Taking Your Eyes Off the Plate
19 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Attitude, Change, Faith, Prayer, Priorities, Relationship, Spiritual Practice
“From birth to death, we are all guests at a table which we did not spread.
The sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet.
Shall we think of today as a chance to come nearer to our Host, and find out something of the One who has fed us so long?”
Rebecca Harding Davis (adapted)
Copernicus started a revolution with his theory that the earth revolved around the sun and not the other way around. So great was the paradigm shift, so disrupting to the political and religious status quo, that contemporaries like Galileo and Bruno were imprisoned and even put to death because they embraced the idea that the universe did not revolve around men.
Though most people in the world today are well aware of this astronomical truth, we still struggle with the idea that the world does not revolve around us. There are no self-made men and women. The fact we are here today is a precious gift from the One who gave us life, breath and being.
While I know this to be true, I sometimes find myself focused on what’s being served at the “banquet” rather than enjoying the company of the Host. The pain and joy of life that we experience is important, but these do not encompass the totality of our being in the world. Those experiences are there for a reason, but they are not ends in themselves.
I have a hard time remembering that, especially when times are going really well, or pretty lousy. It is more likely that during those times, I will become caught up in the moment of bliss or depression rather than allowing those moments, like all the others, to direct me to God.
Remember the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones? The story reminds us that we sometimes become spiritually dry, and the importance of prayer, God’s Word and worship to add “meat to our bones”. All of these are ways in which we come to know God, the Host of the banquet of Life, better. Through them, the Spirit of God breathes life into us.
Let’s open ourselves today to recognize the rest of those whom God has invited to the party, and shift our eyes off of what’s on our plate to the direction of the Host! Take a moment to give thanks that you’re here, and that in spite of the fact that you’re just a small part of the vast universe, you and I are still valued and loved beyond measure!
Blessings,
Pastor Susan
Sweet Spot
18 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Attitude, Giving, Grace, Priorities, Spiritual Practice
Will and I could hardly wait for the morning to come to get at something that interested us. That’s happiness.
Orville Wright, co-inventor of the airplane
Are you familiar with the old adage that opposites attract? My husband Ron and I confirm that! In some ways, we are polar opposites. He’s impulsive and risk-taking, while I’m more cautious and considered. He likes movie thrillers, I like romantic comedies. He’s a techie, while I’m stuck in the 90’s. I like chocolate and he likes vanilla. What can I say?
But even among all of those differences, Ron and I do hold a few things in common. At the top of that list would be our faith. We became friends because of our faith thirty-five years ago, and that faith has sustained us as we have grown in our relationship with God and with each other. No matter what the difference, we know that the powerful tie that binds us together is God’s love in Jesus the Christ.
The other thing that Ron and I hold in common is a sense of purpose. We are fortunate to both have a sense of what we have been placed on this planet to be and do. Ron has found his purpose in bringing joy and laughter through entertainment. I have found mine in connecting people to God’s love through the church. Both of us know the “happiness” that comes when we engage God’s will purpose for our lives.
What is your purpose? What makes you excited about getting up in the morning? If you haven’t found that “sweet spot” yet, then perhaps today is the time that God is calling you to stop, ask and listen. God does have a purpose for your life and mine. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)
God wants us to be excited about living…to experience the abundance that is God’s gift to each of us when we align ourselves to God’s will! There are adventures to be taken…lessons to be learned…blessings to be received…purpose to be fulfilled. Seek to find your purpose, and step into it. That’s where you will find happiness.
Blessings,
Pastor Susan
Tune In
17 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Attitude, Change, Faith, Forgiveness, Giving, Grace, Prayer, Priorities, Spiritual Practice
“I believe that (everyone) is the keeper of a dream—and by tuning into one another’s secret hopes, we can become better friends, better partners, better parents, and better lovers.”
Oprah Winfrey
I’m not a trained therapist, but I do a lot of listening in my line of work. And the more I listen to folks, and the longer I live in my own skin, the more keenly I become aware of the fact that we as human beings have a most difficult time turning our attention away from self to others. For most of us, relationships, decisions, and happiness all revolve around the question: “What’s in it for me?”
I think it was Scott Peck who made a statement in his great book, The Road Less Traveled, “What seems to be love is often not love at all.” While love of self is integral to health of body, soul and the ability to relate to others (including God), it cannot be the only frame from which we operate our lives. Peck defines love as “the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.”
