Remembering to Remember

On a snowy, windy February morning while I was in seminary, my mentor Sallie prepared me to assist her in The Imposition of the Ashes. It was a time of transition for me as I was stepping forward from my identity as a layperson onto the path to become a clergyperson in the United Methodist Church. We were set up for the Ash Wednesday service in The Chapel at the First UMC in my hometown. The Chapel holds a special place in my memory for so many reasons! People were invited to come and go that morning, to receive the ashes and to go from that time of solemn prayer back into their busy lives as we began the Lenten season. This morning was all about remembering. Our heads were marked with the sign of the cross in ash, a reminder of our own mortality and great dependence on God. 

Following the service, Sallie and I left the church and headed to visit one of the elderly members of the church who was now in the memory unit at a local healthcare facility. This visit was especially difficult for me as the woman we were visiting was one who had played a significant role in my journey to answer the call to ministry, a dear friend, and part of my close spiritual community. As we approached our friend there in the healthcare facility, I wondered if our dark clothing and the ash on our foreheads would frighten her. Would she remember what the ashes were about? 

I approached gently and knelt down near where she was sitting in a wheelchair. Her vulnerable state was such a contrast to the formidable woman who I remember struggling to keep up with on a trip to Europe just a few years earlier! Kneeling next to our friend, I reminded her that today was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent. When she opened her mouth to reply, her words came out weak and jumbled. We had several interchanges that repeated this pattern. I was taken off guard. I had not really known what to expect and I was stunned that this brilliant woman that I had known and bantered back and forth with through the years was now not able to converse with me. 

What happened next was truly a work of the Holy Spirit. I opened the service bulletin that we had brought to leave with her and I said, "Hear this reading from the Gospel of John, the first chapter, first verse..." As I began to read the scripture, "In the beginning...", this dear saint joined in, "was the Word." Those moments were such a gift! I continued to recite scriptures with her and then we prayed The Lord's Prayer together. Even though her memory and ability to communicate were impaired, within her she held a deeper memory that she was able to draw from as we remembered the scripture together and joined in prayer. 

Scripture memory and rote prayer seem to be seen by many these days as irrelevant and out of date. We give more value to current cultural trends than ancient traditions. We forget who we are and where we have come from. What I witnessed in this Ash Wednesday encounter was the deep connection that was possible for my precious friend. She was still able to connect with her faith through the words that she had committed to memory early in life. 

This experience has informed my understanding of the great value of liturgy and reinforced my view that children will benefit from participation in worship services. I am so grateful for the presence of children in the traditional worship services of the churches I serve. As we minister together to God alongside the children, we are also ministering to the young adults, middle-aged adults, and vulnerable senior adults they will become in the future. What are we helping them to deposit in the depth of their memory?

Epic Faith: Standing Firm in the Silence

We are returning this week to the book of Job from the Hebrew Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament. In Biblical literature, Job is classified as poetry and is like an epic poem. The form of an epic includes the story of a hero that helped to shape a culture. 

As we hear from Job, we see his struggles – man against nature, man against himself, man against other people, and man against God. When we look for what it is that is heroic about Job, we see that he returned over and over again to the trustworthiness of God. In spite of loss, accusation, and even silence - Job relied upon the nature and character of God to define who he was and be his continual source.

Because the context of today’s scripture offers a great wealth of wisdom and material for reflection, I am going to wait until later to share the actual scripture from this week’s lectionary selection from Job.

As the book of Job opened, we heard last week that Job lost his economic security – when he lost his flocks, he lost his wealth and his source of income. His flocks were his property and his means of employment. His status shifted from being economically secure to now being in need. Any of you who are jobless or have gone through periods of time when you did not have work, or if you do not have adequate work, you know that experience personally.

Our identity in society is wrapped up in our livelihood. When we meet people for the first time, we sometimes ask them, “What do you do?” When we go through the loss of employment or lose the skills we once had, or even lose the passion we had for our work, we might struggle with our identity and struggle in relationships.

Job experienced this, and then this was compounded with the loss of his family. When you are asked by someone to tell them about yourself, you may begin by putting yourself in context in terms of the family. You might share about your marriage and children, or if you are single you might tell something different like make a reference to your parents, siblings, and even birth order. A little bit of your life story shared with another person includes something about your family.

