, we have milestones. We breathe a sigh of relief and then…move on to the next project. Since so much of our time is spent in activities, we begin to believe that our identity is linked with them. Acquaintances look forward to and plan for their retirement – buying that lake house, sleeping in, reading the entire newspaper, playing a round of golf. A year later, they are bored and feel overwhelmed by a sense of worthlessness. So where is true fulfillment?

"Life always ends before it's finished" (Walter Ong SJ). Here is the bigger picture. Our life does not consist of just the few short years here on this earth. We were made for eternal life. The life that we will live after death is incomparable to the few generations spent here. Doesn’t it make sense to spend more time thinking about that life than this short span of time? What if we were to look at this earthly life as a preparation for the life ahead? Begin living like the citizen that you will become. Need an instruction manual? It’s all spelled out in God’s Word. Instead of frantically trying to complete everything in your lifetime, look at everything as a training ground for what lies ahead. Nothing is wasted and you are investing in the future.

Believing is Seeing

“You can’t take it with you” is a common adage that we have heard and used over the years, and everyone understands its meaning. Nothing material can squeeze through the portal of eternity. What is not pointed out is that there is something of infinite value that you can take with you – your relationship with the God of the universe. But that relationship must be nurtured and tended and honored in this life in order for it to grow and become the greatest treasure of all. If you had the choice of taking nothing with you or taking something of unequaled value, which would you choose? Seems like a no brainer. However, many people continue to think of life as a gamble – you don’t really know what the outcome is, you can’t be sure of your final destiny, so why not enjoy this world as much as possible, in case eternity (or the lack of one) turns out to be a big disappointment. At least I haven’t wasted my time here on earath!

Why do we minimize the reality or importance of those elements in the universe which we cannot see, touch, feel or taste? We don’t deny the existence and power of the wind, ocean currents, gravity, black holes, heat, etc. Ever been in a life threatening situation and afterward sensed that some presence was protecting you from harm? What about rounding a corner in the Rocky Mountains only to see a breath taking view of a valley exquisitely framed by snow-capped mountains? Awe and wonder wash over you. What if the most powerful, the most significant, the most important forces in the universe are those that are invisible? How would you live your life differently?

“…don’t focus on, don’t become obsessed with, don’t give all your time and energy to what perishes, even if you need it for this present life.,, The Bread from Heaven, the Living Water, the divine words that will not pass away, and our relationship with God—which is the only thing we will take with us when we die—must be where our most focused and sustained attention abide, the goal of our best efforts.” – Abbot Joseph

Putting the Pieces Together

“Agree with God and be at peace.” - Here’s the expanded version: “Agree with God and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty and humble yourself… and if the Almighty is your gold and your precious silver, then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to him and he will hear you” (Job 22:21-27).

"One can't help thinking how their lives might have been, might be different if someone was able to pay more attention, to give more time. The fact of God's love for every human being has to be made real and particular by some other specific human being. The people who drift in and out of our world with apparently no anchor are reminders of the great value there is in loving attention to another human being." — Don Talafous OSB

Here then are the two facets of the Christian life: love of God and love of man. St. Benedict of Nursia (Italy) had much to say about this. We must be at peace with God and then we will be at peace with men – reaching out to them in love and mercy and compassion. Don’t get the order mixed up.

First, realize that “God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves” (Job 11:6). He has already shown us unimaginable mercy in sending his Son, Jesus Christ. This, should cause us to seek him and fall at his feet in gratitude and willingness to serve in any way he asks.

Second, once we realize what God has done for us and his desire to restore us to the original state of his creation before the fall in the garden of Eden, we should be assured of his eternal, never-ending love for us. He only desires good for us. “Good” does not mean fulfilling our every selfish desire. As a parent, you know that that cannot be. A child must be trained and disciplined and encouraged to grow in a certain path. Lessons must be taught, wisdom passed on, and instruction in righteousness. These are all “good”. God is not our personal genie. If you truly want to experience life and peace, you must seek after him and follow his lead.

Third, having come to this point of acceptance and desire for God’s centrality in our life, we are then motivated to reach out to those who don’t know where to find “bread”, those who are hungry, thirsty, hurting, and in pain. The gift of life is not something to be hoarded and kept to ourselves to enjoy. It must be shared. It was intended to be shared. You are not the only creature on the planet whom God wants to restore to the original creation. His heart aches for all of mankind. We cannot hide this gift, this treasure, this pearl of great price. But this goes beyond merely preaching the gospel, sharing the four laws, or handing out a tract. It involves touching, hugging, clothing, feeding and listening to those who are unlovely, irritating and difficult to be around. Look at the weird group of people Jesus walked and talked with!

