Something to think about . . .

The Lord's Prayer (A Lenten Meditation - Part Two)

2012-03-04T17:08:00.003-08:00

"Thy KingdomCome."

The longing for God's Kingdom to come does not arise simplyfrom the pain of the current kingdoms in which we live. It is not just a matterof comparison. We pray for the Kingdom to come because in that prayer is containedall the other prayers we will ever pray. Were the Kingdom to come, in fullness,our longings would be satisfied, our hopes realized.

But to pray this prayer is difficult. It pushes us to theedge of our kingdoms and bids us submit them, even now, to His. If we are notcareful in this praying, we may be tempted to seek the incorporation of HisKingdom into ours. But that is not what we pray. We want His Kingdom to come -even if that means the end of our kingdoms. For, deep down and in Christ, weknow that, when His Kingdom comes, we will be better off, even if our ownkingdom suffers in the coming.

The desire for the spread, the expansion, of God's effectiverule arises out of an awareness of what that might look like. When God'sKingdom comes, the weakest one will be as safe and regarded as the strongest.When God's Kingdom come, community will make the full expression ofindividuality. When God's Kingdom comes, the only tears will be of joy and oflaughter. When God's Kingdom comes, the abuses of power leading to injusticewill become a dim memory. When God's Kingdom comes, those who occupy positionsof authority will serve in reality and not just in name.

There is some sense in which to pray for His Kingdom to comeis to pray for the end of the age, for that is when it will come in full. Butit is possible to pray this for our own age and our own time and our ownreality. While the Kingdom may not yet come in fullness, we pray for its steadyand irresistible advance. We pray for an incremental incursion into thekingdoms of darkness and despair. We pray over our own lives, our own spheresof influence, our own kingdoms, "Oh God, Your Kingdom come."

Desert Dwellers

2012-02-29T17:50:00.002-08:00

(Matthew11:7-9)

“What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed, waving inthe wind of public opinion?”

What did you go out to see? A “kept” man, bought and paidfor, saying what he’s paid to say? You know where to find them!”

“What did you go out to see? What was it that drew you outof your comfort, that brought you to a lonely place?”

“A prophet.” Someone you knew spoke God’s word, whether youliked it or not. Someone you recognized as having enough integrity to standalone, unswayed by public opinion or political influence. Someone yourecognized as equipped to help get ready for all the new that is coming.

Jesus’ endorsement of his cousin John got me thinking aboutwhat kind of preparation is necessary for one who would be willing and able tostand alone in a difficult time. The answer, it seems to me, is desert time.

Time in the desert shaped the character and identity ofJohn. The desert has a way of doing that. In the desert, in the lonely place,everything that is not essential is blown away by the necessity of survival.Life is brought down to its bare core. All of the conventions of success, allof the strategies of social structure, all of the deliberate delicacies ofpolite conversation, are left in the dust of the desert. The only thing left iswhat was there all the time – the life at the center. The nourishment of thedesert is adequate for life, not luxury.

That kind of life develops the courage to stand against thetide of public opinion. One who has learned to live on locusts and honey cannot be bribed. One who has trained an ear to the silence can not be swayed bythe other voices, no matter how seductive.

The desert becomes a place of still refuge and great, soulshaping beauty for those who have been trained by it. And that is also one ofthe gifts of Lent. Life reduced to its core before God – trained to stillness,trained to silence.

It is that kind of life that prepares the way of the Lord.

The Lord's Prayer - Part 1, Lenten Reflections

2012-02-26T16:15:00.001-08:00

"Our Father, Whois in the Heavens,

Hallowed be YourName."

We sink, deeply, into the ever new reality - we are His. Hehas made us His own - declared us His children. A privileged identity - sharedwith whosoever will. The privilege comes, not from having been chosen, butrather from whom the choice comes. Children have no choice, born, as they are,without a part. Fathers choose. We only may call Him Father, by His choice. Weare not only taught, we are encouraged, to call Him Father. We sink, deeply,into the ongoing newness of that redefining reality. We are His. And He, isours.

Matthew's recording gives us a sense of the scope of Hisbeing. He is in the heavens - everywhere present - in the space around ourears, as well as high and lifted up. His is not an oppressive presence anymorethan is the air we breathe oppressive. His is a life-giving presence. It is inHim that we live. It is in Him that we move. It is in Him that we even exist atall. It is not that God is in everything as much as it is that everything is inHim. Everything is dependent for it's being on Him. He is real. Everything elseis only real by association with Him.

This is the great God who has told us to call Him"Father." Not simply as a term of address - but as a term ofidentification. He in Whom all things are held together, has chosen to be knownas our father.

And still, the wonder of real community bubbles joyfully tothe surface and effervesces in friendships and family in Him.

No wonder we ask that His name be held in the highest ofregard. No wonder that we don't use it lightly or meaninglessly. No wonder thatwe pause for an awe-full moment whenever we whisper, "Our Father."

And no wonder that we declare the truth of the Name aboveall others - the Name proclaimed throughout the universe by every star. TheName that is holy, holy, holy.

The Valley of the Shadow of Death

2012-02-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

Today is Ash Wednesday, the day on which the season of Lentbegins. The purpose of Lent is to allow us to sit deeply to death in order thatwe may rise freely in resurrection. It is a season of soul search, ofcleansing, of self-denial, of death-dealing and death preparing. It is a longslow walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

It is not a season of morbidity but of awareness. There aresome things in us that need to die - some things that we are allowing to remainon life-support, not realizing that they are dealing death to us. There aresome things - habits, attitudes, behaviors - that have been allowed to gounchallenged far too long. Lent reminds us that, while we are declared saints,we sin and are thus in need of a grace-full savior.

Part of our struggle with Lent, and the journey it invitesus on, sources in the belief that sin is not that big a deal. In fact, as aword, sin has largely lost its meaning. It has come to mean something naughtyor, at worst, something not good for us. It is not all that big a deal - exceptthat God has got something against it and so, even though for the most part itis harmless fun, we can’t do it or we won’t go to heaven.

Lent reminds us that sin is a very big deal, and that it isnot God’s problem but ours. Sin is deadly - every time. It is the elephant onthe air hose of our soul. It may be appealing in the short run, but in the longrun it is a disaster of the first magnitude.

The genius of Lent is the invitation to embrace our own dyingin preparation for resurrection with Christ to new life. For example, Lentinvites us to fast - to abstain in some meaningful, significant, andconcentrated fashion from something we have perhaps allowed to take too high aplace in our lives. Fasting shakes us up and reminds us that we are more thanbody - and reminds our body that it is not in charge!

