Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Reflection for September 30, 2014

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted."(Psalm 25:16)

One of the problems that I encounter daily, just from being on the internet is the level of fear and dis ease  that seems to be permeating the world.  I wonder what the root of it might be?  A piece of that puzzle may very well be that many people feel lonely.  We can have hundreds and in some cases thousands of Facebook friends.  We can be surrounded daily by people and yet feel lonely.

Part of that loneliness comes from watching our world change. The things which at one time made us feel connected are snapping.  We look around and see people who don't look like me taking the places that were usually held by people like me.  I begin to wonder, will anyone understand me?  Loneliness comes when we stop being able to relate to a wider variety of folk.  I would think it would be very lonely to be a liberal voice in a conservative area, or a conservative voice in a liberal area.  Very few of us are called to being a prophetic witness.

And as we begin to slip further into that lonely space we start to feel afflicted, physically and emotionally.  And all of this just deepens that hole we find ourselves in.  And eventually we get to a place of crying out for help.  Will anyone notice us?  Can we get some level of graciousness extended our way.

Part of it for me, when I get feeling lonely is to reach out to those real friends.  I also do as the psalmist does cry out to God.  And once I can give voice to all that is weighing me down, either through prayer, or even over lunch with a trusted friend, or both, the healing I may need can begin.

Blessings,
Ed 

Monday, September 29, 2014

Reflection for September 29, 2014

"Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you increase and possess the land."(Exodus 23:30)

One of the things I've been coached to do in my daily exercise is to pace myself.  To not rush through my routines.  That slow and steady approach is actually better for my muscles and my cardio.  Same is true for any large project, when I take my time work on it a little each day, it gets done without being done sloppily and again without burning me out.

Change within ourselves and change in the world we live in is often more successful when it is done little by little.  Rapid change makes us feel unsteady.  Too much paradigm shifting is usually more than we can bear in a short period of time.  But the change that is gradual the one that almost goes unnoticed I find is often the longest lasting.  It has time to become the new norm and doesn't really give a reason to look back longingly on what was.

The reason God often takes time with us and patiently helps us to little by little make the changes we need, is that he know, as we also know, that some times the best and most beautiful things in life take time.

Blessings,
Ed

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Reflection for Septemer 27, 2014

"But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."(Matthew 24:36)

One of the most important tools in living life these days is some form of colander.  A day to day planner with hours is even better.  Sometimes we even have them now on our phones or other electronic devices.

I would forget appointments if I didn't write them down.  I'd probably double book myself.  It also helps me to use the unhooked time better when I can see the day laid out.  I like to keep some flexibility but some structure is essential.  This was especially true when the boys were home.

But there is much in life that cannot be scheduled. There are things that can be placed in ranges of time, yet the more significant moments, the truly life changing ones we only see in hindsight, and usually can't prepare.

I find it amusing that there are people out there who claim to know when Jesus will return.  Did they not read the Bible?  Only one person, God, knows when the event will occur, and he isn't talking.  I figure it is because he knows human nature.  How we would begin to prepare maybe a day ahead but perhaps only a few minutes.  So by keeping us in suspense it helps us to keep our focus on doing what we should be doing.

I may pass away before Christ returns.  But in the meanwhile I will keep doing what I would hope to be found doing, should it be today

Blessings,
Ed

Friday, September 26, 2014

Reflection for September 26, 2014

"So you on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."(Matthew 23:28)

We all know that appearances can be deceiving.  We may see someone and our brains take in the information provided by the eyes and we make a judgment.  Sometimes are judgments are accurate, but it is true that our eyes can deceive us.  There are people who by outward appearance seem successful, wealthy, or perhaps the opposite a failure or poor.  It is also true that people can put on a good show.

If we take the time to get to know the person a little deeper than their outward appearance we might be surprised with what we learn.  I certainly have gotten to know folks who at first glance I might have thought about not engaging.  Put them into a neat little box that I've determined and go from there.  Frankly that's lazy.  When I take the risk of going deeper, I do find that my initial call was right.  But I've also been fooled at times.  Trusting when I shouldn't have.  I hope I haven't done the other way to much where choosing not to go deeper based on initial impressions and missing out on getting to know someone fascinating.

I try to make the outward me be an honest representation of the true me.  I hope that what people see is what they get, and that what they get is positive.  Might not always be true, but it is what I strive for.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Reflection for September 25, 2014

"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."(Matthew 22:40)

I'm not really into rules.  While I understand the purpose of rules, laws, commandments etc. it seems to me that most rules follow from a central premise and a mindset of how we interact with each other.

