Risking Failure

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imageMany years ago, a friend of mine told me of some odd advice given him by his high school counselor. This friend was brilliant and was headed to the Air Force Academy. He was successful in everything he had done up to that point. But his counselor advised him to purposely choose to do something that he would likely fail so that he would experience failure first hand. He joined the track team and chose an event for which he had no natural ability. He struggled and struggled but pushed on. He wasn’t a total failure but he certainly was far from the top of the field of athletes. The experience impacted him and gave him a different perspective. I have lost contact with him over the years but I have not forgotten his counselors advice.

As I look back over my life, I see myself almost always choosing paths that fit my natural abilities. The goals I have sought are ones that with some hard work, I could actually accomplish. I’m not saying that everything fell in my lap and was easy. But what I am saying is that I have stayed within the boundaries of my own human strength and ability. It’s not often that I have stepped out and truly risked failure.But risking failure is what I have done with dirt bike riding.

In 2009, I broke my leg while riding with my husband Tim, on the back of his dirt bike. I was wearing a helmet but I was not prepared for his heavy motorcycle to fall on my leg when we lost control in mud. If I had been wearing proper foot gear, I’m sure I would not have been injured. It still qualifies as the most extreme pain I have ever experienced even when compared to childbirth. The worst of it was the fact that we were out in the middle of nowhere and  I had to get back on the motorcycle to ride out. I ultimately needed surgery for the fracture and had a titanium rod and plates put in my left leg. It took about 6 months but my leg is really back to normal. I rarely ever notice problems with it now

For a couple of years, I really was afraid to get back on a dirt bike and no one really blamed me. But then it struck me. Why am I afraid of this? Tim could teach me how to ride and after a little convincing, he did. We have ridden on numerous trails in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. My skills are improving but does this activity come naturally to me? Certainly not! I struggle every time we go. My mind is constantly assessing the obstacles in front of me. Do I need to downshift and give it more power to get up this hill? Should I go around a muddy area or through it? Can I make it through this creek or is it too deep?  Tim says eventually I won’t have to think anymore. It will just come to me what to do. This hasn’t happened yet. The trail rides are a challenge for me and I fail in some way every time we go. But aside from a few bruises on my body and my pride, it is good for me. I am stretching myself beyond my abilities. As long as Tim continues to have patience with me, I will continue through the failures.

Stretching beyond our normal abilities is really what God asks of us. He has always done this throughout history. Virtually no one when a God-given task was presented to them said, “Sure, I can do that.”  Even Moses argued with God to send someone else to Pharaoh. To go and do what God asks us, we must risk failure. Our human abilities will fail us. We must trust that God has a bigger plan. It’s when our possibilities end, that God-possibilities begin. Faithfully moving forward even when we can’t see any way we will succeed, is when God’s power is revealed. Later in Moses’s life when he sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan, ten of the spies returned afraid and reluctant to proceed into the land because of giants they found there. Only Joshua and Caleb looked beyond their human abilities and trusted in God for their success. Because the ten spies convinced the Israelites that the land could not be taken, they did not cross over the Jordan River but wandered in the desert as nomads. Forty years later, Joshua and Caleb were the only 2 of their generation to actually enter the Promised Land. They had faith that God would take care of the giants and he did.

So what are the giants that frighten you? We all have them. I challenge you to stretch yourself beyond your normal abilities in the small choices. Trust God to get you though, just like Joshua and Caleb. When a big task comes along, that will take a miracle to accomplish, then you will have confidence to move forward in faith even if it means risking failure. God will go with you to the Promised Land. Count on it.

The Power of the Spirit

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imageI didn’t journal yesterday since I woke up late and needed to hurry to get ready for work. I don’t even remember hearing my alarm but I must have turned it off because it was set correctly. Luckily a voice in my head said, “You need to look at your clock.” It was 5:25 am. I generally get up week days at 5 am so it was not too late to eat breakfast and dress but not enough time to write before leaving for work. I’m glad something or someone told me to wake up or I would have greatly overslept. What is it that does this? I’m sure everyone experiences these gentle reminders or ideas that suddenly pop in your head from time to time. They are not easily explained and have a supernatural quality when it is a thought totally foreign to your normal thought processes. Is this the work of the Holy Spirit?