So, pack your bags - but lightly. This is a seven week hikethrough some powerfully and darkly beautiful landscape. Keep your wits aboutyou and your eyes wide open. You are not the only one on this journey to thecross.

The Preparation of Lent

2012-02-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

The season of Lent, beginning this coming Wednesday, seeksto deliberately prepare the soul for the celebration of Easter Sunday. It is atime of soul searching and of dealing with what is found on the search. It is aseason of consideration and of repentance. It is a season of mourning as whatmight have been is seen in the light of what is. It is a season of layingbefore the Lord, allowing the searching light of His love to penetrate into thehidden places of our hearts. Lent is not a season of rush. Instead, it invitesa slow and stately walk through one's inner life, preparing the way of theLord.

Often this reflection is accompanied by fasting, whichserves as a marker of both sorrow and seriousness. Fasting is not about manipulatingGod into doing something, nor is it a mark of super-spirituality. Fasting seeksto place the soul before the Lord, deliberately removing the social scaffoldingwe erect around our lives to prop them up. Fasting, in the traditional sense,chooses to deny the body something which it has come to depend on for it'ssense of security and well being. It is a way of pealing back the layers ofcomfort that we might deal directly - with God, with ourselves, with others.

For many of us, food is more than nourishment - it iscomfort, counsel, strength, security and hope. To choose instead to look to theLord for all of those things is a huge step of faithfulness. And it is that towhich Lent calls us. When we give up something for Lent, we do not do so forGod's sake, but for ours. It is a way of measuring how out of control our liveshave gotten. If I become angry with people because I am hungry, there is a goodchance I am using food to protect my nurtured anger. Lent helps uncover that,exposing what is really within.

It can be a frightening season. But Lent works on theassumption that what is known can be dealt with, while what remains hiddendeals with us. It is a kind of dying that prepares us for the Resurrection.Resurrection can only be celebrated - or understood - by those who know what itis to die. Lent sends out the invitation to come and die. It does so knowingthat, unless you do, you will never live.

To Be Loved

2012-02-15T20:07:00.001-08:00

Behind the highwalls

and deep ditches

and barbed wire

beats the safe heart.

Safe

completely protected

totally sheltered

absolutely

alone

isolated

insulated

Up periscope

fear

Down periscope.

Safe again.

Sending out

longings for

someone to

come to dinner

But when they come

they can’t get past

the walls

the wire

How hard it is

to open the door

to risk invasion

to not be safe

anymore.

to not be

alone . . .

anymore.

To let them in

is to risk . . .

life.

To not

is to . . .

die.

Love Is A Verb

2012-02-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

This is the month when a young man’s fancy – and pretty mucheveryone else’s – turns to love. It’s a Hallmark Month – of pinks and whitesand frilly, doily-like things. But the truth is, love is more robust and rigorous than advertised on a Hallmark card– and it’s a good thing it is, because lifeis more, and other, than advertised! So it is refreshing to turn to the“love chapter” – 1 Corinthians 13 – and discover the dynamic, action orientedlove we need. Paul writes about love in the context of full out charismaticconflict, with love being the intermission between two rounds of a tough fightwhich probably did not earn Paul many friends in Corinth!

He describes a love that is rooted and anchored in thecharacter and nature of the lover – not in the characteristics or responses ofthe loved. As such, this love is first a decision – and then it is an action. Lovedoes not exist apart from action – it is a verb. Most of the words Paul uses togive an outline of its dimension are in verbal form, even though many of ourtranslations turn them into adjectives. This is all the more important when weturn to apply the challenge of this love to our relationships – whatever thesetting. We might not always have warm feelings of love for one another – butwe will never be confused about how love acts – and doesn’t act.

· This lovewaits patiently. It has a sense of timing and has the ability to waitrather than force an outcome. This waiting is active, attentive, alert – watchingfor the opportunity to act.

· Love actskindly. It is not just that love is kind – it is that love acts in kindness– it behaves towards others with generosity and gentility. Love does good.

· Love doesnot bubble over with envy and itdoes not brag, inflating its ownimportance. You can hear the echoes of the spiritual one-upsmanship that Paulis concerned to speak to in Corinth. But, setting aside bragging, cultivatedenvy and self-exaggeration is good practice in any relationship!

· Love knows how to behave – and does. Lovedoesn’t make itself the center of every conversation and activity, because it is not pre-occupied with itself. Asa result, love doesn’t get exasperatedvery easily – love’s fuse is very, very long – and its memory is very, veryshort.

· Love doesnot gloat or take pleasure when things – or people – go wrong, but keepscircling back to joyfully celebrate when the truth wins out over maliciousgossip.

· Because love is anchored in the lover, it doesnot stop supporting – it does not stop standing in the reality is pressestowards – it does not lose sight of the hoped for outcome – it does not giveup. Ever.

· Love will be standing when everything elsefalls.

Words to love by.

Choosing to Know

2012-02-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

There come times - many of them,in fact - in every relationship where you have to make a decision whether topress on in the light of new information. Every relationship - friendship,dating, marriage, partnership in business - has to go through a number ofbarriers on the way. Consider the purchase of something valuable. At a numberof points in the negotiation the purchaser is likely to encounter potentialdeal-breakers. She has to decide to press on with the relationship because thegoal of purchase is worth it to her. Or not.

Similarly, in dating, things tendto flow along reasonably smoothly for a week or two - but then you discoversomething about your date that sets you back on your heels. Now you have todecide if you are going press on past this barrier and seek to know them more -or if you are going to pull the plug and just remain “friends”. It doesn’tchange after you get married. Over the course of building a life together, allkinds of barriers become apparent - things that, had you known about themsooner, might have been a deal-breaker. But now, you are well down the roadwith a lot invested. Some couples decide that the price of pressing on past thebarrier is worth paying for the closeness and intimacy that opens up to them onthe other side. Other couples stay in the shadow of the barrier, their growthto intimacy halted. Life presents a number of chances for choices like this.

If this is true in our otherrelationships, we shouldn’t be surprised when it is true about our relationshipwith God. If it is a dynamic and vital relationship, it will ebb and flow inintensity over time. We will find things out about Him that we might not like.We will find things out about ourselves in relation to Him that we might notlike. Having invested a lot of time and energy in getting this far, we mightnot want to completely cut off the relationship - but we could decide not topress on past the barrier. We live on the way to intimacy with God - but neverquite there.

