Simply Soul Searching
HOW IS GOD LOVING ME – AND WHERE IS GOD LEADING ME?
My Neighbor, James
John 4:5-10 (NRSV)
(Jesus) came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
When I was serving as a youth director in an urban church years ago, there was a gentleman who walked across the church parking lot almost daily. It seemed this was a shortcut for his walk to the liquor store. Each day I would see him make the return trip home, a brown bag concealing his bottle. Eventually I began to chat with him and I learned his name was James.
One day, James shared that his wife was quite ill, and the medical expenses were making life very difficult for them. So I offered him a grocery store gift card to help pay for some necessities. My offering seemed to release a flood of pain and guilt, and his story began pouring out.
“You know, I drink quite a bit.”
I simply nodded my awareness, reassuring him that I still wanted to help.
“I really do believe in God, I just don’t go to church.”
I sincerely told him that I believed he did have faith, and I could also understand his reluctance about going to church.
“You know, I always thought this was a white-people’s church.”
Laughing, I replied that I understood why he thought this. The church I served was home to over 300 white people… and two black women.
We talked a bit longer about God and faith before he went on his way.
A few weeks later the snow had begun to fall quite heavily. I was heading to my van after work when I came upon James and his two young grandsons. He offered to clear the snow from my van windows. I wanted to decline his offer, to convey that my gift had been given with no strings attached. But I felt the spirit whispering to me, “Let him bless YOU now.” And so I did- and he and the two boys carefully and thoroughly cleaned all of my windows.
As they stepped back with smiles, admiring their work, I thanked them with my whole heart. I thanked God, too. I thought of Jesus, who revealed his true self for the first time to the Samaritan woman drawing water. First he asked her for something he needed, a drink of water from the well. His request helped her understand that she was of value to him, that he needed her help- before he would tell her who he was and what he had to offer her!
My times with James provided lessons on love for me. I came away with a deeper awareness that everyone needs to be loved, accepted and heard- as is. Each of us needs that genuine love in which we are able to tell our story with no qualifiers, and to be heard with no judgment. To care and share in mutual respect. Not to be looked down on, nor even looked up to, but to be greeted as equal partners in the world. We need one another. We all have something to give… and we all have something to receive.
In her book, Wisdom Jesus, Cynthia Bourgeault says,
One of the most familiar of Jesus’ teachings is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But we almost always hear that wrong. We hear, “Love your neighbor as much as yourself.” If you listen closely to Jesus’ teaching, however, there is no “as much as” in there. It’s just “Love your neighbor as yourself”- as a continuation of your very own being.
It’s a complete seeing that your neighbor is you.¹
¹Bourgeault, Cynthia. Wisdom Jesus. Massachusetts: Shambala Publications, Inc, 2008.
Photo by Bruno Kelzer on Unsplash (Thank you!)
Choosing A Word for 2020
WHAT WILL BE YOUR WORD?
Years ago I learned of a New Year practice of choosing one word as a guide for the year ahead. The idea is to allow a word to come to you that will serve as your focus for the year. This is done by praying, reflecting, thinking of our heart’s desire or a way in which we would like to grow, or noticing when a word seems to resonate with us on a deeper level. You can find many helpful resources and ideas about this practice online, but today I want to share some of the ways I have been blessed. I have now done this for several years, and each year I receive new gifts from my word.
Several times I have chosen a word to guide my thoughts and energies, and then found that the word was perfect- but in a different way than I anticipated. The year I chose the word, “breathe,” my reason was to let go of achieving, to slow my pace and to be mindfully present. This ended up being the year I went through cancer treatments, and the word reminded me to simply breathe and allow my body to cope and heal. The year I chose “embrace,” my sister Janet invited me to accompany her on a trip to New York City. NYC seemed intimidating to me, but I decided it was time to embrace this experience with her. What a rich blessing this was!
This year my word was “attend.” My intention was to be more present, to be attentive to God’s movement, and to pay attention to self care. Once again, in my year-end reflection I was surprised to see how this word impacted my life in new and unexpected ways. The word had moved me to make some courageous life changes that helped uplift my spirit and honor my integrity. Also, a few months ago, I started listening to podcasts instead of music when I walked. Now I see that through these, I have attended numerous interesting and insightful talks that have taught and inspired me!
This coming year, my word will be “awaken.” The word actually came to me this summer as I was journaling. When I wrote the word, something in my soul stirred. I wonder in what new ways I will awaken this year?
What will be your word for 2020? God bless your discernment! (I would love to know what word you choose, if you don’t mind sharing in the comments!)
