Month: February 2018

I spent the day at the Lorain County Solo & Ensemble Contest listening to students play music and adjucators provide feedback. When students were offered tips for improvement, many comments focused on breathing, posture, and expressing the mood of the music. It was clear that most students knew the music and simply trying to play better wasn’t the answer.

In life, most of us know what good behavior looks like. Whether we turn to the Bible, another religious text, a set of laws, or general morality, most humans develop some idea of what it means to be good.

When we fall short in our behavior, many of us simply try acting better. Unfortunately, this often results in short-lived changes and fairly ineffective efforts.

In the story of the Rich Young Man in the Bible, Jesus encounters a man who is focused on trying to act better…

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

“Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

-Matthew 19:16-22

This man focuses on the music his life produces, but Jesus challenges him to think more deeply. While Jesus offers a call to action, he is getting at something even more fundamental. Like many stories in the Bible, this one contains multiple layers. True, it addresses wealth, but if we look more closely, we uncover something even more profound.

Jesus is calling this man to change his thoughts.

While we don’t know how he gained his wealth, since he is young I feel safe assuming the man either inherited it or comes from a wealthy family. He has likely spent most of his life viewing his idenity through wealth and status. His environment shaped him to picture his wealth as an integral part of who he is.

He can barely imagine life without his possessions. When Jesus presses him on the issue, he walks away, overcome with sadness.

The word translated “perfect” in this story could also be translated “made complete.” This story is not about achieving some level of moral perfection; rather, it is about finding wholeness.

This young man likely trusted in wealth for his identity. However, before we throw stones, we should look in the mirror. We may not depend on wealth, but how many of us ask social status, reputation, relationships, addiction, our number of friends on Facebook, or a host of other issues to provide the same thing?

What if changing our behavior isn’t about trying harder, but getting to the core issues of our experiences, our environment, our thoughts, and our moods, all of which shape the way we act.

It’s not significantly different from the instructions I heard from adjudicators today. Producing better music from an instrument requires a musician to breath well, have good posture, and use the right techniques. The result can be something beautiful.

If our desire is to become instruments producing beautiful music in our lives, focusing on our experiences, environment, thoughts, and moods can make it possible for our behavior to change from the inside out.

The Rich Young Man didn’t just need to sell his possessions. He needed to change what possessed him on the inside, enabling him to become more complete. What possesses you, holding you back from being whole?

I love living by a lake. Toes in the sand. Waves lapping at my ankles. Sounds of wind and water. But in winter, those experiences go away, hidden under ice.

Some people’s lives go through similar transitions. From alive and joyful to cold and frozen. The cold winter winds of life creating a layer of ice on the surface. Ice that can be smooth and reflective or ice that is rigid and sharp. One often looks like everything is ok, still creating a cold shell. The other lashes out, boldly exhibiting the pain.

Underneath water still flows. Although chilly, life still remains below. Not all is lost; it’s simply hidden beneath the surface.

If you experience someone in a season of winter in their life, how can you help break through the ice? By grabbing a pick and chucking away, hoping to break through the surface? Or by providing a warm spring breeze? While a pick can be effective, the work is hard and often damaging to the person on the other end. Proceed with caution when considering this method.

The better method is typically a warm breeze. Words of encouragement. Acts of mercy and compassion. Presence. These often thaw even the most challenging ice.

But beware. You will not be able to thaw every icy lake you encounter. For some, the timing may not be good. For others, you may not be the right person to bring the breeze. Remember it is not any one person’s responsibility to help everyone. Sometimes, you will need to walk away, knowing this work belongs to another.

If you’re reading this as a frozen lake, you may feel no one can thaw the ice. Rest assured spring is coming. Maybe not as soon or as quickly as you would like, but a warm breeze will arrive, often from a direction you never expected.

Regardless of which side of the ice you find yourself today, remember there is always life beneath the surface, no matter how thick the ice. In that, we can all find hope.

