Hanging By A Prayer

Recently I shared a sermon thought with the congregation that came from a reading of Mark 2:1-12. It is the story of the paralytic being lowered through the roof of a house by some friends so that he could be touched by Jesus.

The story ends with the crowd being amazed and glorifying God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

I guess not. I guess they never had seen anything like it before, at least not in relationship to the church. Imagine a community of faith willing to tear off the roof of where they meet for worship so that people could get closer to Jesus. Imagine the Church (big "C" intentional) willing to have a rope dropped into their midst as a lifeline for those paralyzed either physically, emotionally, or spiritually; disrupting the flow of worship.

The norm is to be far more concerned that the pews remain pretty, rather than used. The norm is make sure the flowers are arranged on the altar the same each week, rather than arranging every moment so that lives might be altered.

What would it take for your faith community to cause those around you to be amazed and glorify God?

Behold I Tell You A Mystery

Behold I tell you a mystery…..

In my vocation death is an ever-present reality, a constant that infuses the very pores of life. Not only do I encounter the intimate moments of transition in my own family and with my own friends, I am also invited into many of the life/death experiences of those who call me their pastor.

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed…”

Paul, in writing to the church at Corinth, spoke an understatement when he said that death will change us. Each moment of relationship that we encounter in life is magnified when we re-member, when we put back together, those moments of our lives that have intersected with those moments of another person who has died.

The unknown (to us, not God) writer of Hebrews was not wrong when he or she suggests that “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” It suggests that all who passed on are still with us spiritually and they give us the strength to “finish the race” ourselves.

Death is a mystery and even in the midst of life we are being changed because of it.

Here are some other thoughts on the mystery:

Krishna, in the second chapter of The Bhagavad-Gita:
Thou grievest for those that may not be lamented, whilst thy sentiments are those of the expounders of the letter of the law. Those who are wise in spiritual things grieve neither for the dead nor for the living.

I myself never was not, nor thou, nor all the princes of the earth; nor shall we ever hereafter cease to be. As the lord of this mortal frame experienceth therein infancy, youth, and old age, so in future incarnations will it meet the same. One who is confirmed in this belief is not disturbed by anything that may come to pass.

... Seek this wisdom by doing service, by strong search, by questions, and by humility; the wise who see the truth will communicate it unto thee, and knowing which thou shalt never again fall into error. By this knowledge thou shalt see all things and creatures whatsoever in thyself and then in me.

Kahlil Gibran On Death

You would know the secret of death.

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.

If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Spiritual Guidance

So much of the training for a pastor and the expectations of many, at least in the past, have revolved around “doing,” rather than “being” when exploring spiritual wholeness.

Someone comes to the pastor with a need or a hurt or a hope, and the pastor tells them to “do this or do that” because Jesus did it, or because the seminary professor said this is the best way to fix it, or because the latest seminar sponsored by the hierarchy had a sale on spiritual tools.

An unhealthy cycle is promulgated when, for a moment of varying intensity, relief is experienced. The pedestal is erected for the pastor’s ego to be placed upon and the next person with a need or a hurt or a hope is offered the same fix.

Henri Nouwen wrote in Reaching Out:

"The real spiritual guide is the one who, instead of advising us what to do or to whom to go, offers us a chance to stay alone and take the risk of entering into our own experience. He[she] makes us see that pouring little bits of water on our dry land does not help, but that we will find a living well if we reach deep enough under the surface of our complaints." P.36

Who Knew?

I am on a spiritual retreat and during one of our times of worship, just before communion was shared, a story was told of a group of war orphans who, barely existing because of harsh conditions and little food, were quite naturally having difficulty sleeping.

Their caretakers decided to give them each a loaf of bread to sleep with. Assured of food for the next day the children began to sleep soundly each night.

Our spiritual director shared many possibilities from the story related to the experience of God and suggested that we consider which character resonated with us. Which person we felt identified with our own soul. Did the fear of the children touch us or perhaps the caring act of the orphanage workers? What about those who warred against each other?

