Month: June 2021

He is righteous

We are conditioned from an early age to perform to a list of expectations. Schools use tools like curriculum and grading to help students understand how well they are doing. In our jobs we have to fulfill the job description and criteria. Often we have yearly reviews to evaluate our performance.

When I had my first child all of this was pulled away. I didn’t have any external way of evaluating my success… until I had the first visit with the health nurse. I was then introduced to all the physical and mental markers that my child should be hitting by certain ages. We even set standards for that.

Given this training, how do we cope with religion? I’m afraid we do the same thing. We set standards of morality and markers, so we can differentiate ourselves from those who don’t believe. This is a human instinct that the biblical writers warned against it. Learning we can’t earn our way to God.

The way it works in the world is that the harder you work the more likely you are to succeed. Therefor, those who are successful can be proud of their wealth and position because they have indeed earned it. This may be true – here. But the grace that God offers is unattainable, even to the most determined and perfect of humans. We can’t be proud of our own righteousness, but we need to rely on His.

It goes against the grain. If we are doing it right it should change the measure stick with which we judge ourselves and others. We should not be envious of those who have more stuff or position. We should not yearn for the ease of life and lack of trouble in our world. We should indeed embrace the path that leads us to acknowledge our own inadequacy.

It isn’t an easy task. It means changing how we see the world and how we see ourselves in it. It means trying to view things in the way God does. No small task.

Romans 4: 1-3 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according
to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works,
he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

When will we understand?

Jesus was in a boat with his closest followers. He was talking with them, warning them to be wary of the “yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

I love this story. Jesus is taking a moment of calm to teach these men. He gives them a piece of advice which they don’t understand. In fact, they start mumbling to each other about what he could mean. They settle on the fact that he’s upset because they didn’t bring enough bread, focusing on his use of the word yeast.

Jesus response shows his disappointment, and he asks them how they could still be missing the point. In modern language his response would be, “Bread! You think I am worried about bread?” He reminds them he just made food materialize for thousands of people, not once but twice. Even after that, they think he’s concerned about the bread.

These men are not prepared for what is about to happen. They are limited in their understanding by what they have already experienced. Nothing that they will soon see can be predicted by the world as they understand it.

We also are trapped by our own view point, by our experiences. It can be hard to fathom what might happen next, or how the events that are ongoing could shape our understanding.

We are very much like these disciples. If Jesus came and spoke to me today I think his words would be the same. He’d likely point out all the miracles he has preformed in my life, that I accepted without question. He’d be disappointed in my lack of understanding also.

Mark 8: 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Our path in life

We were able to attend a small graduation celebration for my niece and nephew last night. It was a joy to be able to celebrate with them. These two young people, full of youthful promise and expectation. As their Aunt, it made me feel rather old, but mostly nostalgic. These two little bundles entered the world almost 18 years ago and now they stand on the cusp of adulthood.

Almost eight million years ago, I was also in their situation. A young woman looking at the rest of my life. All the plans! All the dreams! I could do anything. I began charting my course. There was a definite idea of where my life would head and how life would go. It makes me smile now, as well, little or none of those plans happened as I expected.

I know this is universal. I know you have felt this way too. Our lives unfold, one step at a time. We do have agency. We do chart our course. The largest decisions we make to go left or right belong to us. But the rocks and bumps in the road are hard to navigate and God guides us through this. He is the good shepherd leading us by calm waters and protecting us through dark vales.

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.

A friend of God

I have been thinking about what it means to be a friend of God. This term is used several times in the Bible. Abraham is described as a friend of God. It says Moses talked to God as a friend. And then there is Enoch who “walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

What would this look like now, in our day and age? Can we be a friend to God.

I was puzzling over this idea yesterday and couldn’t wrap my head around it. But this morning I understand. Why?

I was driving my husband to work, my strong, intelligent husband, who can no longer drive because of the stroke. He doesn’t have much in the way of worldly wealth or prestige. People pass him by, he is unimportant and undervalued. He is soft-spoken and reluctant to push himself forward, but his mind is always full of ideas and potential. He has the most optimistic soul. In fact, he doesn’t care what other people think, he isn’t in the game of ‘impressing.’

I have been driving him to work this week. He likes to ride his bike, more independence from the old wife. But last Friday a car turned in front of him, and he was thrown from his bike. Thankfully he is just bruised and battered. This morning he sits beside me in the car, while I’m stewing and angry about all the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” My resentment building over all the difficulties we have faced.

He calmly says, “You know, I was thinking. It was such a good experience for me to have a paper route when I was a kid. It taught me so much.”

My jaw dropped and I felt ashamed of my own anger. This is the best man I know.

He is straightforward and honest and always hopeful. I believe this is what it means to be a friend of God.

Micah 6: 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

My list

I have been discouraged lately. I decided to make a list of all the things in life that bring me joy.

