Look! Up in the sky! It's--

The heavens declare the glory of God; 

   the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

   night after night they display knowledge. 

Psalm 19:1-2

It's been a grey and cloudy fall. Seems like it's just one rainy day after another, with periods of dry greyness in between. Every once in awhile the sun sneaks through for a little while, but mostly-- grey, grey, grey.

I have nothing against cloudy days-- but William Cowper reminds us that variety is the spice of life that gives it all its flavor. And day after day after day of grey after grey after grey weighs heavy on the soul. My mood begins to match the skies.

And as my mood sinks, I realize, my eyes drop. My steps slow, my tail drags-- and before you know it, I am blogging about how tiresome the weather has become.

As usual, it becomes soooo easy to forget. 

Even in the patterns of the clouds, there is beauty, and hope-- and promise. As they blow and shift, reshape and reconnoiter, that cute little bunny rabbit begins to morph into something new . . . something bigger . . . something with-- a trunk! 

Answers to prayers yet unspoken. Promises laid out right there, before our very eyes -- if we but have the eyes to see and ears to hear. And a heart that trusts that God is not yet finished, with our day, with our lives, with all of Creation.

Finding God in the majesty of a Grand Canyon or a brilliant sunrise? That's easy. How could "random" possibly account for such magnificence? Finding God in my granddaughter's giggle? Piece of cake. Such pure joy can only come from the Almighty who loves us so, who takes such delight in creating each one of us to look a little like Mommy, a little like Daddy-- and fully in the image of God.

But how do we do at finding God in the everyday?

When was the last time you turned off the radio, the TV and the computer (and the phone!) and simply sat with the silence?

One evening this week, during a break in class I wandered outside. It was silent and still-- except for the crickets chirruping greetings to one another across the grass, slower as the seasons cool. 

And the fountain gurgling quietly, enjoying its last moments before winter comes and it is silenced until spring.

And the marching band, percussion cadences and laughter spilling out across the football field and into the darkness, bearing the exuberant joy of goofy teenagers in its wake.

And my own measured breathing, in and out, puffs of steam hanging on the night air ever so briefly. The sound of my heart, faithfully pumping away unnoticed.

And then the drive home . . . and the aurora borealis, mysterious and ephemeral, like neon chiffon scarves, lifting, lowering-- unveiling.

Behind every created thing lies the Creator.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." John's gospel.

Look up. God is there, behind the clouds. Within the clouds.

Lift up your face. Trust. Believe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij71LWwPt-w

What's in that Happy Meal, anyway?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." --Matthew 5:3-9

By now I am guessing you have heard The Big News about Happy Meals. Parents who are upset (dare I say angry?) about McDonald's and their cheap toys tucked innocently into their unhealthy kids' meals. Now, moms can choose, instead, a toy-free meal, and a small donation goes to a children's charity.

There was an ad on TV for these social conscious Happy Meals that showed children looking in the bottom of their Happy Meal box for the toy, practically sticking it on their faces as they looked, and the voice says something like, "Now there's Hope at the bottom of every Happy Meal box!"

Kinda makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, doesn't it?

But seriously. I have a friend who has had myriad health problems, just one thing after another. She has had these times of discouragement, and has said, "I feel like I have lost my little friend Hope." She was really downtrodden.

One evening, she called me, all excited. She told me all about the commercial, about the kids digging in the bottom of the box, and said, "There's Hope in a Happy Meal! There's Hope in a Happy Meal!" We laughed, we cried-- you know how women get. It was one of those moments.

Fast-forward several days. I am going to her house and taking her lunch. She says she wants a burger, fries and a strawberry milk shake. 

In a moment of sheer brilliance, without saying anything to her, I pull into McDonald's and order a hamburger Happy Meal-- with a strawberry milk shake.

"Is that for a little boy or a little girl?" I about burst out laughing when I said a little girl. And the milk shake had whipped cream-- and a cherry!

When I showed up at her door, and she saw the box, it was a half-laugh, half-cry kind of thing. We went inside, and she went straight for the bottom of the box. And there it was: The Toy.

The toy du jour was this little gumball machine where you push the bottom and all the little plastic gumballs pop around like popcorn. Again and again, she pressed the bottom; again and again, the gumballs jumped-- and her face relaxed into laughter. All the pain and anxiety from a hard day of chemo melted away like ice cream on a hot summer day. 

And in the bottom of the box-- right there, next to the toy-- guess what she found?

Hope. 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Our perfect Hope, our one Redeemer.

