Shake it off. . . .

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." --Luke 10:2

(Full passage: Luke 10:1-11)

In case you hadn't noticed, Jesus loves a good metaphor. Sometimes, given the way our lives barely resemble those of his original audience-- or even the audience of a hundred years ago-- we need to slow down and look at what Jesus is saying between the lines (or sometimes, right in front of our faces, but while we are so busy looking for a deeper meaning we miss it!).

So here's Jesus, sending his disciples out two-by-two. And he compares the mission field to a harvest. Plentiful harvest, he says. Few workers for the harvest. 

Some people read that and decide it means we really need to get on it, already, and work really really hard and fast to save these souls. And yes, I think that may be a part of it. But let's look a little closer at this harvest metaphor.

Jesus does not tell his disciples that the whole field is ripe and in need of immediate pickin'. This is important, because from here, he goes on to explain how his followers are to determine the "ripeness" of the fruit.

Go to a house, he says, and offer peace. If the peace is returned, if hospitality is offered, then stay. Stay and enjoy the fellowship. And as you fellowship with one another, as you develop relationship, teach what Jesus has taught you. Offer love, healing-- hope. If you are feeling welcomed, stay awhile. 

On the other hand-- if you are not greeted in love, move on. Shake the dust from your robes and move on. 

Perhaps this fruit is not yet ripe. This is not the only tree in the orchard.

But here's something else: In both cases, with those who welcome and those who do not, Jesus' message to be delivered is the same. 

"The Kingdom of God is at hand."

I think some people use this as a threat. Repent now, or God's a-gonna get you. But that's not what I hear. (I could be wrong, but in this case, it's a chance I will take.)

The Kingdom, or Reign of God is at hand. Our God is a God of love. So the love of God is passing nearby. In the person of these disciples-- and in you and in me-- the message of "Love God, love one another" is made flesh. For those whose lives are ripe for belief and those who are still a little green and hard, perhaps a bit sour yet.

Everyone hears the message. We plant seeds for a future harvest. There may be no yield-- ever-- in our lifetime. But we plant and we plant and we plant, offering the message of a loving King to all who have ears. We never know when those ears may be ready to actually hear the message. (Works better still if we are living the message instead of just speaking it.)

And here's another thing I think is important about this harvest imagery:

One bad apple will not spoil the entire harvest.

One surly greeting should not deter us (for long) from continuing to offer the love of Christ with our very lives. 

And for those still struggling to believe-- one person whose message of "love" seems off-base or insensitive or excluding or ugly should not cause you to color all who follow Jesus with the same brush stroke. 

Harvest time. Much work to be done. And let's try not to bruise the fruit in the process.

Lord, you have loved us with an endless, perfect love. Help is, in our humanity, to offer the best love we can manage-- a kind word, a sandwich, perhaps a pair of shoes-- to all who cross our paths. Amen

A choice you must make.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. --Deuteronomy 30:19-20

(If you are expecting this to be a political post, you don't know me very well. Just sayin'.)

Spring has come at last to this neck of the woods. The irises have bloomed and gone, the grass is growing much faster than I wish. I even decided this year-- believe it or not-- to see if I can keep a few extra plants alive. But the best part about spring having come is that along with the warmer temperatures and cerulean high skies, strawberries are in season.

Strawberries! Decades ago, when the kids were little, we would go out to a local farm and pick our own berries. They would give us a five-quart box and tell us that we could fill it as full as we desired, for one price. 

We became quite adept at tucking berries in corners, getting every last berry for our buck. And they were so good!

Then the fields became more popular, and the plants grew older along with our children. It became more like "work" than "play." The berries were scarcer on the plants. There were more thistles in the rows. I would come home with my forearms on fire with itching, because I hadn't worn long sleeves and the thistles were in charge.

I hadn't picked strawberries in over ten years, I am sure of it. Until yesterday.

Yesterday my daughter and her two children and I went in search of a new place to pick strawberries-- and we found one! Oh, sure, they charge by the pound now, but that meant we could quit at any point, without feeling like we were not getting our money's worth. 

It was early morning. The day was cool enough for long sleeves, but these fields had no thistles. It had been rainy two days earlier, but the fields were well-couched in straw, just muddy enough.

Just muddy enough that at one point I almost walked right out of my shoe.

And then there was the little girl in blue. I have no idea her name, but I will call her "Joy." 

Joy looked to be just a little younger than Avery, probably about two. She still had that flyaway blonde baby hair, a few strands trying to escape the ponytail her mother thought would keep her hair under control. She was dressed top-to-toe in pale blue.

And when I first spotted her, Joy was standing next to her mother, a red, ripe strawberry in each hand and a big smile in her face.

When we had finished picking-- Joy was still standing next to her mother with a red, ripe strawberry in each hand (not the same ones) and a big smile on her face.