Photo by Romain Vignes on Unsplash
Presences of Peace- Sunday, December 29th
YOU AND I- AND THE ANGELS OF ASCENSION
Meditation for the New Year
As the year comes to a close, we have one more angel story to revisit. This story is one for us to carry with us into the new year ahead. Resurrected Jesus has spent time with his disciples, and now he is about to ascend into heaven. But he blesses them with his parting words, as he tells them what they will be able to do with the power of his Holy Spirit.
Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd, Angel and Christ Candles.
Acts 1:6-11 (NRSV)
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
As Jesus is describes the expanding witness of his disciples, he promises them that they will do so with the power of the Holy Spirit, taking their witness even to the ends of the earth. We see now how the love of Christ has reached so many people all over the world!
But we still have work to do. And so I love the Angels of the Ascension, the two men in white robes who appear as Jesus ascends. They ask, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” It is as if they are saying, “Don’t just stand there, you have work to do!” Jesus has already told them that there is no sense in wondering about the future- the future is in God’s hands. They simply need to be about their mission.
We need not look to the heavens. By the power of the Spirit, Jesus is here with us. We need not worry about the future. God lovingly holds that. We simply need to share the love of Christ with everyone, especially those who do not yet know they are treasured children of God. “Don’t just stand there, we have work to do!”
How will we serve as Presences of Peace in 2020?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, come. Enter into our hearts, enter into our new year, and let us gladly share your love, your love that extends to everyone, to the ends of the earth. Amen.
Presences of Peace- Saturday, December 28th
YOU AND I: PRESENCES OF PEACE
This week, we have reread stories of angels and looked for the peace we can find in each example. The angels brought tidings of peace. Jesus is our eternal Peace. Now, how do we become Presences of Peace for one another?
Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd, Angel and Christ Candles.
Romans 12:9-18 (NRSV)
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
As Presences of Peace, we are to bear the actual presence of peace. Our nature should exude peace. Paul’s words to the Romans give us great examples of how we might be Presences of Peace in our world. We so desperately need to hear and heed Paul’s words today, don’t we? I don’t need to list all the woes of our world to make my point. We see them and are appalled by them each time we watch or read the news.
One of the core principles of the Center for Action and Contemplation is this: “The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.” Our “practice of the better” would be to follow Paul’s instructions. Love one another… rejoice in hope… persevere in prayer… do not be haughty… live peaceably with all. Our “practice of the better” means that instead of being critical of others, we are to live in contrast to them. Instead of blaming others, we are to show a better way. Instead of competing against others, we are to work together for the good of all.
Instead of remaining full of ourselves, we choose to empty ourselves. We then turn to the One who offers all goodness- all that is hopeful, loving, joyful, and peaceful- and ask to be filled to the brim. This is the peaceful presence we can be for the world.
Prayer: Open us wide, God. Empty us of all that isn’t of YOU. Fill us with all that is! Amen.
Presences of Peace- Friday, December 27th
ANGEL OF THE RESURRECTION
The Angel of the Resurrection feels a bit out of season, doesn’t it? But here we have the essential and best Good News of Christmas. This Jesus, born to us as a baby, would one day overcome death in his glorious resurrection!
Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd, Angel and Christ Candles.
Matthew 28:1-6 (NRSV)
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
We celebrate Christmas as the time when God came to us in Jesus, as a tiny human baby, born in a manger. Years later, after his death the angel rolled the stone away and told the women that Jesus was no longer there. Jesus came again to us as a resurrected body. Later he would come again to us as Spirit. Jesus just keeps coming to us. Jesus comes to us as God’s Word, as God’s creation, as God’s love, as a person, as a resurrected being, and as a Spirit who lives within us now! And we are promised that one day, Jesus will come again in a brand new way.
Our Presence of Peace is Jesus’ presence, coming to us in a variety of ways, remaining with us in an eternal presence forever. Life with Christ is now. Here. This very moment. And forever.
Prayer: Jesus, we know you are already with us, but help us to remain aware of you. Keep coming, Jesus! Come to us in every moment. Thank you. Amen.
Presences of Peace- Thursday, December 26th
ANGEL OF WARNING
All too quickly, the party is over. We are back to the reality of the world, with all of its fear, jealousy, hatred, deceit, greed, and lust for power. And so we encounter the angel of warning, the one who comes to Joseph in a dream.
Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd, Angel and Christ Candles.
Matthew 2:13-16 (NRSV)
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; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.
