It is Good for Us to Be Here, Lord!

As a pastor I often run into folks at the grocery store, oftentimes people I haven't seen in worship for a long time. One of the first things they say to me is, "Sorry I wasn't in church, I was sick (or out of town, or whatever the case may be." This always causes me to giggle just a little bit because I am not the teacher at the front of the class calling out names to see who is in attendance and handing out demerits if they are absent (though we do miss them when they are away).
"Jones?" "HERE!"
"Madison?" "HERE!"
"Alexander?" "Alexander?"

But at the heart of their apology I believe is a deep desire to be present with the community of faith on Sundays. They miss the Christian companionship. They truly long to be with the saints to give thanks and praise to God. Something is missing and when they see my face it makes them think of their brothers and sisters in Christ. When we gather for worship in the comfort of our faith communities we feel the Spirit's presence, make a sigh of relief and prepare ourselves for honoring God. We say (at least internally if we don't speak it aloud) "It's good for us to be here."

Matthew 17 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”11 He replied, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.”13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Just before this encounter on the mountaintop, Jesus has predicted his death in front of his disciples.  Peter is very unhappy about this and gets a little bossy, "God forbid it Lord! This must never happen to you." I can imagine him saying to Jesus, "Look man, this is not what I signed up for when I dropped by fishing nets by the sea and followed you. I left everything! My people, my business, my security. This is not what I bargained for! Say it isn't so!" 

How often have you felt like that in the face of struggles that arise from your faithful walking with Christ? 

But Jesus quickly gets upset with Peter; he calls him the devil! "Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things!" In other words: You haven't a gosh-darned clue about what God is up to, Pete ole boy, so back down and keep quiet!

Isaiah tells us that God's ways are not our ways. We simply don't get it when it comes to seeing God's hand in our lives because God never does it the way we would do it. The cross of Calvary is the number one example of that fact. 

So then, Jesus invites the top three to take a trip up the mountain. Peter is thrilled with this part of the journey. He says, "Wow! What an awesome view from up here! You can see for miles and miles, Jesus! Thanks for inviting me; I am so very glad to be here." 

“Lord, it is good for us to be here."

On that mountain Peter had the privilege of seeing Jesus' face shine like the sun. He caught a glimpse of Moses and Elijah. He was so excited he wanted to stay up there forever. "Let's put up some tents Jesus and stay awhile!" But the mountaintop experiences of our lives don't last forever. Those rare and wondrous moments when it feels like God is closer to us than ever. Truth is, God is always this close, we simply don't always detect the divine presence. 

The disciples and Jesus descend the mountain. That "high" is over for now but they can hold onto it in their hearts. Ever had one of those amazing experiences where you want to bottle it up and keep it forever? Maybe on your wedding day, or when your child was born? The emotions remain a distant memory as we come down the mountain to ordinary, daily life. That's where we exist. The foot of mountain, not at the peak but at the bottom. And God meets us there too! But often it is sheer faith that carries us through our daily existence. At the base of the mountain we don't hear Peter saying, "It is good Lord for us to be here." But perhaps he should. Perhaps we should. 

We also don't hear Peter saying these words as he tries to stay awake in the Garden of Gethsemane. He utters not a word as Jesus dragged off to Pilate's court. And at the foot of the cross he is nowhere near to even try to speak. In those moments between Jesus' death and the discovery of the empty tomb, when the eleven are hiding out in fear, do we hear Pete say, "It is good for us to be here!?" 

Just silence. 

But it IS GOOD for us to be here. Wherever here happens to be, because God is fully and completely present with us in every "here" there is. At a loved one's hospital bedside, at the side of a casket during calling hours, in a difficult and tumultuous relationship, in our fears and yearnings--- and also in our joys and mountaintop moments. God never goes away. He never hides from us. He is always with us and so that means. . .

“Lord, it is good for us to be here."

Amen. 

Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Have you ever read the The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom? It has been years since I read this true story of a Dutch family that hid Jews in above their watch repair shop and ended up in concentration camps because of their actions. But it is one that I can never forget, especially when I think of the words of Paul who urged believers to "Give thanks in all circumstances." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) In the story Corrie is complaining of how bad things are in the camp and it seems she is losing heart as her sister is ill and they are worried about so many things. Betsy, her sister who is with her in the camp struggling to stay alive, replies with Paul's words.  Corrie cannot understand how her sister can be so upbeat, so hopeful in the face of evil, pain, death and persistently annoying lice that plagued their barracks. She will come to understand later those lice kept the guards away from their crammed quarters which allowed them the freedom to share the Word of God from a tiny bible they managed to smuggle into the camp against their frail, emaciated bodies. This Word of God brought hope, courage and the will to live to many women who otherwise would have certainly given up.

Give Thanks (Photo by Amy Little)

Life can be very hard sometimes.  Circumstances can be very trying. . . especially when they are forced upon us by someone else, when things happen that are not a result of our own doing. Sometimes just living can be a struggle, dealing with demons of the past, or watching things fall apart before our very eyes and realizing that we are helpless to affect the outcome. But Paul instructs us in these matters as well, words that are hard to hear and hard to understand right now, that we are to GIVE THANKS is all circumstances!  ALL circumstances you ask? That's what Corrie asked her sister Betsy.  The answer was "YES! In ALL circumstances." Paul continues by saying, "for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ."

Give thanks, even when we don't feel like it? Yes.

Give thanks when we are in pain and cannot find relief? Yes then too.

Give thanks when our world is turned upside down and we don't know which was is up? Ummm hmm.

Give thanks when it seems there is nothing to be thankful for? You betcha.

Why? Because you don't know what Jesus is doing behind the scenes. Because you need to give up on fixing everything yourself and fully rely in the One who loves you most and who promised to never leave you! Because God has a bigger plan in mind and it is one that you cannot fathom no matter how you try, it's not rational, it's not reasonable, it's not even understandable-- right now that is (and maybe not in this lifetime!) It's a matter of faith, deep faith. . . and even though things are difficult there is always, always, always something to give thanks for in your life! And maybe you will come to find out that the lice that infest your life are just the thing that God is using to create a new thing!

Give thanks to the Lord for his mercy endures forever. Amen.

Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. . .

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever.

Last night in worship we sang the hymn I Want Jesus to Walk with Me. . . 

I want Jesus to walk with me, all along my pilgrim's journey, O Lord I want Jesus, to walk with me!  In my trials, Lord walk with me. . . . when my heart is almost breaking, Lord I want Jesus to walk with me.  When I'm in trouble, Lord walk with me. . . when my head is bowed in sorrow, O Lord I want Jesus to walk with me.

We sing it. . . loudly even. . . like we really mean it, especially when all is well and good and right with the world.  But do we remember our song when life comes crashing in on us, seeking to steal our peace and leaving us in a heap of tears and weeping?  Do we sing it when out of left field something terrible happens and we are reduced to doubt and despair?

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death for you are with me!  

When you walk through the fire you will not get burned! 

(Oh yeah?  That looks like a burn mark there, Father.)  

Perhaps, but remember what I have done for you, how I created the world with a word and how THE WORD experienced the same pain, suffering, degradation, annihilation, and death that you are walking through right now--- and on the third day he rose again! And on the third day he rose again!  Death, where is thy victory? Oh death, where is thy sting?  The wages of sin is death but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

This suffering is but for a moment, God's love for us is forever!  Through every horrific experience, through emotions we don't know how to handle, through answers that never seem to come, for love that seems to do no good, through questions that never manage to leave our lips. . . God's love is forever!  God's love was nailed to the tree and destroyed, but that was not the end of the story!  God's love was so powerful, so perfect, so fully present that it could not be squelched- NOT EVER!  

You, my friends, are loved like that!  Completely and forever! Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, loves you that much! Close your eyes and feel it. Don't doubt it!  Sink into it. . . trust it. . . it is FOR YOU, for always!

Gifts from out of nowhere. . .

See these three crosses? (image removed)
Beautiful aren't they?