Soon my women’s Bible study group will be starting a new series by Beth Moore entitled “Breath.” It is about the Holy Spirit’s influence on the Christian life. I read a little of the first week’s lesson. The Spirit is spoken of synonymously with Power in many references in the Bible. Do we recognize this coupling of Spirit and Power in the 21st century? I think not. We have virtually ignored the power of the Holy Spirit in most denominations of the church except charismatic congregations like the Pentecostals. But many of them tend to focus primarily on speaking in tongues which is a small part of the whole work of the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost, ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven following the resurrection, the Spirit descended on the early church in a mighty way. Yes, the disciples and others with them in the Upper Room, spoke in other languages so everyone could understand their message. But their lives were also infused with knowledge beyond their education and the power to perform miracles. It was this dramatic change brought on by the Spirit that drew people to join the early church. On the day of Pentecost alone, they added 3000 to their number. What they witnessed convinced them of the truth of what was being said.

Why in the church today do we not see the Spirit moving in this way? I believe we don’t see it because we don’t look. The Spirit is at work behind the scenes but we fail to recognize it. We pass off unusual circumstances as coincidence. If we can’t scientifically explain something we tend to ignore its significance. The Spirit cannot be explained in human terms. It’s beyond our comprehension. But this doesn’ mean that it doesn’t exist.

When I have been open-minded and open-hearted, I have seen the Spirit act. It’s through these experiences that I am convinced of God’s existence. Not by what anyone has told me but by what I have seen myself. When God called me to help Shadrach many years ago, this was Spirit lead. I have no doubt of this. A voice spoke in my head saying, “This is what I want you to do.” The weight of unseen hands were on my shoulders. It was as real as if someone truly was standing behind me, hands resting on my shoulders and whispering in my ear. Yet no physical being was there. The outcome of listening to this voice has been phenomenal and the story is still unfolding. What Shadrach’s future holds, I don’t know but God does. I have a deep sense that it is something very important but also dangerous. My support of Shadrach was not just a temporary assignment to help him get his education. It is a lifetime commitment. I anticipate the next chapter with excitement.

Given this experience, I return to my original question of why we don’t see the Spirit move in this way on a regular basis. I know in my life I get too busy with other responsibilities and worries to really pay attention. I don’t pray consistently for God to open my eyes and ears to his presence. I ignore his promptings and become somewhat deaf to his voice. Prior to my Spirit experience involving Shadrach, I prayed, “Lord, show me what you want me to do.” My heart was fully open to his answer. I believe if I could remain in this frame of mind, I would see the Spirit move more powerfully. Yet I don’t seem to be able to do this. To perceive the Spirit, I need daily help from the Spirit.

As we start this new study, “Breath”, I pray that God will breathe his Spirit on me and all the women in my group. We have seen glimpses of God’s power through the doors he has opened for us in the Sheridan community. But like Moses, we want to see him face to face and experience his glory.

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the power of your love.”

Amen  

 

Almost Heaven

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imageOn this Good Friday, I’m celebrating Holy Week on the way toward Easter. But I’m also longing for spring break.  This is my last work day before vacation. Yah! I’ve only taken off a day here and there since I travelled to visit Garrett at Fort Rucker last fall.  I’m ready for a full week away from work. Tim needs a break even more. He has not been off work for a whole week of vacation since last summer. It’s good to have a chunk of time off, not bits and pieces, to decompress. It used to take me 3 full days away from work to relax.  It’s better for me now since I’m not so pressured as in the past. I am generally able to let things go in just a day.  I also find that it is better for me to go away rather than vacation at home.  Sometimes home projects feel like work and it’s difficult to overlook them and relax when you see them before you. 

To get away and create each day anew without any time pressure is wonderful. We all need this on a regular basis to free our souls. It’s like taking off the heavy coat of winter to be released from the heaviness of responsibility for a little while. Not that we are totally irresponsible for ourselves and others in our care. But we are free to just “be.” I love to wake up and say, “What am I going to do today?” without someone else already having a schedule made for me. I can try new things even just for a few days. I can sit and read a book if I want or indulge in a long conversation. I can lay in bed with my best friend as long as we want (unless of course, we have kids with us on vacation).