Job has lost his children – seven sons and three daughters have died – all in one tragic event. Job’s frame of reference for who he is in terms of relationship has been severely stripped down and shattered. Now, this father of so many children is alone with his wife – almost back at square one – at the beginning of their life together. But as young people, they had their youthfulness and their health.

The next attack against Job’s identity is the attack against his body. He acquired leprosy – one of the most socially isolating diseases in the world. His body was covered with sores and now that he had lost almost everything – it seemed the worse possible thing was happening. His wife even told him how terrible this was as she said to him, “Curse God and die!”

Like Job, we may seek to understand what is happening to us when we are experiencing difficulty in life. We call on friends, sometimes just to have them near – because their presence is a comfort to us. And most of us have experienced the awkwardness of not knowing what to say when a friend is experiencing great loss and grief.

One of our greatest temptations during times like this is to try to “fix it.” We are people who don’t easily sit by while others struggle – thank God – we do want to have mercy on other people. But sometimes our good intentions mixed with our open mouths lead us to saying hurtful or untrue things – even things that we believe are spiritual and biblical. We want to help and we may say the wrong thing. Job’s friends did this and we can benefit from being able to see what they did wrong.

From the fourth chapter of Job until the twenty-third chapter, Job’s friends persist in accusing him of doing wrong. Bad stuff keeps happening to Job. His friends decide that there must be some earthly explanation. Job must be bringing this on himself. Because of the great tragedies Job is suffering, his closest friends jump to conclusions about him.

First, in chapter 4, the first of the three of Job’s friends makes his accusation. Eliphaz applauds Job because he has shown strength and been an encouragement to others, but then he turns on Job and blames him for his own suffering. Eliphaz thought that people were being punished by God when bad things happened to them and so Job must be reaping what he has sown.

Next, in chapter 8, the second of Job’s three closest companions joins in with his accusations. Bildad says something similar to the first friend, saying that God would not reject a blameless person. Basically Bildad is saying that if Job was really holy or as righteous as everyone thought he was then these things would not be happening to him.

And finally in chapter 11, Job’s third close friend, Zophar gives his input, offering Job advice about what he should do to make these terrible things stop happening in his life. Zophar tells Job that if he is sinning, then he needs to stop. If he will stop sinning or putting up with sin in his household, then he would be safe from all these things and bad would not be happening to him.

In Romans chapter 12 verse 15, Paul tells Christians to ^“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” In the end of verse 16 he advises believers not to claim to be wiser than they are. Job’s friends, like us, wanted to provide answers for Job.

We have been around and we have seen people getting into trouble and suffering for it. We have even observed the behaviors of our friends – who may not have always done things the way we think they should have. And so, as we grasp at straws to try to make sense of suffering, we may fail to simply “weep with those who weep” because we want to be strong enough to make a difference in their lives. We want to see their suffering end and reconciliation to come.

Blame is a kind of accusation – even if it seems reasonable to us. We feel justified in blaming others by pointing out their behaviors that might have led to their demise. Accusation is not the work of God. It is actually the work of the enemy. In scripture, the devil himself is called “The Accuser.”

When we take up blaming others as our approach to difficult situations, we are joining forces with God’s enemies. Job’s friends even go so far as to make up stuff about him to explain his suffering! These things might have come in the form of gossip or in questioning.

What should we do instead? We can say, “I am sorry this is happening.” We can be present with people as they struggle. We can join them in their tears, hurt, and even in their anger. We might also share a Psalm of lament with them or share the story of Jesus weeping at the tomb of Lazarus.

The scripture from Hebrews this morning relates to Job’s situation and the situation we may find ourselves in. We are told in the text that we are not alone in our struggles, but that God himself relates to our pain.

Hear again part of the reading from Hebrews 4…

“Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.”

When Jesus was on the cross, carrying the sins of the whole word and feeling the absence of God, experiencing the silence of God, he even looked to the Psalms for a means of expressing his pain. He knew the scripture and was able to call out these words from Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Job and Jesus both experienced the silence of God. Jesus felt this in his God forsaken hours on the cross. Job encountered the silence of God in the midst of his suffering. This is where we enter the scene with today’s text…

Hear this reading from Job 23:1-9 and 16-17…

Then Job answered:
"Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning.
Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!
I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me.
There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.

"If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him;
on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;
If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!

Jesus’ reference to Psalm 22 while he was on the cross was brief, maybe because his breath was limited and his pain severe. But even by speaking the introductory words to this Psalm, we gain a reference point from Jesus and can look to the Psalm to see how he might have been feeling.