They appeared out of nowhere.  As is often the case with my congregation, gifts appear out of seemingly nowhere and for no particular reason!  It's always a joy to me because of course I love gifts, even gifts that are generously shared between two other people. I love to see generosity in action because it is a sign of love.   These gifts, when they are presented to me, remind me that someone is thinking about me and that they care about me, maybe even love me.  It has happened so many times that my shelves (and there are quite a few in my office) are filled with trinkets and plagues and little statues and signs and crosses and pictures and sayings and bowls and books and all sorts of other things that have been gifts to me in the past ten years.  All signs of God's love through the people I am privileged to serve.


Monday we received a magnificent gift from one of our families: a new carillon bell that was installed in the bell tower!  Now the whole town is gifted with the sound of hymns that will lilt toward their ears and hopefully lift their spirits and give them joy.  Another reminder to the village the Christ is truly present- wherever sound can travel, it will be a reminder of God's love for us in Jesus Christ!  This gift was a long time dream of one woman in our parish and the timing just never seemed right. . . but out of the blue (or so it seemed) it all happened in a matter of days.  Coincidentally (I don't think so) ready for Easter the baptism of her great granddaughter!  Kairos moment there! Gift given in water and word and also in sound!

Gifts from God do seem to come out of nowhere lots of times, don't they?  A moment of grace.  A smile on a dark day.  A word of hope just when you needed it most.  A phone call just to say, "I only wanted to hear your voice." These are small, but very effective reminders of God's love for us and of the love we share with one another in Christ.  We are also gift bearers in the name of Christ!  Our very presence can be a gift to someone and we may not have any idea that the Lord of our lives is using us to bring peace, contentment, even joy to the moment at hand.

As you continue your Holy Week journey toward the Last Supper, the Mandatum (foot-washing), Arrest, and Crucifixion. . . be aware of the gifts being given to you in each moment.  It was be a gift of mercy in your pain, a gift of hope in your darkness, a gift of laughter in your crabbiness, a gift of food in your hunger, a gift of water in your thirst, a gift of love in your loneliness.  And be aware of how Christ is using you to meet the needs of another as well.  In the giving is the greatest gift of all!

Have a blessed Holy Wednesday. . . hang in there. . . you know the WHOLE story so cling to it even as you dwell in each moment along the way!

God Meets Us Right Where We Are

For my doctoral paper I worked with the family system of Jacob and Esau, those famous biblical twins who began their life vying for approval and superiority over one another.  In the womb Jacob wrestled with his twin, so much so that their mother feared for her life.  Just before the two meet later in life, after betrayal, lost blessings and much anger, Jacob wrestles with God at the Jabbok River. Jacob, by his very nature is a wrestler.  Some people just are. . . they like to wrangle, roll around, get twisted up and sweaty.  God took Jacob to the mat but in the end he blessed him with a new name, Israel. He met Jacob right where he was; God didn't expect Jacob to be anyone other than who he knew himself to be.  God worked with his frailties and failings and made him a great nation as was promised to his grandfather Abraham.

The Greenway Trail Along the Genesee River, New York

I have been a runner since I was a small child.  I remember racing through the neighborhood with the boys because the girls couldn't keep up with me.  In grade school it was also the boys who were my competition, and only a couple of them at that.  Running was my life from very early on.  In High School I was the one who gathered the team and and put the group through our workouts.  In college I continued to run, not just around the green rubberized oval but from all things that sought to drown me: emotions, pain, brokenness.  I was a great runner- successful on the track, successful at running away from God.  At the age of 43 I have slowed down considerably, thanks to a slowly aging body, but in my heart I am still a runner.  Sometimes I still run from God.  Sometimes I still run from my emotions.

On retreat last week I realized the connection between Jacob, the wrestler, and me, the runner.  God has consistently and faithfully met both of us right where we are.  God is quite an athlete you know!  He probably even plays soccer, basketball and field hockey!  Anyway, here is something I wrote last week that I'd like to share with you, for whatever it's worth. . .

Jacob wrestled.
In the womb,
with his twin,
life or death struggle.


God wrestled
with the wrestler,
let me go,
no- I won't!
Let me go,
not before you bless me!
Let me go,
You are Israel.


I run.
From pain, from the past
from darkness and death.
You, O God,
strap on your running shoes
life or death race
tie them tight
stretched and ready
You will not let me
outrun your love
You chase, pursue,
match strides in mercy
On your mark,
get set,
Here I am for you- ALWAYS!