The point Jesus is trying to make is that of all the commandments, and some believe that throughout the Hebrew scripture there are 613, that there are two from which all the others flow, loving God with everything you are, and loving neighbor as self.

How simple.  Any of the commandments on religious practice flow from loving God with all your heart, soul and mind.  The minutia is where we get bogged down.  The same goes for commandments that address are interaction with others, love them the way you love yourself.  Even if you just looked at the "10 commandments"  they flow out of that premise.

Now at first that looks really easy, but hears the rub, you have to love yourself.  Not in an egotistical way, but in a humble way, that doesn't beat itself up but acknowledges the image of God in one's self.
But if you're not a fan of you, I doubt the loving neighbor is going to work out real well for your neighbor.

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Reflection for September 24, 2014

"Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."(Matthew 21:22)

Prayer is an important part of the Christian life.  We are called to prayer daily.  We have prayers of intercession and prayers of thanksgiving.  Ultimately for me prayer is a continued dialogue with God and a way of keeping other people and the world in front of me.

I don't believe prayer is a mechanism for wish fulfillment.  I do believe prayer helps me prioritize and sort through my wants and my needs.  I do pray for healing for others.  That might be a physical healing but it may also be the strength to meet the challenge of bad health. Can there be a peace of mind. 

This passage challenges what I think about prayer.  The promise that I will receive what I pray for if done in faith, has not always materialized.  Is the problem the faith behind the prayers?  I don't think so.  And yet I know people who pray for things to happen and they do, and others who may pray for the same type of thing and be disappointed.  Yet I find it hard to conclude that one's faith was stronger than the others.

I have heard that people have been advised that sometimes God's answer is no.  But that too makes God seem rather selective.  I find it truer that a response comes but it doesn't always look like what I expected.  Sometimes what is received may be even more than I could have  asked or imagined.  And may actually be what I really wanted and needed deep within.

I won't stop praying just because I haven't won the lottery, and people continue to get sick and die.  I will always pray that in the midst of disappointments and sometimes joy filled moments that God is truly there.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Reflection for September 23, 2014

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."(Psalm 19:14)

Whenever I preach I begin with this verse.  Others say in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. But for me asking that what I say and what I've though and prepared will be acceptable to God.

I'd like to believe that every thing that comes out of my mouth would be acceptable, but I know it isn't.  There are times when I say cruel and hurtful things deliberately.  There are times when I say things that do not reflect well on who I am and perhaps show a shadow side of me that I'm not as proud of.

Same is true of my thoughts.  I'd like to believe I think in ways that would be acceptable to God, but I know that isn't true all the time.  I can be distracted by things that aren't in line with what God would have me do.  That if I gave action to them might reflect poorly on me.

So I pray every day that most of my words, most of my thoughts and my actions are heading in a God direction.  And try very hard to limit those that aren't.

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, September 22, 2014

Reflection for September 22, 2014

"But he said, O Lord, please send someone else."(Exodus 4:13)

Have you ever been asked by someone to do something?  And as you thought about it you weren't sure you were the best person for the job, or perhaps you really just weren't interested.  The problem being that the person asking you to help is someone who is important to you and while you may offer some excuses as to why you can't, and perhaps even suggest that someone else could do it.  In the end you wind up fulfilling the request.

Moses tries to get out of God's call by saying he's not much of a public speaker, and finally tries to say send someone else.  The problem for Moses is that God already knows this but sees in Moses a leadership quality that will be necessary.  Yes he gives Moses the help he needs to accomplish his mission, but it is overcoming Moses' reluctance and self loathing that is the greatest battle.

And I find this is true.  That rarely do we see in ourselves the gifts to be able to do what is asked of us.  And yet when we get past our own self doubts and trust that we wouldn't be asked to do something we truly were not called to do or able to do, we might be amazed at how we were exactly the right person to do it.

Blessings,
Ed

Friday, September 19, 2014

Reflection for September 19, 2014

"Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good."(Genesis 50:20)

One of the harder things in life to get is that not everyone has your best interests at heart.  I certainly have experienced people who have done things intentionally to me or said things about me that just weren't true in order to hurt me in some way.

It is also true that from time to time bad things happen to us.  Things beyond our control that make us say why me?  It is also true that when the initial pain of the experience ways off, we sometimes see a different outcome emerge, one that we would not have expected given the circumstances that surrounded us.  And there are even times when something good miraculously occurs and a new and incredible chapter in our lives begins.

