Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Reflection for December 31, 2014

"I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it?  I will walk with integrity of heart within my house."(Psalm 101:2)

As we come to the close of 2014 many will begin to think about what they'd like to change within themselves for the coming year.  I saw this verse and thought about some of the things I've tried to accomplish this year and what I might build upon in 2015.

I don't study but I have taken up regular reading.  I've enjoyed this and I hope to keep up with it.  I've been consistent in going to the gym, but my weight loss needs help.  I have tried to keep up with this blog, and that hasn't been perfect yet either.  Same with daily prayer and reading of scripture.

All of these are goals I will keep striving for, and maybe I will attain a consistency that I can be happy with.  And in that the walking with integrity of heart may also occur.  To be able to look myself in the mirror and truly say, you gave it your best each day.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Reflection for December 30, 2014

"The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus."(Acts 15:39)

I don't know why I've been so fortunate but I have never had such a huge disagreement with someone that I could no longer be with them.  I certainly know that this happens to people.  Something gets said or done by one person and the other can no longer be with them.  They get to a place where it is better to go their separate ways.

We don't know if Paul and Barnabas ever reconciled.  We don't know if they talked negatively about the other.  We do know that both went on in their ministries. 

I certainly have lost touch with friends and colleagues in my life.  But never because I was mad at them or we could no longer see eye to eye.  I would hope that if such a moment should arise and that the best course of action would be to end the relationship and move on, I would do so continuing to respect the dignity of the person for whom I once worked with and cared for.

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, December 29, 2014

Reflection for December 29, 2014

"Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth, and the sea and all that is in them."(Acts 14:16)

We all know about cases of mistaken identity.  They can be positive, but more often than not they are negative.  They can involve sweeping generalizations.  We can also have ascribed to us powers that we do not have.  "You're a priest, pray that it doesn't rain."

I'm actually not holier than anyone else, but I can try to show what striving to be holy might look like.  I'm not a better prayer than anyone else, but I can show people how to pray.

Ultimately I'm another human being who does some things well and other things not so well.  I can try to live my life as an example for others, but I can't live their lives for them.  I can share my faith journey and talk about why my faith is important to me, but I can't guarantee a conversion.

I can offer advice to folks who ask for it, I can point in a different direction, give other possibilities, but ultimately we each much choose for ourselves what path we will take.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Reflection for December 18, 2014

"But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them-in that case you may even be found fighting against God."(Acts 5:39)

One of the aspects of the so called "culture wars" is the idea that God must be defended.  If we believe that something is not of God, then it is our job to stop it.  Interesting that in this passage we hear another possibility, let it alone and see if it succeeds.

Gamaliel, the suggester of this stance saw the reality, that if we believe that God is involved in everything, if it is something God doesn't want it will fail, maybe not immediately but eventually.

But that is a hard thing to do, especially if we aren't sure if it is the right thing or not, to let go of control and to see what God does or doesn't do.

Not everything in life is meant to be in our control.  We all have seen things come and go, but the truly valuable things, the things that are truly of God always succeed.

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Reflection for December 17,2014

"Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common."(Acts 4:32)

Often in political discussions I will hear calls for a return to the Judeo-Christian values that our country is founded on.  And if folks are really on a role they will want biblical norms to become the way we live our lives, or at least others who we don't approve of should lead theirs.

Of course what is going on is selective biblical application.  Most of us do this in one form or another.  But I always want to raise verses like this as examples to those who claim to lead a biblically based life, soley resting on God's word.

Really, you've sold all your possessions and hold them in common with others?  Sounds an awful lot like Communism.  Is that how you live?  Probably not.  Pretty rare in this country where capitalism and private ownership of things is almost more important than any biblical principles.

I'm not advocating for a return to this model.  As someone who firmly believes that we should always ask historical questions, it is clear that a small group of people can pull this off.    But they have to consent to it and be of one heart and soul.  I'm not even completely convinced that this is possible.