Psalm 22 verses 1 through 5 expresses the pain and abandonment Jesus felt while still acknowledging the holiness and trustworthiness of God. The Psalmist recounts God’s former actions and faithfulness to the people of Israel. What God did for Israel, he will do for us. His faithfulness remains steadfast from generation to generation.

Hear the first five verses of Psalm 22…

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.”

When we are struggling, it is natural for us to seek answers, but sometimes the answers we need are in the character and nature of God. There was a Christian song that was popular when I was a teenager that said, “When you can’t see his hand, trust his heart.”

In order for us to know the nature and character of God so that we can draw on the faithfulness of God in hard times, we need to become familiar with how he interacted with people throughout history. We need to understand our own spiritual history and be able to tell our own story.

Revelation 12:11 says that those who are ultimately victorious are those who “overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” This means that we know two distinct stories and how they fit together. We must know the story of Jesus – and how that leads us into redemption, and then we also need to own and to know our own spiritual story.

This week, would you take the time to write out several spiritual milestones from your life? Would you take the time to begin to write an outline of your story? When did you begin to know the love of God? When did you intentionally begin to follow Jesus? What difficulties have you encountered?

What’s your story?

From the Shadow

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”

For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-10 (NAS)

As soon as summer began, I hit the ground running! On the last day of work, I headed out of town for a dynamic weekend with youth at church camp, I was home for a few days of working around the house and preparing for my next trip. After picking up a friend from the airport, we headed off to Tennessee for the School of Healing and Impartation. The schedule was demanding, but I enjoyed the fast pace and plentiful company! The rhythmic tide of summer brought me home again for a few days before my journey to Kentucky. My seminary class was full and we sat elbow to elbow all week long. In the evenings, I went home to a room in someone else's home. Having so little time to myself last week helped me realize again my need for time and space of my own. 

Tomorrow, I will have been home for a week. I have not settled into a regular schedule. In the midst of my random busy-ness, I am reminded of a task that helped me to develop a pattern of disciplines. Last year, I wrote a Rule of Life for myself - a list of the meaningful, helpful, valuable things I would like to remember to take time for regularly. It's time to look back at this, make some adjustments and begin to implement disciplines that I have neglected. 

Do you have a Rule of Life? Have you heard of this before? I had very limited exposure to the concept, but as I began to learn about the Rule of Life I was able to recognize where I had seen evidence of it in the lives of others. Rather than a list of tasks like a to do list, it is a reminder of the things we can do to nurture ourselves and participate in our relationship with God. The rule of life is a structure, like a spiritual house, a dwelling place. It is a means of establishing that time and space that we need as spiritual beings. Having such a structure provides an environment in which we can thrive - like a spiritual greenhouse. It also becomes a refuge, a covering for times of difficulty. 

God, you brought order to the chaos "in the beginning".

You created us in your image - to create and to have dominion.

Inspire us by the Holy Spirit to bring holy order and beauty to our lives.

We choose to set our lives apart as a dwelling place for you.

Open our eyes to understand your design

so that we can continue the work of Christ in the world.

Amen.

Hey, Jude!

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, 

I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith

that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

Jude :3 (NIV)

I confess that I have never successfully completed one of those "read-the-Bible-in-a year" programs. I started Disciple Bible Study twice and dropped out each time! There are several short and obscure books in the Bible that I have not been intentional about studying. As a young Christian, I was especially eager to learn about the faith from other more mature Christians. I remember one day during my freshman year of college, I ran into my friend Becky at the Wesley Foundation. Becky was relaxing on the couch reading the Bible. When I asked what she was reading, she quickly responded, "Philippians!" I realized in that moment that I knew nothing about Philippians other than that it was in the New Testament. My Bible reading had been very limited and I really hadn't read much beyond the Gospels and Psalms. 

Becky was one of the vibrant Christians I met in college who challenged and inspired my faith. She openly shared her faith with others and worshiped Jesus as if she really knew and loved him. I was intrigued. If Becky was reading Philippians, then count me in, I was reading it too! Reading the Epistles became part of my journey of faith. Each one of these letters in the New Testament served as instruction that guided me along my transition from the teen years into young adulthood. Paul and the other Epistle writers had a way of cutting to the chase as they approached real life issues. I was challenged by the message of these letters and empowered by the Holy Spirit as I began to walk out my faith in daily life.