It certainly is not easy to see it at first.  Generally it is obvious in hindsight.  Yet there happens for all of us either a learning or a new direction that emerges from the folly of others towards us, or sometimes even our own foolish choices.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Reflection for September 18, 2014

"Get behind me Satan! You are stumbling block to me; for you are setting our mind not on divine things but on human things."(Matthew 16:23)

Have you ever had someone's opinion of you change rapidly.  Gone from best buddy to worst enemy.  Maybe you're not even sure what you did to cause such a drastic change in the friendship status.

Seems to be what happens to Peter.  He goes in one chapter from getting it right about who Jesus is, to wrong about what that means and will entail.  Goes from being "The Rock" to "Satan." 

His problem of course is he didn't like Jesus' understanding of what being the Messiah means and what the result would ultimately be.  It didn't sound like a very good plan.  And so Peter, after feeling like he's the smartest kid in the class decides to tell Jesus that this is a bad plan and we need a better one.  And shazam he's now Satan.

Focusing on divine things instead of human things is easy, when the divine lines up well with what I want to happen.  Not so much when what I'd like to see happen isn't part of the divine plan.  The real problem is how do we know the difference?  We could see how well what we're thinking gels with what scripture tells us?  But sometimes scripture tells us two different things on the same subject.  Sadly we really don't get to see if something is truly divine until we see whether it succeeds or happens.  But it leaves us not fully knowing and having to trust when we decide which way to go.

Will we have enough courage to risk getting it wrong or do we stay quiet and stuck.

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Reflection for September 17, 2014

"Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."(Matthew 15:27)

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.  So goes the little child rhyme that was supposed to help us deal with the teasing and taunting from others that might be encountered when growing up.  I certainly can attest to the fact that I had more names thrown at me growing up than I care to recall.  I wish I could say that it didn't hurt, but that would be a lie. 

I certainly progressed to a point now where even if someone was to call me a name, I'd be more likely to have a snappy comeback.  It's a progression for sure, from the walk away with my head hung low and my tail between my legs, which is what I would do as a child, as a teen I probably would respond physically.  But as an adult, the snappy comeback or a little humor works wonders for me.

I like the woman's response to Jesus.  Snappy comeback for sure.  He implied that she was nothing more than a dog.  But rather than walk away defeated, she stood her ground and responded in a way that opened Jesus' eyes to her real humanity.

What are those times when we need to stand up for ourselves, not by denying what was said, but offering the other person a different perspective.  Catch them off guard and get them to examine their own biases.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Reflection for September 16, 2014

"But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord save me!'"(Matthew 14:30)

Have you ever stepped out of your comfort zone and tried something that was new to you and perhaps even a little risky.  Not necessarily unsafe, but something where success was not guaranteed.
And as you venture forth, much to your surprise it seems to be working.  But as you continue questions start to come up, the original smoothness of the journey starts to evaporate, and you begin to doubt yourself and wonder why you tried this in the first place.

When we leave our comfort zone and take a leap of faith with something, we believe that we are being called by Christ to do it.  And if we can keep our focus on Christ and not the naysayers or even our own doubts and questions we might find success.  However if we allow those things to distract us, sinking is about the only thing will probably occur.

Sometimes it seems easier just to stay in the comfort of the familiar and just keep rowing.  But from time to time you have to get out of the boat.

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, September 15, 2014

Reflection for September 15, 2014

"And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, 'Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.'"(Matthew 13:57)

Next month I'm going back to Metuchen, my hometown, for my 30th High School reunion.  I'm not going back with any fear or trepidation or expectation of being rejected.  Most of the people who will be at this reunion, know that I'm a priest but also know that I'm not a holier than thou kind of person.
Perhaps if I'd gone back before the Facebook era, it might have been different.  Reunions are funny that way, people recalling by gone days and some perhaps keeping you frozen in time. 

I find it true that who I am now is not exactly who I was as a person growing up.  Are any of us really.  And while who I was growing up wasn't all that bad, no bizarre reputation to live down, there might be some who could not allow for the growth that I've had as person.

Maybe that's why for some of us going back to our hometown is something we avoid for the most part. Can we be taken seriously for who we are now?  Or will we still be that same person that they remember, even if we'd just assume forget.

