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Who’s got this?

Take it to God in prayer.
God’s got this.
I’m giving it to God.
God can handle it.
God is at work.
Most of us have heard at least one of these phrases before, especially when someone is facing a difficult decision or situation. But is this really how God wants us to think and behave?
If we look back on the story of creation, it seems evident that God has empowered us to be God’s agents and coworkers in the world…
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals and over all the creatures that move along the ground. (Genesis 1:26)
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)
It seems as though we have forgotten about God’s call for us to copartner and have allowed our consumeristic worldview to color our approach to God. Maybe we have come to lean on God to take care of things that God has called us to take care of or at least work with God on.
I want to be careful here not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. We absolutely should pray to God, seek wisdom and guidance, and ask God to help. But instead of praying and then looking upward, maybe we should pray and then look inward and outward.
We also read in the Genesis story that God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone…” (Genesis 2:18) We were created for community. Community with God and with each other. We are meant to care for creation, including our fellow human beings.
Prayer is not primarily about asking God to give us something or do something for us. Prayer is a form of communication where we open ourselves up to God and seek to be transformed in the process. It seems our consumeristic mindset has caused us to expect God to act like yet another service provider waiting for us to call and put in our order.
Should we pray? Absolutely!
Should we ask God to be involved with our lives? Yes!
Should we then sit back and wait for God to do something? I don’t believe so.
God is at work in the world today, but the vast majority of the time it is through you and me. So maybe instead of asking God to handle it, maybe we should look around and see what God is asking us to handle in our midst. If we could all do that, I imagine a lot more prayers would be answered, not through some supernatural act, but through the people God has called to be partners in bringing Shalom to this broken and hurting world.
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In this together

Scientists estimate there are approximately one billion snowflakes in a cubic foot of snow. And within that cubic foot, no two snowflakes are alike. Each one shaped by its unique journey. I am not sure how much snow is in this photo, but there are certainly millions and millions of unique snowflakes right here in this small portion of my front yard.

This world contains over seven billion unique people, no two exactly alike. Each person shaped by his or her unique journey. If you are reading this today, you are one of those seven billion uniquely special human beings. Your life has shaped who you are to this point.

But let’s be honest, it has not always been a smooth journey to this point. For some of us, the trip has been rougher than others.
Your edges might be a little sharper because of pain, loss, or abuse.
Your shell might be a little tougher due to how others have treated you.
Your inside might be a little more tender from your life experiences.

But the opposite could also be true…
Your life might look better than others because of the love and support you’ve received.
Your situation might be more comfortable due to the opportunities you’ve had.
Your inside might have more confidence and strength from years of positive experiences.

Whether you’re in the first category or the second, or – like most of us – somewhere in between, here are a few things to never forget…

We are all human beings created in the image of our Creator. I am not here to debate creation versus evolution or whether there is a God. My point is to share why I believe every single human being on this planet has intrinsic value. Man or woman. Black or white. Christian or Muslim. Straight or gay. I believe every single one of us was formed by God, and deserves the same love and respect from our fellow human beings.

We all need to belong. We are formed in the image of a God who is community. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one, but also three. I am not here to debate the Trinity theologically. My point is we are created for community because we were birthed out of community. I believe that every single human being needs a community and is created for belonging.

We are in this together. If we are all deserve love and respect and were created for community, then we need to work towards acting like it. We need to stop building walls, calling names, dividing, and attacking. Our neighbor is not only the person next door whose skin is the same color, goes to the same church, has a family that looks like ours, and lives in the same socio-economic class as us. Our neighbor is also the person who has a different view on abortion, same-sex marriage, war, tax policy, immigration, and a litany of other issues. Our neighbor is that person across the globe who we want to launch missiles at because we view them as our enemy or even ignore because we don’t want to deal with their starvation and other struggles.

This doesn’t mean we can’t disagree and discuss policies, opinions, and options. Or that we each have to solve all of the world’s problems. But, we need to start with this critical foundation before we enter that dialogue: We are all human beings. We all need to belong. We are in this together.

When a billion different snowflakes come together, they can create something beautiful. If we can start from a point of common humanity, maybe we can all learn to treat each other more humanely, and move this planet towards the beauty that has been God’s dream for us the whole time.

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Turning the page

It’s a new year. Time to look back and focus on the future. A season to remember what has been and resolve what will be. A moment to turn the page on a new chapter of life.

If we’re honest, isn’t that what every day is about? Every moment?

