As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. --Psalm 42
The fulness of life is in the hazards of life. --Edith Hamilton
***
Dear Friends,
About
six weeks ago I did something foolish. I headed out for a run on a
Friday afternoon on a scorching hot day. It was in the upper 80's on
this particular Friday. Actually, going for the run wasn't foolish. I
don't mind running in hot weather. What was foolish was not thinking
about where I would have access to water along the way.
As I headed out, I felt really great and thought I might go farther
than the 3 or so miles I intended to run. And so I altered my route
accordingly, not taking into account the need for water. But it didn't
take long for me to realize that I was going to be thirsty, very
thirsty, before I made it home. This is when I began kicking myself for
venturing out in the heat so cavalierly and even pushing myself to go
farther than prudent given the weather.
As I've thought about this, I recognize that this is how we approach
life at times--occasionally with unfortunate results! Sometimes we go
rushing into life, full of our plans and ambitions, without remembering
that we need to stay close to the source of our life, to that which
nourishes and sustains us. We can rush forward so quickly that we aren't
always mindful of our limits, of ensuring that our path will pass near
to sources of God's life-giving Spirit. To put it differently, sometimes
we can get too far out in front of God, and then the thirst hits! It's
good to push our limits, to steer away from complacency. (I heard
someone say this morning that the only difference between a rut and a
grave is the depth!) We shouldn't fear to venture boldly into our lives.
God is with us! But it can also be very wise to pace ourselves and be
intentional about connecting with God the source and wellspring of our
life.
Interestingly, on this run I passed by the homes of four people from
my congregation. As thirsty as I was, did I stop to ask for water? No, I
toughed it out and ran all the way home before I had any water to
drink. I may have reached my goal that day had I simply asked for help.
I'm confident water would have been offered, a symbol for God's
nourishment and sustenance as I ran my race.
May you move through your days near to and connected to the source
of your life--God. And when you venture forth into something new, may
you have the grace to seek God's help--in whatever form it presents
itself!
Blessings, Jeremy
13 October 2011
01 September 2011
Meditation: "Where It's OK to Not Be OK"
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." --Matthew 11:28
"Religion...has tended to create people who think they have God in their pockets, people with quick, easy, glib answers... If the great mystery is indeed the Great Mystery, it will lead us into paradox, into darkness, into journeys that never cease." --Richard Rohr
"People are people through other people." --Archbishop Desmond Tutu
-----
Dear Friends,
Sometimes I wonder why I have anything to do with the church. I imagine this may be a shocking statement, given my line of work! But I look around me at so many others of my generation who have drifted away from the church, or have never had anything to do with it in the first place, and it makes me wonder: Why am I different? Why am I here, deeply involved in the life of the church?
There are lots of answers to this question, but right down at the bottom of it all I think one reason is this--I experience God in community with other people, especially people who also desire to experience God. And yet, what I desire is a community with a particular character to it, a community:
where people can be real with one another,
where people can authentically be who they are,
where relationships and people are more important than rigid rules or strict doctrine,
where there is mutual care and encouragement,
where God's grace is palpable,
that supports those who are earnestly striving to be faithful to the way of Jesus.
At it's best, the church is all of the above and so much more. And because I have at times experienced this kind of community through the church, and because I feel called to help the church be this kind of community, I am a "churchy" guy.
This YouTube video, produced for Back to Church Sunday, prompted the above reflections and in a very simple, but powerful way, reminds me of some of the reasons why I am involved in the church (some of you may have already seen this on my Facebook wall):
Wherever you are in this world, my hope for you is that you find a community of faithful people who receives you as you are and invites you to join them in a journey of relationship with God.
Blessings on you,
Jeremy
"Religion...has tended to create people who think they have God in their pockets, people with quick, easy, glib answers... If the great mystery is indeed the Great Mystery, it will lead us into paradox, into darkness, into journeys that never cease." --Richard Rohr
"People are people through other people." --Archbishop Desmond Tutu
-----
Dear Friends,
Sometimes I wonder why I have anything to do with the church. I imagine this may be a shocking statement, given my line of work! But I look around me at so many others of my generation who have drifted away from the church, or have never had anything to do with it in the first place, and it makes me wonder: Why am I different? Why am I here, deeply involved in the life of the church?
There are lots of answers to this question, but right down at the bottom of it all I think one reason is this--I experience God in community with other people, especially people who also desire to experience God. And yet, what I desire is a community with a particular character to it, a community:
where people can be real with one another,
where people can authentically be who they are,
where relationships and people are more important than rigid rules or strict doctrine,
where there is mutual care and encouragement,
where God's grace is palpable,
that supports those who are earnestly striving to be faithful to the way of Jesus.
At it's best, the church is all of the above and so much more. And because I have at times experienced this kind of community through the church, and because I feel called to help the church be this kind of community, I am a "churchy" guy.
This YouTube video, produced for Back to Church Sunday, prompted the above reflections and in a very simple, but powerful way, reminds me of some of the reasons why I am involved in the church (some of you may have already seen this on my Facebook wall):
A community of people where it's OK to not be OK, where God's grace
abounds, where forgiveness is experienced, where doubts and questions
are welcome, where people can be who they are (not who the world expects
them to be)--this is what I desire in a church. And, with God's help,
striving to foster this kind of community of faith is a big part of what
being a pastor is all about for me.
