"Therefore, prepare your minds for action, discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed."(1 Peter 1:13)
This is the season of graduations. Right now it is primarily College graduations and next month it will be High School students hearing Pomp and Circumstance. Hopefully time spent in school has prepared these folks minds for action. Hopefully they've developed a discipline of life that will help them to use their time wisely. And I also pray that they see the future in a hope and that their faith might be a constant source of encouragement for them.
It has been 30 years since I received my High School diploma, another 26 for college and 21 for my Master's degree, each prepared me for the actions needed on the next chapter of my life. What I've come to realize is that I must constantly be preparing my mind for the actions I will need to take to accomplish my daily goals in addition to the more long range dreams. I have to take time to think, pray to learn a little more through reading and conversation with others.
I don't think I ever really got good at being disciplined. I'm trying hard to develop disciplines in areas of my life for example physical exercise and prayer. It was certainly easier when outside forces created the structure. It is much harder to discipline one self.
But in all of the cares and concerns of my daily life and even as I dream of what might be in the future, I continue to set my hope on the grace of Christ, because that is what keeps me moving. That grace does not allow me to lose hope when things aren't working out the way I'd planned.
Perhaps the real key to success is to tap into all three, preparation, discipline and hope.
Blessings,
Ed
Monday, May 19, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Reflection for May 13, 2014
"Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger."(James 1:19)
When we elected our previous Bishop, George Councell, I asked a question of all the candidates, "what body part do you lead with and give an example." All of the candidates had an answer, though none gave the one I had in mind, which was the ears.
I wanted a Bishop whose first inclination was to listen. Listening is very hard to do. When I truly want to understand something I need to listen. This is a tough thing for an extrovert like me to do. Not only to make listening the first action but to be slow to speak. To not say the first thing that comes into my mind.
When we are in a conversation slowing down before speaking helps to slow us down from getting angry. I've started by listening and thought carefully about how to respond.
When anger comes on rapidly it is usually because I'm shooting off at the mouth and not doing a whole lot of listening.
I also have found that it is easier to listen to some one who doesn't start off at a place of anger.
Hard steps no doubt. But if followed better results might occur.
Blessings,
Ed
When we elected our previous Bishop, George Councell, I asked a question of all the candidates, "what body part do you lead with and give an example." All of the candidates had an answer, though none gave the one I had in mind, which was the ears.
I wanted a Bishop whose first inclination was to listen. Listening is very hard to do. When I truly want to understand something I need to listen. This is a tough thing for an extrovert like me to do. Not only to make listening the first action but to be slow to speak. To not say the first thing that comes into my mind.
When we are in a conversation slowing down before speaking helps to slow us down from getting angry. I've started by listening and thought carefully about how to respond.
When anger comes on rapidly it is usually because I'm shooting off at the mouth and not doing a whole lot of listening.
I also have found that it is easier to listen to some one who doesn't start off at a place of anger.
Hard steps no doubt. But if followed better results might occur.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Reflection for May 10, 2014
"That no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble."(Hebrews 12:13)
Most of us have probably been around a bitter person. Perhaps there are even times that we have been bitter. Bitter feelings are never positive. They usually stem from some kind of disappointment and the longer they stew the worse they get. When we don't expel the bitterness from within ourselves it just grows like unchecked mold. Eventually taking over and causing trouble not only for ourselves but for those around us as well.
Life will always have disappointments. What we do with those moments and how we respond to them will determine much of how our day or the rest of our lives go.
Blessings,
Ed
Most of us have probably been around a bitter person. Perhaps there are even times that we have been bitter. Bitter feelings are never positive. They usually stem from some kind of disappointment and the longer they stew the worse they get. When we don't expel the bitterness from within ourselves it just grows like unchecked mold. Eventually taking over and causing trouble not only for ourselves but for those around us as well.
Life will always have disappointments. What we do with those moments and how we respond to them will determine much of how our day or the rest of our lives go.
Blessings,
Ed
Friday, May 9, 2014
Reflection for May 9,2014
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."(Hebrews 11:1)
I've liked this definition of faith for a long time. I've had faith all my life, but for a long time defining it would have been tough,
Faith is found in assurance, an optimism towards life, the will and presence of God in my life. Faith is a positive. Faith has an object and points towards a longing a hope. Faith is not a wish. When I hope for something I'm also invited into the working towards it.