The image above is my current stack of books from the library. It probably isn’t important to anyone else what those books are, but it is to me. Those pages contain words that will touch my heart and mind. Thoughts of others that will, in some way, shape who I am as a person.
Since I started a serious journey of self-discovery around two and half years ago, I have read somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 books. That amounts to somewhere in the range of 12,000 to 18,000 pages, or 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 words. I don’t say this to brag, but rather to share the amount of knowledge and wisdom I have encountered over the last 30 months or so. I don’t read to prove how much I know. I read to learn how much I don’t know.
Reading isn’t for everyone, but we all determine what will shape our hearts and minds to some extent. We choose what we read, what we watch, and what we listen to, things impacting who we are becoming.

None of us today are who we were yesterday. None of us are who we will be tomorrow. We stand in the present with an opportunity to look back and learn and an opportunity to turn forward and grow.

Over the last several years I have reduced TV watching and soon will be getting rid of satellite TV. This isn’t for everyone, but it is good for me. With only so many hours in the day, I need to use them wisely. I would rather spend an hour reading a book than watching mindless entertainment.
Will I still watch TV occasionally? Absolutely. But it will be less frequent and more intentional. It will be a specific show or event that is worthy of that time, not a time killer sucking away my opportunity to grow.

There are many other things I should assess to determine if they deserve my time, but I am learning to choose my battles wisely and not spread my efforts too thin. I am far from perfect, but I am striving to be better than I was yesterday.

What is one step you can take to use your time more wisely? Quitting a habit? Changing a behavior? Developing a new attitude? No one can answer that question but you.
Every day is another page in the book of life. What will be there when you turn the page to tomorrow?

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Broken bread

Today I had lunch with a young man I have not see in years, who I got to know through my first full-time ministry in Ohio. He is now involved with a church plant in the Columbus area and we talked about the faith community he is part of and how they are seeking to be more transparent, vulnerable, and real.
This led to an honest conversation about our own struggles and challenges in life and how brokenness is often avoided in church. His faith community seeks to be about openness, honesty, and unconditional love.
Reflecting on today’s conversation I was thinking about communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, or whatever your particular faith tradition calls it. Some do it weekly, others monthly, or other variations as well. But I wonder if we really miss an important part of this ritual.
Have we focused so much on the ritual that we miss the point?
I don’t want to get into the theological weeds at this point, I simply want to offer a few thoughts and questions…
What if Christ calls us to the table to remember that just as his body was broken, we are broken, too?
What if Christ calls us to the table to remember that just as his blood was spilled, our blood has been spilled, too.
As much as we attribute the Lord’s Supper to a remembrance of what Jesus did on the cross, what if it is a remembrance of what Jesus DID on the cross?
What if the bread and wine are not just about the suffering that Christ did on the cross, but a reminder that we too suffer? And that Christ’s mission was about more than a free pass to heaven, but a pathway to bringing heaven to earth?
What if the Lord’s Supper is less about a ritual to make sure we are okay with God and more of a time for community, a time for healing?
What if we changed the way we did communion? What if, rather than passing plates and drinking a shot of grape juice, we turned to our neighbor and confessed our sins and struggles? I mean the real ones. The ones we don’t talk about in church.
To me, that may be the heart of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus sat around a table with twelve men, one of whom was about to betray him, and shared a meal. A meal drenched in meaning for these Jewish men, but also a meal where Jesus washed feet and discussed so many things.
What if communion is really about community? What if we viewed it as a chance to be transparent and honest? Maybe instead of just breaking bread, we could break down walls and heal hearts in the process.
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Five Stones

A friend recently gave me these five stones as a gift. They serve as an important reminder to me…

Most people are familiar with the story of David and Goliath. Goliath was a mighty Philistine warrior challenging the Israelite army. David, a mere shepherd boy, was sent by his father to check on his older brothers at the Israelite camp.
When David arrived, he offered to battle Goliath. While doubtful about David’s chances, King Saul allowed him to face the mighty warrior. Saul offered David his tunic for battle, but when David put on the tunic, armor, and sword he said, “I cannot go in these, because I am not used to them.” So he took them off, grabbed his staff, five smooth stones from the stream, and with his sling in his hand, approached Goliath.
David killed Goliath with one stone.
We all have distinct gifts, talents, and abilities. Life’s experiences and lessons, along with the personality and attributes that are hardwired into us, make us unique. Saul was a warrior. David was a shepherd. Both could go to battle, but each had to do it in a way that was true to who they were.
We must do the same.
I don’t believe that God picks out one job for us or has predetermined what we are going to do with our life. But I do believe that each of us is special and has something to offer the world. Regardless of where we have been, what we have experienced, or what other people tell us, we are all valuable.
Sometimes we find ourselves in places we shouldn’t be because we ignore who we are. We ignore our strengths and our weaknesses and avoid honest self-evaluation.
I am not saying that we should wait for God to show us that one perfect job, partner, friend, house, opportunity, etc. However, we must be willing to do the hard work to understand who we are, how we are made, and how life has shaped us up to this moment. When we do that and find moments to be still, we can start to discern how we might make the best impact in the world.
I believe that David would not have won the battle if he had worn the armor. It didn’t fit him, physically or in terms of who he was. Yes, David trusted in God, but one of the main ways he trusted in God was to realize who God had made him to be. David was a shepherd, and shepherds fight differently than warriors.
Whatever lies before you in your life, think about who you are and how you have been shaped up to this moment. Who are you? What have you experienced? What has prepared you for this moment in your life?
Maybe you need to lay down the armor and sword and pick up a few stones.
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Peacefulness and the party