Wherever you are in this world, my hope for you is that you find a community of faithful people who receives you as you are and invites you to join them in a journey of relationship with God.
Blessings on you,
Jeremy
26 July 2011
Meditation: "Remember Who You Are"
Then Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke
it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for
you. Do this in remembrance of me." --Luke 22:19
Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said, "In the coming world, they will not ask me: "Why were you not Moses?" They will ask me: "Why were you not Zusya?" --Martin Buber
*****
Dear Friends,
I've taken up running again. Over the last month, I've actually managed to get out 2-3 times a week to run about 3 miles each time. And it has felt great! But something else has happened, too, something unexpected. I've remembered who I am. Or, less dramatically, I've remembered an important part of who I am.
I've been running on the middle school track so that I can record my running pace. I used to think it was boring to run around in circles on a track, but lately I've really been liking it. The first time I ran on the track, memories came flooding back to me. The smell of the sun on the track surface, the sight of the lane markings, the muscle memory of running on the inside lane--all of it brought back memories of running on the track at my hometown high school in Pennsylvania. I was on the track team and spent a lot of time on that track. I recalled the excitement of running competitively in track meets. Sometimes at night, after finishing my shift at a fast food joint, I'd stop by the track and run 3 or 4 miles before heading home. Somehow, these memories touched on deeper remembrances, too. They stirred that youthful dimension of my heart (even as I close in on 40!) and reminded me of things that I cared about then--many of which I still care about today. After each run, as I cool down, I have this sense that, "Yes! This is what it feels like to be me."
It can be so hard in either the hustle and bustle or the humdrum ordinariness of each day to remember who we are--what we care about, what is important to us, what we think God is up to in our lives, what it feels like when we are most who we are. That's why it is so important to do something that we love to do--something that helps us reconnect with who we really are, who God created us to be. It's different for all of us--running, creating artwork, hiking, writing, reading, playing sports...whatever. If it is an activity that helps us to remember, then God is in it, too, because of course God is the ultimate source of who we are.
In worship we regularly do something that helps us to remember who we are in God. One of the most fundamental practices of Christians is to share in Holy Communion (or the Lord's Supper, or the Eucharist). For Christians, when the bread is broken and shared, we are re-membered as God's people. It is a moment when we recall who we are as people seeking to be faithful to Jesus Christ. We are reminded that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. We are reminded that Jesus did not resort to violence, but instead called on his followers to sacrificial love. We are reminded that Jesus did not come to cast people into hell, but instead opened his arms wide in a welcoming embrace of grace.
Running and receiving communion. These days, they help me to remember who I am and who I am in God.
What helps you to remember who you are?
Blessings on your week,
Jeremy
Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said, "In the coming world, they will not ask me: "Why were you not Moses?" They will ask me: "Why were you not Zusya?" --Martin Buber
*****
Dear Friends,
I've taken up running again. Over the last month, I've actually managed to get out 2-3 times a week to run about 3 miles each time. And it has felt great! But something else has happened, too, something unexpected. I've remembered who I am. Or, less dramatically, I've remembered an important part of who I am.
I've been running on the middle school track so that I can record my running pace. I used to think it was boring to run around in circles on a track, but lately I've really been liking it. The first time I ran on the track, memories came flooding back to me. The smell of the sun on the track surface, the sight of the lane markings, the muscle memory of running on the inside lane--all of it brought back memories of running on the track at my hometown high school in Pennsylvania. I was on the track team and spent a lot of time on that track. I recalled the excitement of running competitively in track meets. Sometimes at night, after finishing my shift at a fast food joint, I'd stop by the track and run 3 or 4 miles before heading home. Somehow, these memories touched on deeper remembrances, too. They stirred that youthful dimension of my heart (even as I close in on 40!) and reminded me of things that I cared about then--many of which I still care about today. After each run, as I cool down, I have this sense that, "Yes! This is what it feels like to be me."
It can be so hard in either the hustle and bustle or the humdrum ordinariness of each day to remember who we are--what we care about, what is important to us, what we think God is up to in our lives, what it feels like when we are most who we are. That's why it is so important to do something that we love to do--something that helps us reconnect with who we really are, who God created us to be. It's different for all of us--running, creating artwork, hiking, writing, reading, playing sports...whatever. If it is an activity that helps us to remember, then God is in it, too, because of course God is the ultimate source of who we are.
In worship we regularly do something that helps us to remember who we are in God. One of the most fundamental practices of Christians is to share in Holy Communion (or the Lord's Supper, or the Eucharist). For Christians, when the bread is broken and shared, we are re-membered as God's people. It is a moment when we recall who we are as people seeking to be faithful to Jesus Christ. We are reminded that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. We are reminded that Jesus did not resort to violence, but instead called on his followers to sacrificial love. We are reminded that Jesus did not come to cast people into hell, but instead opened his arms wide in a welcoming embrace of grace.
Running and receiving communion. These days, they help me to remember who I am and who I am in God.
What helps you to remember who you are?
Blessings on your week,
Jeremy
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