Her chin was red with berry juice. Tiny strawberry seeds freckled her cheeks. Sweet juice trickled down-- or up-- her arm as she bit into the fruit. The smile grew even brighter as her hands . . . then her arms . . . then her sleeves took on a decidedly pink tinge.

This is how I want to live my life. 

I want to be so eager to enjoy what's out there that I just can't wait. I want to grasp what is sweet and wonderful with two hands and smile when the sweet taste of springtime fills my mouth. I don't want to worry about getting a little juice on my favorite shirt.

I want to be like the little boy who, despite his mother's suggestion, chose not to walk around the mud puddle, but instead jumped right smack dab in the middle of it, sending messy splatters everywhere. 

I want to be like my own granddaughter, who was a real helper with the picking. But for every three berries she picked, at least one needed to be "taste-tested" before she added it to the box. (I would be surprised if some of the berries we brought home didn't have a bite out of the side. At least we know who was doing the biting!)

I don't want to be content dipping a toe in the waters of life, or simply grabbing a drink from the fountain. I want to be unafraid to jump full in to the fountain, and if I am lucky-- you will be close by and the joyful waters of life will splash on you, as well.

This time, this season of life will never pass by again. There are no "do-overs." And if we live a full life, we should have few regrets at the end of the day.

Choose life. From the first day to the very last, choose to enjoy what the Creator has done-- and continues to do-- in this amazing place we call home. Choose to make friends, to love one another, to rejoice together-- to weep together. 

And as one season comes to a close and we enter a new one, open your eyes wide and see that this new season has so much to offer, just like the last one. Different. (Maybe better.) 

Make this time, this day-- this season-- the time of your life. The best, the most it can be. No regrets. Life is too short.

Time of your Life

Amen.

Because I said so?

I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. 

I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” --Luke 7:8b

(full context:Luke 7:1-10)

Authority. I wonder what that word really means. We hear it all the time. 

On the evening news, stories of "the authorities" stepping in. Soap opera weddings show beautiful couples standing before the judge, waiting for those words, "By the authority vested in me. . . ."  And in Scripture, we see many examples of authority tested or affirmed, as in this passage about the Roman centurion whose beloved servant is dying. 

This centurion understood many things. He understood that there was no way he, a Roman, was worthy to be in Jesus' presence, let alone ask Jesus to heal his servant. It simply wasn't the way things were in his world.

But he had another perspective, as well: Because he was a leader and had men under him who "took care of things" when he was not there to do so himself, this Roman centurion also knew what it meant to have authority.

Kind of like, he says, "Jump!" and his servant says, "How high?" And the Centurion knows this will happen, because it always does.

And now there is this new rabbi in town. Some are claiming he is-- different. More. Maybe the Messiah, the One come to save all of Israel. He is performing all sorts of miracles, healings and-- more.

For the centurion, it doesn't matter whether Jesus is Roman or Jewish-- or Martian. All this centurion knows is this: His beloved servant is ill and dying. And this "Jesus" comes, they say, with the authority of the Almighty. 

Jesus says, "Believe and be healed," and healing happens. It's that simple.

It's still that simple. Believe, trust in the authority of Jesus and he healed. Be given fresh sight, stand up and walk--no, dance! Let the pieces of your broken heart be made whole, through the authority of Almighty God.

And notice-- in case you didn't already-- the centurion is not one of Jesus' "insiders." He is not Jewish, not a disciple. For all we know, his request comes solely from the rumors he has heard about this man who is doing more amazing things than have ever been seen-- until now.

It really is about faith, isn't it?

Faith and trust-- and believing that God really does love each one of us that much. So much, God would do anything to heal our broken hearts. 

Where will you allow the Spirit of the Most High into your life? Is there a place that could use a Divine touch? 

What are you waiting for? You have heard about him. You may even have seen his Spirit at work in the lives of others. Listen for the whispers in your heart. It's your turn. Time for healing. Time for peace. 

Deep Peace to You

Gracious, ever-loving, ever-living God, lead us into a space of deep peace, safe in your Divine embrace. Remind us again just how precious we are. Amen

Building Character

Let us also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

--Romans 5:3b-4

It has been another long week in this country. 

Last Thursday I had breakfast with my "boss" and he said, "Well, what do you suppose will happen this week that will need to be reflected on in worship?" Ugh. Who knew we would be staring in the face of such horrible devastation as has occurred in Moore, Oklahoma, following those strong tornadoes?

And then along comes this week's epistle passage from the lectionary, Romans 5:1-5. Paul's words about how we should respond in the face of suffering.

It's awfully hard sometimes, isn't it? To glory in suffering, whether our own or that of distant strangers? How do we respond to well-meaning folks who earnestly remind us that "God never gives us more than we can handle"?