On the other hand, we might chooseto know Him - to press past this barrier, as painful as it might be to do so,knowing that intimacy and closeness with God is worth whatever price we have topay to get there. It is part of seeking him with all of our heart - only in doingso will we find and know Him. And that is worth everything!

Dry and Thirsty

2012-02-05T19:41:00.000-08:00

This weekend, the Garden, the church in Long Beach Ihave the privilege of walking with, hosted the second Empowered conference – seekingto open up a conversation about the Spirit empowered life – the life that Jesuslived and invites us to live with Him. I wasn’t able to attend the wholeweekend, but what I did get to was water to my dry and thirsty soul – a gentle, steadyrain that soaked down deep.

I grew up in time of occasional revivals – wonderfulvisitations of God, or at least of an evangelist, in which we experiencedremarkable outpourings of the Spirit for days at a time. One or two of thoseevents stand out in my memory as being defining moments for me. The problemwith the revivals, as wonderful as they were, is that, like a SouthernCalifornia sudden rainstorm, eighty percent of the down-pour ended up in theocean! The long term results of those meetings were not nearly as remarkable asthe momentary experiences. Now don’t get me wrong – I treasure those moments ofexperience. But what I long for is the ongoing, gentle filling and re-fillingby the Holy Spirit.

The church of my childhood provided that, too. Every Sundaywas an opportunity for me to respond to the tug of the Holy Spirit, desiring toalleviate the dryness in my soul. Sunday morning and evening services providedspace and time for encounter with God – a long, slow, soaking in an environmentof calm and gentle worship. It was not nearly as remarkable – but it was farmore effective in shaping the character of Christ in me. For every dramaticexperience in a service of revival that served as a marker, I can rememberdozens of quiet nights and early afternoons with my face buried in the frontpew just waiting in God’s presence for whatever He would choose to bring.

It is not nostalgia that makes me long for a return to thatsimple waiting. It is a deep and desperate dryness in my soul – a longing thatgoes beyond words. I wouldn’t mind the sudden downpour of a spirit of revivalevery once in a while – but I know that what my dry and thirsty land needs evenmore is the gentle, consistent, regular filling and refilling by the HolySpirit. I think He knows that is what I need, as well – and that is why, if Iset aside the time for Him, I usually find that He has set aside the time forme.

The Pain of Promise (1 Samuel 1)

2012-02-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

The shame hung around her like the stench on a fisherman. Heknew there was nothing more she dreaded than the trips to the market or thewell. There all around her were women with their little children - smallreminders. She would probably have preferred their open ridicule. Instead shewas blanketed with the brutal pity of the happily self-satisfied. Everybodyknew. After years of marriage and no child. Everybody knew. Nobody looked athim - she carried the shame alone. Barren. If ever a word arose that soundedits meaning, that was it. Barren.

Every year they would presentthemselves and their offerings to the priest - to God. And every year she wouldfind some corner of the great sanctuary to pour out the stored up anguish thatshe had carried for the past year, silent to all but him. Each year the journeybecame more painful as the children of the other wife made their noisy wayalong. He knew the weight of her heart but could not help her carry it. Hewanted so much for her to be happy with him alone. He joked with her, “Am I notworth at least ten sons to you?” But she had smiled that sad half-smile andturned away with tears in her eyes.

She had told him of her desperatepromise on the way home. Should she be given a son, she would return him inthanksgiving to God. His anger was tempered by the shame of his thought. “Ifthe past is any guide, I won’t be having to make that choice!” But seeing theshine on her face, he kept that thought to himself. It came back to haunt him acouple of months later when she told him with joy in her voice that she waspregnant. Pregnant! After all these years. Her joy was contagious. Even thoughhe was the father of other children this child with her set a bounce in hisstep and a song in his heart. Her shame had been lifted, and he was glad.

Until the boy was born and the fullweight of her promise crushed his heart. This boy was his son, too. He agreedquickly that she ought not take him up to the feast this year. And probably notnext. But then . . .

Heavy hearted, he wondered if hewas the kind of a father who could giveup his son because of a promise. What father could ever do that?

Etta and Eva

2012-01-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

Etta James died last week. You can’t have been at as manyweddngs as I have without at least once having heard her signature tune At Last. Recorded in the early 60’s, itbegins with a lush string pad setting the stage for the emotional release ofthe first two words. And those two words say it all. She manages – in two words– to release the pent up longing with the deep relief of one who is finallyable to relax into the delight of a lifetime love. Her own life was never ableto quite own that restful relief. Struggling with addictions, she was in andout of rehab a couple of times – and the hard life chosen shaped every note. Hertalent was finally recognized with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall ofFame in 1993 and a couple of Grammy wins in the mid-2000’s. She released her finalalbum just last November.

James was able to get to the heart of a lyric and melody andshape them to make them her own. Her most memorable songs displayed a rich,powerful voice, tinged with the pain of a life lived in longing.

There is something about a singer who can capture the puretone of a song and make it so fully theirs, that no other version ever soundsquite right. Eva Cassidy, whom I have recently discovered, was another likethat. I first heard her in an NPR driveway moment. They played her recording ofDanny Boy as thematic filler at theend of an otherwise uneventful interview. The simple purity of her tone, the anguishof what was and would never be again filling every note, made me sit in the carwith tears in my eyes until the last note was sung. The silence that followedwas profound.

Cassidy rose to local prominence in the mid-90’s through herappearances in Washington DC clubs. Painfully shy, she prefered to appear aspart of a duo or group, but as her soaring vocal ability on virtually any styleof music was noticed, she was thrust into the lead role more and more often. Inmid-1996 she was diagnosed with melanoma and died in November of that year inher mid-30’s, almost unknown except by a loyal following of local fans. Hereclectic style had frustrated studio executives unable to pin her down to amarketable niche, so that, even though she had recorded a number of songs and alife album, she never hit the charts. After she died, however, those recordingscontributed to a rise in popularity, first in England and then, finally inAmerica. She has become more well-known since her death than ever she was whilealive.

And what sets her apart is the same ability Etta James hadto capture a feeling in a melody and lyric and by doing so, make it completelyher own. You can hear the pensive melancholy, tinged with deep joy on hersignature songs – Autumn Leaves, Over theRainbow, Wonderful World, Fields of Gold.

