Knowing Partially

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 12-13

Yesterday I called for the first time on a woman in a locked Alzheimer’s unit. I introduced myself and said I had brought her communion. “Good,” she said. As I began to open the communion kit, she asked, “How much does it cost?” “It’s free,” I responded. “Good,” she said. I read scripture and then, when I offered her the bread, she asked, “What is it?” I replied, “Bread.” A theological discussion of communion didn't seem right. “OK,” she said. She ate the bread, and, when I offered her a small cup, she took it in a way that suggested this action was familiar to her. Then I said, “Let’s pray together in the words our Savior taught us,” and began the Lord’s prayer. Halfway through, she joined in. She then thanked me for coming.

It is so easy to assume what people do not know, rather than wondering what they might – or whether they might know things in a different way than we do. Had receiving communion reconnected her to memories? Was her response intellectual or an ingrained routine from ninety-plus years of life? Does it matter whether she had intellectual understanding? She knew in her own way at that place and time. Communion clearly connected her to a life she has almost completely left behind.

Whatever knowledge it is we are so proud of will, as Paul points out, come to an end. At best, we know only “in part.” When we talk about receiving “grace” in communion, do we think we know all that God is conveying to us? We will only appreciate the breadth of God’s grace when we are “face to face.” In the meantime, in our partial knowledge, the best we can do is love with faith and hope in what God is doing.

God’s peace,

Katie

A Faith Garden

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. . . . By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

Hebrews 11:1,3

Saturday some Baylor University students and I planted a special garden on the Wesley Foundation grounds. We set out tomato, cabbage, bell pepper, oregano and marigold plants with youth from Mount Zion United Methodist Church, who live in one of the worst zip codes for child welfare in the U.S. Then we potted plants for them to take home to nurture.

Each of the children and youth Mount Zion is reaching out to, through tutoring and other connections, has already faced substantial challenge in life. But that congregation and some of us at the Wesley Foundation have faith that God can raise them to triumphant life.

A dear friend, knowing my love of growing things, gave me a plaque that says, “A garden is a sign of faith.” I can plant seeds, but I cannot make them grow or blossom or produce fruit. I can only cooperate in what God does. Putting seeds or plants in the ground requires faith that the word of God continues to bring forth beauty and goodness in this world God’s word prepared. I pray those plants will be signs to those youth of our faith in what God can grow in them and that nurturing their plants will put them in touch with the God who seeks to heal them, strengthen them and draw them forward. 

God’s peace,

Katie

Good Dirt

Jesus said, “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

Matthew 13:3-9

If we were to move from the house where we live, one thing that would be very hard to leave is the garden dirt. I’ve worked with that soil for several years, mostly adding organic matter. Most of the garden has become easy to work, and plants thrive, sometimes producing enough to freeze or give away. Every so often, though, like yesterday, I encounter a spot with solid clay only a couple of inches below the surface. I put in seeds and wish them luck.

Jesus’ asks us to look at what kind of dirt we are for the seed of God’s Word. Are we on a path, out in the open where evils and distractions will devour the Word before it can sprout? Are we rocky soil, where the Word can take root, but the roots can’t go deep because our hearts are hard, and the seed God plants withers quickly. Do we support lots of weeds – interests and occupations that draw our minds and hearts elsewhere? Or are we good soil that offers its very being freely to grow the seeds God plants in us?

Unlike garden soil, the soil of our lives can change daily – or even more often. We don’t need to worry whether God will speak a Word to us – through scripture, a teacher, a friend or a stranger. God is always sowing seeds. We do need to cultivate our soil, so that God’s seeds can grow. I can’t imagine how many Words from God have withered in me. Maybe my garden soil will remind me to cultivate my heart.

God’s peace,

Katie

God the Chef

You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart.

Psalms 104:14-15

Yesterday, our meal at an Italian restaurant began with wonderful fresh bread – very light with a fine texture and yeasty aroma – accompanied by a good olive oil with herbs and garlic for dipping. (If you are drooling, go ahead. That’s what I’m aiming for.) It certainly was not the stuff of New Year’s resolutions to cut back calories. Rather, it was just delightful. We couldn’t help but focus full attention on enjoying it. When the salad course came, we said grace, but I think we already had voiced our thanksgiving in the oohs and ahhs over the bread.