Relax…breathe…take in creation. Much of my ideal vacation is spent outdoors in fresh air. After this long winter, this will be a God-send to be in the mountains again. West Virginia is “almost heaven,” as John Denver sang so long ago. I agree. It is breathtakingly beautiful. But it’s also devastatingly poor in many areas. The place we go to ride our dirt bikes is in coal country and there is a high rate of unemployment. But while we vacation and have fun, we will spend money on food, fuel, housing, and crafts. We each pay a fee to ride on the Hatfield-McCoy trails. We help the local economy and in turn, this allows the local people to have a better existence. In this way, I share my wealth by spending it. It’s another way of giving-buying from local businesses, not the big chain stores. If we all were intentional in doing this, there would be less need for welfare and unemployment. The only genuine way that poverty is overcome is when we help others help themselves.

This doesn’t just apply to when we travel, but should be the way we spend at home. I admit that since I work in the city, I often shop in the city. But Tim and I have been intentionally trying to spend more in our local area of Sheridan. We buy some of our groceries at the IGA in town and stop by the hardware store for some of our project supplies. We have great restaurants in town that we frequent. We often see people we know from our church or their kids working in these establishments. We help Sheridan have a better economy and the people have a better life by spending locally.

Well, I must stop dreaming and get ready for the day. Today will be a good day at work but tomorrow promises to offer much-needed relaxation and a little bit of heaven. I’m ready!

 

The Price of Freedom

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imageThe 1st Amendment to our Constitution has been on my mind the last few days.  So much controversy has stirred people’s emotions regarding RFRA, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  I’m not sure why the US Congress in the 90’s and now the Indiana Legislature felt it necessary to add this law to the books.  It really is a restatement of part of the 1st Amendment.  It allows for the free exercise of religion.  But the 1st Amendment is this and so much more.  It speaks not just of freedom of religion, but freedom of speech, the press, assembly and the ability to file grievances if those freedoms are infringed upon. It also states that the government should not establish a religion as had been done in Europe at the time of its writing.

The 1st Amendment and RFRA are very broad and not specific as to their meaning. The interpretation of the law is in the hands of the judicial branch of our government. The 1st Amendment has been scrutinized over the years and used as a measuring stick in many cases.  There is no limit placed on the freedoms mentioned in the language of this amendment.  Our justices decide the limit of its use.  By limit, I mean, how far does one freedom extend until it infringes on another person’s freedom?  Does it allow one person in their exercise of freedom to discriminate against another person?  It has unfortunately allowed this in the past in regard to the abuse of minority races and cultures.  Only when other laws were enacted like the Civil Rights Act in the 1960’s to protect these groups, was the 1st Amendment “reined in” so to speak. 

The freedoms we enjoy in our constitution are a double-edged sword.  We are free to express ourselves like no other nation.  I, for one, am thankful to be born in America.  I feel sure that I would not be allowed to pursue the education and career that I have in a great number of nations due to suppression of women there.  The very pages of this blog would be censored in a large part of our world. We are blessed by this freedom.

However, this very freedom also allows for people to express themselves in vile and hateful ways.  The Internet, as wonderful a tool that it is, can be a forum for this kind of speech.  I am appalled at times by the language that is used by people on both sides of an issue.  People will say things on social media that I don’t believe they would ever say face to face.  The Internet also allows for the promotion of child pornography and human trafficing.  My trust in humanity was totally destroyed when I became aware of websites that offer children for sex during sporting events such as the Super Bowl.  This happens every year no matter where these events are held.

So my point in all this is that our 1st Amendment is precious and we don’t want to ever lose it but it comes with a price. The price of freedom is the chance for the abuse of it.  How do we combat this?  We rein it in with other laws that protect minorities and children, laws that don’t allow for discrimination disguised as freedom. We must be very careful not to criticize the 1st Amendment and its counterpart, RFRA, too much or we may lose the freedoms they allow.  However, we must be proactive in legislation to protect those who demand and need protection from the abuse of that very freedom.