There are of course others who never leave their hometown.  Perhaps they grow to become different in the locals eyes.  But it is also possible that they can get just as stuck in the past.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Reflection for September 11, 2014

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."(Matthew 10:34)

On the anniversary of the terrorists attacks on our country, many of us continue to pray for peace and healing among the nations.  Certainly healing for those who suffered loss of loved ones on that day, but also for those who lost loved ones as a result of our reaction to that attack in our military excursions into Iraq and now Afghanistan, and as of last night now potentially Syria.

Where does it ever end.  As the dad of an enlisted Navy personnel I assure you I take these situations very seriously.  But I also believe fully in the Prince of Peace.

Yet here's that line from Jesus saying no peace but a sword.  That is usually the rhetoric of the militant, not peacemakers. 

I do know that conflict within and without is real, even when following Jesus.  How do we reconcile that inner conflict between a violent response to terrorism versus calls for peace and unity?  With threats seemingly everywhere, which way does our faith point us to?

I don't know the answer, and when looking at a group like ISIS, I am in conflict, a sword indeed. 

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Reflection for September 10, 2014

"When the Pharisees saw him this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'"(Matthew 9:11)

Has anyone ever questioned why you are hanging out with someone?  Personally I have a wide variety of friends.  They cut across the spectrum of politics, religious commitments, gender, race, sexual orientation, class and age.  I've always tried to just be with people and accept them for who they are.  If they want to be my friend, I'm happy to have them as friends.

For me that is a way of patterning my life after Christ.  I notice that he stays engaged with the people he encounters, even those who question everything he does, eg. The Pharisees.  Jesus never concerns himself with public opinion but chooses to befriend everyone and anyone who responds to the invitation.

I'm richer for having this variety in my social circles.  I'm glad to not be pigeon holed into being seen with only a particular clique.  If there are people who don't like that I have friends who aren't like them, that's their problem not mine.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Reflection for September 9, 2014

"A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep."(Matthew 8:24)

I have heard and probably said myself from time to time I'm just swamped.  That notion of feeling overwhelmed by all that there is to do on a given day.  Trying to sort through it all, determining what is a priority, what would be nice to get to, and also what will have to wait.

The problem with feeling swamped is that it usually affects one's abilities to sort through everything rationally.  Most of the time we just feel like quitting and going down with the ship.  We might ask for help if we are smart, maybe delegate some of the tasks to others.  But there is also the reality that there might be no one to delegate these things to.  Perhaps there aren't tasks at all, but things going on in our lives that overwhelm us emotionally and we feel "swamped and sinking."

We find in the next verse that Jesus was in that same boat, but apparently not feeling the same level of anxiety over the storm or the swamping of the boat.  He was so calm as to be asleep.  But when called upon, he took care of it.  I wonder if he was annoyed at being woken up.

In our lives when we have that feeling of perishing are we willing to wake up  our "sleeping Jesus."  My hope is that our conversations with him and his presence in our lives is such, that he hasn't fallen asleep and that we don't just wake him up, when we are in another fine mess.

Blessings,
Ed

Monday, September 8, 2014

Reflection for September 8, 2014

"In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets."(Matthew 7:12)

Everyone has heard of the "Golden Rule."  Some variation of it can be found in every religion, every philosophical school.

I've heard it phrased in a cautionary way, "do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you."  And while I don't disagree with that, I like to frame things in a positive, and also this seems to be a way of stopping bad behavior not promoting good behavior.

When I have to choose an action I try to keep in mind Jesus' take on this ethic of reciprocity.  What will I do in that case.  If the situation was mine to receive action from another, what would I hope that they would do?  And then I try to go and do it!

It is also true that I don't see it as do unto others as they have done to you.  That just feels like revenge if it is a negative, though I will concede that it is also trying to keep you from going overboard in your response.  Of course if what occurs is positive, then it becomes almost a pay it forward moment.

But I still come back to treating others the way I want to be treated.  There response to that, is out of my control.

Blessings,
Ed

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Reflection for September 6, 2014

"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven."(Matthew 6:1)

At the end of August I was out in Seattle. The Thursday before I left I had the chance to walk around the streets of that city.  On at least two occasions I saw a person standing on the corner with a sign, telling others to either accept the Lord Jesus, or something about the 10 commandments, they were clearly in favor of them.

I had a fleeting moment of temptation to go engage them by asking how they understood Matthew 6.  Did it mean anything to them given what they were doing.  I chose not to give into that temptation for a couple of reasons.  First, I was more interested in sight seeing than entering into a theological debate.  Second, I doubted they would understand or get my point. Finally, I realized I had made a promise to respect the dignity of every human being and getting in their face would violate that and bring me down to a level I wasn't interested in.

