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.

A Broad Place of Welcome

  As the Presbyterian Church (USA) changes, making it possible for gay and lesbian people to be ordained, some may feel that the rest of the world cannot accept this new position. In October, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa wrote an open letter to the PCUSA affirming its decision. He suggested that the PCUSA had accomplished an act of justice through its decision to accept gay and lesbian people. In the letter, he said: “Salvation means being called out of our narrow bonds into a broad place of welcome to all.”

Tutu pointed out that in many places around the world Christians have been complicit while lesbians and gays have been legally persecuted. And, he said, “By making it possible for those in same-gender relationships to be ordained as pastors, preachers, elders, and deacons, you are being a witness to your ecumenical partners that you believe in the wideness of God’s merciful love.

Acceptance and solidarity toward those who have been unjustly excluded is at the core of what it means to be of faith. I’m grateful that the PCUSA has begun to take a stand and thankful for Desmond Tutu’s kind words.

Impossible

The following poem, "Impossible," was my own creation, written from the inspiration of Acts 2, especially verse 24.

 

IMPOSSIBLE

Eternity is in the next breath you take,were you to notice, in even so little a thing as the blink of an eye.

Christ waits, watches, the Attending One.

You and I, we squander mostly the time as it passes,distracted by what, the flies and gizmos of life.

Yet, sitting across from you, close by, it’s as if he leans in,and dips his head ever so slightly forward as though to indicate, “I know you can believe! I know you can accept new life!”

Christ is there spilling out life and light like the power that exploded theuniverse into being looking to you, with bright eyes and unquenchable hope that… you and I… will… catch… on.

 

She is there, Oh don’t miss her in the visions you see and the dreams you dream.

We all find ways to push them away, those hopeful indications of your next chance to love, to believe, to live in joy.

Spirit calls to your spirit beyond your words and your intellect.

Spirit moves among you with energy you never knew you could have.

She is there like the water we swim in, the air we breath, the light by which we see.

 

For as close to you as your next breath, Eternity lives.

You don’t have to conjure it up, you don’t have to justify it, or explain it, or earn it…

No it’s inexplicable and mysterious.

Just Is.

The wholeness of God who lived and died and lives again.

There.

The watchful attending nudges you to faith.

Awaiting only your acceptance.

 

Forsake the worries and the sins that grind us into the ground.

Forsake the fears and the hatreds that tempt to define us.

Forsake the expectations and ruminations of lost resources and people you and I wished we had, but don’t.

Forsake the enticements of lesser gods and things contrary to the love of God, for anything less will in turn forsake you.

 

The Eternal Possible is as close as your next breath.

This Possible will nudge your future into places you couldn’t believe if told.

Christ’s confidence will get you there rewiring the circuitry of hope.

The faithfulness of God will be there with you, filtering through your

impossibilities for the next appearance of Possible!

 

Stones and Bread

I had a sobering conversation with my mechanic just last week. Our 180,000 mile car is nearing the end of its useful life. My mechanic and I got to talking about the business of repair and I reminisced about my days repairing Xerox copy machines. “I used to pray, ‘God, fix this machine.’” And then I laughed and said, “God never really came through on that prayer.” My mechanic said, “That’s because the real prayer was about your character.” He’s right. We're here to deal with what really is rather than depend on God to magically change things.

I’m thinking that is partly why Jesus disagreed with the devil when he asked him in Matthew 4 to change the stones into bread. Jesus was undertaking the spiritual discipline of fasting. What was behind the temptation was to forget the spiritual discipline and look to God for a magical relief. Jesus chose to live primarily by the Word of God and let stones be stones.

Could it be true that we often wish God to simply change the circumstances, when what God really wants is our faith and the character development that goes with it?

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!

Whom Are You Looking For?

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb looking not for Jesus, but simply for a place to grieve in John 20:1-18. She told others about the empty tomb with the assumption that Jesus’ body was stolen, not that he had risen. She is still convinced that Jesus’ dead body has been placed somewhere else, as she weeps outside the tomb. Then the resurrected Jesus speaks to her and she can’t see him as Jesus. Even though she looks right at him, she thinks he’s the gardener. Jesus asks her the question: “Whom are you looking for?” Evidence has it that she wasn’t actually looking for the living Jesus. That would have been too much to ask of someone who had just been crucified.

This is true for most of us. Daily you and I look resurrection in the face and don’t see it. My faith is too reasonable. I expect the life and death cycle to be reliable and predictable. The normalcy of life and death, anger and hatred, wars and crime, disbelief and defeat are commonplace and reinforce our expectations. They also blind us to the very abnormal and out-of-the-ordinary divine act of resurrection.

Mary recognized Jesus when he called her name. This text was not written to remind Mary of the event, but to show us of its truth today. Jesus calls our name just as Jesus called Mary’s. The opportunity is open for us to accept resurrection life; to open our hearts to Christ’s life. This challenges us to live not according to death, and all its relatives like hatred, wars, and crime; but instead to live according to life, love, peacemaking, justice, faith and hope. I submit that it’s not a one-time deal. We need frequently to turn to the risen Christ. I’m praying that I can keep turning toward the one who calls my name. How about you?

Love in the Company of the Resurrected

In John 12:1-8 at a dinner just after Lazarus was raised from the dead Mary, Lazarus’ sister, pours aromatic oil on Jesus’ feet and wipes the excess away with her hair. The gesture was as rich as the oil was expensive. The room was filled with the scent of her love and hope.

Another witness to the same events was Judas. Nothing of Mary’s love and appreciation existed in his mind. He was bent on accumulating as much money in the disciples’ mission fund as possible for the sole reason of stealing from it. Further he was just about to betray Jesus to the local authorities who would eventually crucify him.

Notice the contrast of minds: one loving and grateful, the other greedy and malcontent; one scented the room with love and resurrection, the other fouled the room with criminal intent. They had witnessed the same Jesus, yet could scarcely be more opposite.

Do the chain of thoughts you create result in love, hope and resurrection… or something closer to greed and death? We all have quite a bit of latitude concerning where our thoughts go and how they end up. Does Mary inspire you to see things a little differently?

Embracing Something New

 Lent has a reputation for giving things up or doing without. Rightly so, for we are encouraged to let go of the things that hold us back from being what God has designed us to be. But what happens when we’ve let go? We often want to fill the void. How about embracing something new, some new treasure, some new longing? Exactly. Replace greed with generosity, isolation and self-centeredness with love, winter with spring, death with resurrection. That is our Lenten journey. I invite you to explore the deeper meanings to the things you let go and the things you embrace this Lent.

 ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

The Coming Realm Has Come

It’s hard to believe what Jesus says. He says in Luke 4:14-21 that the Poor hear good news, the captives are released, the blind receive sight and the oppressed go free. I believe it, but God help my unbelief. Jesus declares that what he said a couple thousand years ago was fulfilled right then and there. In my believing state, I can say it became true then and is true now; everywhere, all around us, all across the globe, healing and freedom are happening, all the time.

It’s true, of course, except when it’s not true. And that is where we come into the picture. We actually have the power to be agents of healing and freedom, or to limit what God can do because of our disbelief or reticence. It takes real, true faith. Let us long for it, seek after it, pray for it and welcome it into our lives. Then we can see the gospel happening everywhere.

We can participate in the redemption of humankind. We can see to the rebuilding of Haiti, perhaps this time without the oppression we and other countries inflicted upon it historically. We can heal racial divides in our own schools and communities. We can share our money and food so all people can eat and have the basics of life. We can cooperate with the liberating, life-changing Spirit of God that happens everywhere, all the time.