For some reason, it never occurred to me to question whether the scriptures were "culturally relevant" or not. I was not engaged in historical or literary criticism during that season of life, but in a quest for solutions for daily living. I needed a guidebook and a mentor. In the Epistles, I found that. Paul became for me a big brother in the faith. During the times that I have heeded his advice, even in times of struggle, the results have been beneficial. While I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the value of critical methods of studying scripture, sometimes - especially in times of contending for the faith - I just need to curl up on the couch and read a letter from a friend. 

 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, 

and to make you stand in the presence 

of His glory blameless with great joy, 

to the only God our Savior, 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, 

before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude :24-25 (NASB)

Joining Heaven's Activity

The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship

him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Revelation 4:10-11 (NIV)

I really enjoy keeping a packed schedule! Over the last few years, I have become involved in several communities of faith that have propelled me forward in things of the Spirit. Participating in prayer and worship with other Christians has wonderfully filled my calendar and my heart. I love the Body of Christ! There are not many things as satisfying as being in unity with others as we love and serve God. When we connect as the body and the bride of Christ on earth, we are joining in with the activity of heaven! We are becoming the manifestation of the answer to the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray: "...on earth as it is in heaven." 

A few years ago, being with people was not so easy for me. In a difficult season of life, I had to force myself to get out of the house. Venturing out into terra incognito, I found solitude in places of worship where I was "unknown". The local house of prayer was one such place. Ironically, the unfamiliarity, noise, and activity provided a safe place for me to be alone with God during a time when being by myself at home was too painfully isolating. As I soaked in the Presence of God at the house of prayer, healing began to be evident in my life. Dynamics changed as the house of prayer became a place where I was a regular.

Each of us has to discover our own balance of time in community and time in solitude. For those of us who lean toward extroversion, carving out time and space for solitude can be a challenge. We each have to learn to listen for the Holy Spirit's direction concerning scheduled and spontaneous time apart from the crowd. Yesterday as I left work, I heard that still small voice loudly and clearly, "Come away!" My longing to rest in His Presence was greater than the draw of social media and the exciting new book I'd just acquired! Silence was more satisfying than my favorite worship playlist. This morning, when I awakened an hour early, I remained still and silent for over an hour as I was keenly aware of the activity of heaven. 

Jesus, you are the Only Worthy One!

Draw me into Your Presence daily whether I am in a crowd or in solitude.

I praise You for the mystery of joining in with the activity of heaven.

I thank You for the gifts of friends, books, and music!

More than those things, I treasure Your friendship, 

the words You share with me in the Secret Place, 

and the song that my heart sings when I have been with You!

Amen.

Affections of the Heart

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, my God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

Time and time again, I am reminded of the depth of my capacity to love and to form attachments to others. I believe this is both a gift from God as well as a point of vulnerability for me. I am drawn to kindred spirits, people who hunger for intimacy, thrive on understanding matters of the heart, and desire to live as faithful lovers of Jesus. Like any craving, it seems that the more I relate deeply with these friends of God, the more the longing increases! Having the constant capability to connect and communicate through technology and various forms of social media feeds my hunger!


Recently, I've been led to pray the prayer that Misty Edwards sings in "Fling Wide". For several days now, I've awakened each morning to "test me, try me, prove me, refine me..." pouring through my heart. The first time I heard this song in the house of prayer, I hesitated to sing the lyrics. I really wasn't so sure that I wanted to invite a holy God to carry out an invasive deep cleaning of my life! This refiner's fire is necessary and inevitable! Now, I am yielding my will to the Holy Spirit - still with some hesitation, but eagerly trusting in the goodness of God to complete this work! I am asking for the light of Christ to shine in the dark corners of my life.


Yesterday, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that I need more solitude. I know it's true! I want to hang out in the Presence of God, hear the things that He has to say to me personally, to rest and wait on God. I was eager to pass this message along to others, "abide in Him", "be still and know", "come away". While I was being instructed, I passed this word along to others as I passed up the opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus. My longing to connect and communicate with other friends of God overshadowed my longing for God himself!

Jesus, I give you the affections of my heart.

I ask you to to keep getting my attention when I am distracted.

Thank you for the good gifts of friendship, communication, and technology.

Help me to keep my gaze fixed on You as I enjoy these good things.

Draw me away from the interactions with others and into greater intimacy with you.

Only you can satisfy the deep longings of my heart!

Amen.