MY CHILDREN!!!
My husband
My extended family
My dog
My neighbours (we live in the best neighbourhood in Calgary)
My garden
Having a barbecue to cook on in the summer
A safe vehicle to drive
Old favourite books
The picture my youngest painted on the living room wall
Memories of my Grandparents
Afternoon naps
Popcorn

This is not an exhaustive list, but these are some gifts God has given to me. I am blessed beyond measure.

Ephesians 5:20 …always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As low as it can go

What do you do when you have nothing left? Your pride has been stripped. You have nothing to offer the world. You are naked and alone.

What do you do when the world has beaten you down and even those you love abandon you, walk by unprepared to get into the mess that you inhabit.

The good Samaritan did this. He did what others wouldn’t. He fed and clothed and cared for another.

We tell this story from the point of the Good Samaritan. We emulate and try to be like him as Jesus instructed. But maybe we are the man beaten on the ground. Maybe we need to be helped.

I need a saviour. I need someone willing to pay the price.

Luke 10: 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

True north

I have heard the phrase, “we have lost our moral compass.” You have probably also heard this phrase. It is a great visual. It connotates being lost and unable to chart a course out of the confusion.

What I see in the world around me today is perhaps even deeper. I don’t think our society has lost its moral compass. I think we have lost true north. We have all the gadgets and technology necessary to find our way out, but we don’t have an agreed upon core of truth. What good is a compass if it isn’t drawn to the north (magnetic – I know but that doesn’t sound as good as true – sorry)?

We can’t possibly all head the same direction if we won’t agree on a basic concept of truth. We have lost our way, because we have lost a sense of God. We have removed the ability for our compasses to seek and point us to God.

The good news is, we aren’t powerful enough to remove God. We are vain and arrogant to think he disappears because we won’t see him. He is there, still calling. We need to give our compasses a good whack and jiggle out the dust and we can correct our course.

That is the only answer. The only way to move forward. Find God and begin to walk toward him.

John 14: 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.

God wins

“The best laid plans of mice and men can still go wrong.” A translation of the famous quote from the poet Bobby Burns. He needed a translator as he didn’t speak English, he was Scottish (I’m joking – wink wink).

I had a visit with a friend yesterday, and she expressed concern about everything going on in our world. If you are paying attention and listening to voices outside of the official televised opinions, it is not hard to feel this way. It seems like we are in the middle of Tolkien’s final battle scene. The forces of evil are being marshaled against the good. The battle is beginning and those on the side of right haven’t pulled their team together. It’s terrifying really.

But then we have the story of Esther. The simply written, beautiful story of Esther. A woman who found herself in a position of great influence, “for such a time as this.” Esther’s bravery and intelligence are of course at the heart of this story. But as you read this book it isn’t really about Esther. She is an instrument. The real conflict is between Mordecai and Haman.

Haman has all the official power. He has all the clout. A large gallows is erected at his command. His plan is ready and all he has to do is bring the pieces together. Haman is confident in his ability to see his plan through. He plans the demise of Mordecai and all his relatives. But he is unaware of all the connections behind the scenes. He doesn’t realize Esther’s connection to Mordecai.

No human has access to all knowledge. No one person can see all the inputs that can affect a situation. We have an illusion of control, but in reality it can slip through our fingers without warning. Haman ends up being hanged by his own gallows.

The Jewish people still celebrate this great turn of events. A constant reminder through the generations that those who go against God and his people will come to ruin.

Remember when it feels like we are up against it, there is One who does see all and know all. There is One who cares that good wins. God wins!

Esther 9: 28 These days should be remembered and observed in every generation
by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim
should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of
these days die out among their descendants.

Finding an old acquaintance

Last week I was reminded of the great poet John Donne. My experience of his work was narrow. A few sonnets and poems covered in entry level anthologies. I remember loving his visual imagery and use of metaphors. It was a fleeting introduction. I didn’t study any of his works after that.

I moved on to study other great writers. In fact, I was so unaware that I didn’t know he had a body of sermons and meditations. I was so ignorant that I thought the phrase “for whom the bell tolls,” was a title of a Hemingway novel. That is true, but he got it from somewhere – John Donne.

I was listening to this recording on YouTube. At one point in this reading John Donne makes a comparison. Imagine you own gold or silver bullion but are not able to use it because it’s not shaped in the currency of the lands in which you are traveling. He then suggests that suffering is the same. It’s value does not get paid out in earthly currency. We start to understand its real value as we get closer to our real home.

This is such a stunning metaphor. I guess it goes back to the “storing up our treasures in heaven” idea. But with a twist. I love that our suffering isn’t pointless. This has been one of the biggest myths created by the materialist. We live, we suffer, we die. No purpose to any of it. Nature and evolution march on.

If this is true, then the suffering of man is of the greatest evil. The gazelle in the savanna dies a horrible death at the hands of the pride of lions. But, her death feeds that family and allows them to continue on, there is a purpose. Man is not afforded that if there is no afterlife, no reward for suffering.

Take some time and listen to this, it is worth the time.

John Donne ‎– Sermons And Meditations (1956) Caedmon ‎– TC 1051 – YouTube