Faith is a conviction a strongly held belief or even opinion. Faith invites us to see beyond the measurable proofs of science. Faith doesn't invite us to dismiss those proofs, but calls us to see truths that aren't provable.
Faith is still a practice you have to be striving for assurance, hope and conviction. There will be times when those are hard to hold onto and yet because of faith I will.
Blessings,
Ed
I've liked this definition of faith for a long time. I've had faith all my life, but for a long time defining it would have been tough,
Faith is found in assurance, an optimism towards life, the will and presence of God in my life. Faith is a positive. Faith has an object and points towards a longing a hope. Faith is not a wish. When I hope for something I'm also invited into the working towards it.
Faith is a conviction a strongly held belief or even opinion. Faith invites us to see beyond the measurable proofs of science. Faith doesn't invite us to dismiss those proofs, but calls us to see truths that aren't provable.
Faith is still a practice you have to be striving for assurance, hope and conviction. There will be times when those are hard to hold onto and yet because of faith I will.
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Reflection for May 8, 2014
"For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised."(Hebrews 10:36)
I've never been a distance runner. I'm impressed by people who can seemingly just keep running. While my sport was wrestling, there was endurance involved, six minutes of wrestling can feel like and eternity, trust me.
There are many times in life that call for endurance. That endurance can be physical, it can also be mental, it can also be spiritual. Having to wait patiently to work through the obstacles in life, takes endurance for sure.
Endurance is supported of course by patience and a desire to see something to its fruition or its end. When we tap into endurance and are doing something worthwhile, or "the will of God,". There is a sense of fulfillment in that.
There have certainly been moments in my life, when I've just wanted to "throw in the towel.". Something however pushed me through, urged me on, gave me that last burst of energy. I'll call it the Holy Spirit. Endurance perhaps is one of those gifts of that same Spirit.
Blessings,
Ed
I've never been a distance runner. I'm impressed by people who can seemingly just keep running. While my sport was wrestling, there was endurance involved, six minutes of wrestling can feel like and eternity, trust me.
There are many times in life that call for endurance. That endurance can be physical, it can also be mental, it can also be spiritual. Having to wait patiently to work through the obstacles in life, takes endurance for sure.
Endurance is supported of course by patience and a desire to see something to its fruition or its end. When we tap into endurance and are doing something worthwhile, or "the will of God,". There is a sense of fulfillment in that.
There have certainly been moments in my life, when I've just wanted to "throw in the towel.". Something however pushed me through, urged me on, gave me that last burst of energy. I'll call it the Holy Spirit. Endurance perhaps is one of those gifts of that same Spirit.
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Reflection for May 7, 2014
"For Christ will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."(Hebrews 9:28)
Showing up it has been said is a huge part of living. Right now I'm traveling up the Hudson river on an Amtrak. I will be showing up to spend time with my parents and to attend the Alumni Days at my Seminary the Episcopal Divinity School. This will not be the first time I've taken such a trip, nor will it be the last I hope.
Making return trips to places can be pleasurable, especially if you are going to see people who are looking forward to seeing you and visiting places that are important to who you are as a person. Of course trips can also be to go deal with something or someone that you'd rather be anywhere else.
We proclaim as regularly that Christ will come again. I think it is interesting that while it can be seen as a final judgment, this passage that I quoted makes it seem more like a joyful and longed for reunion. Jesus not coming to deal with us, but to be with us and to take us with him on an incredible journey. I continue to look forward to that trip.
Blessings,
Ed
Showing up it has been said is a huge part of living. Right now I'm traveling up the Hudson river on an Amtrak. I will be showing up to spend time with my parents and to attend the Alumni Days at my Seminary the Episcopal Divinity School. This will not be the first time I've taken such a trip, nor will it be the last I hope.
Making return trips to places can be pleasurable, especially if you are going to see people who are looking forward to seeing you and visiting places that are important to who you are as a person. Of course trips can also be to go deal with something or someone that you'd rather be anywhere else.