I am not sure why I am writing about these two singers ofsongs – except, perhaps, that I want to live my life in the same way as theysang – taking the melody and lyrics of life and singing a familiar song in away that is undeniably mine – informed by a deep love for Jesus and gratitudefor redeeming, redefining grace. Besides, if our Father knows when the sparrows fall, we ought pay attention whensongbirds do.

Everything Old is New . . . Again

2012-01-25T18:09:00.001-08:00

It seem that no matter how muchthings change, the more they remain the same. Here we are, barely into the newyear and already it is starting to look an awful lot like every year before.The promise of heady resolutions made at the turn of the year lies largelyunfulfilled in the realization that resolutions alone do not bring change. Instead, they function like promises made toourselves – empty unless acted upon. Turning a life is only equaled indifficulty and distance required by the skill and miles needed to turn asupertanker at full-speed on the high seas. There are exceptions, of course,but lives that can turn on a dime typically weren’t going anywhere fast in thefirst place.

That is why the most effectivestrategy for long-term life change tends to small, incremental changes that aregiven time to settle in before the next series. The appearance can sometimesresemble a drifting into a new way of life, but it is far from that. There is along term strategy and direction with a high level of tactical awarenessrequiring vigilance and determination. Patience is required, and persistence –especially when nothing seems to be happening. It is also best to keep youreyes focused in the moment with only occasional glances at the horizon markerto make sure you are on course, and at the port from which you sailed to letyou know that, indeed, progress has been made. If you try and live a year at atime, you will be frustrated - life is meant to be lived a day, a moment, at atime.

The real advantage of this strategyis that it fits the kind of people we are. Very few of us like sudden andconstant change – but we can handle small changes over time that get us towhere we want to go at an acceptable speed. Think of the engineers designingthe freeway systems. There aren’t many sharp turns! They know that introducinga sharp turn into the 405 south would back traffic up to the Grapevine – theslow, gradual, even graceful arc of the “South Bay curve” keeps things flowingmore or less at speed.

Jesus knows that we are built morefor comfort than for speed – He lovingly has accommodated himself to our way ofbeing. While He could change us instantly, He instead leads us gradually into anew way of being more appropriate to the Kingdom towards which we move. It maytake longer than any of us want – but we will arrive. Another way might bequicker, but the chances of catastrophic breakdown along the way are greatlyincreased. So He comes along side and teaches us how to work, how to live, howto rest. And how to be where we are while heading to where we want to be.

Crispness

2012-01-22T20:17:00.001-08:00

This is the time of year when things become clear. I speak,of course, about the air. Having lived more than half my life in Southern California,I have joined the ranks of those who prefer to speak of haze rather than smog.In fact, I am not even sure we have smog anymore – just an occasional ratherdirty marine layer that lingers overlong. But with the cooperation of high andlow pressure systems somewhere else and the resultant cleansing winds sweepingdown upon us, we get days during the winter months that remind us of what thosenot blessed with our haze enjoy most of the rest of the time – crystal cleardays of sharp shadows and crisp horizons, hills jutting up into the blue-bluesky, distant landscapes sharp silhouettes against the flaming sunset. It is asif we have just gotten new eyeglasses – we can see as we were meant to see! Andit is glorious! Such detailed beauty usually gets rounded down, the edgessoftened until it is completely unnoticed.

It is as if the individual singersin this majestic choir are each able to be heard in their unique contributionto the chorus. They usually blend together so that one voice fades into anotheruntil all are indistinguishable – the sound is wonderful, but tends to mushy.But on days like today, each word, each note, each harmony, sung be each memberof this cosmic ensemble is heard precisely, distinctly – without loss to theglory of the whole. The rugged basso profundo of the near hills and distantmountains have no muddiness in the deep tones of reverent awe. Their crisprichness provides a solid foundation for the playful harmonies of the tenorvoices of the trees sharp against the sky, each nuance in bark and branchhighlighted in their part of the song.The baritone oaks display an unusual delicacy in this finely tuned offering.The high tenor birches almost dance in the sheer joy of the upper ranges oftheir capacity. Floating just above and just below them, the shrubs and grassesand vibrant flowers fill in the alto parts, giving a precisely texturedcounter-point to the soprano melodies of the birds playfully celebrating themusic of the spheres. And then, just when it seems that there is no more musicto be made, the distant, ethereal descants of the high clouds and thewhispering rhythms of the wind take the symphony to a whole new level ofwonder.

There is probably some meaning tobe derived from all this clarity when the wind blows – some lesson to belearned. But, for now, it is enough to enjoy. And say thank you.

Decisions - with Outcomes

2012-01-18T18:04:00.000-08:00

There are few things that are more certain in life thanchange. Whether it brings growth is a different matter – but change is theconstant. Many changes are beyond our managing – things happen and it is ourplace to react or respond with whatever we have in us at the moment. The morepreparation of soul and character we have done before the change, the greaterthe likelihood that our response will redeem the change. Without thatpreparation, our reaction may be less beneficial.

But there are changes that we canmanage, as well. Things that we decide on and that we can shape as the timedraws near. Transitions can be eased with planning and careful, prayerfulthought. Not every question can be answered, but enough of them can be toreduce the chaos of what comes next. The launch into something new isfrightening enough under any circumstances – the fear can be reduced bychoosing not to be surprised. And by making choices.

As we make progress in spiritualmaturity, the black and white, right or wrong, kinds of decisions lessen and weare increasingly left with decisions that have no right or wrong answer. Wemove away from punishment for having made wrong choices to an adult way of lifein which there is no right or wrong choice on many issues – but there are outcomes– outcomes wrapped up in the choice itself. The choice is not between right orwrong, and may not even be a matter of better or best. And we have to choosewithout knowing all the consequences of every action.

And just at that moment, it seems,God removes his guidance and instead gives us wisdom to choose. It is as if Heis saying, “Whatever you choose is fine. I will be with you in any event. What doyou want to do?” To that extent, managing decisions becomes a matter of knowingour own heart – knowing our own desires. We do not have to worry about pleasingGod with our choice – He is already pleased with us. Now what is at stake iswhether we are willing to make a certain choice without knowing all theoutcomes. That requires courage and confidence. In truth, either outcome isacceptable in most cases. The only question is which outcome do we want to livewith? And in it all, we know that God will be with us and give us capacity forour choices.

That is why James instructs us,when in seasons of doubt, to ask for wisdom. That is what we do in these timesof transition. Then, we choose. And then, we live!

