Sunday, May 23, 2010

“Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalms 25

It’s hard to let go sometimes. We all seem to have our agendas; our goals; our plans. We act as if they are inspired or divine in some way, but if we cut away all the pretense we really are just making things up as we go. I’m not sure we really have any more insight into our life-path than some bum waiting for the bus in Nebraska. What I mean is, who among us, if we happen to be traveling through that same bus stop in Nebraska, if approached by said bum and confronted with some profound question or offering of advice, would not at least contemplate or more than likely dwell upon his intention and/or our meeting’s purpose for at least the next few days. Our encounter with him may even lead us down a completely different path for years. This idea is simply part of our cultural conscious. We have Rick Warren for popularizing this response, but the thought has been a part of us from the beginning. We have always desired some sort of laid out path; some sort of purpose. What is our purpose? What path are we to walk? What path do we think leads home? If we where to be pushed slightly and our course altered could we right ourselves or would we even need to? Who knows the plan anyway?

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…” Jeremiah 29

Samuel and I where heading back home one afternoon last week. I chose to take him down a different path than usual. Samuel advised that the way in which I traveled was indeed the wrong way and that I did not know where I was going. I laughed; a hardy deep bellow of a chuckle lasting quite a few minutes. How often have I been so confident in my own path that I not only advised my heavenly Father that his way was the wrong way but in fact told him he didn’t know where he was going.

God knows where he is taking us, he has plans for us, we simply need to walk his paths. I love the rest of the story found in the Jeremiah passage referenced above. God confirms his plans for us, then he concludes the matter with:

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.” Jeremiah 29

If we seek him and pray to him; he will listen; he will be found; he will take us back home. He knows the way, even if we are not familiar with the path.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Fruit



“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”
Galatians 5


I find this fruit abounding. I partake of its nourishment willingly. I allow the juices to cascade off my chin while sweet aroma fills my nostrils. I have no allergy. I consume and I digest. I feast upon the bounty.


“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5


Since I have found life within the Spirit and the evidence of Spirit within others, I am now allowed to bear fruit; not for personal consumption, but for the nourishment of another. As the body of Christ we must nourish one another and find nourishment within one another. There is no law concerning this; demanding our duty. Instead there is an orchard, a vineyard, a garden beckoning harvest; inviting participation.

Christ came that we may have life, and have it abundantly. Life begots life. Just as fruit contains the seed for the next generation so our love, our joy, our peace, our patience, our kindness, our goodness, our faithfulness, our gentleness, our self-control contains the direction, the instruction, and the nourishment for the next.

May we feast upon the Glory of God, found within Christ, found within creation, found within others, and found within our self. Then may we offer our fruit, while it’s in season.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Walk

As Samuel and I weave our way through the flak of dodge balls, runaway hula-hoops, and shrieking 8 year olds; seldom a word is spoken. It’s nearly impossible to hear anything within the echoing chaos of the YMCA. So why talk? Oh, he may leak out a brief word reflecting his school-day behavioral status, but not much else. He holds my hand and we walk.

As we walk into the parking lot leaving behind the excessive noise of overabundance our conversation begins. We are still timid with the details of our dialogue as our attention is split between male bonding and the necessary avoidance of moving vehicles.

However, not until we are alone within the confines of the car does the real communication commence.

Do you ever notice this phenomenon within your prayer life?

Do you begin a conversation with God surrounded by the chaos of life?

Finding, not until the noise quiets a bit can you establish real interaction.

Personally, I do, I may start out with a healthy sampling of self degradation or self praise for that matter, in a way reporting to my Father my recent behavioral status, as if that indeed mattered. As if his love for me changes in response to my daily struggle. As if he is going to relinquish my hand out of pure disgust.

As the day slows our conversation intensifies, but it is not until I find the time to be alone with him do we really begin to commune.

Understand; the walk through the chaos is required.

The intermittent discussions made possible by my expert juggling and evasion techniques honed by years of walking in the world are refreshing and appreciated.

However, it seems to me, deep connection and renewal doesn’t truly take place until I find myself alone with God. I can only conclude the same must be true for you.

So, may your next number of tomorrows be filled with times of personal peace and quiet, times of walking with your God hand in hand. May you find deep union within the loving embrace of your Father, and may you know that you do not walk alone.