We have been in the Emerald City for the past 48 hours getting ready to celebrate a wedding. While Seattle is known for its rain, we have been blessed with sunshine and beautiful sunsets across the Sound. How did we get so lucky?
People like to speak about luck all the time. It was a lucky catch. He was lucky to get the job. People even discount luck by saying, "Luck had nothing to do with it." How did such a word get into our vocabulary?
I believe this word is a part of our language because we desire something that will enable us to make sense of things when they seem to make no sense. Since there are times when skill is not enough, we attribute it to good fortune. The realist among us would decry the use of fortune to explain events, but their rationality lacks credibility as well. There is something else at work in this world and we don't know how to describe it except to call it "luck."
Now we who are religious might say that this is the work of the Spirit. We who are sensitive to spiritual matters might say that there is an experience that goes beyond what are mind can wrap itself around and comprehend. If we open ourselves to this other reality it takes us beyond luck to an awareness that we are not in control of all things, and that this world is not the stable ecosystem that we attempt to make it out to be.
How do we deal with some of the bad and good luck as people of faith? Do we simply agree with some authors of the Bible who would say that such things are the result of previous actions and the reward for our faithfulness or lack thereof? Or do we agree with other writers in Scripture who would remind us that the rain falls upon the just and unjust alike? I would go with the latter, and rather than trying to make sense out of everything in this world, simply choose to work for good and not bad. I would accept that there are things that happen that I cannot explain and simply trust that God is working for good despite my lack of understanding. I will choose to trust. How about you?
Peace.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Getting Our Hands Dirty
I would love a clean and orderly life. I would like to believe that everything could clean up with a little effort. I would like to think that the laws of thermodynamics don't apply to me or to the world in which I live. I would like to believe, but it just doesn't work that way.
The world is a messy place. If we try to stay above the fray, keep ourselves clean and holy we miss the point. All too often we use our belief systems to avoid the ugly garbage that crowds our world. All too often we hope that by saying the right prayer or doing the right deed we can avoid the pain that stigmatizes this world. All too often we look for God to lift us out of the mire so that we might experience a glory apart from this life. Yet the gospel of Jesus is all about a God who will not defer, but instead goes to great lengths to enter into the mire. In doing so he does not irradicate the ugliness of this world, but somehow gives us courage to see the holy in the midst.
Over the last few weeks my church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has chosen to enter into the mess with foolish courage rather than simply pretending that it is too holy for such things. I realize by going there that we have upset many and caused doubts to arise. I realize that the easier path would have been to do nothing and avert our eyes. Yet, by trusting in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit and getting our hands stained, I believe the ELCA has clearly acknowledged that it will not be a dead religion seeking to maintain itself pristine and pure. This choice to step into the mess, knowing that there are no easy answers has meant that the church is now openly acknowledging the stain of sin in its midst and the ongoing redeeming activity of Christ that restores us. Being unsure of where one begins and the other ends, we live in this mystery of grace bounded only by our love in Christ.
Luther as he was dying was quoted as having said, "we are all beggars." Yes, it is true. If we pretend we have the answers, or imagine that we can maintain our holiness we have mistaken our abilities for God's nobility. We are beggars, beggars with dirty hands as we interact with and engage in a messy world. While I do find myself wishing for an orderly life, nonetheless I for one am learning to be okay with such an image, and I hope others will as well.
Peace.
The world is a messy place. If we try to stay above the fray, keep ourselves clean and holy we miss the point. All too often we use our belief systems to avoid the ugly garbage that crowds our world. All too often we hope that by saying the right prayer or doing the right deed we can avoid the pain that stigmatizes this world. All too often we look for God to lift us out of the mire so that we might experience a glory apart from this life. Yet the gospel of Jesus is all about a God who will not defer, but instead goes to great lengths to enter into the mire. In doing so he does not irradicate the ugliness of this world, but somehow gives us courage to see the holy in the midst.