Play as Trust

2012-01-15T13:53:00.000-08:00

For the first half of my life, winter was a season of trust.I didn’t think of it in that way then - then it was a matter of unconsciousredemptive endurance. We knew we had to get through it. We knew that March andApril were coming - but would probably be delayed. So, in the middle ofenduring, we redeemed the days. We did so as kids, and as adult children, byplay. The cold froze the small lakes and ponds into acres of skating rink. Theslower, smaller streams would provide miles of skating trails for a couplemonths of the year. Winter was the season of downhill and cross-country skiing- days spent in the wonderland of a snow-covered landscape. Hot chocolatetastes so much better when the appetizer is an hour or two tobogganing down thehills a couple of blocks from home.

Play is a wonderful way to redeemendurance. After all, you have to go through it anyway - you might as well havefun on the way! There are few journeys that are not made lighter, more pleasant- and shorter - by play. Play brings a certain lightness of step to the plod ofhanging in there until it is over. If you can’t make play part of the journey,at least take time out occasionally from the journey to play. The dark seasonof the year calls for such playfulness. The dark seasons of our lives do aswell.

Play is a deep mark of trust. Playunconsciously enters into the full and deep awareness that I am not in chargeof much of anything - and that the One who is can be fully trusted to do whatis right. What a frightening world I would live in if I were in charge of allthings concerning me. There would be no time to play - it would all be work,effort, struggle. Life would be task. Instead, life is trust. My life is inGod’s hands. It is there whether I recognize it, accept it, and live like it,or not. Play decides to enter the game of trust - knowing that it is the onlygame in town. Play is at the center of the celebration of Sabbath - one day inevery seven in which we do not work and which reminds us that we are createdand redeemed - that we are not animals nor slaves - that we are not defined bywhat we do but by who we are - that we have a plane and a destiny in God’sgreat kingdom that is beyond any of our imagination.

And so we play - and so we rest -and so we trust. He, after all, has the whole world in His hands.

The Loneliness of Decision

2012-01-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

Alone

all

alone.

Peering

into the darkness

of a future to be

determined by

this

one

choice.

Impossible

to see a future

that would make

easier

this

one

choice.

Even if

future sight

were given

it wouldn’t help.

There is

no future

until a

choice is

made.

This

one

choice

gives rise

to a different

future than

this

one

choice.

In the

loneliness of the choice

choose

knowing

the futures

are not

lonely.

“I will be with you.”

Weeping in Ramah (Matthew 2:18)

2012-01-08T17:06:00.001-08:00

She thought it was over. Staying inBethlehem to avoid the questioning looks of the neighbors back home, Mary andJoseph settled down to the good work of making a living and raising a son.Joseph’s skills made it possible for them to fit in without raising too manyquestions. Before long they realized Jesus was pretty much just like any otherboy his age. The events surrounding his birth had faded to a treasured, andregularly pondered, memory.

Then out of the blue came the wisemen with their wonderful story and over-whelming gifts. News of their arrivaltraveled fast in the small neighborhood – any thought of just going back tobusiness as usual was shattered. And then, the angel – this time with awarning. Bethlehem was no longer safe, they must leave. Now. How do you decidewhat to take? How long are we going to be gone? Must we leave right now? Now!She had no time to say good bye to the few women she had become friends with.

The lights and sounds of the littlevillage faded behind them as they began their weary way south. She wasn’t sureif she imagined it in that strange place between waking and sleeping, but thefaint echo of the cries of mothers startled her into wakefulness. A shiver randown her spine. She held the child so tightly that he squirmed in her embrace.The look in Joseph’s eyes told her she had not imagined the anguish – and that,but for the angel, it would be her cries of grief and outrage splitting thenight air over Bethlehem. What kind of hatred, what kind of anger, what kind offear, could move someone to slay innocent children – toddlers, some justlearning to walk?

Simeon had warned her that thebirth of her son would result in a sword piercing even her own heart. But sosoon? And with this kind of pain? What right had she to be glad her son livedwhen so many of her friend’s sons had died? And worse, they died because helived. Her heart ached with the battle and the shared pain. She finallysurrendered to the numbing tedium of the road and let exhaustion over take her.

It was years before she could beginto understand what that night was all about - before she could place it inthe plan - before she knew what was atstake in the survival of her son and their travel into Egypt. For out of Egypt,God would call her son, and His. And begin the grand reversal. Tonight, hislife resulted in death for many. One near day, his death would result in lifefor many, many more. He could not die this night. It wasn’t time . . . yet.

Epiphany

2012-01-06T09:21:00.001-08:00

Today – January 6 – is Epiphany – the twelfth of the twelvedays of Christmas. It commemorates, in the Western church, the visit of theMagi – the Persian sages whose reading of the night skies lead them toBethlehem, with gifts – gold of royalty, frankinscence as part of the incenseof worship, and myrrh used as one of the spices to wrap a body after death – embodyingtheir understanding of his identity.

Ephiphany means something like “manifestation” or“appearance.” The focus is on the startling revelation of Jesus as theIncarnate Son of God. In the Eastern church, Epiphany commemorates Jesus’baptism – the moment at which the heaven’s were opened, the Spirit descended,and He was declared to be Who He was – the Beloved Son of God.

In Epiphany, we celebrate the gift of Jesus to the wholeworld. Here the two branches of the church may find common ground in that theMagi were gentiles. The revelation of Jesus as the Son of God – startling initself – is made even more so with the declaration that He is so for the wholeworld, not just those who self-identify as God’s chosen people.

In the church calendar, Epiphany gives way to Ordinary Timewhich lasts until the beginning of Lent. Ordinary Time is that reminder thatthe wonder of Incarnation, the stunning awareness of God with us, reshapes,redefines, reframes all of our days. Incarnation is useless if it is justmemorialized in annual holy-days but does not work its way into the fabric ofevery-days. The purpose of the holy-days is to allow for the re-calibration ofour souls – to remind us, again and again and again, over and over and over,that life – our life – is more than whatis seen all around us. That, in fact, wonder is afoot! We desperately need thispersistent, consistent reminder – especially as wonder gives way to ordinary.

So, the tree is down – set out at the curb for pick up orstored away in its box for next year. The lights, which only days ago twinkledmerrily against the backdrop of December darkness, look rather sad on the few houseson which they still remain. The gifts, given with such excitement andenthusiasm only twelve days ago, are now stacked with those of Christmas past –or, more likely, returned for what was wanted more.

