I was able to get out today and see some sweet, dear, friends of mine. We celebrated what God is doing in our Chrysalis community and prayed for discernment of the future of our community. More importantly, we worshiped together. Our time in preparation was too short and we are dealing with an assortment of emotions for what we have lost. Yet, I saw so much joy and love in that room where we were gathered that I can't help but think I am richer for the experience.
That brings me to the rest of my day. After visiting a local hobby store and finding more than I needed, I headed on home to keep myself company. After eating lunch and cuddling a couple of lonely kitties, I began checking my email. Although it is almost mid-summer plans are in full swing for a local charity that helps children with back-to-school items. One of my emails was from a volunteer requesting help with clothing for the children. What struck me about this email was the reminder that with the present economy situation there will more children to help than in the past, and less resources available. We have seen people in the church community seeking help with limited incomes. Several families are dealing with high medical bills or job loss. Others have significant credit card debt. Many people live on limited incomes from retirement sources that have taken a hard hit in the stock market. We are all in some form of "financial crisis". Now I wonder, how are we as people of faith called to respond to the needs of our community? to the elderly and children? to the strangers and the hungry?
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:21
Let me go back to my sweet sisters that I met with this morning. The example these women shared with me is the path we could all follow in understanding the call to respond to those in need. You see, today we met to say good-bye for now to each other. These women spent the past two months (some much longer!) preparing to serve God on a special retreat. They met on a regular basis for hours at a time, they prayed for each other and for God's will to be done, they laughed together, sang together, worshiped together, cried together, ate together, supported and loved each other. Each member gave generously from her heart out of her love for Christ. And today it all ended. Our plans and preparations were interrupted by God's perfect will and his perfect plan. And isn't that the way things are supposed to be?
If we are a part of the body of Christ, then is the present economy of the world what we should be focused on? Where we can look for all of our needs to be met is at the cross of Christ. I read this quote recently (from I don't know who!)"Your money follows your heart. Yet you can bring your heart—and thereby your life—closer to God by reallocating your treasure from earthly possessions to eternal blessings. Giving shifts your focus from internal to external ... to eternal."
In 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote, "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."" (8:12-15) This scripture speaks to me and tells me, it is time to clean out a closet and pass along those possessions I do not have need for. It's also time for me to forego that cup of coffee and pick up a couple of cans of soup for the local food pantry. And it is certainly time for me to thank God for his blessings and provision of all of my needs.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Communication is essential
I enjoy fables. Recently I have been rereading the book "Friedman's Fables" by Edwin H. Friedman. This is one of those little treasures that you hear of from someone and pick up to read at your leisure, then find yourself returning to over and over again.
Today I reread this story:
AN AMERICAN HOLLY
"There was a certain holly tree whose owner, when it was very young, planted it close to the foundation of his house to shelter the tree from the icy blasts of winter. He had done right. For it is the way of young, broad-leafed evergreens to lose their vital moisture to the evaporation of winter winds.
As time went by, however, the holly grew and soon found itself competing with that which had protected it during early life. The owner, therefore, decided to let the plant have more room. Carefully, early one spring, he dug up the sprouting tree and replanted it some distance away, so that it could branch out in all directions. As with the initial planting, the owner did everything with care;, the roots were embalmed in a big ball of earth, a moat of mud surrounded the new site to keep the rainwater from running away, a deep protective blanket of the finest mulch covered the area about the slowly thickening trunk, and fertilizer, again only the finest grade, was liberally applied.
But all did not go well, despite the best intentions and the kindest care. The holly began to lose its leaves. Some were lost every year, of course, but others had always blossomed to take their place. This time the dying leaves were not replenished. Something different was at work.
Perplexed by this unexpected turn of events, the owner gave his tree more care. He borrowed some books from the library to see what he could learn. He wrote to garden experts in the newspapers. Perhaps some blight or other noxious influence had come into the area, though he had read no warnings. He frequented the best garden shops and asked old-timers what they did on such occasions.
Every question brought an answer;every question acquired more than one answer, if asked more than one time. And with each new suggestion, tale, or remedy he heard, the owner hurried back and tried anew. But nothing worked.
Each morning when the owner awoke he found more leaves had fallen to the ground. Each week another branch was dead. Should these be allowed to remain on the trunk? Can life flow again through such hardened wood? Or does the dead decay and add decay to the living nearby?"
I'm going to stop here now and ask you to reflect on this fable with me. In some ways, I see this piece as a story of life and death. Life for the holly prepared by the garden's owner. Death by the transplant of a thriving tree. In another way I see the gospel of Christ reflected in the story and even the history of the church.