We proclaim as regularly that Christ will come again. I think it is interesting that while it can be seen as a final judgment, this passage that I quoted makes it seem more like a joyful and longed for reunion. Jesus not coming to deal with us, but to be with us and to take us with him on an incredible journey. I continue to look forward to that trip.
Blessings,
Ed
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Reflection for May 6, 2014
"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord."(Jeremiah 17:7)
Trusting people is one of the things I try hardest to do. I'm usually not disappointed and can't really recall ever having my trust violated. If someone knows that you trust them, the hope would be that they are empowered to do what should be done. They know you won't micromanage them. Trusting others also frees us not to have to take care of everything. We can share the work that needs to be done.
Trusting in the Lord is like that. When I trust in the Lord, it doesn't mean God has no expectations of me, but that God will be present with me as I go about doing the things God needs me to do. It allows me to let go of things that I can't control or fix and trust God to take care of it. I'm freed from the burden of having to do it all.
The other way to hear the word trust is like a trust fund. Trust funds of course is money set aside to be used by a specific person for various needs that may pop up in life. If our trust is the Lord, much like a trust fund, we can depend on it being there. We can draw from God the sustenance we need. We can return to God the abundance that we don't need. Perhaps allowing that trust to grow so that others may enjoy the fruit of it as well.
I hope that trust is something you have and that you give. When we lose trust, our lives become poorer in many ways.
Blessings,
Ed
Trusting people is one of the things I try hardest to do. I'm usually not disappointed and can't really recall ever having my trust violated. If someone knows that you trust them, the hope would be that they are empowered to do what should be done. They know you won't micromanage them. Trusting others also frees us not to have to take care of everything. We can share the work that needs to be done.
Trusting in the Lord is like that. When I trust in the Lord, it doesn't mean God has no expectations of me, but that God will be present with me as I go about doing the things God needs me to do. It allows me to let go of things that I can't control or fix and trust God to take care of it. I'm freed from the burden of having to do it all.
The other way to hear the word trust is like a trust fund. Trust funds of course is money set aside to be used by a specific person for various needs that may pop up in life. If our trust is the Lord, much like a trust fund, we can depend on it being there. We can draw from God the sustenance we need. We can return to God the abundance that we don't need. Perhaps allowing that trust to grow so that others may enjoy the fruit of it as well.
I hope that trust is something you have and that you give. When we lose trust, our lives become poorer in many ways.
Blessings,
Ed
Monday, May 5, 2014
Reflection for May 5, 2014
"The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."(Psalm 51:17)
To have one's spirit broken is not a good feeling. When you've tried your best to no avail and just ready to give up. There are times I've been in that place. What I've found is that when I give that brokenness up to God, the weight of it disappears and with some time, I'm ready to begin to try again. Hopefully I will have learned something from those failures while not taking on a defeatist attitude.
A broken heart. We've all had those. If you ever dated other people and had the relationship broken by the other person, you know that feeling. If someone you love dies, you know that feeling. If someone you care about in a non-romantic way just breaks off all contact, you know that feeling.
And again in those times that I've been there and had that feeling, it is offering the hurt up to God that binds up the wound. Though in some cases it never fully heals, but we get back to a place of functioning and trust that allows us to offer our heart again.
God doesn't despise us when we are at our lowest points. What I've found is that he waits for us to reach out to him in those moments.
Blessings,
Ed
To have one's spirit broken is not a good feeling. When you've tried your best to no avail and just ready to give up. There are times I've been in that place. What I've found is that when I give that brokenness up to God, the weight of it disappears and with some time, I'm ready to begin to try again. Hopefully I will have learned something from those failures while not taking on a defeatist attitude.
A broken heart. We've all had those. If you ever dated other people and had the relationship broken by the other person, you know that feeling. If someone you love dies, you know that feeling. If someone you care about in a non-romantic way just breaks off all contact, you know that feeling.
And again in those times that I've been there and had that feeling, it is offering the hurt up to God that binds up the wound. Though in some cases it never fully heals, but we get back to a place of functioning and trust that allows us to offer our heart again.