But I do wonder how much are possessions lay a claim on us.  Often blinding us to the needs of others.  And the more we accumulate the blinder we become. Perhaps in those times that we are blessed well beyond our needs, not necessarily beyond our wants, that we take the "spirit" of this passage rather than the literal of it to heart.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Reflection for December 16, 2014

"And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them."(Acts 3:5)

Asking for help is probably one of the hardest things to do.  We Americans pride ourselves on our ability to pull ourselves up by our own boot straps.  To ask for help is a sign of weakness.  To admit to having needs is actually frightening.

The reality is all of us have needs of some kind that we cannot satisfy or fix by ourselves.  The cripple who fixed his eyes on Peter and John, had help being in the right place to even encounter them.  He also had a pattern of asking for alms and he probably got some every time he was there, but certainly not enough to make him no longer dependent on others.

In the encounter with Peter and John, he expects the same things a couple of coins at the most.  Instead he gets something more.  The ability to stand up and walk. The joy of a changed life.

Sometimes what we are given is not always what we ask for.  Sometimes we are given things we didn't even dare imagine could happen.  But sometimes we are blessed with an encounter that allows us to see another possibility, to get a hand up that helps us get on with life.  Not a hand out that keeps us stuck.

And we are also called to be like Peter and John, we are asked to give what we have.  Sometimes that might be spare change, but how much more valuable is our time, our compassion and perhaps ourselves in the service of others.

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, December 15, 2014

Reflection for December 15, 2014

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."(Acts 2:42)

One of the parts of the baptismal covenant in the Episcopal Church is to continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers.  And all in attendance are supposed to say they will with God's help.

When I hear those words I first sense and invitation to be in community.  I've enjoyed being in fellowship with those who share a commitment to Jesus Christ and the teachings of the church.  I have friends for whom that is not their community as well for the record.  So for me that is how I continue in the Apostles' teaching and fellowship.

The breaking of the bread is for me that invitation to receive communion regularly. For me that means at least weekly.  It can also point towards fellowship around meal times.  I don't really like to eat alone.

Continuing in the prayers for me is again establishing a regular habit of daily prayer.  That tends to be Morning Prayer, but it could be at any time, and also reminds me to hold those in my community in my prayers as well.

While I'm not perfect in keeping all of these 24/7, I do try.  And when I'm faithful to them, I know it is truly with God's help.

Blessings,
Ed

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Reflection for December 13, 2014

"And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was added to the eleven apostles."(Acts 1:26)

How do you make a decision among two good choices?  Flip a coin, roll dice, one potato two potato?
We make decisions all the time.  Most of them more gut feeling than rational.

I like the idea of casting lots. There is not doubt that Justus probably would have been a fine choice too.  But the lot fell on Matthias.

We of course also might pray about the choice and trust that God already has made the choice for us.

We can't control many decisions, and often there's a lot of politicking going on.  But how much more simple would things be if we could bring back lots.

Blessings,
Ed

Friday, December 12, 2014

Reflection for December 12, 2014

He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep."(John 21:17)

Have you ever been asked by someone if you love them?  Probably.  And it sometimes gets asked by someone who you feel should know that you love them. But sometimes folks just need to hear the words to be reassured, even when no reassurance is necessary.

Peter got asked 3 times because he denied Jesus 3 times. A little ritual if you will.  And also a commandment, that this professed love needed to be shown in action towards others.

We can talk of love all we want, but unless we show that love, it is mere words, perhaps trying to cover our tracks.  Whether that love is towards someone near and dear to us, or towards are fellow human beings.  Unless we show it, speaking it will only take us part of the way.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Reflection for December 11, 2014

"Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these.'"(I Samuel 16:10)

Have you ever been trying to find the right person for you or perhaps the right job?  You keep looking but nothing seems to pan out.  In many ways it can feel like being one of the older sons of Jesse!  Why am I not the being chosen?  Doesn't anyone want me?  You might even be tempted to form a support group called the elder sons of Jesse!

But there is of course another way to look at it. That you are not one of the older sons of Jesse, but all those relationships that didn't pan out, all those jobs you didn't get are the older sons of Jesse.  They aren't what God has wanted for you, but there is still one out there.  And like Samuel we have to keep looking, listening and assessing until "David" finally arrives.

When I take that view I find that the disappointments are not so huge.  They still hurt and are frustrating, but I believe that God eventually sends the right person or the right opportunity to us.

