Really?

Isaiah 2:4 . . .  they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Isaiah 2:4

Romans 13:11-12 . . . salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:11-12

Isaiah paints an impossible picture, really – a world where war does not exist, where museums are the only places to see military weapons. Such a world would also have no hunger, since not having the means to survive is one thing that drives nations to war. Can we really imagine a world like that – a vision that scripture paints so many times? Paul writes to the Romans that this full salvation, when God will renew all of creation, is “nearer” than it was, ready to break in. Do we really believe that?

What would we act like if we did? Would we drop our works of darkness, as though they might blister us? (What “works of darkness”? I can think of some over-spending and over-expecting at Christmas that would have to go from my life. Isn’t it interesting that a day of mammoth shopping is called Black Friday?)

Is it possible to see so clearly what God seeks for the world and its people that we are eager to put on the armor of God’s light? And do things, even small ones, to bring that light? Really? Are we afraid to embrace God’s vision for the world because we might have to change?

I know that question scares me, really. But I hope to get beyond my fear.

God’s peace,

Katie

Unexpected Truth

The boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

1 Samuel 3:1

Scripture has few starker pictures of spiritual emptiness than of this time when God’s Word rarely came forth to give vision for the present and future. The conversation between God and the people appears silent on God’s end, but perhaps human ears were closed. As religious leaders, Eli and his family were counted on to speak God’s Word, but they were corrupt. Eli’s sons were sinning with women assisting at the temple and profiting from offerings made to God. Eli was turning a blind eye. Surely they didn’t abandon serving God overnight. But with each step away, they less and less sought to hear a Word from the Lord that might call them to account. At some point, maybe God did cease to speak.

When God first called to Samuel, the young boy thought he heard Eli. After Samuel repeatedly came to him, this corrupt man realized Samuel was hearing the nearly forgotten voice of God. Eli can’t have welcomed a Word that surely would condemn him, but he did the right thing. He taught Samuel to respond to God’s voice by saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.” When Samuel spoke those words, he heard a Word from God, and it did pronounce doom for Eli and his sons.

This scripture reminds us that “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears” should be our stance toward God. But we may find a lesson in Eli. He had turned away from God’s call, but he knew something Samuel didn’t. He was vital to the emergence of a new prophet. Sometimes unexpected people, even people deep in sin, may have a word of truth to speak. When we don’t listen for God everywhere and from everyone, we may miss something that can change our lives.

God’s peace,

Katie

Savoring Snacks

On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish.” 

Luke 9:10-13

After Jesus’ twelve closest disciples had returned from a major mission trip, eager to tell Jesus all they had done, Jesus took them to a quiet place. But when the crowds that sought Jesus found them, Jesus welcomed and taught them. Can’t you imagine that the apostles were thinking, “What about us?”

As day faded, the crowd was hungry, and Jesus told his tired missionaries to give them something to eat. The disciples had almost nothing to give. Jesus took the few scraps available and made them into much more than needed. The disciples distributed the bounty. But what about them? I like to think that they ate as well, at least from the leftovers.

I am on my way home from my yearly silent retreat – a feast of scripture, quiet worship, guided meditations, reflection, prayer and other spiritual nourishment. Last night I pondered “snacks.” How will I find strength and direction back home, when one demand, real or imagined, follows another? I jotted down words I want to remember and ways to “check in” with God and myself – not at length but briefly and regularly. I’ve put this list where I can get to it on computer, tablet or phone. What remains is to schedule “snack time” faithfully.

For the disciples, the taste of the loaves and fish surely faded, but they must have remembered for the rest of their lives their tiredness, the crowd and how Jesus provided more than enough. That spiritual “snack” of memory must have brought back a hint of the food’s taste and given them strength to go forward. What memories of God’s grace, what words of Scripture can you keep as snacks to sustain you?

God’s peace,

Katie

The Power of Going Away

When God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

Galatians 1:15-17

Paul writes to the Galatians that after he had his dramatic conversion to faith in Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), he “went away at once” to Arabia. Acts records some events before his departure. Caught up in fervor for a sweeping, newly discovered truth, he provoked such opposition in the Damascus synagogues that the Christians there had to help him escape. During a brief stay in Jerusalem, where he again made “bold” proclamation, the Greeks plotted murder, and the Christians “sent Paul off.” Paul doesn’t say how long he was away, but he came back to engage in perhaps the most fruitful ministry in history.

“Going away,” even, maybe especially, when we are most convinced of the rightness and righteousness of our intentions can give us a chance to gain perspective and let God show us what we should do and how. “Away” can mean a moment of prayer in the midst of other people to center our hearts. It may mean leaving others for a longer period of thought and prayer. “Away time” with an attentive heart gives God the opportunity to awaken love in our hearts for those with whom we hope to share what is important to us – and humility in how we do so.