God doesn't despise us when we are at our lowest points. What I've found is that he waits for us to reach out to him in those moments.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Reflecton for 5/3/2014
"You thought that I was one just like yourself"(Psalm 50:21)
Who are you often told you are like? I am told my dad all the time for obvious reasons. And in many ways I am like him. I don't know if anyone has told him he reminds them of me. I am also like my mother.
None of us of course is a perfect copy of anyone. We are all a mixture of the people who have influenced us. And hopefully we've created a unique entity. Of course we may also choose not to reflect at all those who have influenced us.
We of course are also influential on others. We can be a positive influence or one that nobody would wish to be. What we aren't invited to do is project ourselves onto them, neither our positive attributes or are negative ones.
And if this is true in our human relationships how much more so in our relationship with God.
The funny thing is that I have found that how people view God and what they think God is like is often seen quite clearly in how they treat others. That is unfortunate, because none of us really knows fully what God is like, we can only speak of our experience of God. We can see through Jesus what God is like, but we aren't always doing a good job of imitating him.
We are called to be made in the image of God. We are not invited to make God in our image.
Blessings,
Ed
Who are you often told you are like? I am told my dad all the time for obvious reasons. And in many ways I am like him. I don't know if anyone has told him he reminds them of me. I am also like my mother.
None of us of course is a perfect copy of anyone. We are all a mixture of the people who have influenced us. And hopefully we've created a unique entity. Of course we may also choose not to reflect at all those who have influenced us.
We of course are also influential on others. We can be a positive influence or one that nobody would wish to be. What we aren't invited to do is project ourselves onto them, neither our positive attributes or are negative ones.
And if this is true in our human relationships how much more so in our relationship with God.
The funny thing is that I have found that how people view God and what they think God is like is often seen quite clearly in how they treat others. That is unfortunate, because none of us really knows fully what God is like, we can only speak of our experience of God. We can see through Jesus what God is like, but we aren't always doing a good job of imitating him.
We are called to be made in the image of God. We are not invited to make God in our image.
Blessings,
Ed
Friday, May 2, 2014
Reflection for
"You need milk, not solid food."(Hebrews 5: 12)
Most of us started our life here on earth drinking milk, usually provided by our mother. If we are fortunate enough to not have allergic reactions to dairy milk products stay with us as important parts of our diet. Dairy provides us with calcium for strong bones and teeth, helping us to enjoy other foods and life in general.
For me the milk of theology if you will is summarized in that classic Children's hymn, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.". We've all sung of it, and perhaps taught it to others. It is the most basic statement of Christian belief out there, and the foundational one in many ways.
Without that basic knowledge most of the other parts of faith make no sense and are pointless. Dry cereal is not a great breakfast, milk helps me enjoy it more. The same can be said for other parts of my faith, I appreciate them more thanks to that "milk."
While I like cookies a lot, how much more do I enjoy them with a cold glass of milk. The sweet things in life are made sweeter by that "milk."
I could go on, but I think you get the point. Solid food is great, but I enjoy much of it because of the presence of milk. A deeper more mature understanding and living out of my faith is great, but it falls apart if I lose sight and taste for the "milk."
Blessings,
Ed
Most of us started our life here on earth drinking milk, usually provided by our mother. If we are fortunate enough to not have allergic reactions to dairy milk products stay with us as important parts of our diet. Dairy provides us with calcium for strong bones and teeth, helping us to enjoy other foods and life in general.
For me the milk of theology if you will is summarized in that classic Children's hymn, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.". We've all sung of it, and perhaps taught it to others. It is the most basic statement of Christian belief out there, and the foundational one in many ways.
Without that basic knowledge most of the other parts of faith make no sense and are pointless. Dry cereal is not a great breakfast, milk helps me enjoy it more. The same can be said for other parts of my faith, I appreciate them more thanks to that "milk."
While I like cookies a lot, how much more do I enjoy them with a cold glass of milk. The sweet things in life are made sweeter by that "milk."
I could go on, but I think you get the point. Solid food is great, but I enjoy much of it because of the presence of milk. A deeper more mature understanding and living out of my faith is great, but it falls apart if I lose sight and taste for the "milk."
Blessings,
Ed
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