What would it mean to “tune in” to another’s secret hopes? I like the idea of extending ourselves as a means of getting in touch with the hopes and dreams of others. To extend means to stretch—to reach out beyond what we know and are comfortable with for the sake of the other. It begins with truly seeking to listen and understand rather than to judge based upon our assumptions and needs, and is followed with actions that communicate that understanding.
A good way to develop this art, of course, is in our most important relationship—that is, our relationship with God. God is the keeper of the greatest dreams—for you and for the world. We often come to prayer with our list of needs, wants and desires. What might it look like if we began today, rather than asking God for anything, simply being in The Presence with a heart open to love? What might change for today if we would take a few moments to listen, to “tune in” to God’s secret hopes?
Blessings,
Pastor Susan
The Tomb Buster
07 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Faith, Grace, Prayer, Relationship, Spiritual Practice
“Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore with plummet and sounding line, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen? I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass or sounding line, and no way of knowing how near the harbor was. ‘Light! Give me light!’ was the wordless cry of my soul, and the light of love shone on me in that very hour.”
Helen Keller
I’ve seen it over and over again…I’ve felt it, experienced it, shared it, witnessed it. The power of love. The evidence of God.
While we may not be physically blind, deaf or unable to communicate, as was Helen Keller, most of us have traveled through times in life when the dense fog surrounds us; times when we feel isolated, alone and fearful on our journey. At these times when “white darkness” shuts us in, we can sink into despair, lash out in anger and hate, or hold on and wait for the coming sunlight to burn away the fog.
How long do we have to wait for the sunlight? I remember a movie I saw a few years ago, starring Denzel Washington, called “The Hurricane”. Based on the true story of boxer Reuben Carter, who was arrested on trumped up charges for murder, Carter remained in prison for almost two decades, a man filled with hate over the injustice imposed on his life. He writes a book, and through a series of unusual “consequences”, a teenage boy by the name of Lesara reads it and takes an interest in Carter. He develops a friendship with the man in prison, and works with his foster family to uncover the evidence that no one else seemed able to find. Finally, when he is to appear before the judge to determine whether or not he will be released from prison, a powerful conversation takes place between Lesara and Carter. In it, Carter says, “Hate put me in the prison…but love’s gonna bust me out.” Reuben Carter was not only referring to his case, but his soul. The love of Lesara had overcome the hatred that filled his heart. That love was the sunlight that burned away the fog.
Holy Saturday is a day when you and I are reminded that there are often periods of time when God seems absent; when the fog sets in and we wonder if the sunlight will ever burn it away. For the followers of Jesus, this was a day of immense grief and despair. The stone in the front of the tomb seemed impenetrable, the future, filled with anxiety and hopelessness.
This is a day of reflection and prayer. This is a day when you and I are invited to consider the death of Jesus and the love of God…a love so great it was able to bust Jesus out of a tomb; a love so great that it burns through the foggy prisons of our own lives to show us the way to peace and abundance. Today let us remember the power of love. The evidence of God.
Why Do We Call This Friday “Good”?
06 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Attitude, Change, Faith, Fear, Prayer, Priorities, Relationship, Spiritual Practice
“There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot from that situation, create something that is surpassingly good. He did it at the creation. He did it at the cross. He is doing it today.”
Handley C. G. Moule
Why do we call this Friday “good”?
As we look at the four gospel accounts of this day, it would appear to be anything but good. Jesus has been betrayed with a kiss, arrested, tried and convicted, deserted by his friends, beaten, denied, mocked, humiliated, spat upon, nailed to a cross. The physical, emotional and spiritual pain he endured were beyond comprehension. So great was his suffering, so real was his feeling of abandonment, he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Finally, after six hours of torment on the cross, he died.
Why do we call this Friday “good”?
The only reason you and I call it good is because we have Easter eyes. We know what is coming on Sunday. But what about those who had not yet reached Easter? Did they see Friday as “good”?
The answer to that question, of course, is absolutely not. And apparently, even Jesus, knowing what lay before him, prayed that God might provide another way than the path he knew he had to take on that Friday. No, Friday was not good for those who went through it, not by a long shot.