But wait! There’s more! The King – born to die – has comefor us all! Even Ordinary days are alive – electric – with His Presence forthose who have seen His star, for those who have heard the Voice.

Small Changes

2012-01-04T17:34:00.000-08:00

Most resolutions made at the turnof a year, or at pretty much any other time for that matter, fail because theyare too radical – too ambitious. Sometime over the Christmas season we have achance to sit and take stock of where we are and consider where we want to be.It is the time for all the old familiar longings to come to the surface, fueledby the dreams of by-gone days, or by the realization that the future hasarrived a whole lot faster than you had planned. Maybe some event triggers adesire for wholesale change – a complete makeover, inside and out. The latest“reality” programs on television make it clear that change – real change – isyours for the asking, if you have enough money, in just under an hour, and thatmentality percolates down into our longings, compelling us to promise ourselvesthe world. Radical resolutions rarely see fulfillment. They simply don’t havethe foundation to support their implementation.

Real change is accomplished inincrements – a bit at a time. If it is your goal to finally make exercise aregular part of your lifestyle of stewardship, it is probably best not toschedule an hour long workout each day beginning at six in the morning! Anapproach more likely to succeed is one that has you doing stretching exercisesand some cardio work two or three times a week for a month or two.

Likewise, if you desire to godeeper in your relationship with God, it is not likely to occur if you committo an hour a day of intense prayer and study of the Word - especially if you are starting from zero. Youwill do better, with real and sustained change, if you give yourself areasonable target – fifteen to thirty minutes a day, three or four days a week.If you fail to get it done one week, don’t quit, just try again next week. And,for God’s sake, don’t shame yourself for failing – graciously – gracefully – train into the new.

This time of year reminds me oflearning to drive in the snow. Every once in a while, we would get stuck. Thetemptation was to just sit in the car and floor the accelerator, thinking thatmore was better. The result was that the spinning wheel heated up the snowunder it, which formed a slick coat of ice. The result? More stuck after thanbefore!

The solution was to gradually applythe gas, rock the car gently back and forth until you were able to feel thetire “grab”. Then you would gingerly give it just a bit more gas to get yougoing a bit at a time.

Life change is sort of the same.You have to get some traction – some “grab” – before you get unstuck. And theway to do that is a bit at a time.

No Guarantees - No Money Back

2012-01-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

You pay your money and you take your chances. If that isn’ta description of life these days, I don’t know what is. But what better way isthere to live in the light of the fact that God is with us?

The incarnation does not legitimatefoolishness, but it does remind us that we are not alone in the universe andthat God has come to us and is decidedly on our side. That is good news! Itgives us enormous freedom to try and to fail or to try and succeed withoutrisking anything important. All of the important issues of our identity anddestiny have been settled in God’s coming to us. It is clear - the decision hasbeen made - we are the children of God and have an exciting place in the greatfuture He has planned for those who love Him. With that settled, we can reallylive. Make that LIVE! We can enter abundant life - the life of the heavens -now. So… what do you want to do today?

At the beginning of this new year,think what living in the full freedom of God’s eternal love and plan for youmight mean. Full freedom - let that phrase wash over your mind for a moment. You are completely safe in the loveof God. You need not be anxious about anything. Anything! Your life is hiddenwith God in Christ. Now, what do you want to do today?

Might you perhaps live less anxiousabout tomorrow - knowing that is in His hand as well? Might you be moregenerous with your time or money, knowing that they are not the full measure ofwho you are? Might you relax more completely and laugh more deeply, knowing thedeep joy that comes from being known of Him? Might you play more, knowing thatthe running of the universe is in Someone else’s hands? Might you work harderat a couple of things, leaving behind some others, knowing that your worth doesnot depend on getting everything done? Might you build more deliberately intorelationships, knowing that those are the only things that are going to last?Might you take your life both more and less seriously, knowing that you areboth here for purpose and yet not able to get it all done yourself?

There are no guarantees, and youcan’t get your money back. But so what? Risk has been redefined – Godis with us!

Time Between Times

2011-12-28T20:01:00.000-08:00

The busy-ness, the rush of theseason all comes to press on the day - and then is followed by a kind of hushin time, a gentle stillness in which to settle back and enjoy the great gift ofa few moments of leisure. Thoughts turn to tomorrow and the coming year. Thereare no guarantees, but chances are pretty good that you will receive the greatgift of 365 days in the coming year. Before rushing into them, why not takeadvantage of this brief breathing space and think before the Lord about whatyou will do with the terrible gift of time. There is a kind of terror inreceiving such a great gift. It is not a gift to be squandered.

Perhaps we could begin our considerationof the future with reflection on the past. What kinds of things over this pastyear have brought you the greatest joy? When have you felt closest to God? Whenfurthest away? What made you laugh? Who was at your side in the year's bestmoments? What mistakes did you make that need to go in the "lessonslearned" column? What opportunities did you miss because you were afraid?Are there any friendships with open agendas that need to be dealt with? Whenwere you fully relaxed and at rest? Are there any regrets that need to be putto rest with forgiveness and, perhaps, repentance? What tripped you up mostoften? When did you feel fully alive in Christ?

Now, with that inventory in mind,turn your thoughts to the days ahead. How will you impose shape on those daysto allow you to enter more fully into the great love of God for you? Whatdeliberate steps will you take to explore the world of deep grace? What onething about yourself will you finally embrace as God's gift to you - and to theworld? Who will you choose to forgive, embracing a new future with them? Whatweight on your soul will you give up? What closely held and comfortable sinwill you walk away from? What risk will you take for the love and glory of God?Where will you carve out the moments and days for deep rest and retreat? Whatwill you do simply because it needs to be done even though you know you won'tdo it perfectly the first - or thirty-first - time? At what will you giveyourself a break? Where will you be on the look out for the fruit of theSpirit?

What a great and special gift isthis time between times! Oh for grace to be deeply present in it.

How Gently He Comes

2011-12-24T18:20:00.000-08:00

Soft smooth skin

of the baby’s cheek

against the back of her

hand

Slow sleeping sighs

of the baby’s breath

against the crook of her

neck

He stirs

and looks at

her with unfocused

eyes

they close

again in sleep

Months before

his kicks

made her smile

in anticipation

and wonder

She laughed at the

strength of this

son

this

Son

Now his small

fingers

each nail perfect

encircle one of

hers

and hold on

tight

There is strength

in those hands

in those legs

But now

strength is at rest

completely at rest

How gently

He comes.