The Warmth of Spring

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imageIt’s now officially spring but it doesn’t really feel like it. The temperature is only in the 30’s today and I hear that we may get snow mixed with rain this afternoon. Yuck! I’m over it. Winter can go anytime. I’m ready for a warm spring breeze and flowers blooming. Soon, very soon, the warmth will return.

Waiting is tough. Every spring before Easter, I am reminded of one of my favorite stories written by CS Lewis, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”  The kingdom of Narnia was held in eternal winter by the evil witch.  They were waiting for a spring that seemed to never come.  Does this sound familiar?

When it feels like winter will go on forever, Aslan arrives and everything starts to melt.  Even the witch’s sleigh gets caught in the mud created by the warmth of spring.  When Aslan comes, hearts are warmed and there’s nothing the witch can do to stop it.  She tries to destroy him but by doing so she sets in motion the very thing needed to redeem Edmund and all of Narnia.  What a beautiful picture of the Cross of Christ told in child-like terms.

Deep inside each of us, we know that justice must be served for evil.  We demand it for the likes of Hitler and ISIS but we don’t want to admit that we deserve justice as well for our own evil deeds.  We must come to the realization that we are all like Edmund in Narnia.  We have all betrayed the One who loves us unconditionally and we deserve punishment.  So Aslan (Jesus) steps in to take the punishment for us all. I’ve heard it said that Grace is getting the gift we don’t deserve but Mercy is not getting the punishment we do deserve.  Jesus does both.  He takes the punishment that should be given to each of us and instead gives us the gift of life, free of guilt and shame, forever.

The joy of Easter and spring are coming.  I want to let the warmth of that joy invade my soul like the first rays of the spring sun.  Awaken me again to the beauty all around me.  After the long, harsh winter, the colors almost hurt my eyes.  Don’t we all sometimes fall into the deep sleep of winter and need to be awakened again?

After the crucifixion of Jesus, two disciples walked along the road to Emmaus with heavy hearts. Their Lord and Master was gone. They did not yet believe that he could be alive after such a brutal death.  Little did they know that the stranger who came to walk with them on their way was the risen Christ.  It was only when they invited him to join them for dinner at the end of their journey that they recognized him when he broke the bread and blessed it.  They exclaimed to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as he talked with us on the road?”

During this Easter season, my hope is that as the spring sun physically warms your spirits, that your heart will be warmed by the presence of the risen Christ.  May he awaken you from the deep sleep of winter and refresh your soul anew as he walks beside you every step of life’s journey.

Focus for Transformation

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imageAs most of my readers know, the last few weeks I have been “teaching” the Daniel Plan at my church. I use quotes around the word “teaching” because I feel that I am learning as much as the other participants in the class.  The Daniel Plan is a great guide for nutrition and fitness while incorporating faith and friends in the mix. But the part of the study that has affected me the most is the emphasis on focus.  Focus is an integral part of the process of becoming healthy in mind, body and spirit but a part we often overlook.

Over the years I have worked with many people wanting to overcome unhealthy habits especially cigarette smoking.  I have talked with patients literally for years about quitting smoking with no results until suddenly something clicks in their mind and they quit.  Often once their mind-set is changed, they are able to quit “cold turkey.”  These are people who have smoked 1-2 packs per day for 20 some years!  They have tried nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges as well as medications such as Zyban or Chantix to no avail.  But when their mind is changed, their habit changes. This never ceases to amaze me. 

The mind is quite powerful.  What we think about can make or break our day, our year and sometimes our life.  Do we fill our mind with positive thoughts or do we dwell on everything negative in our circumstance?  How we look at our world can make all the difference. I often have been surprised by the sheer happiness I’ve seen in the people of Third World countries I have visited. They have nothing in comparison to what we Americans have to be thankful for yet their joy is so much more than I witness on a day-to-day basis here.  There are so many sour, bitter attitudes all over: in the workplace, the grocery, on the road.  It casts a darkness over everything.  We have so much to be thankful for but yet it doesn’t seem to matter.  Perhaps we forget what is really important in our seeking for more “things” in our lives.When material possessions are stripped away, we are forced to look at the daily blessings: food for this day, people who love me, a job to go to. When life is down to the basics, there joy is found.