This past weekend I officiated a wedding for an incredible young woman who is one of my former youth ministry students. It was a beautiful day and evening.
As we transitioned from dinner to music and dancing, the celebration moved outside. Enjoying the moment, I glanced between two columns and noticed the view above. Lights from the party glowed on the columns while a beautiful sunset faded behind the lake.
There was a tension between the two. The lights, the party, loud music, all right here in front of me. Life in motion, calling me to participate. People around me, talking loudly, enjoying an evening of celebration. A hundred different sounds and images clamoring for my attention.
The lake, the breeze, the calming effects of nature, gently calling me into a place of peace. Hundreds of hues painting a scene of beauty. Nature reminding me of the importance of silence and pause.
Neither could garner my complete attention. I couldn’t help but glance at the beautiful scene on the horizon, even in the midst of the voices, music, dancing, and more. When I found myself pulled towards nature’s silent call, the party would pull me back in, demanding my presence.
Even Jesus struggled with this tension. Consider the story we encounter in Mark 1:35-37…
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus, like all of us, struggled to find time for peace and for people, for solitude and for solidarity, for calm and for community. It is part of the human experience.
I know plenty of people who beat themselves up emotionally for not having enough quiet time, whether it be Bible reading, prayer, meditation, or just “me time.” Others may feel like they don’t have enough time for the demands of life, work, family, friends, activities, and more.
The reality is, we need to learn to extend grace to ourselves and accept we will likely never maintain a balance we are completely satisfied with. Life cannot be about the pursuit of the perfect balance. Rather, let’s learn to enjoy every minute of life, whether we get it right or not. Maybe in the midst of the tension between peacefulness and the party are the places of mystery where we most fully experience what it means to be human.
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.1.35-37“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.””

Mark 1:35-37
https://www.bible.com/bible/59

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Stuck in a rut

This week there has been some major road construction going on in front of my house. The other morning I was summoned to the front door by a loud grinding noise. Stepping to the window, I looked out to see a large machine digging up my yard and the end of my driveway and creating a pile of stone and dirt. The result was a large rut at the end of my driveway making it impossible to drive in or out.
How often do we find ourselves trapped in a rut that either we or someone else has dug? I don’t mean a physical rut in the front yard, but rather an emotional, relational, or mental rut.
I have discovered in my life that there are many sources of ruts. Fear. Worry. Poor decisions. Past experiences. Toxic environments. Laziness. Bad habits. The list could go on and on.
What happens when we find ourselves stuck in a rut? How do we get out? There is no simple, formulaic answer. Often we look for the right “5 step” method, some pill we can take, or a convenient shortcut. The reality is that often the only way out of a rut is hard work, diligence, and community. Our best effort over a long period of time supported by a community of friends will usually offer the most fruitful path to growth.
Hard work brings us strength. Diligence develops perseverance. Community allows us to develop relationships and trust. Those things not only get us out of this rut, but build us up for future obstacles we must face.
Later in the day, a large front loader dropped some dirt and stone in the rut and I was able to get in and out of my driveway once again. Usually in life, there isn’t a front-loader that just comes along and does things for us. And if there is, whether it be a person, an organization, or some numbing agent, it usually won’t bring true success and growth that lasts. Rather, it hampers and handicaps us for the next challenge we will face.
We will all find ourselves stuck in ruts throughout our lives. Often the trajectory of our life is determined more by our reaction to them than the ruts themselves.
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The Simplicity of Wonder