These instructions are so hard to put into practice. My tendency has always been to see my spiritual life as something for my personal restoration and strengthening. It is, but in the kingdom of God, it is also the source of bestowing blessing on others. A marvelous reminder of this truth is the cross itself. The vertical piece is erected first and the horizontal piece placed upon it. Our relationship with God must come first and foremost before we can hope to reach out to others in true love and compassion.

The Dignity of Time

"At times I think most of the lessons to be learned from observing life and what is around is are all summed up in this: they are invitations, reminders, alarms telling us to use the moments, the days, the years well and from our depths. Generally, these lessons tell us, rule out certain ways of using time as beneath the dignity of ourselves and of time itself."— Don Talafous OSB

This is an interesting perspective. We don’t often think about the dignity of man and time. We live life oftentimes aimlessly, thinking that it doesn’t matter one way or the other. But it does matter. We have been stamped with the image of God and that alone gives incredible worth and dignity to every person – from the President of the United States to the homeless man under the freeway. As St. Benedict advocates, look for the face of Christ in every person. How our perspective would change if we consistently implemented this. Gossip, criticism, slander, grumbling would fade away. We would seek to help and serve the other. Can you imagine?

Here’s a further thought. If we bear the image of God, why would we waste our time on frivolous things that are of no eternal value? Aren’t our lives worth more than that? God’s image gives a dignity to our lives. We should take care of our lives with that same dignity and respect. You have been handed something very precious! Ask yourself, “Is this beneath the dignity of someone who bears the image of God?” For many of our activities, would we answer in the affirmative?

In a similar manner, we live our lives as if we had all the time in the world. In reality, our days are numbered. Why wouldn’t we want to spend them in the best way possible? Remember as a kid (if you are a Baby Boomer) when you went to the fair or carnival and your parents bought tickets for you? You had 10 tickets in your hand to use however you wanted. Your parents reminded you that once those tickets were gone, there were no more. As a child, it seemed an impossible task – weighing which rides or games were worthy of those tickets! There weren’t enough tickets to do everything. Likewise in our own life. Contrary to our culture’s message – that we can experience it all – we won’t be able to. Choices must be made. Time is precious, just as gems are precious. It does not exist in limitless quantities and, once found, it must be guarded and treasured.

“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” Psalm 90:12

I Don't Understand

The lesson for us is not to let reason put limitations on what God can do in answer to faith and trust. Every time we pray in difficult or desperate situations we affirm that God is not limited by what our reason says is possible. Pascal said, "Reason is a poor thing if it cannot recognize its own limits." — Don Talafous OSB

Contrary to what the Enlightenment proclaimed, reason does have limitations. Not everything can be, or should be, explained and followed in a logical manner. If God and his mighty works could be explained, then he wouldn’t be God and we wouldn’t need him. Should we throw reason out all together? Nay! Reason is necessary and helpful for communication, discovery of new cures and inventions, education, and living peaceably with others. Our error is in making it the ultimate and final test for all things. Mankind leans toward extremes. If we don’t like the way things are going, then we swing to the opposite pole and claim that it solves all problems. We didn’t like what the Roman Catholic church was doing in the 16^th century, so we threw out all that was good along with the bad and came up with a completely new way of worshiping God - the Reformation. There were many attempts within the Roman Catholic church that advocated and pled for reforms and a return to holiness and reverence. Wouldn’t this have been a much better way to go about reform? I understand that there are times in history where dialogue and reasoning are no longer effective. This may have been the situation back when the German monk, Martin Luther, nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg Door in 1517. But 500 years later, it may be time to go back and evaluate where the Reformation has brought us. In our quest to understand and explain scripture and the Christian walk, have we missed the untold benefits and blessings of those things that can never be explained? What have we done with the mysteries of God?

Running into the Sanctuary

The manner in which we live our daily lives affects our spiritual lives. This doesn’t sound like a profound discovery, but its reality struck me hard this morning. Our lives are so busy. We pride ourselves in multi-tasking and sandwiching in as many activities or errands we can in a given time period. Do I have 5 places to go this morning? Let’s see…if I take 190 to 15^th street then cut over to Plano Parkway and take it to Coit, then I can come back via Whole Foods Market on Belt Line and then home, with a stop at the post office. Oh, but wait, I could shorten my time a few minutes by going in reverse and always make right turns instead of left. We’re so used to quickly stopping somewhere, getting our purchases and hopping into the car for the next errand. If we have to stand in a line for more than 60 seconds, we become irritated. If we see the line is long when we drive up, sometimes we’ll even forgo that task for the day.