But this kind of thankfulness and joy don’t just happen. It a choice. “I am thankful today for _______.”  You fill in the blank every day.  Write it down; share it with a friend so it is real. We can turn the negative into positive. We can change old destructive habits if we first change our thoughts.  It must be intentional. “I am going to think these thoughts today.”  Then slowly your focus changes and you are transformed. “Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) Transformed in the Greek is the word for metamorphosis.  This is not just a little change but a total change like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. It is biologically still a caterpillar but it is made brand new as it emerges from it’s cocoon. So we can be made brand new when we allow a change in our minds.

This transformation in thinking is a choice but even though I choose to focus differently, I still struggle with this.  I fall back into the same patterns especially if I see negative attitudes in those around me.  I forget that I can ask God to help me with this. I believe He wants to give us help in this area because it is so critical for everything else in our lives.  Why do I not pray about this?  I pray for many other things of much less importance.  Maybe it’s because in my mind I think I can just do this on my own. Not true!  I need God’s help in everything especially in how I think.  As the Apostle Paul said to the Philippians in one of my favorite passages, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” 

So I ask the Lord, please help me think upon these important truths. Transform my life by the transforming of my mind so I may become the person you created me to be, healthy and whole.

Truth Sets Us Free

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imageMy church has started the Daniel Plan study which is a 6 week journey to a healthier life. The starting point for the study is an understanding that Jesus accepts us right where we are. No matter what our weight, no matter how unhealthy our habits, no matter what we’ve done in the past, Jesus loves us.  This is the truth and this truth should liberate us. Jesus said it himself, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  However, so many of us seem to believe this only in theory but don’t actualize it in our own life.  Somehow we think Jesus accepts others but the dark secrets we hold in our own souls are just too bad.  We condemn ourselves and think Jesus must condemn us too.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  If we dig into the Gospels, the story of Jesus’s ministry, we see him loving the outcasts and marginalized over and over.  He treated them just like regular people. He struck up a conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well who was ostracized by her community. He called up to Zacheus who was watching him from a sycamore tree and basically invited himself for dinner.  Zacheus was a hated tax collector. Jesus did the outrageous and the socially incorrect all the time.  He wasn’t even afraid to touch lepers.  So why do we think he would not do the same for us today?

I believe the root of the problem is unforgiveness.  Not unforgiveness of others, but unforgiveness of ourselves.  Sometimes the most difficult person to forgive is yourself.  The negative voices that reverberate in our head can be overwhelming at times. They say things like, “If people really knew you, they would think you were a bad person.”  “You say you are a believer, but why do you keep making the same mistakes over and over?”  “You’re just a failure; Jesus doesn’t really love you.”  We hang onto shame and begin to believe these lies.  We are unable to embrace the magnitude of Jesus’s love for us so we are bound in the chains of guilt.

So why is embracing acceptance so important at the starting point of the Daniel Plan? Because change just doesn’t happen in a hopeless situation. Love and acceptance liberate us to move forward. This is why a supportive community is so essential.  When we are accepted as we are, we develop trust. Trust leads to open honesty and vulnerability within our group.  We are then able to accept encouragement and accountability on our journey to a healthier life. Change is possible when we see our life though the eyes of God as precious and unique.

I see this concept played out every day as a physician.  The doctor/patient relationship is based on trust: trust in the physician’s knowledge and abilities but also trust that the patient is willing to listen and follow through with a treatment plan.  This compact of trust is sealed when the patient feels care and acceptance by their physician right where they are.  They may be a total mess physically and emotionally but if they sense that they are valued, not judged, they will be much more likely to move forward in a direction toward better health and well-being.  The converse is also true. If the patient perceives that the physician could care less about them and sees them as a hopeless case then they will see themselves as hopeless. They will simply give up and not see change as possible or worth trying. 