Where is the peace in this angel story? At this point, we can imagine Mary and Joseph crying, “Are you kidding us, God? Could our lives be any more difficult?” Mary’s pregnancy wasn’t at a convenient time. Jesus’ birth wasn’t in the best circumstances. Now they must flee to Egypt… and Herod kills innocent babies. The angel of warning is able to protect Jesus from Herod, but we know the rest of the story. Jesus would one day suffer and die under the command of another terrible ruler.
Life will be difficult. Jesus’ life was difficult from the start. In this we find our peace: Jesus has gone through much worse than any of our difficult times. Jesus has suffered. Jesus has endured. He has “been there, done that” to a much greater extent than we can fathom. And Jesus is with us now. Jesus is accompanying us on our journeys, whether difficult or joyful. We are not alone. Ever. We have one who completely understands our plight and offers us all we need to get through it. Jesus is our Presence of Peace. In all circumstances.
Prayer: Jesus, our source of constant peace, we are so very sorry for all that you endured to show your love for us. But we are so very thankful. Amen.
Christmas Day- Wednesday, December 25th
LIGHT AND LIFE TO ALL HE BRINGS*
Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd and Angel Candles.
John 1:1-5, 14-18 (NRSV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Light the Christ Candle.
What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. (vs. 3b-4)
Jesus has come! God has come to dwell with us, born into our world as a tiny, fragile human baby. Just like all of us, Jesus was an infant who needed to be nurtured, protected, cared for and tended by his parents. Yes, one day Jesus would teach, serve, heal, and love in incredible ways. But he began as a helpless infant, dependent on his parents to care for him.
It is in this tiny, helpless baby that we receive new life- and new light.
A few weeks ago I was struck by a thought that Rob Bell shared on his podcast, something he had heard from a friend. He said that each of us holds a sacred light, a divine flame within. Like a candle on a birthday cake, this flame must be sheltered and protected in order to burn brightly. When we walk in with a birthday cake, we often cup our hand near the lighted candles to keep the moving air from extinguishing them. In the same way, we are wise to be protective and careful with our divine flames.
As I write this meditation for Christmas, I am thinking about that divine flame, and the image that comes to me is that “the life was the light of all people.” Jesus, the holy infant, is the light of all people. We must tend and protect this divine light within, much as we would a newborn baby.
Imagine… Holding our sacred light as we would lovingly and tenderly hold a tiny infant, gazing at it with wonder. Caring for our sacred light by nourishing it with all good things, such as the sustenance of scripture, prayer, meditation, worship, study. Ensuring our divine flame has a conducive setting for peaceful rest- quiet, soft music, stillness, nature. Maintaining boundaries that are best for safekeeping our holy light, away from harmful situations or people who diminish the brightness of our flame. Practicing healthy habits to keep our divine flame burning clearly.
We will continue to mature in faith and grace. We will continue to grow as Jesus did- and learn to teach, serve, heal, and love in incredible ways. But we must maintain the deep nurturing of this new flame, this tender spirit within us. We must continue to regard our inner, holy light as a being of great worth and sacredness.
Because it is. Our holy light is this newborn baby, child of God, who has come to dwell within us.
Prayer: Be born in us anew today, Jesus. Fill our souls with your hope, love, joy and peace. May we always remain mindful of your wondrous gift, hold you with incredulous gratitude, and freely abandon ourselves into your great love. Amen.
*lyrics from “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” by Felix Mendelssohn
Happy holidays, dear readers. ❤
Presences of Peace- Tuesday, December 24th, Christmas Eve
THE ANNOUNCING ANGELS
This wonderful, blessed, awesome night of nights is upon us! Christmas Eve- the night we celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Christ, our God-with-us! We revisit Luke 2, in which the angels proclaim their birth announcement to the shepherds, telling them of Jesus, the baby who had come to save all the people.
Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd and Angel Candles.
Luke 2:8-16 (NRSV)
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
Light the Christ Candle.
On this Christmas Eve, in this very special story, we find our peace. A Savior has come. The angels proclaim peace on earth. The shepherds are given all four of the gifts of the season- hope, love, joy and peace- in this one incredible announcement!
The shepherds show us another way to be Presences of Peace. Trusting the heavenly message, the shepherds were excited, courageous and peaceful enough to change course- even with their flocks to manage- in order to find Jesus. Oh, what peace we can encounter when we learn to let God guide us into new adventures. What peace we can discover when God reveals that we are in the wrong place, that we are missing out on something better. We have a Presence of Peace who will lead us as we journey forth, wherever we go.