This stop-and-go lifestyle can easily carry over into our spiritual life. This morning, I sat down to spend time in the Word and prepare my heart for the day ahead. I opened my book on the Divine Hours and began to quickly (and without much comprehension going on) go through the readings for this morning. An image popped into my mind of me, running into a lofty cathedral full of worshipers, candles lit, a service going on. Others turned and looked at me as I made a commotion and tried to find a seat. I was completely oblivious to all around me and what was already taking place. Is this the way to enter into the presence of the Holy of Holies? I looked back to the beginning of the Divine Hours liturgy for the day. The reading is intentionally organized into sections, reflective of a person coming to a sanctuary or temple to offer worship: The Call to Prayer, The Request for Presence, The Greeting, The Refrain, The Reading, and so on. As Americans – those whose founders overthrew England’s monarchy – we have a difficult time with protocol and formalities, which often appear insincere or unnecessary. True, such loftiness can degenerate into arrogance and exclusivity. But there was a purpose behind such seeming artificiality. These rituals or conventions help to prepare our hearts and spirits for what lies ahead. How we view our heavenly Father – holy, infinite, powerful, majestic – should be reflected in how we approach him. Yes, there are times when we are in pain or danger and we run into the sanctuary crying out our Father’s name. He welcomes our cries to Him. The rest of the time, we should be mindful of who He is and who we are and approach the Trinity with awe and wonder and an awareness of our unworthiness. With this attitude, our spirit will be more willing to listen and receive instruction. This part of our life must be guarded from the press of the world’s demands. It’s not an option – it’s our lifeline.

House Cleaning

It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something.

– Oswald Chambers

This is an interesting perspective – to unlearn something. We always talk about God teaching us something or learning something from God. As if we needed more head knowledge in this age of information overload! And yet we think that, if we are weak in our faith, we need to know more about God - that we just don’t know enough to be unwavering. Consider all that we have learned from spending time on this earth and from rubbing shoulders with family, friends, co-workers and strangers. We have accumulated years and years of impressions and experiences, and from these have made observations about our world. Most of these conclusions do not come from an eternal perspective. So, by placing an eternal perspective on top of all these human experiences, do we hope to diminish our human way of thinking? Magically, will we start thinking God’s thoughts and act according to His truths?

I think Chambers brings up a good point, although I prefer to think that trials bring with them learning and unlearning, rather than one or the other. We may “learn” that God promises to supply all our needs – physical, emotional and spiritual. Subsequently, we realize that we must “unlearn” our dependency on others for our self worth or financial security for peace of mind. Perhaps, when God reveals himself to us in difficult life situations, we should be more diligent about finding something to remove from our basket of human perspectives in order that we can begin replacing it with His truth and righteousness. Over time, I believe the basket will become lighter and a joy to carry.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

I have been reading through the book of Acts in my daily readings. The author of Acts - Luke the Physician - diligently records the amazing events at Pentecost and after, as the Gospel was spread to the outer limits of the Roman Empire. Well, one would expect a physician to be detailed in description and explanation! He manages to avoid reference to himself throughout most of the account, until chapter 14 verse 10 ~

After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

How did it come about that Luke became a constant companion of the Apostle Paul? In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Paul shares a little about his personal struggles ~

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Could it be that God allowed this "thorn in the flesh" in order that Paul would need an attending physician on his journeys? Would Acts have ever been written if Paul had not had a highly educated co-traveler with him at all times recording the miraculous events of the early Church? Of course we don't know for sure.

There are times in our life when we go through very difficult passages and we wonder why God doesn't give us relief or provide a deliverance from pain or suffering or material loss. It seems as though God isn't listening to us or doesn't care. Even the Apostle Paul asked for relief from his physical affliction, but it was not granted. In such situations, we must believe that God has something much better in mind; a plan that will bring greater glory to him and bless us in the process. We can only see the knots on the back of the tapestry - God sees the finished product. And it is guaranteed to be glorious!

Ear Training

There have been times in my life when I have been thrown into difficult situations - health issues, loss of a loved one, loss of employment, emotional stress - and dear friends have said to me, "Call me anytime - day or night. I want to do anything I can to help." Those words are like cool, clear water to parched lips. In times of stress or trouble, you do feel like you're trying to navigate a tugboat through 30 foot waves. The waters tower above you, and you fear that the next swell may plunge you into the dark abyss. How sweet are the words of a friend willing to come and find you and walk through the darkness with you.