The doctor/patient relationship is analogous to the relationship between those people who make up “the Body of Christ”, the church.  Too many times newcomers are greeted with judgement and not love.  No wonder we often see more people leaving from the back door than are coming in our front doors.  We all enter the sanctuary of God in need.  Some of our needs are obvious but most are hidden.  Only in a community built on trust are we able to be open, honest and allow vulnerability.  When we are accepted by the church just as we are, then change is possible.  When we fall down and fail as we all will, in the accepting church, there will be many there to pick us back up and move forward again.

When the church is accepting and loving then people see Jesus through us. We are witnesses of the Truth in action and we are set free.  Free to be all that God imagined us to be.  However, as Lysa Terkeurst wrote in her book, “Unglued”, we move forward in “imperfect progress,” often two steps forward and one step back.   But that’s ok because we are loved right where we are. Believe it!

 

 

 

Accepting the Journey

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imageTim and I returned from a week-end getaway to Shaker Village in Kentucky earlier today. We enjoy these brief but cherished respites from the daily routine. However, it’s often that I hear Tim say, no matter where we go that he enjoys the destination but hates the journey to and from.  Just as often, I will say in response that the journey is just as important as the destination. I firmly believe this on many levels.

The scenery, no matter where you are travelling, is interesting in and of itself. Beauty is all around us, even from a car window speeding down the highway. Though I generally deplore the hassle of flying from a large airport, I am still thrilled every time the jet lifts up above the clouds into the sunshine above.  There is just something about this that always makes me anticipate it.  It’s like being a child seeing the world from this perspective for the first time.  It never grows old for me. 

Whatever mode of transportation, we are a captive audience with those travelling along with us.  This can be misery or it can be opportunity.  We are able to take the time for a conversation that the busyness of everyday life doesn’t allow.  Remember as children the endless games we played in the car while on long trips or the many songs we sang?  These activities bound us together as family.  We either drove our parents crazy or they joined in with the fun.  It was all a part of the trip.

If all we can think of is, “Are we there yet?” we will have missed out on a crucial insight.  In this earthy life, the destination is generally a small segment. The journey takes the most time and we overlook its benefits if we aren’t careful.  It may seem boring or difficult but, on a deeper level, the journey is what makes us who we are. If it takes time to reach our goals, then we learn patience and perseverance.  If our path is rocky and treacherous, we become strong and resourceful.   If we experience failure along the way, we become humble but also learn what it is to never quit. Knowledge and wisdom are gained in the journey, not the destination.  Reaching a pinnacle is not nearly as sweet if the ascent is a short and easy hike.  It’s only in the struggle, that we appreciate the prize at the end of the race.

The apostle Paul often uses the analogy of a runner in a race to depict a life of faith. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  If heaven is our dreamed of destination, then life is our journey.  Yes, we learn in the struggle but we also experience joy as we move through the beauty of life.  We see glimpses of heaven along the way to urge us on. Each spectacular sunset, every melodious bird song in spring, every smile and tender embrace we experience, motivates us toward the prize before us. These are pieces of heaven.

Be that as it may, the journey is a mixture of good and bad, blessings and struggles. Accepting it all for what it is, may be the entire point. Live life fully without reservation. Run the race with gusto with your eye on the prize. But never forget to enjoy the view along the way. 

 

 

Tuning Out the Noise

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image2015!!  It strikes me as odd to be so far into the 21st century already. It seems like just yesterday we hit 2000 and everyone was afraid that our computers wouldn’t run.  Remember Y2K?  Silliness! I thought it was silly at the time but supposedly we had numerous experts that were concerned.  Fear is so media driven.  News can be spread too quickly and false information is believed without checking it out.  I’m constantly surprised how many people are duped into believing everything they read and hear in the news.  Maybe I’m just a skeptic.  I am sure that I have been fooled many times over the years too.  However, I tend not to send on any questionable news items especially if they are inflammatory towards one political party or another.  The problem is that I still read them myself and I wonder how much they affect my thinking even when I know they are false.  When you hear something bogus over and over, repetition moves your mind away from the truth. It’s so important to step back from the craziness of our media world whether it be our news media or social media.  We must listen to voices of truth to keep our minds clear and open. Study the Bible, read classical literature, pay attention to older, wiser people in our lives, pray and listen for God’s direction.  There is so much noise in our world that we can’t make out the voices that should be holding our attention. They are all but drowned out.