My imagination transported me to the village where the bread had been baked. I began to remember the time when the door of my bakery was opened and a fragile, limping, old woman entered interrupting the afternoon coffee that my friends, the miller and the wheat farmer, and I had each day. She was asking for donations of food and I simply gave her some misshapen loaves to take with her.

Who knew that lives would be changed? God knew. Who knew that the grain that was grown and ground and baked would have such a comforting effect on those children? God knew. Who knew that the work of our hands would have such an impact on the lives of those children? God knew. Who knew that misshapen lives and misshapen loaves would be turned into such a sacred event as life? God knew.

God knows that it happens all the time.

Awareness

“My essence is not hidden from you, Lord.”

Using a paraphrase of Psalm 19 from Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill:
“My essence is not hidden from you, Lord.”

It is refreshing to my soul to know that my essence, my very being, is not hidden from God’s Presence. And, that my essence, like the most fragrant, aromatic herb offered in worship as incense enters God’s nostrils and the Lord is pleased with my offering of self. I don’t need to be concerned with who else might or might not recognize my essence, my worth.

That God does is enough.

A Morning Run

O God, my God, how excellent are all your works. Sitting in your Presence I am amazed at the beauty and the absurdity. That I should be a part of Your creation leaves me humbled.

This morning a bit before 6:00 I went for a run on the grassy trails of Mt. Olivet Retreat Center just south of Minneapolis. It is so remarkable to experience the early morning arousing of the world. A raccoon shuffled past exploring the possibilities as a flock of wild turkeys ignored me. A young deer, too old to be a fawn and too young to be an adult, cautiously stepped into the shelter of some evergreens as I trip-tropped along the path. Every footstep, every breath, every creature a wonderment, a miracle, a reflection of The Presence - everything, including me. Such beauty and such absurdity.

The Omnivore's Delight

My wife Suzanne and I are in a book group that has recently been reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. This past Sunday night we met to discuss it further at Devotay, an Iowa City restaurant owned by Kurt and Kim Friese, who know Pollan.

Some discussion about the book, about the slow food movement, and a few recipe insights made for a delightful evening. A plethora of Tapas, small plates of food, like Aceitunas—assorted grilled olives, Dátiles — bacon-wrapped dates with pimentón BBQ sauce, and a most amazing Paella—with saffron, Iowa organic, pasture-raised chicken, chorizo sausage and shellfish, caused the salivary glands to work overtime.

There is something soul-satisfying about slowing down and enjoying epicurean delicacies while discussing the nuances of food production and preparation. Slow, succulent, and satisfying.

I can't help but wonder why life in general tends to be so much in opposition to a great meal. We bandy about life hurried, harried, and feeling a bit dessicated. What if we celebrated life more like the feast it was intended to be?

And, when life is at its end, just as a meal must eventually cease, raise a glass of fino sherry declaring it all to have been perfecto!

Running The Race

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

On June 22, I competed for the second time in the Des Moines Hy-Vee Triathlon. It is a 1500 meter swim, a 40K bike ride, and a 10K run.

It is probably more accurate to say I participated, rather than competed. Man, did the scripture from Hebrews come alive for me. Along the way the mental baggage kept entangling me and slowing me down. You might be familiar with some of the things that hinder:
Why am I doing this? I can’t do it. It’s too much. I’m too slow. I’m too old. Everyone else is better than me. I should have worked harder and eaten better.

In the middle of the run I was weary and began to lose heart. I say, began to lose heart. I didn’t because of the participants and the spectators along the way. Almost everyone had a word of hope, a cheer, an encouragement in those moments when it felt like I could just sit down and give up.

What a picture of how the church should be. Supported by each other with words and actions of encouragement that help us let go of the unhealthy baggage of life. Encouragement for those fully engaged and for those observing. Encouragement that causes the weariness to dissipate and strengthens our hearts.