And neither are the Fridays of our lives…those days and weeks and months, sometimes even years, that are filled with pain and suffering. Those times when God seems very far away, when evil seems to have the upper hand. Fridays when we feel alone and abandoned…Fridays of illness that won’t let us go. Fridays when the pain of abuse, anger and bitterness hold on like a vice grip. We see these “Fridays” as anything but good.
And yet…even in the midst of our “Fridays”, God IS. God is there. We have not been abandoned. God is present, and, as we seek that presence, will give us the gracious gifts we need to make it through. God’s love can transform every situation, no matter how evil, how painful, into something that will work for God’s purpose in our lives and in our world. (Romans 8:28)
In that sense, every “Friday” is a Good Friday.
May yours be filled with the knowledge and love of God, and thanksgiving for Jesus the Christ.
Blessings, Pastor Susan
A Graceful Discipline
05 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Forgiveness, Giving, Grace, Relationship, Spiritual Practice
“Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves.”
Sidney and Suzanne Simon
I think the most amazing aspect of the story of Jesus’ crucifixion was his prayer from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Who exactly was he referring to? Who were those Jesus was praying for? On whose behalf was he asking God’s forgiveness? An immediate reading of the text might lead one to believe that Jesus is praying only for those who torment and taunt him (see Luke 23:34-38). But I believe his prayer for forgiveness was much more far-reaching.
Jesus also prayed that prayer for his disciples, who had abandoned him. He prayed it for Peter, the one on whom he had placed so much trust and confidence and hope. And, I believe, Jesus even prayed that prayer for you and for me…for those of us who are the recipients of Christ’s gift of new life but who choose instead our way rather than the way of life.
I often think about how Peter must have felt on the day Jesus died, and the days thereafter: the despair, the self-condemnation, the disappointment and deep sorrow; then, upon hearing of his resurrection, perhaps guilty fear. What would Jesus say to him? What would he say to Jesus?
But Jesus will have none of that. After the resurrection, there is no more talk of betrayal and denial and the pain that was inflicted upon Jesus. No talk of getting even. No talk of inflicting punishment. Instead, Jesus commissions Peter and the disciples to get on with the work of sharing the Good News.
Forgiveness means release and empowerment…not only for the one forgiven, but also for the one who offers forgiveness. When you are I receive forgiveness, we are set free to move forward with our lives. The same is true when we offer forgiveness. We become free and empowered to get on with what is truly important…God’s work, God’s will, God’s way.
To whom might you offer Jesus’ prayer of forgiveness today? Perhaps it is someone who hurt you long ago, and the pain is still overwhelming. Or, maybe it is you who needs forgiveness. Forgiving yourself can be one of the most difficult aspects of this graceful discipline, but one of the most important, if we truly want to experience God’s freedom and abundance.
May you be blessed as you receive and offer forgiveness, in Jesus’ name.
Pastor Susan
Who Jesus Is
04 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Attitude, Faith, Giving, Grace, Prayer, Priorities, Relationship, Spiritual Practice
“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.”
G.K. Chesterton
Recently, I watched a short video of an interview with people on the streets of a city. The interviewer asked the question: “Who is Jesus Christ?” I was amazed at the answers to that question. A surprising number of them answered (quite honestly), “I don’t know.” When some acknowledged that he was a great teacher, a kind man, maybe even the Son of God, the interviewer asked, “Does that make a difference in your life?” And, almost without exception, the answer was “no.”
Our culture has moved farther and farther away from an emphasis on faith in God through Christ. Why? There are many reasons, to be sure. Consumerism has become so deeply rooted in our culture; it has become god. We believe that having more things is the source of joy and fulfillment, so its never-ending pursuit takes over our lives. Fear and terror have taken hold of our psyches, paralyzing people and nations from finding alternatives to war and division. Families are breaking apart, often due to a culture of disrespect for the covenants we have made with one another.
The church may lament that people have fallen away, but we must face the hard fact that the church (that’s you and me) has often been part of the problem. When one sees no difference between the church and the world, why should they become a part of it? While the old adage, “The church is full of hypocrites” might be a cop-out for some, it no doubt has some veracity in the decision of many who are un-churched, and the many more who have become de-churched.
One of my concerns as a pastor is that we spend so much time trying to be innovative, so much energy making the church “relevant” to the world, that we miss the point of it all.