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Reflection for December 10, 2014

"He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to slip away from Saul."(I Samuel 13:8)

Waiting and being patient are very hard things to do. This is especially true if you were told a specific time to wait and the time arrives but what is supposed to happen doesn't.

It can throw you into a panic.  Think about waiting for someone to come and pick you up or who is supposed to arrive where you are.  The appointed time comes but not the person.  Now we might pick up our cell phone and call if we're running late, or to find out why someone is late.  But if you are old enough to remember life before cell phones, you know what a sinking feeling that is.  Or even now with cell phones if they don't answer.

You might start to take some kind of action, and in fact make things worse.  Where as if you'd waited and been patient what you were hoping for probably would have come.

It is very hard no doubt.  We aren't good at waiting and being patient these days.  Maybe that's one reason we often feel so stressed.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Reflection for December 9, 2014

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

I hear that line every Good Friday, since the Passion from John is assigned no matter which liturgical year.  I've heard people read that line and insert a "the" before truth.  But "the truth" is not what Pilate asked for, he said what is "truth."  And I think there is a difference.

The truth seems more factual.  Laws of science and math are usually the truth. Lawyers will often try to get the truth out of someone on the stand.  Parents will try to get their kids to tell the truth.  But what is "truth."

For me "truth" seems to be something we seek.  It can't be measured by any given constants.  Truth perhaps can be different for each of us.  There's more of a feeling about it.  Truth as we pursue it, seems to evade a final "the."

Truth seems to me to call forth from us the best we can be.  Truth also invites to recognize the best in others.  Truth creates the space to grow and change.  Once you put a "the" in front of it, you've ended the journey and given your final answer.

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, December 8, 2014

Reflection for December 8, 2014

"I say, 'You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you.'"(Psalm 82:6)

One time while chaperoning an overnight school trip, I had to keep telling certain people to knock it off.  Eventually one of these young men declared "oh my God." when he thought he'd had enough of me.  My response was "today I am your god."

In many ways we are all small g "gods."  We have been given specific gifts to be agents of compassion and love towards others.  We have the capabilities to do amazing things, and each generation seems to build on and sometimes out do the knowledge and power of previous generations.

But much like Peter Parker was told in the original Spider Man movie, "with great power comes great responsibility," so it is with us small g "gods."

We are not immortal, omnipotent, or omniscient.  Heck we aren't even all loving.  But we are invited to share in the divine life as God's children with all the privileges and responsibilities that come with it.  Maybe you don't want to be seen as a god.  Feels egotistical to think someone may worship you.  But I hope that in those god moments that I'm able to live up to the billing.

Blessings,
Ed

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Reflection for December 6, 2014

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."(John 16:12)

Do you ever have those times when your brain feels like it is on overload?  When so much information seems to be coming at you all at once.  You don't feel like there's anytime to process it, and eventually it gets to be too much and you shut down.  You just stop listening.  If you can tell that someone wants to say something more to you, you're probably tempted to say can it wait.

This is especially true when all the data come at you seems negative.  How much bad news can one person take?  I know I have my limits.

It seems very compassionate of Jesus to say I got more info for you, but I can tell you're overloaded and so it can wait.  And it is sometimes helpful to have someone to shut the faucet off for awhile.

It is also true that the information can be positive and yet still overwhelming.  Because we should be constantly learning, we need to figure out how to pace ourselves, so that we can take in the new information and get a handle on it.  But even then we might need someone to tell us to shut it down for a while.

How do you turn it off for a time when you've gotten to that information overload?

Blessings,
Ed

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Reflection for December 5, 2014

"Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"(1 Samuel 3:10)

Listening. How incredibly important and how hard.  We live in a culture where talking is seen as more valuable and only if I'm the one doing it.  Think about any current event and immediately you'll notice that everyone has an immediate, must share opinion.  Perhaps folks do take the time to listen first then talk, but I don't witness that happening.

But how can you truly begin to see how things are, or consider other alternatives, or understand God's will in your life, if all you do is talk.  It may be that listening is scary.  We might hear things that make us uncomfortable.  We'll spend more time talking our defense of the situation rather than actually listening to what is being said.