I don't know if that's true or not. But I do know that sometimes it sure feels like God has given me a double helping when I really would just as soon take a pass.

Here's what I think, for what it is worth.

I think-- no, I know sometimes there is nothing worth saying when tragedy strikes. And that includes quoting Scripture. Sometimes, no matter how well-intentioned, a verse from the Bible really only serves to deepen the pain, because it's just so very hard to see how God might be at work in the moment.

For instance, with these tornadoes, or the recent shootings or bombings. I heard people say that they prayed so hard for their child to be found alive, and was so grateful when God answered their prayers. How do we explain the implication that someone else must not have prayed long enough/ hard enough/ faithfully enough, because their child wasn't spared?

Tough, tough questions. And if you are looking for my pat, easy answer-- I haven't got one. (And overall, I have a pretty decent handle on prayer. Sort of. Right now, anyway.) 

In our moments of deep pain and anguish, sometimes there is simply nothing worth saying. Silence together, weeping together-- an appropriate choice, indeed. And a willingness to admit: I Just. Don't. Know.

But as we begin to pull away a bit from the intensity of the moment, then these verses can take on a different hue. A neighbor offers to help with the cleanup. Someone we never met offers us dinner at a local pub. 

As we begin once more to put one foot in front of the other and allow our lives to inch forward, we can begin to see ways in which God's presence is carrying us. Simple kindnesses, in unexpected places, give us the "lift" we need.

Whether we respond by giving up or by lifting our eyes and moving our feet is, indeed, an indication of the nature of our character.

We are created in the Divine image of one whose very nature is Love. And we are called to be that love in the world.

It can be so, so hard. But it is so, so necessary.

One step at a time. One new day at a time. Sometimes-- one moment at a time. 

Just do the next thing. 

And over time, things become easier. And we begin to feel a lightness in our hearts. Hope, even. 

Not right away. And sometimes it can seem imperceptibly slow in coming.

And it is seldom something we consciously can do a single thing to hasten or promote.

No secret recipes. No magic wands. Just time. And one day we realize: The joy is back. Different, but returned.

I think that's what Paul was trying to get at here. And I think that is where we as a nation will be finding ourselves over the next weeks. And months.

And years. Each at his (or her) own pace.

And so we soldier on. But the good news?

We soldier on together. And when we are ready to look again, we encounter a stranger, someone we may not recognize right away, like the two on their way to Emmaus. 

Someone who becomes God with skin on, there for you. We never journey alone, even when it sure feels like it. Thanks be to God.

Most gracious, ever-faithful One, show us. Show us the way we are called to be you, in this place, that we might be aware that we are not alone. Amen

Getting on track

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” --Acts 2:12

Goodness. It's been a long time since I posted anything. That needs to change. So-- at least for now-- I am going to try to blog on a lectionary passage each week. I need the discipline, and the lectionary is a good tool for that.

Just to level the playing field a bit, in case the L-word is unfamiliar to you? The lectionary, in short definition, is a tool which, over the course of three years, accesses the vast majority of the Bible. (As a Protestant, I am familiar with the Revised Common Lectionary, or RCL.) 

Each week, the RCL offers four suggested passages, typically (but not always) one from the Old Testament, one from Psalms, one from the Gospels and one from the epistles.

The biggest advantage to preaching the RCL is that it narrows a preacher's choices. It also discourages one from frequently returning to "favorite" passages and neglecting other, more challenging portions of Scripture.

The downside, arguably, is that it potentially hinders the freedom of the Holy Spirit. (Then again-- could not the Spirit guide the preacher and speak through the chosen RCL passage?)

Wake up! It's not that bad, really. 

And somehow, this all relates a bit to this week's RCL passage from Acts, the story of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit arrived and allowed everyone to understand everyone else, no matter what language they were speaking. Each person heard the other in their native language.

Using the RCL as a guide means that wherever you attend church this Sunday, if the preacher follows the RCL, it's likely you will hear a sermon based on the same passage. And that can be a terrific experience, since the direction the preacher takes might be completely different in another pulpit or another denomination. 

And a skillful preacher will manage to preach a message that is not only scriptural, but relevant, proving week after week that the Bible is not a dusty old book no longer worthy of reading. Rather, it is alive, lively and relevant-- if we have eyes to see, ears to hear and a desiring heart.

So. This may not be the most interesting post ever, but this is my commitment to getting back on track. Hope you are still with me.

Ever-wise, ever-faithful God, thank you for guiding our hearts-- and for discipline. We need it. We really do. Amen. 

Look closely.

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” -Exodus 33:18

I cannot recall ever sharing the words of another extensively on my blog, but there is a first time for everything. Sometimes, it seems, the perfect words fall out of the mouth of someone else just exactly when we most need to hear them.