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Those who would follow Jesus are called to be salt and light. We must choose a different path from the world; a life that often seems strange, even radical to those who do not know the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed is near. How do we do that? It is not easy, especially when the voices we hear all around us tell us something totally different: “If it feels good, do it.” “Put yourself first.” “Get even.” “The more you have the happier you’ll be.”
To follow Jesus means washing feet, loving your enemy, praying for those who persecute you, feeding the hungry, reaching out in love to those who are unlovely, taking up the cross. It means letting Christ live through you and me.
On this Holy Wednesday, let us remember who we are…and the One we are called to follow…so that others might know who Jesus really is.
Blessings,
Pastor Susan
Courage To Risk
03 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Attitude, Faith, Fear, Priorities, Spiritual Practice
“Courage is contagious.
When a brave person takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”
Billy Graham
Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned only briefly in the Gospel accounts. He’s identified as the man who took Jesus” body from the cross and laid him in his own tomb. Mark 15:43 tells us that Joseph mustered up the courage to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body.
Why do the Gospels indicate that he was courageous? Looking more closely at the texts will help us. First, Joseph, we are told, is a respected member of the council. The council is the Sanhedrin, or the 70-member “Supreme Court” of the Jewish community. They were incredibly powerful, and were, in fact, the ones who condemned Jesus to death. Pilate gave the order, but the Sanhedrin was responsible for Jesus’ death sentence. For Joseph to provide a proper, even expensive burial accommodation for Jesus would have been seen by his colleagues as traitorous.
Second, rather than leaving Jesus hanging on the cross for days, as was common practice, Joseph went to Pilate to make the unusual request. He wanted to get the body down and bury Jesus before the Sabbath. Pilate was so surprised that he asked the centurion for proof of Jesus’ death. Joseph took a risk of being seen as a co-conspirator with a convicted and condemned enemy of the state. If anything happened to the body, they would have come looking for Joseph. We aren’t told in the canonical Gospels what happened to Joseph after they found the tomb empty, but we can be sure that there were repercussions.
It seems that he did not know Jesus personally. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses are not a part of the transaction. They watch from afar…perhaps this is why they come later to finish the work of preparing the body for burial.
So, why did Joseph help? Why did he risk his reputation, his wealth, and possibly even his freedom by providing a burial site for a dead messianic wannabe?
The Mark text says that Joseph of Arimathea was “waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.” He, along with Nicodemus and perhaps a few others in the council, were seekers. They may not fully have been convinced by Jesus, but they did believe something about his message. Joseph knew that Jesus was not deserving of the death he received, and his compassion moved him to action. His fear of the consequences was overcome by the sense of what was decent and right by God’s standards.
As we wait expectantly for the Kingdom of God this Holy Week, you and I are called to take courage and stand up for those who are unable to speak for themselves, especially the poor and marginalized…to be faithful to God even when it may seem to be contrary to those we work or worship with. We are challenged to consider the cost and take the risk. The question is, will we?
Blessings, Pastor Susan
Burden Carrier
02 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Attitude, Faith, Prayer, Priorities, Relationship, Spiritual Practice
“Everyone has his (or her) burden; what counts is how you carry it.”
Joe Brown and David Brown
This is Monday of Holy Week, when we consider the final days of Jesus’ life and ministry on earth and their meaning. While some may take advantage of the special services this week that remind us of Christ’s suffering and passion, many will reserve their spiritual “duty” for Easter Sunday. And while Resurrection Sunday is the most special celebration of the year, it’s like going to a movie but only watching the last 15 minutes of the film. The meaning of Easter cannot be fully grasped without the events of the week that precede it.
Have you ever wondered how the accolades of “Hosanna” could so quickly turn into the contemptuous cries to “Crucify”? What happened to precipitate such a reversal? In Luke, 19, we see that not all of those in Jerusalem were happy to see Jesus riding a donkey in triumph. The Pharisees demanded that Jesus “rebuke his disciples” for their shouts of praise. He said, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
We are told that Jesus then wept over Jerusalem for their self-imposed spiritual blindness to God’s will and way. He spoke of the destruction that would occur as a result. And then, Luke tells us that Jesus entered the temple, kicked over some tables, and threw out the money changers.