I do wish that more people would spend time doing things in the name of Jesus that he actually told us to do.  I doubt that standing on a street corner does much to honor the Lord, but probably reinforces the feeling of those who are doing it, that in their suffering and rejection by others they are honoring God.  Again if their passion could only be channeled in a different direction.

While I don't stand on street corners, I do wonder if there are things I do that amount to practicing my piety before others, so that I'll be noticed by them.  Yes I should practice my piety but only to strengthen my relationship with God.  The moment I seek accolades from others I'm in trouble.

Blessings,
Ed

Friday, September 5, 2014

Reflection for September 5, 2014

"Let your word be Yes, Yes or no, no anything more than this comes from the evil one."(Matthew 5:37)

Have you ever been told it is a simple yes or no question?   I often think nothing is ever a simple yes or no.  I'd like to give some thought before giving an answer.  Eventually every request made of us or by us needs a yes or a no.

We know that saying yes when we really mean no usually puts us in an awkward place.  Saying no, when we really could have and should have is also problematic.

If we can get ourselves to a place of saying yes, when we really mean yes, and no when we really mean no, and following through and sticking with our decisions life is a lot smoother.

Blessings,
Ed

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Reflection for September 4, 2014

"And the Lord said, 'Look, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will not be impossible for them.'"(Genesis 11:6)

If you hope to ever get anything accomplished as a group, communication is key.  Even if is not a group, but just you and one other person, understanding each other is essential.

If someone doesn't speak English, I'm at a loss, because I too don't speak other languages. I wish I did.  Four years of Spanish in High School got me no comprendo.

But I also know that my lack of knowledge in other languages is just one stumbling block to communication. I can think that what I'm saying is quite clear and still get a response of I don't understand.

In this passage God doesn't seem pleased with human cooperation.  That's why he causes them to babble.  Perhaps what he saw them doing was not cooperating in any way that was positive.  They were on the same track just the wrong one.

I always long for greater cooperation and understanding with others.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if not only things wouldn't feel so impossible but that they would also be things worth doing together.

Blessings,
Ed

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Reflection for September 3, 2014

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me."(Psalm 3:5)

Having just gotten back from the West Coast last week, I've found getting back into a normal sleep pattern hasn't been easy.  For a while my internal clock was waking up at around 5 am, and off to the gym I'd go.  Since my return I've need the alarm to wake me up.  While that's not really a huge problem, I know I liked just waking up, not being jolted by the alarm.

Sleep like any other important aspect of life, has a its own unique pattern.  There may even be rituals around sleep, some intentional, some that we're not even conscious of.  When you think about how your day generally starts and ends, do you notice rituals or habits?  If something interferes with those rituals or habits do you notice.

The ability to fall asleep and the gift of waking up another day are things I give thanks to God for. And I know that sooner rather than later that pattern I had before heading to Pacific Standard Time will come back.

Blessings,
Ed

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Reflection for September 2, 2014

"Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you.'"(Matthew 2:13)

In my 48+ years on the planet I have moved 10 times.  The first two moves were because my father accepted a call first to a church in Olathe Kansas, and then when he was called to Metuchen, NJ.  So those moves I had no control over, they were a result of my father following a call.  The next move was to Grinnell Iowa for college.  While that may not technically be a move, in many ways it was because I did relocate for parts of the year and felt just as much at home there.  It is also true that I was following a call to go to college.  While I never dreamed about Grinnell, I can see how God played a role in bringing me there.  Same was true for the next move to Newburgh NY, there pursuing a call to be an Admissions Counselor.  Hindsight shows me why God sent me there, I met Gail!

Next came a move back to Metuchen in order to enter the ordination process.  Again no dream, but certainly following a call from God.  Then up to Cambridge MA for seminary.  No dream, but God certainly sent me there via better financial aid.

Then came the move to Cherry Hill as I began my vocation.  A bigger house was needed with the impending birth of Michael. Unfortunately we had to flee that place, but then landed in Barrington NJ. Again no dream, but God's guiding and protecting hand present throughout.

Lastly 19 years ago, the move to Wenonah.  I don't recall dreaming about Wenonah. but it has been a dream to be here.  I don't know if and when I will move again, but I hope that it will be because of a clear call from God.  That it won't be because I have to flee.

Blessings,
Ed