I do find that I have much more profound things to say, when I've listened first.  And sometimes the most profound thing might be to not say anything at all.  Just because my mouth isn't running, doesn't mean that I no longer exist.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Reflection for December 4, 2014

"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 let them be afraid."(John 14:27)

This is that time of the year, when everyone and everything seems to be in overdrive.  When you add to that manic activity, all of the crazy things that are going on in our world, things beyond our control and yet still affect us, a need for peace seems very real.

That notion of peace being left with us, a gift to be used by us when we need it.  Always there at our disposal if we could just remember.  We've already got it.  It is harder to remember because it isn't a material thing, much as the world would give us.  It is not something that is given wanting something from us in exchange.  The peace of and the from the Lord is just there.

And the times that I find it the most helpful to remember that I already have it is when my heart is troubled and when I am feeling afraid.  Troubled by the injustices I perceive and troubled by all the things that I have to do each and every day, and whether I will be able to accomplish them.  Afraid of the violent actions and reactions to events that seem to just keep boiling over non-stop and wondering if and when they will impact me beyond the media.

But in calling forth that peace, I know I can let my heart do what it needs to do, I can let my mind focus on the positive and let my strength be used to change those things within myself and within my world that I can.

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Reflection for December 3, 2014

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."(John 13:35)

All of us have been told that we will be known by the company we keep.  What type of people do we associate with?  How do they interact with each other?  How do they interact with those outside of the group?

The first standard of judging a group will be how do they treat each other. Do they seem to enjoy each other's company.  Is there a spirit of respect and cooperation?  Do they love each other in word and deed?  Or do they seem to be in constant conflict, snide comments flying all the time.  Whispering in corners?  It doesn't take long to figure it out.  This can be true of any gathering of people and the church as a gathering of people is no different.

When I go into a church gathering I also look to see how the folks interact.  What is the atmosphere like?  Is this a group of disciples who have figured out how to love?

Now love does not mean not challenging each other.  Not being willing to confront behaviors or problems.  But there are ways to do this that are in fact reflecting of the commandment to love.  And as a someone striving to be known as a disciple that is the standard I have to hold for myself.

And then when we are outside of the group, the standard still applies. I am commanded to love, even those I disagree with.  The love doesn't gloss over the disagreement, but it attempts to ensure that we can work through it without getting distracted by personal attacks.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Reflection for December 2, 2014

They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” (John 12:21)

Have you ever met someone famous?  Maybe you won back stage passes to meet some rock star.  Went to a book signing or had an audience with the Pope.  I haven't.

I wonder who I might ask to see, if given a choice of meeting someone famous?  Would I choose to meet Jesus in the way that these folks asked?  As a person of faith I hope to see Jesus face to face as I transition from this earthly pilgrimage into eternal life with those I love in Christ's presence.

But until that mid life crisis I call death, is it possible to see Jesus?  The answer of course is yes!
I might not see a physical person, but I will see glimpses of the presence of Christ in many ways each and every day.  I'll see Jesus in acts of compassion towards other people.  I will see Jesus when a bad situation turns around.  I will see Jesus when broken relationships are mended.  I will see Jesus when people who seem hopeless and downcast are being raised up.

But perhaps the real question is when I look in a mirror will I catch a glimpse of Jesus.  Will that face reveal the very things where I claimed I would recognize Christ?

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, December 1, 2014

Reflection for December 1, 2014

"Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.'"(John 11:21)

If.  Pretty potent word for just two letters.  I usually say or hear if from a place of regret.  It also is usually followed by the word only.  If only I had been there, If only I had more time.  If only......

If rarely leads to action, it often leads to reflection.

Martha says this to Jesus because she'd seen him heal others and why should her sick brother not have been one of those healed?  Thanks for showing up now, a couple of days earlier really would have been great.  Then I wouldn't be mourning a loss.

We know from the rest of the chapter that something great did occur, just not what she'd expected.

But what do we expect when we say if?  Do we believe that something remarkable might happen, or is it just a way of coping with frustration when things don't go the way we'd hoped?  The word if can also be used as a bargaining chip, the old if-then of logic.  If you do x then I'll do y.

There is a part of me that would like to avoid using the word if.  But what word really suffices when you're feeling that frustrated or lost.

Blessings,
Ed