In this new year, I want to intentionally listen:  listen to words of wisdom from seasoned voices, listen to God’s word, listen to the sounds of nature, listen to  beautiful music.  I want to just take the time to listen.  But to really do this I must turn off the noise.  I can’t be totally out of the world’s noise but I can limit it.  I will deliberately put down my smart phone for a good face to face conversation.  I will turn off the computer for a good book.  I will read the Bible one chapter a day beginning at the beginning with Genesis.  I purchased the Moody Bible Commentary over Christmas to help me study.  But most of all, I will focus my attention on things above and listen for God’s direction.  He speaks often in a still, small voice that can be difficult to hear through the noise of daily life.  I must tune my ear to Him like tuning a radio to a certain channel.  Static can certainly muffle the sound.  But I know that if I begin to tune out the silly, unimportant things of this world and listen intently, I will hear God speaking.  I have heard Him before and I have faith that He will speak again.  He’s probably trying to speak to me right now but I’m not hearing Him.  I’m like the boy Samuel in the Bible. God spoke to him 3 times before He recognized His voice. Only after the priest Eli told him to answer God by saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening,” did God reveal to Samuel a great prophecy.

So I pray: In this new year, open my ears, Lord so I am able to hear you over the rabble.  Let me not just listen but act.  Direct my paths so I may walk with you. Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.

Pushing Back the Darkness

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Haiti 2011

Garrett and friends:  Haiti 2011

The dark days of winter are sometimes difficult to bear. At least now we are beyond the winter solstice and the days are slowly lengthening again. For the end of the year, I have been reading Revelation, the last book of the Bible, the bookend of history.  It can be a dark and sometimes scary read. But there is light in the darkness, the one constant in history: Jesus. He comes in the clouds in the very first chapter. He is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. This is comforting as I read of the hard times to come. It’s not difficult to imagine that the world as we know it will come to an end.  We have had the power to destroy ourselves for some time now. I’m surprised in some ways that it hasn’t happened yet.  Evil is being held back for a time.  We are a part of the holding back whenever we do good-we push back the darkness.  I believe that each of us has daily opportunities to do this with a hug, a smile, an encouraging word.  We do this when we stand up for what is right.  Mercy and Justice.  Grace and Truth. These must always be paired together and balanced. One without the other is either legalism or chaos.  We have choices every day and in every situation.  What or who do I follow?  If we don’t push against evil, we are a part of it.  This may sound like a strong statement but complacency never absolves us of responsibility.  Albert Einstein was quoted as saying, “The world will never be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”

This is so true. How many times do I find myself thinking, “Why didn’t anyone step in to stop this?” or “Why didn’t anyone help?” It’s reminiscent of the story of the Good Samaritan as told by Dr. Luke in the gospels.  Who was it that helped the man hurt by the side of the road?  It wasn’t his own people but a despised Samaritan. I think we sometimes miss the audacity of Jesus’ story to his 1st century readers.  In today’s terms, this would be like a Palestinian stopping to help an injured Israeli after 2 of his own people have passed him by.  Unheard of?  Not in the kingdom of God.  In Jesus there is no division of race, gender or social status.  We’re all children of God called to help each other-no matter what.  Together we are to push against the darkness that threatens to obliterate the world on a daily basis-one brave act of goodness at a time.

Do I do this personally or do I contribute to the darkness?  I would have to admit the answer is both.  I can be kind one moment and then cruel and selfish the next.  It seems that there is an outward battle between good and evil and an inward battle that rages in me.  The outward battle will never be won unless the inward battle is victorious first.  The only way to win either of these battles is to enlist Jesus as my captain. Without him I only have human effort to help me and this is woefully lacking.  If I let him lead me, then I am successful.  But the reins of control are difficult to hand over to him. I keep trying to take them back over and over again.  This is my spiritual journey:  to learn to give control of my life to the all-wise One with trust and confidence. Confidence that the end of the story is true. Evil does not triumph. Light will overcome the darkness. God wins!