I wonder, what do you see?
Today I reread this story:
AN AMERICAN HOLLY
"There was a certain holly tree whose owner, when it was very young, planted it close to the foundation of his house to shelter the tree from the icy blasts of winter. He had done right. For it is the way of young, broad-leafed evergreens to lose their vital moisture to the evaporation of winter winds.
As time went by, however, the holly grew and soon found itself competing with that which had protected it during early life. The owner, therefore, decided to let the plant have more room. Carefully, early one spring, he dug up the sprouting tree and replanted it some distance away, so that it could branch out in all directions. As with the initial planting, the owner did everything with care;, the roots were embalmed in a big ball of earth, a moat of mud surrounded the new site to keep the rainwater from running away, a deep protective blanket of the finest mulch covered the area about the slowly thickening trunk, and fertilizer, again only the finest grade, was liberally applied.
But all did not go well, despite the best intentions and the kindest care. The holly began to lose its leaves. Some were lost every year, of course, but others had always blossomed to take their place. This time the dying leaves were not replenished. Something different was at work.
Perplexed by this unexpected turn of events, the owner gave his tree more care. He borrowed some books from the library to see what he could learn. He wrote to garden experts in the newspapers. Perhaps some blight or other noxious influence had come into the area, though he had read no warnings. He frequented the best garden shops and asked old-timers what they did on such occasions.
Every question brought an answer;every question acquired more than one answer, if asked more than one time. And with each new suggestion, tale, or remedy he heard, the owner hurried back and tried anew. But nothing worked.
Each morning when the owner awoke he found more leaves had fallen to the ground. Each week another branch was dead. Should these be allowed to remain on the trunk? Can life flow again through such hardened wood? Or does the dead decay and add decay to the living nearby?"
I'm going to stop here now and ask you to reflect on this fable with me. In some ways, I see this piece as a story of life and death. Life for the holly prepared by the garden's owner. Death by the transplant of a thriving tree. In another way I see the gospel of Christ reflected in the story and even the history of the church.
I wonder, what do you see?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
On Being a Wii
For the past few years I have been hinting to my hubby that I would like to have a Wii game system. I've rationalized this desire with arguments like, "I could get in shape with it, they have a great fitness program!" Another one I tried was, "We could go dancing, bowling, or have a date night right here at home!Think about all the money you could save!" I've also played the "pity me" angle, "I don't ask for much and after all it is my birthday (Christmas, anniversary, etc.)" So far, none of these arguments have been successful and I still don't have my own Wii game system. My arguments for this new toy may have come to a halt after a message was shared today during the memorial service at UMC Annual Conference.
What I heard was, "I am not a "me" I am a "we". I am made up of a part of everyone who has touched my life or whose life I have touched." As I reflected on that statement, my mind could not help but think of all of the people who have touched my life and influenced me to be the person I am becoming. In the same way, my mind wandered to the scores of people who I have come into contact with and been privileged to leave my fingerprint on their lives. The next thought that jumped into my mind as I listened to the names being read of the clergy and laity that had served the Methodist Church so faithfully was, "Have I lived my life following Jesus' example?" Is there any way we can measure that example?
John Wesley is oft times quoted as saying, "Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can." As an example of accountability in the Methodist Church, maybe this is one way we can use to measure ourselves and the way we have touched another person's life. I for one intend to think how a word, a smile, a touch, can leave a fingerprint on someone's life. Maybe then I will become more aware of the fingerprints that are being left on my life and the loving example's God is sharing with me each day as I continue to become more of who "We" are called to be, instead of trying to be more "me".
"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." - Romans 12:4-6a
What I heard was, "I am not a "me" I am a "we". I am made up of a part of everyone who has touched my life or whose life I have touched." As I reflected on that statement, my mind could not help but think of all of the people who have touched my life and influenced me to be the person I am becoming. In the same way, my mind wandered to the scores of people who I have come into contact with and been privileged to leave my fingerprint on their lives. The next thought that jumped into my mind as I listened to the names being read of the clergy and laity that had served the Methodist Church so faithfully was, "Have I lived my life following Jesus' example?" Is there any way we can measure that example?
John Wesley is oft times quoted as saying, "Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can." As an example of accountability in the Methodist Church, maybe this is one way we can use to measure ourselves and the way we have touched another person's life. I for one intend to think how a word, a smile, a touch, can leave a fingerprint on someone's life. Maybe then I will become more aware of the fingerprints that are being left on my life and the loving example's God is sharing with me each day as I continue to become more of who "We" are called to be, instead of trying to be more "me".
"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." - Romans 12:4-6a
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