Making the Grade

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ --Matthew 25:37-40

Even though I have finished my degree, I find myself back in the classroom for one more class, and also on the other end of the grading pen, marking assignments for the very first class every incoming seminary student is required to take. It's called Foundations of Bible Study. It is designed to teach us how to approach Scripture, and it is a very tough class. Trial by fire.

It's tough to mark, as well, because part of the object of this and other classes is to encourage students to revisit the Bible with fresh eyes while not driving a stake through the heart of our faith, how to set aside (as best as we are able) the many comforting things we know about Scripture and try to listen for a fresh word from the Lord.

That's what it's about, isn't it? Listening for God's word in our lives?

As a student, one of the hardest parts in this class is accepting that sometimes we get it wrong. We say too little-- or we say too much. We do too little-- or we do too much. 

And then along comes heidi with her fat green pencil and reminds the student what the directions were for the assignment, the "shalls" and the "shall nots."

Let the sputtering begin. 

"But-- but-- how can you take off points for saying too much? I have never lost points for saying too much." The best writing always has a good editor, someone who can remind you when it is time to stop. (Oh, that we should have Someone whispering in our ear when we have said too much.)

"But-- but-- right here-- see? They did it this way in the Study Guide! See? See?" Mmmm. . . . Life shows us plenty of bad examples to follow. Yet we are expected to make the right choices. 

Think how things might be different if Eve hadn't listened to the serpent.

Moses might have dwelt in the Promised Land if he had trusted fully in God's plan-- and listened.

And those Israelites. God gave them a list of do's and don'ts, and before Moses could review for the test-- Golden Calf. Revelry, ribaldry and ruin.

But I digress. 

It seems we want a checklist, so we will know exactly how we are doing, whether we are making good marks or not.

And when we are young, we need those close guidelines. It's the first assignment. You need rules. A short leash. 

But soon, there is a better way. Soon, the leash will be let out a bit. 

Soon, the grade will (should) diminish in value and the desire for true knowledge and learning and transformation will (should) step to the fore.

Jesus reminded his disciples (including us) that he did not come to abolish the Law, but as the fulfillment of it. In his life, Jesus showed us what living under the Law looks like.

It really does not look like an exercise in "do just exactly this for this answer and this grade." It's not that simple.

It looks more like, "How can my life reflect God's love in this world? God has given me so much, loved me so fully-- how can I share that love with everyone in my world?"

It may be with a pair of shoes or a hot meal. It may be a listening ear or a shoulder to rest against. 

Sometimes, far more than we admit, less is more. Silence speaks volumes of the love of Christ. And in the quiet, we hear it, softly whispered deep in our soul.

Well done, good and faithful servant. 

You have lived by the Law-- not as a checklist, but as a way of being. You have loved as I first loved you. 

And you did it-- just because. Not just to check something off the list for a grade.

Jesus loves me-- this I know. And to others this I show. Love them, feed them, clothe them, too. This is what the Lord would do.

Love is a two-way street

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. --Matthew 19:14-15

This is one of those "everybody's favorite" verses. We learn it in Sunday school, and the grandmother du jour reminds us each that we have a special place at the feet of Jesus, because Jesus loves the little children.

But I think there is a part of this relationship we might be missing. 

Jesus stayed with the children and he placed his hands on them. Ever wonder if somehow Jesus didn't maybe draw a wee bit of love and energy right back from those children? If maybe his "children's moment" energized him to continue on with his ministry?

I know it works for me. The children in my life remind me that all is well in the created order, that God is well pleased.

My grandson is 2-1/2. Their back door has blinds that go nearly to the bottom of the window.

But when Garrett sees my legs on the porch, he knows who it is. And when he gave me my name-- my very own grandmotherly name of "Mima Mars"-- well, he danced, and my heart sang.

His sister Allison is still young, less than a year old. But as she watches her brother and giggles at his playing peek-a-boo with her, how can one not draw fresh life from this???

And then there is their cousin Avery, born within months of my husband's death. Truly, truly an affirmation that life is to go on.

When I show up at her door, she smiles and lifts her arms. Her mother says, "Yeah, when Grandma shows up, Avery kinda forgets I'm around." (Not true-- but it sounds good.)

Sometimes when I am holding Avery, she will lay her head against my shoulder and relax in my embrace. In those perfect moments, the whole world slips away and it is just me and Avery, and I realize, I am not sure who is lovin' on whom. 

And I realize that this is how we are to be with God:

So relaxed in God's embrace that everything else disappears. And I truly believe God gains as much joy, as much peace and pleasure from holding us, as we do being held by God.

Mutual admiration society. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look up in his wonderful face. And the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.

Perfect Parent. 

Perfect children, fallen yet beloved-- and perfectly created. 

Perfect, perfect Love. 

"If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us." --1John 4:12