Over the last few weeks my church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has chosen to enter into the mess with foolish courage rather than simply pretending that it is too holy for such things. I realize by going there that we have upset many and caused doubts to arise. I realize that the easier path would have been to do nothing and avert our eyes. Yet, by trusting in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit and getting our hands stained, I believe the ELCA has clearly acknowledged that it will not be a dead religion seeking to maintain itself pristine and pure. This choice to step into the mess, knowing that there are no easy answers has meant that the church is now openly acknowledging the stain of sin in its midst and the ongoing redeeming activity of Christ that restores us. Being unsure of where one begins and the other ends, we live in this mystery of grace bounded only by our love in Christ.
Luther as he was dying was quoted as having said, "we are all beggars." Yes, it is true. If we pretend we have the answers, or imagine that we can maintain our holiness we have mistaken our abilities for God's nobility. We are beggars, beggars with dirty hands as we interact with and engage in a messy world. While I do find myself wishing for an orderly life, nonetheless I for one am learning to be okay with such an image, and I hope others will as well.
Peace.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Labor
With this being Labor Day weekend, it has given me a chance to do some reflecting upon the nature of our work and our labor. I believe the two are distinctively different.
In our culture we understand our work as that for which we get paid. It is our employment, our paycheck, and a means to an end. Our work allows us to take care of the necessities as well as the well intentioned extravagance. Our work is valued for its resulting reward rather than being celebrated as a God given gift.
Labor, however, like the image from the maternity ward, is about sharing in creation. Just as the birth of a child is a work in progress, a dream for the future, an act of faith; so is our labor in the world. Labor is a result of our partnership with God in the creative process. It has value in of itself regardless of the remuneration we receive or the products we can purchase as a result. Rather than comparing ourselves to others, thereby judging ourselves and others, we simply act out of our passion for life and a desire to bless as we have been blessed.
Just think about it... is there something wrong with a culture that values paychecks over passion? Is there something missing when we focus upon marketability over ability? Are we missing the point when we imagine the purpose of our school is to provide for a good job rather than for a good education? Are our houses just an investment or are we investing in our homes (family)? In a world where everything has a price-tag attached to it (including you and me), is it any wonder that the MasterCard commercial became priceless?
When our labor is aligned with God's labor in this world, it is at that point that we begin to experience what is called a "calling." It is in this sense of vocation that we find our true voice for God's purposes. As we well know there are many who work hard but never experience joy. Yet as our labor is aligned with God's plan, a creative tsunami erupts within and without us, and the tension of work becomes less important as we focus upon the journey with Christ.
it is my prayer that this labor weekend will be a chance for all us of to step back and reflect. More significantly, let us remember that it is not by our own efforts that we are saved, but by the work of the Holy Spirit within us that invites us to abide with him. May you find rest, peace, and promise in this short time away.
In our culture we understand our work as that for which we get paid. It is our employment, our paycheck, and a means to an end. Our work allows us to take care of the necessities as well as the well intentioned extravagance. Our work is valued for its resulting reward rather than being celebrated as a God given gift.
Labor, however, like the image from the maternity ward, is about sharing in creation. Just as the birth of a child is a work in progress, a dream for the future, an act of faith; so is our labor in the world. Labor is a result of our partnership with God in the creative process. It has value in of itself regardless of the remuneration we receive or the products we can purchase as a result. Rather than comparing ourselves to others, thereby judging ourselves and others, we simply act out of our passion for life and a desire to bless as we have been blessed.
Just think about it... is there something wrong with a culture that values paychecks over passion? Is there something missing when we focus upon marketability over ability? Are we missing the point when we imagine the purpose of our school is to provide for a good job rather than for a good education? Are our houses just an investment or are we investing in our homes (family)? In a world where everything has a price-tag attached to it (including you and me), is it any wonder that the MasterCard commercial became priceless?
When our labor is aligned with God's labor in this world, it is at that point that we begin to experience what is called a "calling." It is in this sense of vocation that we find our true voice for God's purposes. As we well know there are many who work hard but never experience joy. Yet as our labor is aligned with God's plan, a creative tsunami erupts within and without us, and the tension of work becomes less important as we focus upon the journey with Christ.
it is my prayer that this labor weekend will be a chance for all us of to step back and reflect. More significantly, let us remember that it is not by our own efforts that we are saved, but by the work of the Holy Spirit within us that invites us to abide with him. May you find rest, peace, and promise in this short time away.
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