How Shall We Respond?

2011-12-21T17:17:00.000-08:00

The stories surrounding the Incarnation are studies in response. Luke carefully tells a series of minor stories that all pile up to one great story. But along the way, each small story has a fascination all its own.

We are ushered into the holy place as Zacharias comes to present the daily sacrifice. The people he represents stand only a few yards away – but an impossible distance of holiness separates them from the action. Zacharias’ surprise at being met in the holy place by an angel quickly gives way to shock at what the angel says. But that shock fades to incredulity. While understandable, this response is one of those lessons it would be wise for us to learn from someone else’s example.

A couple of months later, we sit with Mary as she is taken by surprise by the same angel with a similar announcement. Like her uncle, Mary’s shock at the angel’s presence is superceded by the stunning pronouncement he makes. Against all odds and against all nature, she was to become the mother of the promise of God – the long awaited Messiah! Her shock likewise gives way – but to a question of mechanics. Her problem is not with the promise, but with the execution of the promise. Mary’s response is admirable, but I doubt that any of us, in similar circumstances, would have been able to respond with even close to the same kind of dignity.

Other responses surface in the moment of the event– Herod’s crafty assassination plot, born out of an insane jealousy – possible for any of us who would be king in the face of Him who is King; the informed nodding of the scholars, content to know about, without any interest in actually knowing, Him for whom they waited professionally.

Yet again, the surprise visit and welcome announcement of the angel – and the song of the angels – stuns the shepherds on the hills just outside of Bethlehem. Their response is classic. “Let us go and see!” Here, at last, is a response that we can imitate. We, too, can come and see.

Finally, Matthew tells the story of the wise men, who had been journeying the better part of two years in response to the message they had read in the stars of the night skies, found themselves crowding into a humble dwelling, bowing down, presenting their precious gifts, recognizing the King whose birth they were compelled to celebrate. Here, again, is a response that we can imitate. We, too, can come and worship.

Courage At Christmas

2011-12-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas can bring out the best in people - smiles shared with strangers, gifts expressing generous hearts, snatches of old songs hummed even while standing in long lines, the light reflected in the eyes of a child reminding those who aren’t what it used to be like, the excitement of the whole world getting ready for one single day. Families come together to share in long remembered and cherished traditions, re-making connections that stretch backward and forward through the years. Friends search for something that will perfectly reflect their heart for another. Tiny lights breaking the dark of the longest night, sparkle and shimmer, almost dancing to the music of peace and joy.

Of course, Christmas can also bring out the worst in people - snarls wrestling over the last must have whatever on the shelf, gifts given out of guilt, banal and boring words and melodies that trivialize deep meaning, greed in the eyes of a child mixing with disappointment over not getting everything, the stress of the whole world heading towards the same finish line. Families come together to resume the same old, tired conflict after the truce that distance called last year, wondering if family can mean anything other than baggage and hard work. Friends desperately search for anything that will be of approximately the same value as what they just got from someone they had no intention of buying for this year.

It is enough to make a person disappear for a month or two. But don’t do it! Take heart - be of good cheer - have courage at Christmas

Courage to let yourself relax and enjoy an imperfect celebration with imperfect people of the coming of a perfect savior who is God, with us.

Courage to be who you are in Christ and not be sucked in to the death dealing structures of greed and guilt.

Courage to settle for simple without shame and to carve out time for the things and people that are special to you.

Courage to recognize the holy in the holiday.

Emptying

2011-12-14T14:31:00.000-08:00

"What Must I Do . . .?"

The question is asked by a young man who has it all, but recognizes that he is missing something essential. He asks a logical question for one who has it all. It is a question formed by his life – a life of grasp, get and hold. It is clear that there is intent, he will do whatever is required in order to put him in a place where eternal life will come to him by inheritance. It is an interesting choice of word, perhaps giving away the source of his own wealth – which, we discover later, is considerable. He understands the nature of connections, of networks. He is willing to do the work necessary to make those connections.

He sees Jesus as a source of the type of life that he wants. Jesus does not take him too seriously at the beginning of their conversation and tosses off an answer that gets to the heart of his deep need – but which the young man is unable to understand. “I have done all that stuff . . .” but still the need remains. At this Jesus stops, looks at him, and loves him. Out of His great heart of love for him, Jesus speaks this young man’s greatest need, “sell everything you have and give it away – then, come and follow me.” The young man is exactly right. Connection with Jesus is his ticket to the life he longs for. But he is held fast in the grip of what he clings too – his wealth, his life. He must first let go before he can receive. All his grabbing and grasping will not enable him to get what he most wants. Life can only be received by someone with empty, open hands – but his hands are full, and closed. Unwilling to release his grip on what has him in its grasp, the young man turns and walks away.

One of the hard lessons of the Advent season is this – we can only receive with hands open and empty. So we, like that wealthy young man must release our iron grip on what has us in its grip. Whatever we have relied on to make us safe and let us know who we are, we must let go and stand still without. We must trust that our empty hands will not remain empty. We must trust that our open hands will be filled with the longing of our hearts – that we will receive life. Life which can not be earned, can not be grabbed, can not be inherited. Life which can only come as gift.

Advent is the season of waiting with open and empty hands, trusting that He to whom we look for life will not turn us away, nor disappoint us. That He who is Life will come, once again, to us.

Chosen Waiting

2011-12-10T11:52:00.001-08:00

Approaching the third Sunday in Advent at breakneck speed it is hard to put ourselves into a mode of waiting. We don’t have time to wait. There is just too much life to cram in to every available slot in the day to even think about waiting. But sometimes life forces us to come to the realization that waiting is all we have to do. We can fill the moments of our waiting with distracting things – but we will still wait. The danger of distraction is that we may miss the very thing we are waiting for. Advent reminds us that it is important to learn how to wait, well.

Babies, even supernaturally conceived ones, take about nine months to work up the courage to be born. That is not something you want to rush too much. Nine months is about right. After the miraculous events surrounding conception, I wonder if Mary and Joseph looked with different wonder at her growing belly than any other young couple expecting their first child. Culture probably prohibited it, but Mary’s conversations with the other mothers would reveal that her pregnancy was pretty much like everyone else’s. Nothing supernatural there! She had to wait, just like they did. The promise she had received receded into the back ground noise of life.

