Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Reflections for December 10, 2013

"Pilate asked him, 'What is truth?'"(John 18:38)

I will tell you something true, right now it is snowing in Wenonah.  How long that will be the truth, I don't know, but right now it is the truth.

How do we actually know what truth is?  We are told to tell the truth, don't lie etc.  How we experience things in life makes them our truth. And yet sometimes our truths are not the same as other people's truths.  It gets confusing.

We get bombarded with lots of truths from the media, often contradicting each other.  How are we to syphon through these truths and find what is reality.  If we say something enough times does it just become true?

Pilate never got an answer to his question.  Jesus had said those who belong to the truth would listen to his voice.  I try to listen for that voice, and sometimes I believe I hear it.  Sometimes it convicts me, sometimes it encourages me, sometimes it applauds. 

The truth seems to be that when we are listening, thinking and praying, the actual truth has a fighting chance of surfacing from all those other truths competing for our attention.

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, December 9, 2013

Reflections for December 9, 2013

"I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask that you protect them from the evil one."(John 17:15)

Have you ever just wanted to escape?  Leave the world behind, make a run for it.  Not have to deal with all the world's problems in addition to the one's you actually have some responsibility for. Perhaps some people would call that "going off the grid."

I know of people who seasonally or for a time will fast from electronics. No TV, no computer, no cell phone, no radio.  I'm impressed by that, but I doubt I could pull it off.  I won't deny that there are times that it is very tempting to do so.  No information overload and no one can find me.

The reality for me is that I really can't and probably wouldn't even if I could.  The above prayer makes sense to me.  I don't want to be taken out of the world, with all its trouble, but would like to be protected from harm, both literal and metaphorical.  How do I avoid the poisoning of my soul, when I'm bombarded with so much bad news and negativity?  Yes God, please protect me from the evil one.

I don't hear the prayer asking me to ignore evil, to not speak out against it, but instead to not let it overwhelm or defeat me totally.

That unity with God through Christ, is what makes this possible for me. It is in knowing that Christ has already prayed for me and that others hopefully hold me in prayer too that makes being in this world worth it.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Reflection for December 5, 2013

"In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."(John 14:2,12, 27)

Usually I just find one verse in the assigned readings to reflect on but today the 14th chapter of John had three verses that I have always found helpful and inspiring.

When I think of the many rooms that I've called mine they each have represented very well who I was at that time.  I remember my bedroom in Metuchen, covered with it's rock posters, the loud music blaring out of my stereo as I spun my records.  Or listening to Mets games on the radio and falling asleep.  The closet with it's shelves, and a window that looked out to the back yard.  The next rooms that I recall where at Grinnell, 4 different dorm rooms, the first two I shared with others but claimed my space again making it reflect me.  The last two my own with objects that defined who I was at the time.  I had an apartment next and it had a small and temporary feel to it.  And it was that metaphorically as well.  As I grew up and shared my life with Gail, our room, our house began to reflect us.  Still does.

The second verse that I noted I've always felt challenged by.  Am I actually being told that I can out do Jesus?  I certainly believe that I am called to model my life after Christ, but I am not called to be Christ.  But I do have a ministry there are "works" that I am called to do and perhaps the challenge isn't to do better than Christ himself, but to do even greater works than I'm already doing.  To become more of who I am called to be.

Then that last part about the peace that Christ gives.  That peace isn't always an absence of conflict, though that's nice, but a confidence in the presence of Christ at all times.  That relationship with God through Christ is radically different from what the world gives us.  That relationship with Christ, invites our hearts not to be troubled and not to be afraid.  The peace that I am left with is the absence of fear.

Blessings,
Ed