Beatitude

Breathing in the New Year

While in a certain sense arbitrary, the dates changing and our year "new," creates openings for fresh starts, new creations and the relinquishing of past problems. Dates, times and the passage of time are all assigned by human design. A thousand years is the same as one day to God. We have created the start of the calendar, the years, the days, the hours and the seconds of what we call time. But there is still something special about the moments when we leave them behind as though exhaling and approach a new one, inhaling.

Since Christ was born into time, he sanctifies time, even though he is entirely, also, above time. So as I exhale, letting go of 2011, I find that I am renewed and all-the-more eager and ready for something new. One reason this is a good thing, is that we can let go harmful or burdensome things. Then we can await the spirit's inspiration, inhaling the new life of Christ.

Try this type of breathing as a spiritual exercise. Breath out the past and the burdens we should not hold onto. Then breath in the present, the new, fresh air of God's life for today. See what happens to your perspective.

Small

In light of large, overwhelming upheaval, I long to think small—not to avoid the desperation of the world but to adopt a mode of being that makes me more available to it. Instead of allowing the waves of fear to drown me, I wish to take a small part, along with you, to improve the world’s condition.

When the whole world seems to ring like a bell, I long to be still—not to hid from the suffering of the world but to draw on a source that is not of this world. I wish to know the Spirit that doesn’t miss a beat and sings through history songs that fill our souls just when we thought there was no hope.

When the world is angry, seeking power to bring down one enemy or another, I want somehow to look down to the ground and meekly draw in the dirt and caution about throwing stones. Does the world need more stones aloft? And in the mean time, you and I can listen to our neighbor, and work for peace.

When we throw our hands up, and we have lost those we loved, I will mourn, hopefully in your company. Together we will feel human pain… just listen to and look at what we would otherwise not want to see. Maybe weep. Maybe in suffering we will know what is otherwise unknowable.

When plans are devised to oppress and deals are made to cover up, I long to be simple. I long to resist as best I can the complicated temptation to nod in numb agreement. Then I hope I can teach with you, one simple truth after another until the world becomes a learning community and everyone’s decisions are made calmly and wide-eyed.

Dear God, I wish to be simple, mournful, meek, quiet and small today.

 

Seeing Differently

 When we take a look at the whole chapter of John 20 it challenges us to see the world in a different light. It is easy enough to be confused, to be sorrowful, or afraid, or simply disbelieving in this world. That’s where we live. I live there too. Sometimes I find myself going down a path of fear and worry much like the disciples who, on Sunday evening, locked themselves inside for fear.

What changed the disciples’ minds on that first Easter and on the following week in Thomas’ case was the presence of the risen Lord. To a person they struggled to believe what seemed impossible. They had witnessed the horrific event of the death of their rabbi. To come to terms with the reality that he was no longer dead but talking to them required seeing life differently.

It requires the same of us. Now the world, the universe, life, death, all things are open to God’s new life. When the risen Christ appears amidst my fear and worry I must choose. Do I believe in the path of fear or the path of life? How will I function if my worst fears end not as I suppose, but instead in life and love and forgiveness? The greatest challenge for us is not so much dealing with betrayal, jealousy, death and darkness as it is in seeing life in terms of resurrection.

Fortunately Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit. Christ has breathed upon us and enabled us to receive life. And looking through the lens of resurrection, whoa… it’s a whole new world out there!

Vessels for God’s Spirit

It is my conviction that the story of the Wedding at Cana in John, chapter 4 has nothing to do with drinking wine even though it is water that Jesus turns to wine. Rather it is a story about how Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to people. In essence we are those stone jars that Jesus asks to be filled with water. It is Jesus who transforms us into people filled with God’s Spirit, or “wine.”

I notice that when I think of my mother these days some of the water in me is turning into wine. I’ve had this picture of being with my mother when she died last summer. But I didn’t know what to do with the picture. Yet, lately, a perspective has been coming to me that runs like this: “My mother was there for my first breath when she gave birth to me and I was there for her last breath.” This has helped me to view life on this earth with its limits, yet with those limits encircled by love. This feels like the water of grief turning into the wine of a new perspective. 

This is God’s way. As we prayerfully let God infiltrate our lives, blessings do come. These blessings may be a change of perspective, something we feel that must be done to right the wrongs of this world, or a whole new career. What water-turning-to-wine do you notice in your own life? What has helped you become more available to that process?

My Mother

 

For the many of you who have given your condolences, left cards, and otherwise been an encouragement to me over the past weeks, thank you. My mother, Marylou Kegley, died on Wednesday, July 8, at 2:55 pm while surrounded by the love and prayers of her family. She entered God’s eternal, loving, embrace peacefully after a long and good life. Of course her parting meant tears for those of us close to her because we will miss her. There was, however, relief felt among us because, at 88, her body was at the limit of its ability to function and she is free from those limits. 

She is so much a part of our memories and our lives that we still remember her daily if not moment by moment. It causes me to wonder how someone can be here among us one day, then gone another. What a mystery this life is. I believe that Christ called her name and welcomed her with joy into an eternal realm. And that feels mysterious as well. Where is that realm? Why can’t we see or sense that realm just a little bit better than we do? I think she is privileged to know answers to such questions now. One day we will too. I thank God for a wonderful mother.  

As a family we are doing alright. Navigating the waters without one you love is difficult. But good relationships, daily routines and lots of love are the best things for us. I am increasingly aware of the fragile, beautiful, yet fleeting nature of our time here on earth... leaves me in awe... makes me want to be more alert to all that life reveals.