In the morning during my quiet time and breakfast, I enjoy this view of my backyard. The birds flit down to the birdfeeder, grab some seeds, and maybe even jump into the birdbath for a drink or bath. This year, I have watched corn grow from sprouts to tall stalks. The woods behind my house are home to a bald eagle’s nest.
During this time I try not to look at my phone or my computer, desiring to enjoy the beauty of creation in my midst.
These moments remind me that we have lost a sense of awe.
We stare into our phones.
We sit inside and watch TV.
We listen to music constantly.
We do many things that distract us from the simple beauty all around us.
I plead just as guilty as everyone else. I miss the simplicity of wonder because I am too engulfed in the complex, artificial wonders we have created.
Don’t hear me say that our phones or TV or music are bad. They aren’t. But we shouldn’t let them blind us and numb us to the simple beauty all around.
If you want to create space to experience and rediscover awe, you don’t have to throw away your technology and live off the grid. It begins with small steps, like putting down your phone and watching a sunset or sitting to observe nature around you.
I enjoy my few minutes every morning connecting with creation. Watching the birds fly to and fro, thinking about how amazing the cycle of seasons is, seeing eagles soar across the sky, and listening to a gentle breeze or a summer storm. In those moments I experience the simplicity of wonder offered by the beautiful creation we have been given to care for during our time here.
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Extending a hand of love and mercy

In the last month I have read two books by Pope Francis. As I reflect on these readings I remember a religious tribe I used to belong to that would vilify the Pope and Catholicism for certain doctrines and beliefs.
Reading these books has shown me that I have much wisdom to gain from Francis. Do I ascribe to all of his theology and doctrines? No. But, like me, he is a human being seeking to know God and live accordingly.
Why has our culture devolved into “camps” and “sides”? …Why is it Republican vs. Democrat, white vs. black, Muslim vs. Christian, science vs. faith, homosexuals vs. the church, and on and on I could go? Why can’t we all humbly admit that we are imperfect people trying to make the world a better place?
Why can’t Republicans and Democrats sit down and work together to find the best way to provide health care?
Why can’t whites and blacks stop labeling each other and seek true reconciliation?
Why can’t Muslims and Christians sit around a table and seek peace?
Why can’t science and faith both admit they have beliefs they’ll never be able to fully prove?
Why can’t homosexuals and the church break bread together and learn to love instead of hate?
If your first response to any of these is to say “yes, but” then you, like me, want to defend the system that makes you more right than someone else.
I offer these thoughts not because I think I have all the answers, but because I know I don’t. I am humbly reminded every day that someone is more intelligent than me, more compassionate than me, more giving than me, and more loving than me. And, if I’m truly honest, sometimes those someones are the people with whom I may disagree about something significant.
Can we please lay down our defensiveness and need to be right and extend a hand of love and mercy towards those who we may label as “other”?
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Perspective

The other day at a park in Huron I noticed rocks on the ground in front of the bench where I was sitting. I decided to lay down and see what kind of a picture I could take. This is the image I captured.
Reflecting on this image, questions started to surface. Would someone who had never been to this park believe there are large rocks at the park? Are the rocks what line the shore? Are there any houses or other structures here? What is that strange bush on the left side of the photo?
The reality is that most of these rocks are not that large, this park is surrounded by homes (and if you enlarge this image you can see the Cedar Point skyline in the distance. Your perception of this park is shaped by the perspective you have.
Life is no different. Your perception of life is shaped by the perspective you have.
Perspective impacts so many things.
How we view our circumstances.
How we approach a situation.
How we judge another person.
How we interpret the Bible.
How we understand God.
As our lives change, our perspective changes. As our perspective changes, so does the way we interpret life.
The circumstance that would have brought fear now brings hope.
The situation I might have run from I now pursue.
The person I used to look down on I now embrace.
The verse I used to see one way I now see another.
The God I thought I knew is not the one I now know.
Jacques Derrida said that “we are all mediators, translators.” I believe he is right.
We interpret circumstances.
We interpret situations.
We interpret people.
We interpret the Bible.
We interpret God.
Life is interpretation. Life is perspective. Life is how you see it, how you process it, and how you react to it.
Does that mean there is no truth? I think there is. But I must always be humble enough to remember that my beliefs about truth are my interpretation based on my perspective. They are not THE truth, they are my understanding of truth from my perspective.
So today, like every day, I awoke to face life from my perspective. I will interpret every moment, every word, every interaction. And, hopefully, with humility and openness, I will stand ready to receive those moments, words, and interactions in a way that will not only allow me to interpret them, but also with the willingness to acknowledge what I cannot change, that these things will change me, allowing me to gain a new perspective that might allow me to see life a little more clearly than I did yesterday.