Maybe it’s helpful to envision God as a loving chef, who places banquets of food, people, plants, animals, stars and so many other wonders before us. Perhaps this Heavenly Chef is looking, as many cooks do, to see a sign of pleasure on our parts. Do we catch the flavor, the beauty, the intricacy of the gifts God places before us or the the love that goes into them?

It doesn’t take much to make a cook’s efforts worthwhile, just an ooh or ahh or “Wow.” But first we have to stop to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

God’s peace,

Katie

Correcting Love

Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

                                                                                                                            John 13:34-35

Loving someone in the ways Jesus commands is so much more than a feeling. Feelings can come and go when someone pleases us or does not. Sometimes Christ-like love is an act of will and self-discipline. It means reaching out, when I want to turn away, and seeing the other person’s possibilities, when it is much easier to see reject the current bad behavior.

If we love as God loves, our love is unconditional, but that doesn’t mean always supporting the other person’s actions, no matter what. Jesus loved the people of God, their scriptures and their worship. But he cleansed the Temple in a display of faithfulness to God and grief over what their worship had become. (John 2) Scripture offers us many images of God’s grief over our sin.

Sometimes out of love, we grieve painfully what another person is doing or becoming. And, though it is harder for us to see it, we sometimes grieve people who love us. Are we willing to let someone love us in the name of Christ enough to let that person correct us? Are we willing risk loving someone enough to call him or her back to being the person we know God made them to be?

Receiving or giving correcting love requires great humility. We can be wrong about ourselves or someone else. I have never once enjoyed being confronted about myself and my actions, even out of love, but I’m thankful for the people who have loved me enough to risk doing it.

God’s peace,

Katie

We Can't Imagine

John 1:49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 

John 1:49

Nathanael had not been all that excited to meet Jesus. When Philip announced he had met the Messiah and he was Jesus from Nazareth, Nathanael  growled, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” But after a few moments in Jesus’ presence, he proclaimed Jesus Son of God and King of Israel. He was right, but there was so much he didn’t know. He didn’t know yet that this impressive man would ask him to leave home. He didn’t know this King would end up on a Cross. He couldn’t have imagined encountering Jesus after he rose from the dead. He couldn’t have imagined being a leader of the early Church or even that there would be one.

There is so much we don’t know about what will happen to us if we commit to follow Jesus. I didn’t expect to be a pastor, and I couldn’t have imagined the places and people I would serve after I became one. Sometimes my path has been joyous. Sometimes it’s been hard. It’s always been worth it. But, if I’m honest with myself, I have to admit that I have no idea where following Jesus will take me in the next year or even the next day. (How many times have I said, "Didn't see that coming when I got up this morning?")

If we commit to follow Jesus, we at least have to leave the door open to going places and meeting people we can’t imagine – and might not choose. What possibilities for the path ahead excite you? Which would make you fearful? What preconceived notions of what God will or won’t do with us do we have to lay aside? Maybe it was a good thing Nathanael didn’t know all that was coming. Maybe it’s a good thing we don’t.

God’s peace,

Katie

A Question from Jesus

John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. 

John 1:35-39

When Jesus notices two men walking behind him, he doesn’t offer them a theological pronouncement. Rather, he asks a question, “What are you looking for?” They respond with their own question, “Where are you staying?” which suggests they want to get to know him. Jesus welcomes them, answering, “Come and see.” Jesus invites them in. He wants to know what they are seeking.

If Jesus asked you what you are looking for, what would your answer be? Such a simple but direct question invites us to look deep within ourselves to find what we really long for. Jesus did not want to know the two would-be disciples, nor does Jesus want to know us, at surface level. 

If we are disciples, we seek to follow the Jesus who asks, “What are you looking for?” How many people in our lives would be blessed simply by knowing that someone wants to know their hopes and fears? As we invite people into our lives, they can “come and see” our victories and our struggles as we seek to follow Jesus. Who around us needs a word of invitation and a welcoming heart?

God’s peace,

Katie