I have a confession. When I'm studying at home, I keep the TV on during the day. Which means there are soap operas on - and I've been watching one lately. This morning one character said "Choices. We all make them. And they can change things forever."
So true. Each day we make choices. Choices about what we will say, what we will keep to ourselves. Choices about what we will eat and drink or not. Choices about what we will do or not do. Choices about what to read, watch or who to be with.
Our choices can affect us - what we watch or read for example - and our choices can affect others - what we say or don't say for example. And those choices can change things forever.
There are books which I've read that have changed me. There are people who have changed me, in their conversations. They probably didn't even know that their words were having an effect, but they did.
In my daily Bible reading this morning, one phrase jumped out - your boasting is not a good thing. Lent is a good season for reflection on our choices. Have I boasted in my choices and in what good advice I've given people? My boasting is not a good thing. Have my choices, my words, my actions affected people so that they see God and seek God? Or have I been a stumbling block? Choices, every day, each one can change things forever.
This day, I choose to reflect on my words. I choose to think before I speak. I choose humility, though it is not the way of the world. It's a choice that gives me serenity and peace, and that is a good thing.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Weaver woman
One of the Psalms for today's daily lectionary is Psalm 57 - some of the verses from this Psalm caught my attention the way two phrases the pastor used yesterday in the pastoral prayer.
He prayed that God would "weave into our tangled thoughts" and "pour the ointment of hope". What beautiful phrases. I pictured the Guatemalan woman I met in Honduras who wove colorful bags, throws, rugs. She had made a beautiful green stole for Rev. Janet, the local pastor. When she realized that we were working on Janet's home, she showed us a red stole. James looked at me, and insisted on buying it for me, along with the other things we'd already picked out.
That woman couldn't speak English, we couldn't speak Spanish, but the shared smiles and her gift of weaving and beauty has stayed with me ever since. James' generosity that day, and the smile on his face showed his selflesness.
God can be a weaver woman, taking tragedy and difficulty, the bits and scraps and leftover pieces, carefully planning and working, creating beauty and usefulness.
Psalm 57, verse one: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
The first key is that we should pay attention to our emotions and mental state - where are we? Are we trying to manage it all on our own? Or are we hiding under the mothering wings of God? What a safe place to land, near the warmth and comfort of a mother hen.
Verse two: I cry out to God most high, God who fulfills {his} purpose for me.
This is the ointment of hope - the second key. God does have a purpose for us. When we call to God, it is the God who has purpose for us and provides safety for us.
Verse four: I lie down among lions, that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords.
Verse six: They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my path, but they have fallen into it themselves.
The third key - life is going to be tough. There will be times when it feels as if when you walk into work or back into your home that you've walked into a room full of hungry lions. There will be times when no matter how careful you are, you keep stumbling into holes along the way.
Courage is needed - do we have the courage to reach out to God and trust that God will take care of us? In this day and age, we are taught to rely on ourselves alone. It's hard to trust another person, much less a being that you can't see.
Courage to reach out to the gentle weaver woman, taking the shreds of your life and creating your purpose, a useful and beautiful thing.
Courage to reach out to the gentle mother hen, asking for safety rather than toughing out the storms on your own.
God will weave peace into our tangled thoughts, sorting them out, giving peace and wisdom for chaos.
He prayed that God would "weave into our tangled thoughts" and "pour the ointment of hope". What beautiful phrases. I pictured the Guatemalan woman I met in Honduras who wove colorful bags, throws, rugs. She had made a beautiful green stole for Rev. Janet, the local pastor. When she realized that we were working on Janet's home, she showed us a red stole. James looked at me, and insisted on buying it for me, along with the other things we'd already picked out.
That woman couldn't speak English, we couldn't speak Spanish, but the shared smiles and her gift of weaving and beauty has stayed with me ever since. James' generosity that day, and the smile on his face showed his selflesness.