How quickly we turn to friends and family for help in times of need. It is only human, and therein lies a problem. They are only human too. We must train ourselves to turn first to the One who really can be there day or night - the Good Shepherd who will spend the entire night searching for the one sheep that has wandered off or fallen off the path. The Shepherd will not fail in his mission. That sheep will be found, tenderly carried home on the Shepherd's shoulders, and given proper care. How can we be more responsive to the Shepherd's voice? Not by head knowledge, but by heart knowledge. We must spend much time with him until we can recognize his voice in the midst of the hurricane or the quietness of the desert. A piano tuner can train his ear to hear gentle nuances of pitch. A Christian can train the "ears" of his heart to hear the gentle words of the Savior. Lord, give us ears to hear.

In Dependence

"In popular culture dependence is often understood as a sick relationship, a lack of personal control, an inability to stand on one's own two feet. This goes so far that for many dependence has no simply neutral meaning but is always a bad thing." — Don Talafous OSB

Truly, in our American culture, I can't think of any situation in which dependence is valued and prized. Young adults who live at home with their parents are considered immature or unmotivated. A manager who doesn't claw his/her way to the top of the corporate ladder is viewed as passive and without goals or ambitions. We don't want to have to depend on anyone for financial help, emotional support, or physical assistance. We would rather do without something than be forced to borrow an item from a neighbor or friend. What ever happened to people sharing things, so that we all didn't have to possess all the same things? This hunger to create our own little kingdoms of possessions is fed by commercialism and the message that we deserve it and shouldn't be dependent on others.

Is it any wonder that we struggle with concepts such as "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me"? This goes against everything in our being! I can do NOTHING without Christ? Well, we certainly CAN do something without Christ, but...it will go up in a puff of smoke at the day of judgment. We can do nothing of ETERNAL value and significance - without Christ. Does that matter to us? It should. If it does matter, then be prepared for a lifelong battle with the voices of our culture. You will be misunderstood, overlooked, and seen as weak. Only the Spirit can give us the wisdom and power and perseverance to swim up this crowded stream. May we ask for His help daily.

Keeper of the Door

Is there really no nighttime in heaven? I think I would miss that. There is something so calming and restoring about twilight and evenings. Cool breezes, the stars twinkling overhead, the sound of crickets, the rumble of far away thunder, the sound of wind through the pine trees, the hooting of an owl. Is there not a place for this in the new earth? Perhaps the reference in Revelation (“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”) of heaven being continuous light is a statement of the lack of evil and not a scientific observation. I can see the throne of God resplendent with the sun’s rays in the morning – light so brilliant that it hurts the eyes! God’s presence is even brighter. But I can also imagine the throne of God at night, with so many candles that you can’t count them. Incense wafting in the night breezes. Angels and cherubim flying through the temple quietly. There is a hush. And everyone bows in worship of the King. Everyone present is filled with awe and wonder and contentment. For the moment, there is no other place I’d rather be. Father, in years past, I was concerned with how big a “mansion” you would prepare for me. Now, I realize that I would be happy with the smallest of rooms – just for sleeping actually – for I would spend my days in the temple worshiping you and loving those around me. My “mansion” would only serve to give me a place to rest my head at night. We really “need” so very little when our hearts are focused on you! Just let me be a “keeper of the door”.

Oh, let me be a servant

A Keeper of the door

My heart is only longing

To see forever more

The glory of Your presence

The dwelling of the Lord

Oh, let me be a servant

A Keeper of the door

- Twila Paris (Sanctuary)

Disconnect

I had a thought yesterday concerning Evangelicals (of which I suppose "I am one") or those who attend "bible-teaching churches". We don't have much of a heritage to draw upon. Other denominations - Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Orthodox - have centuries of saints, leaders, and liturgy to draw upon and connect them with generations past. Because evangelicals formed in an attempt to create a church that "didn't do" certain things - responsive readings, incense, infant baptism, communion every Sunday, clerical robes, acolytes, organ music, kneeling - they have ended up with very little to remind them of those whose faith we stand upon. These rituals, these things we have held in common with generations who have worshiped before us, create a sense of community and strength. If we remove them, we stand alone in our faith. It is similar to the individual who estranges himself from the rest of the family and relatives because he doesn't agree with them on an issue. Eventually, he finds that he has created his own loneliness and has no support when he goes through trials and sufferings. I believe the evangelical community is in a dangerous position right now. They face a multitude of issues in he workplace, our country and in the world, and they are not even connected to each other for strength. Evangelicalism is individualism gone bad. We long for a sense of community in our churches but end up engaging in futile "worship wars", thinking that the type of music or service will bring about this elusive connectedness. How our bickering must grieve the Holy Spirit! We have lost our compass and need to regain the link with our brothers and sisters over the centuries - the "great cloud of witnesses" that stand in the presence of God. O, how much we could learn from them!