Prayer: On this Christmas Eve, dear God, we thank you again for giving us your Son Jesus, for coming to us as our greatest Presence of Peace. Come into our hearts. Transform us into the people you want us to be- people of your hope, love, joy and peace. Amen.
Presences of Peace- Monday, December 23rd
ANGELS AMONG US
Today we encounter angels of another kind: the strangers in our midst. A stranger is someone we do not know, or who has not experienced something, or who is in a new and unfamiliar place. We have all been among strangers, and we have all been strangers ourselves, many times in our lives. Strangers are everywhere. Angels are everywhere!
Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem, Shepherd and Angel Candles.
Hebrews 13:1-2 (NRSV)
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Our opportunities for hospitality abound. Hospitality doesn’t necessarily mean that we need to invite complete strangers into our homes, but we do need to invite them into our spaces, our hearts, our conversations. Hospitality is our warm and caring presence, our friendly and generous treatment of those around us.
In her article, “How One Person Can Impact Your Life,” Alexandra Meyers writes:
I have known several people who have impacted my life and, unsurprisingly, those moments have all been when I am in an unfamiliar place where I am forced out of my comfort zone… Sometimes it’s hard to see that these people exist everywhere, because we are afraid to open up and be vulnerable with someone we are not familiar with…¹
Jim and I had opportunities to be Presences of Peace with our dear friend, Beth (A Tribute to Beth). As Beth often struggled with mental anguish, I tried to surround her with activities that fostered normalcy and joy, creating moments of peace for her. One of my favorite memories is when I made Christmas cookies. We chatted and laughed as she ate cookie dough and sampled some of my finished goodies.
Beth may have had a few moments of precious peace that day, but I was blessed by her uncanny insights, her joy in the simple things, and for the opportunity to be kind. Beth was God’s Presence of Peace for me, a stranger who became an angel in our lives.
Prayer: God of our deepest peace, thank you for the unexpected angels in our lives. Help us to be unexpected angels for others, too. Guide us to be hospitable, wherever we are. Amen.
¹https://www.theodysseyonline.com/how-one-person-can-impact-your-life
Presences of Peace- Sunday, December 22nd
PEACE: THE ANGEL CANDLE
Light the Prophecy, Bethlehem and Shepherd Candles.
Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
We are now only a few days from Christmas Day! We have moved from the Prophets, to Bethlehem, to the Shepherds. Now, as we begin our time with the Angels, we encounter Gabriel. Gabriel is the angel who first visited Zechariah with the news that he and Elizabeth would bear a son. This son would make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17), John the Baptist. Today we read that Gabriel is the angel who also proclaimed to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus; our Lord Jesus, for whom John would prepare the people!
Light the Angel Candle.
The Angel Candle is symbolic of the Presences of Peace we find in these biblical angel stories. Often an angel’s first words are, “Do not be afraid!” (We can easily imagine how someone would need to hear those words when encountering an angel!) Peace is so much more than a lack of fear, or an absence of conflict, or an inner calmness. The Hebrew word for peace is shalom, which means wholeness or well-being. This week, we will look for the deeper, inner peace that is demonstrated in our angel narratives, and how we may carry that peace within us, too.
In today’s passage, Mary is incredulous to learn that she will give birth to a son, Jesus. This news would be so much for an engaged young woman to absorb, especially in that time and culture! There would be so many uncertainties ahead. There would be much explaining to do. (Or not explaining- how could she?) We cannot begin to comprehend what she would face in the months and years ahead.
And yet, before the angel departs, she says, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”
Oh, such peace! Mary understands herself- her life- as a servant of the Lord. Placing herself solely for God’s purpose, she finds the peace in understanding that this is who she is called to be. No matter what lay ahead, she has the peace of obediently following God’s will, the peace of trusting that God will provide and empower her to do what God calls her to do. In placing herself fully in God’s providence, she has the peace of trusting surrender.
Let’s make this week an invitation to grow in our trust of God’s love, wisdom, and provision. Let’s learn new ways to be Presences of Peace for others.
PRESENCES OF PEACE
We pause before this candle, this lighted candle of Peace,
And we sense, we feel, we cherish your presence with us here.
Jesus, you are loved, you are treasured, you are dear.
In our gladness may we never cease
To make your peace be clear.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for Gabriel and all messengers of good news. As we enter into this Christmas week, may we be ever mindful of ways that we may serve as your Presences of Peace – with our families, friends and communities. Instill in us your deep abiding peace, the peace of experiencing the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Simply Soul Searching 