Recently I was enjoying a walk in nature when I came across this bridge. This was somewhere I had never been before and wondered what was on the other side. Beyond this bridge was unknown territory waiting to be discovered.

Every day, every moment, we stand before bridges in our life. We are faced with decisions whether to cross or not. Decisions as simple as which route to take to work, what to have for breakfast, or whether or not to call a friend. Some decisions may have more significant meaning for our lives. Do I accept this new job? Do I call that friend that hurt me? Do I say those words in anger one more time? Do I repeat that same bad habit again?

The difference between the bridge I came across on that trail and bridges we face in life is once we cross life bridges, we can’t go back. Every moment is a bridge. Every decision a crossing. Each determining the next path in this journey called life.

If you will, excuse me for a moment as we stop along the path for a brief theological reflection. Does I AM know the future? People have debated this for thousands of years. Recently, I heard an explanation that really resonated with me. What if I AM doesn’t know the future, but due to I AM’s infinite wisdom, I AM knows every possible bridge that lies on the other side of the bridge before us? What if every possible outcome of this next decision is in the mind of I AM? And every possible outcome of the next decision? And so on. It is mind-blowing, but also reassuring.

I have always struggled with the idea of I AM knowing my future. It conflicts with free will. It seems controlling and predetermined. But, if I AM knows every possible bridge I will ever face, then there is wisdom to be gleaned from listening.

Thank for the brief stop on our walk. Let’s return to the bridge.

Today, you will face an untold number of bridges. Which ones do you cross and which do you pass? How do we know what is the “right” one to choose. The reality is there is no one right bridge. But, and this is where wisdom comes into play, there are better bridges than others.

Unfortunately, we – unlike I AM – cannot see every potential bridge on the other side. However, we can make better decisions when we listen. Listen to I AM. Listen to our experience. Listen to others. Listen.

Sometimes – more often than I care to admit – I make decisions without listening. I rush to cross a bridge before considering what bridges might be on the other side. And while I often get frustrated with myself, I also have to offer myself grace and remember that even on the other side of the bridge there will be bridges that lead to better paths.

One of the best ways to choose the better bridge next time is to learn from the bridges we have already crossed. But we shouldn’t waste our energy wishing we could go back. That moment, that decision, is etched in history. The only real choice we have today is to consider the bridges before us and cross the better ones.

Last week I visited Madison, Wisconsin for a few days and during the trip had the opportunity to experience some live music. One of the evenings featured a jazz trio. They took turns improvising and creating beautiful and unique music. They obviously have played together before and were comfortable going off each other’s leads. Throughout their performance, I found myself immersed in the music, forgetting each individual’s instrument until one of them began playing a solo.

Watching and listening to them playing together served as an image of the I AM. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three but one.

This jazz trio provided a visual of how I AM has unity within community. Each of the three musicians that evening knew their part, but also knew the abilites of the others. They trusted each other and enjoyed the others’ time in the limelight. They didn’t co-opt another musician’s solo, but complimented it with complimenting rhythms and harmonies.

Throughout the Bible we find moments where each of the three are featured. The Father serves as the dominant voice thoughout the Elder Testament, interacting with patriarchs, nations, prophets, and priests. Throughout the Gospels, the Son – the incarnation of the I AM – moves to the forefront, displaying what it means to be fully human. The remainder of the Younger Testament features the work of the Holy Spirit – the wind and breath of the I AM. But never are any of them silent. From Genesis to Revelation, these three move together, creating beauty, redeeming Creation, and constantly working to restore Shalom.

Later in the show, these three musicians invited others to come to the stage and play with them, helping create music, something new that has never been played before. I AM invites each of us – and all of creation – to join them in the art of creating beauty, redeeming Creation, and constantly working to restore Shalom. We are not called to be audience members, waiting to see which song is next. We are welcomed to the stage, offered an instrument, and blessed to help make the world a better place, not according to some formula or set of rules, but rather – like good jazz – to engage our uniqueness, release our creativity, and partner with the trio who started this song in the beginning.