What Kind of Fruit is This?

"...a Christian must be consistent in his relationship to the life of the Son of God in him, not consistent to strict, unyielding doctrines. People pour themselves into their own doctrines, and God has to blast them out of their preconceived ideas before they can become devoted to Jesus Christ." - Oswald Chambers

-- No author assigned in CUT

Our natural bent is to lean toward rules and doctrine and belief systems and away from the Person of Christ. It’s as if we are saying, “Thanks, Lord, for saving me and giving me eternal life, but I can take it from here.”

What a mess we make – worship wars, looking for the best Sunday school curriculum, recruiting people who don’t always have a deep walk with God, trying to build a sense of “community” with programs or service changes. Why do we look to human methods and thinking to solve our church problems? We are trying so hard to produce our own fruit. No fruit? Well, don’t throw the vine out! Better make sure you’re still attached to the vine, because it’s the vine that produces the fruit – not us. In our Type A culture, we can’t imagine that being still, praying, and pursuing our relationship with Jesus Christ will ever accomplish anything. What fun is that? We couldn’t claim any of the praise for it. Lord, have mercy upon us! We are such dumb animals. Remind us today of our spiritual limitations and the need to know you more. You don’t ask a lot of us – just obedience, trust and a willingness to follow. These, however, strike at the heart of our egos. Am I willing to set aside my own agenda in order to follow yours? With mine, there are no surprises. With yours, I must be open to anything. Almighty God, make me willing and ready. Shepherd, help me to hear your voice. Counselor, may I hear your soft whispers. Amen.

Whose Time is It?

“Living is what we do with God’s time, what we do with God’s world.” – Rabbi Abraham Heschel.

We think of time as “ours” to do with what we want. Books are written on how to more efficiently use your time, how to make more time, and how to redeem the time. All these are based on the assumption that time is ours to use and change. We are deceived. Creation is the Lord’s and, likewise, so is the time given to us. If time were ours, then we would be in control of when it begins and ends. The Almighty One is the only One who knows these things. So, as I begin a new day today, You have reminded me that I must look to You to know how to spend your time. Think of an ambassador in a foreign country. His native country sets aside a segment of time (months, years) for the ambassador to accomplish the tasks given him. The ambassador is not free to do whatever he wants. Likewise, the time I am given each day is not mine to claim; I must look to the “Time Giver” for instructions and guidance. Does this sound like slavery? We are slaves, but our service to our Master will bring tremendous joy and freedom. Just one of many paradoxes in the Christian life!

The Nature of Paths

I had the good fortune of having a woods behind my house when I was growing up. One of the well worn pathways in it was one which led directly to my best friend's house on the other side. We spent many hours, especially during summer vacation, going back and forth on that path. Some afternoons, we would spend hours in the woods, pretending to be anything our imaginations could create. There were trees to climb, rocks to find, and flowers to pick.

Another pathway wound the entire length of the woods. This path was used during the summer by the kids on my street to walk to the school about a mile away. We would spend hours swinging, climbing the jungle jim, and just talking and laughing and running. Back then, parents didn't worry about the safety of their children - we rode bikes freely and stayed out until it was dark. Then, we spent the evenings chasing lightning bugs. They are not as easy to catch as you might think! Exhausted, we fell into bed.

My bed was fairly high off the floor and level with one of the windows in my bedroom. I remember falling asleep in the summer with the window open, watching the lightning bugs blink on and off, listening to the katydids' songs, and revelling in the smell of fresh mown grass. No one needed sleeping pills!

Today, the woods is gone - the victim of larger yards and more housing. I live in the suburbs with houses whose backyards are hidden by six foot fences. One has to actually get in a car to find the woods. There actually is a woods within walking distance of my house, but it takes a fairly long trek. Even there, I notice small pathways disappearing into the woods and wonder what human story is behind them.

Paths connect people and places. God asks us to walk a "narrow path". It connects us with Him and leads to life eternal. It is "narrow" because few choose to use it - there are things that you have to leave behind and, in a culture of materialism, we want to take everything with us. But once you make the decision to go into the woods and follow His path, you find that God will offer you so much more than you ever dreamed.