June 26, 2019

I like that you're broken, broken like me . . .

Lovelytheband

These are the opening lyrics to “Broken” and from the first time I heard the song it became one of my favorites. Besides having a catchy tune, the lyrics are insightful.

“I like that you're broken, broken like me. Maybe that makes me a fool. I like that you're lonely, lonely like me. I could be lonely with you.”

We all have our broken pieces: A love lost; a friendship ended; words spoken in haste; a perceived slight; attempts to reach out that have been rebuffed; the memories of bullying. And the list goes on.

We all have our broken pieces. We all have our scars. But all of this – our brokenness and our scars – are part of being human. And all of this tells the story of who we are.

This brokenness also tells the story of who others are. Some people have been broken more than ourselves, some less. Some people have more scars than us, some less.

I think it's important to remember that. It's important to remember that we all have various broken pieces and scars.

And it's important to remember that people break, people are scarred, most often at the hands of others. How would our life be different if people treated us like a fragile piece of art they didn't want to break? How would the lives of those around us be different if we did the same? How would the Church be different?

May we strive to be gentle. May we strive to be a community that heals and strengthens.

Blessings,

June 19, 2019

Ordinary Time

We have moved out of liturgical time and into Ordinary Time; that time of the Church year when Sundays are simply counted sequentially. It is during this time that, instead of the season shaping the readings, the readings shape the season. In other words, instead of the events of Jesus' life being the focus, the life of Jesus becomes the focus. This long season is really where we learn about daily discipleship. It is here, in this long season, where our discipleship roots grow deep.

Christmas and Easter cast wide nets. Those are the two seasons, well . . . days, actually, where we see the most people in attendance. Those two days are the high holy days of the year, and people from far and wide come to be part of the celebrations. And that's okay. In fact, that's good. It's good to see the church full of people worshiping. It's good to hear the sound of a full church as people raise their voices in song and praise.

But not every day is a celebration. Not every day can grab peoples attention. By trying to do that, by trying to cast our nets wide, we end up focusing on the shallow. We end up focusing on what looks good.

Ordinary Time, however, allows us to focus on daily discipleship. It allows us to focus on strengthening our relationship with God. It allows us to, as Jesus told Peter, put out into the deep water. It allows us to develop holy roots.

Every Lent we are asked to develop a Lenten discipline that helps us fast from what draws us away from God. We spend this time in prayer, fasting, and self-denial, as we confront our sinful nature and look to repent and return to God.

This is always a good thing to do, but it is often short-lived since we tend to follow this discipline only through the 40 days of Lent.

In this upcoming Ordinary Time, I invite you to develop an ordinary discipline. I invite you to develop a discipline, habit, rule of life, that isn't so much focused on reminding you of your sinful nature as it is focused on developing a deep-rooted discipleship. Read scripture daily. Pray at set times. Find a time to listen to God. Participate in a new activity at church. Attend Evening Prayer. The list is close to endless.

And remember that you've got a long time to figure this out. A spiritual discipline shouldn't cause stress or additional problems in your life. As a monk said at my conference last week, “A spiritual discipline is only helpful if it's helpful.”

My prayer for all of us as we move into Ordinary Time is that we will all develop ordinary disciplines that will grow deep discipleship roots in all of us.

Blessings,

June 5, 2019

Follow

We have gone to the tomb only to find it empty. Christ has been resurrected. Through his death and resurrection we have been given new life.

In this Easter season we have experienced the joy of resurrection. We have also had our doubts. The resurrection stories are full of joy and doubt: the initial news as told by the women; the ten disciples telling Thomas; all of the disciples at the Ascension. Joy and doubt seem to go hand in hand when talking about the resurrection. But that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Doubt leaves room for questions and learning. It leaves room for people to explore their faith. A faith that can doubt is a faith that can question and wrestle. Jacob wrestled with God. Gideon had doubts. Almost every prophet exclaimed, “Not me!” Mary pondered things in her heart. Jesus may have wrestled with his call during those 40 days in the wilderness. But note that none of those people who doubted and wrestled quit following God.

We have seen the empty tomb. We have encountered the risen Christ. We have joy and we have doubts. In that joy and in those doubts, let us continue to follow the one who has destroyed death and claimed the victory of life.

Because it's in the continual following where our faith is strengthened.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Blessings,