The noise of our lives tends to become so loud that we can not even hear the melody of the season unless we stop and sit still long enough to retune the ears of our hearts to the silence at the center of the Universe. Christmas becomes one thing after another, one item checked off the to do list then on to the next – until we simply check off the day and are into the new year without even knowing what has happened. Advent is a deliberate attempt at slowing – at remembering – at reflecting.

We remember the promise and what it might mean. We consider the longing for which the promise was good news. We let ourselves enter in to that place of deep desire once again and refuse to be filled with anything but Him for Whom we wait. We walk slowly and drink in the lights and the laughter and the love that seem everywhere present in this forced, embraced waiting. We know that they will be missed if we don’t notice – and so we notice. We walk slowly enough for small children to keep up. We walk slowly enough for weary souls to explore the edges of longing. We walk slowly enough for the sense of adventure and hope to begin to build. We stop every once in a while and listen. “Do you hear what I hear . . . ?”

The Day After Yesterday

2011-12-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday she had a fiancé who could hardly believe his good fortune that their families had been able to arrange their union. He looked at her with shining eyes and a sense of pride that comes from love supported by honor.

Yesterday she looked forward to her wedding day – the happiest day of her young life – capping a week long celebration with family and friends.

Yesterday she had a reputation that was beyond question. Her family held her in high esteem – and carried no shame because of her.

Yesterday, her tomorrows looked bright!

Yesterday, she was a single, betrothed, virgin – the pride and joy of her family, the love of Joseph’s life...

Today, she is a single, pregnant, virgin – betrothal in question. How can this be? Indeed. How? Indeed . . . can it be true at all? As real as it seemed, could it have been a dream? A nightmare? She would have to wait . . . and the truth would be born. Or not.

Today, everything she once believed, everything she once hoped for her tomorrows was lost in yesterday’s dark mists. Her life was not altered – not changed. It was ended. A new life had begun – much less secure, much less joy-full, much less bright. Much less...

Escaping the glares and stares of tomorrow she headed for the hills, seeking refuge in the safe home of her aunt and uncle who themselves knew something of angels and untimely births.

Nearing the familiar home her greeting rang out. She was startled to see Elizabeth come rushing out the door. having told no one her news, she was astonished to hear the loud response to her greeting, “Blessed are you! Blessed is the child you bear! Blessed am I that the mother of my Lord should visit me!”

“How did you know?”

Elizabeth, laughing, pointed to her still leaping, still yet to be born, son. “He is already preparing the way! He is already bearing witness! He is already leaping for joy!”

It was all true! And in ways that she could never have known. There was nothing for it but for Mary to settle into this new tomorrow – and rejoice! And so, she did!

Prepare

2011-12-04T16:34:00.001-08:00

Had we been paying attention, we would have noticed how diligent God is in setting the table. Five days of creation are devoted to preparation for the wonder to be formed on the sixth. Those who study such things report on the precision with which the earth is hung in space, the angle at which it is oriented to the sun, the speed at which it spins on its axis, the density, depth, and composition of its atmosphere – all ideal for the sustaining of life. God does amazing work in obscurity with no one but the angels to observe and celebrate.

Of course, anyone with any experience in construction would probably tell you the same thing. A building which seems to appear magically out of the ground has been in the works for a much longer time. And the grander the building, the longer the preparation. Someone has a need – a dream. An architect hears and interprets the dream, orienting and anchoring it to a place, working with engineers to solve countless problems, small and great. Resources are marshalled; plans drawn and redrawn, checked and rechecked, submitted and resubmitted. Contractors and sub-contractors add their insights and objections – and finally, the day arrives to begin. And still, it appears that nothing is happening for months. The site is measured, posts are driven, dirt is moved around, holes are dug, tests are made, and on and on and on it goes. And still, no building. But without all that preparation, there would be no beauty, no architecture, no useful space, no anchored place.

The evidence is all around us – wonder takes time. And most of that time is spent on preparation, often in obscurity. In fact, the greater the wonder, the longer and more profound the preparation is likely to be. Thousands of years of prophetic history are needed to lay the ground work of understanding, to make clear the theological rationale, to bring awareness of necessity – to set the stage for the glad song, “Behold, I bring to you news of a great joy!” In fact, if we look even closer, we will notice that preparations for that song and the event it celebrates were underway since before there was a way to keep track of time.

We are so often in a rush to arrive that we don’t have capacity for arrival – we grab before we have capacity to hold – we refuse to wait only to discover we have no capacity for what awaits. That is why Advent makes sense. It is about increasing capacity – about preparing – about waiting. The result of faith-full waiting is the ability to hear angel song and baby cry and know what they mean.

Time to See

2011-11-30T20:38:00.001-08:00

I have a couple of friends who are photographers (Brienne Michelle and Briana Moore). Both do fabulous life-style shoots as well as the bread and butter of many photographers, weddings. Sometimes, they do second camera work with a friend. The second camera person is the one who gets background and crowd shots while the main photographer is covering the action of a wedding – processional, first kiss, communion, recessional, etc. One of them – which one, I can’t remember – posted a comment on her blog a while ago lamenting an increasingly common dilemma for second camera people at a wedding trying to get reaction shots.

A reaction shot is the picture taken of someone in the crowd as they react to the action taking place. So, for example, a second camera would catch the tear in a father’s eye as his son stands bravely up front awaiting his bride. Or, perhaps, the mix of pride and terror on the face of a young mom as her flower girl toddles up the aisle dragging a reticient ring-boy son in her wake. You get the idea.

Anyway, the problem for the second camera person is that, increasingly, reaction shots are disappearing behind a phalanx of pocket cameras, flipcams, and smartphones as people take pictures of the action rather than see it. As sophisticated as the technology of these devices is, I can’t imagine that the picture that emerges could possibly be anything more than a pale imitation of the reality it portrays – but still, people would rather take a picture than revel in the real. And the simple act of taking a picture removes us one step from the moment – we become observers rather than participants. It gets even worse when we critique the moment because it isn’t properly composed in the micro-screen into which we are peering!

I am thinking that one of the gifts of Advent is the opportunity to put our cameras away and simply become present to the approaching glory. To take a slow walk towards Incarnation – open handed, willing to receive. To let life come to us rather than grabbing for it. To learn to see rather than watch.

Advent is a speed-bump in time – a chosen slowing to allow meaning to seep into the cracks and crevices of our busy-ness. A decision to become present and accounted for in the deep reality of our own lives. A willingness to respond to the wonder breaking in all around.