God can be a weaver woman, taking tragedy and difficulty, the bits and scraps and leftover pieces, carefully planning and working, creating beauty and usefulness.
Psalm 57, verse one: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
The first key is that we should pay attention to our emotions and mental state - where are we? Are we trying to manage it all on our own? Or are we hiding under the mothering wings of God? What a safe place to land, near the warmth and comfort of a mother hen.
Verse two: I cry out to God most high, God who fulfills {his} purpose for me.
This is the ointment of hope - the second key. God does have a purpose for us. When we call to God, it is the God who has purpose for us and provides safety for us.
Verse four: I lie down among lions, that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords.
Verse six: They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my path, but they have fallen into it themselves.
The third key - life is going to be tough. There will be times when it feels as if when you walk into work or back into your home that you've walked into a room full of hungry lions. There will be times when no matter how careful you are, you keep stumbling into holes along the way.
Courage is needed - do we have the courage to reach out to God and trust that God will take care of us? In this day and age, we are taught to rely on ourselves alone. It's hard to trust another person, much less a being that you can't see.
Courage to reach out to the gentle weaver woman, taking the shreds of your life and creating your purpose, a useful and beautiful thing.
Courage to reach out to the gentle mother hen, asking for safety rather than toughing out the storms on your own.
God will weave peace into our tangled thoughts, sorting them out, giving peace and wisdom for chaos.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Serenity and Courage
There's not enough time to do all the things I'd like to do - like posting more often, especially now that the semester is in full swing. Toyed with the idea of staying home this morning, but I couldn't do it. I knew that I needed to be in church.
This morning at worship I was really having trouble focusing. It wasn't the service, it was me, and I knew it was just a tough morning. I've often told church members that if they are ever bored in church (mind you, I was saying this as their pastor!) that they should flip through the hymnal. The UMC Hymnal is a great resource, full of prayers and hymns that can speak to us or help us speak to God when we don't have the words ourselves. Now, I did the same thing, flipping through the hymnal.
I came across the Serenity Prayer - Lord, help me to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. What words of peace and strength.
As I read those words, it occurred to me that so often when I see things that need to be changed, I'm looking at a situation or a person outside myself. What takes more courage than working for change outside myself is working for change INSIDE myself.
Lent is a time for preparation, a time for gut level honesty with one's self, and a time to face God with the humility that such honesty brings. The worship service this morning was good - and I'm sure brought many blessings to those who were there - but for me the blessing came as the Spirit spoke to me through that prayer. I need courage for the journey. I need to accept that where I am right now is part of God's plan. I needed to know that God is with me, has been listening to my prayers, and will continue to be with me as I shift and sort and get more honest with myself.
Grant me the courage to change the things I can - about myself. A prayer of deepest trust and peace, and a gift of strength for the journey.
This morning at worship I was really having trouble focusing. It wasn't the service, it was me, and I knew it was just a tough morning. I've often told church members that if they are ever bored in church (mind you, I was saying this as their pastor!) that they should flip through the hymnal. The UMC Hymnal is a great resource, full of prayers and hymns that can speak to us or help us speak to God when we don't have the words ourselves. Now, I did the same thing, flipping through the hymnal.
I came across the Serenity Prayer - Lord, help me to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. What words of peace and strength.
As I read those words, it occurred to me that so often when I see things that need to be changed, I'm looking at a situation or a person outside myself. What takes more courage than working for change outside myself is working for change INSIDE myself.
Lent is a time for preparation, a time for gut level honesty with one's self, and a time to face God with the humility that such honesty brings. The worship service this morning was good - and I'm sure brought many blessings to those who were there - but for me the blessing came as the Spirit spoke to me through that prayer. I need courage for the journey. I need to accept that where I am right now is part of God's plan. I needed to know that God is with me, has been listening to my prayers, and will continue to be with me as I shift and sort and get more honest with myself.
Grant me the courage to change the things I can - about myself. A prayer of deepest trust and peace, and a gift of strength for the journey.
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