If the great Paul “went away,” I know it’s important for me.

God’s peace,

Katie

Becoming a Better Pilgrim

Those who put their trust in you are truly happy; pilgrimage is in their hearts.

Psalm 84:5

As Thanksgiving nears, we think back to the Pilgrims who traveled over a treacherous ocean to an unknown land to worship God as their hearts called them. The primary dictionary definition of “pilgrim” is “one who travels to a holy place.” Surely those early Pilgrims to America must have thought they were headed somewhere heavenly. While their reality proved otherwise, they did find blessings amid hardship, so much so that they had a Thanksgiving feast.

Hymns for centuries have spoken of Christians as pilgrims, whose home is in heaven and who are just “passing through” this earthly life. Yet scripture tells us all creation “came into being through the Word,” which came to share this life with us in Jesus. (John 1:3) And Genesis says human beings are created in the image of God. (1:27) So we don’t need to wait for heaven to be caught up in God’s presence. Our life journeys are filed with experiences and people who can point us toward God. Most of us would not say, as some in previous generations did, that this life doesn’t matter. But often we don’t look on our daily lives as overflowing with opportunities to encounter God.

Soon I will go to a “holy place,” where thousands of people have prayed over nearly 150 years, for my annual silent retreat. Whether it is a worthwhile retreat will not depend so much on what happens there as on whether I emerge a better pilgrim, looking for the holy places God puts along my way.

God’s peace,

Katie

The Noticer

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.  

Luke 13:10-13

Pain is all around – large hurts and small ones – but mostly hidden. We may not speak of our pain because someone else must have suffered more or longer. Sometimes we try to tell the world, and ourselves, that we don’t really hurt. Other people seem to be doing OK. Surely we aren’t weaker than they are. We forget that they may be wearing masks just as we are. Sometimes we have carried our pain for so long that we rarely notice it.

The bent-over woman in the synagogue had been looking at the ground for 18 years. She had to expend great effort to see the sky or other people’s faces. Being forced to look at the ground cripples the heart. She likely had forgotten what it was like not to be bent. But Jesus noticed her bentness, called her to him and healed her body and her heart. He reintroduced her to the sky.

Jesus noticed. Jesus noticed people no one else did. He noticed sick and handicapped people. He went out of his way to enter into fellowship with those who were rejected by people with status.

Jesus knew what it was not to be noticed or to be rejected. Even as he went about relieving the suffering of others, many people ignored him. Others rejected him and plotted to kill him. He later was to know the excruciating pain of flogging and crucifixion.

We can suffer no pain that Jesus doesn’t notice. Other people may not notice or care, but we can trust that Jesus does. Whatever our pain, Jesus already has noticed it. So we may as well walk over in prayer and ask him to touch us.

God’s peace,

Katie

Even in Hell

Where can I go from your Spirit? 

Or where can I flee from your presence? 

If I ascend to heaven, you are there; 

if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

-- Psalm 139:7-8

Do you have a personal picture of hell, not the eternal fire kind, but hell on earth – somewhere completely divorced from hope and the experience of God’s presence? For years, mine was the inpatient psychiatric unit at the public hospital where I was a chaplain. Patients were locked away for days or weeks. They had come from a fragile life. They would be discharged on medication to a marginal existence, often to get off the meds and return to the hospital. Visitors were rare. Could there be souls more lost?

When another chaplain began weekly worship there, I couldn’t imagine what that would accomplish. Then he asked me to fill in while he was away. I couldn’t say no, but how does one lead worship in hell?

I arrived with a CD of soothing music, a scripture I thought might be comforting and an innocuous devotional, planning to close with the Lord’s Prayer. The patients, many shuffling, began arriving after the music started. I introduced myself and read my scripture. A few words into the devotional, a patient called out a scripture – book, chapter, verse. To humor him, I looked it up and read it aloud – a passage of great comfort. Another person called out another book, chapter and verse – beautiful words of hope. Over and over, they cited scriptures and I read. Where had these scriptures come from – a long-ago Sunday school class, a parent or grandparent, someone in a shelter? God’s word seemed to bounce off the walls in that forsaken place.

The room became quiet. Time for the Lord’s Prayer? A patient called out, “Matthew 6:9” – the Lord’s Prayer. In awe, I led the prayer. As I walked back to the chaplain’s office, my heart echoed the words, “Where can I go from your Spirit?” Nowhere, not even in hell on earth.

God’s peace,

Katie