Jesus began the last week of his life by upsetting a lot of folks—not only those who were his opponents in the religious leadership. He did not come to tickle anyone’s ears. He spoke the harsh and blaring truth. It was uncomfortable to hear and to witness; it was irritating and agitating. And it turned people against him.
Why did he do it? Didn’t he realize the obvious result of his actions? Did he not know that there were people in power just waiting for the opportunity to get rid of him? The scripture tells us that he did know. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he knew where his words and his actions would take him. They would take him to great suffering and death.
I’ve often wondered how Jesus was able to step across that invisible yet undeniable line in the sand as he made his way that week in Jerusalem. If it had been me, I’m pretty sure that I would’ve headed in the other direction. I would have enjoyed the coronation ceremony, and then high tailed it out of town for a vacation at a secluded oasis in the Judean desert. But Jesus didn’t do that. He faced the days ahead intentionally and with faith in God.
While there’s not one of us who has the kind of burden to bear that Jesus did that last week of his life, we all have our own weights to carry. The question is: how will we carry them? May we remember that we do not have to carry them alone. Jesus showed us that faith in God and prayer will enable us to have the courage we need follow him in bearing our crosses with integrity.
Blessings, Pastor Susan
Keeping Your Balance
30 Mar 2012 2 Comments
in Attitude, Faith, Grace, Prayer, Priorities, Relationship, Spiritual Practice
I’ve learned that you can’t have everything and do everything at the same time.
Oprah Winfrey (1954- ), O Magazine, April 2003
Over the past few years, I have been blessed to take some wonderful traveling adventures with Ron One of those journeys began in Rome, where we spent a day before boarding a cruise ship bound for ports in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Great Britain. We were excited about being in the Ancient City, so as soon as we got off the plane, got a shower and into some fresh clothes, Ron and I began walking around, taking in the sights, sounds and marvelous aromas that are Rome.
If you’ve never been before, it’s quite an experience. Gorgeous churches, statues, and fountains surround you on just about every corner. The streets are narrow and the traffic is packed. In fact, Rome makes New York City traffic look tame in comparison; smart cars and motorcycles are everywhere, squeezing into the most narrow of spaces. And people are everywhere too, navigating the traffic as they walk along sightseeing, sitting on a sidewalk café to sip a cappuccino or a glass of wine, or congregating at one of the fountains or piazzas to take a rest.
Ron and I were walking along the cobblestone streets, basking in all of the history and wonder of what we were seeing, talking a mile a minute as enthusiastic tourists do, when all of the sudden the unthinkable happened. (Well, maybe not the “unthinkable” if you know me even a little bit.) My sandal got caught in one of the cobblestones, and I lost my balance. Like one of those slow-motion comedic scenes in a movie, I was trying to catch myself to keep from breaking a bone. I managed to do that for about ten feet, but what I didn’t realize was that while I was looking down and trying to keep from falling, I was on course for a head-on collision (literally) with a stone wall.
Ron heard the crack that was my head hitting the wall, and grabbed me before I collapsed to the ground. He held me close to his chest before turning me around to see the damage. (Later, he told me that he was afraid to look because he just knew that I would be a bloody mess.) People came running from all around, speaking in a foreign tongue, wanting to help.
Fortunately, I’ve got a hard head! I was scraped up a little and had a pretty sizable goose egg on my forehead, but other than that, I was okay. We went back to our hotel, Ron got some ice, gave me three aspirin and had me lay down for a bit. The group we were with had an emergency room doctor who looked me over and gave instructions to look for in case I had a concussion. While feeling like a total klutz, I was extremely thankful that I was spared what could have been a totally different and quite serious outcome.
As I reflect on all of this, I am reminded of how easy it is to lose our balance when we focus on too many things at once…not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. We can’t have it all…all of the time. We will become overwhelmed if we don’t keep our focus on where we’re going and how we get there. And if we don’t keep our focus, we’ll fall every time.
Jesus once said, Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
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. (Matt. 6:25-34)
Today why don’t we focus on first things first? For me that means spending time with the One who gives me life and meaning. I will give thanks for this day, for the abundant gifts of life and family, and for the opportunity to breathe. I will ask God to help me see what is most important for today’s attention, then give it. Tomorrow is tomorrow’s concern. Today is God’s present.
Blessings,
Pastor Susan