So it was last week, with me and author/ pastor John Ortberg.

My Uppity Women and I had been engaged in a six-week DVD study based on Ortberg's book, God Is Closer than You Think (Zondervan, 2005). The final message, in the final lesson, in light of a week that led many to question God's presence in our broken and wounded nation, really resonated within my small group, so I share his words now with you and invite you to spend time really soaking in the imagery. A small part of it directly references the study, but I am certain you can connect the dots of his reference to Adam and God on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Here are Ortberg's words. Enjoy.

I have been asked by some, how I can be so certain of the existence of a good God,

and I have asked them in return if they have eyes to see.

God is as close as the bounding dog who knows and loves the voice of his Master.

He is as close as the laughter of a joyful heart, close as the touch of a friend.

Our God is not far away in some distant tower.

He is, like Waldo, present on every single page,

even when it’s hard for us to see him.

He is present in the magnificent chapels that we build for him,

and he is present in the most magnificent chapel of mountain and sea

and earth and sky that he built for us.

For his Spirit, like the wind, blows wherever it will

and breathes life into anybody who will let it.

He is present on “rainbow days,”

when our breath gets sucked out of our bodies by his beauty and grace.

He is present in the ordinary moments of every ordinary day,

when we wake and when we sleep,

when we work and when we play,

when we eat and drink,

when we fail and try again—he is there.

And in the winter of our souls, when we feel most alone,

when with Jesus, we cried out on the cross,

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

he is there, then, too.

We find him in the uniqueness of all of our pathways

and we find him whenever two or three of us come together in his name.

* * * * *

We started our adventure together talking about that scene

on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

where God and Adam are just a hair’s breadth apart,

there is just this tiny little gap between them.

And one day, on the other side of the hedge,

on the other side of death,

that gap will be finally, fully closed,

and then, we will finally see, face-to-face.

But that’s tomorrow, and this is today.

And today, this is our prayer:

God, make up there come down here.

May your Kingdom come into my world, my heart, my life.

And he really can—and he really will.

Because God is closer than you think.

--John Ortberg, “God Is Closer than You Think”

All in this together

"You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone." 

--Exodus 18:18

It has been long-- too long-- since I posted here. I thought about it a number of times, but nothing was happening, no nudges. So I waited. 

In light of the events in my nation, the Boston Marathon bombing and the West Texas refinery fire, the shock and pain has, at times, felt overwhelming for many. The places we thought of as safe, now feel shaky. We look at each face differently. A young man carrying a large backpack can bring a brief flash of fear.

But we are not called to live in a spirit of fear. The spirit of the Most High is a spirit of freedom and perseverance. (This is not to say a Christian never experiences fear. We are still human, still broken. But we have hope.)

And we have each other.

Despite his pleadings with God that he was unsuited to leadership, Moses was, in reality, the consummate overachiever. He was trying to do it all himself, somehow certain that his "connection" with Yahweh was his alone; no one else could offer a word of advice or wisdom to the community but him. As he grew more and more tired, as his energy dwindled, he had a visit from his father-in-law Jethro.

And Jethro spoke truth.

He suggested that much of what Moses was doing could be done by others. He showed Moses how to delegate. 

And everyone became healthier as a result.

That's one part of it. But the other part is to allow ourselves to be assisted when we just cannot carry on alone. In Exodus 17, Joshua is battling the Amalekites, and Moses is standing overseeing the battle, with the staff of the Lord raised high.

When Moses grows weary, his arms drop-- and the Amalekites begin to take the battle. When he raises his arms-- victory: Joshua. But it was a long day and a long battle.

This could have been problematic, if not for Aaron and Hur.

When Moses tired, they got him a rock to sit on, and they stood-- or sat-- one on each side and kept his arms raised.

And his hands remained steady until sunset. And the victory was the Lord's-- and Joshua's.

So what does this mean to us?

It means we are not designed to walk alone in times of trouble that wear us down. It means, when we are hurting or in pain, that there are others who care about us and are willing and able to give us a break. And Moses didn't even have to ask.

Aaron and Hur could see. Moses was worn down. They knew he needed help-- and they gave it. 

We don't know if Moses tried to slough them off or not. We just know that they gave help when help was needed.

And so can we.

These are tough days. The darkness lurks, grabs at our souls and tries to convince us that something's changed. But it hasn't.

God still reigns. God is with us-- Emmanuel-- in the faces of first responders and strangers donating blood, in the cup of cool water offered and the gentle touch of a hand. God is with us in our tears, and with us when we stand, brush ourselves off and seek to adjust our definition of "normal" in light of recent events.

We-- each one of us-- are God's perfect love, with flesh on. Each one of us. Sometimes we sit on the rock and receive; sometimes we stand strong and find ways to give.

And I cannot help but offer you this. Amen

Lean on Me