I Wonder--November 25

 I wonder, what makes a sacrament? 

The Book of Confessions tells me that a sacrament is: "a holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his Church, to signify, seal, and exhibit unto those that are within the covenant of grace, the benefits of his mediation; to strengthen and increase their faith and all other graces; to oblige them to obedience; to testify and cherish their love and communion with one another, and to distinguish them from those that are without." (7.22)

That is a very technical answer and one that I was trained to understand and teach. But what about this... Is this story sacramental? 

Yesterday, I went to see a friend who had surgery. He was at home doing well and his recovery was progressing smoothly. Before I left my home I gathered my Book of Worship and the home communion set that Oak Ridge gave me when I was ordained. 

I set it on the counter in their kitchen and we began to visit. About five minutes into our conversation, to my shock and dismay, I looked over at my communion box and I realized something was missing. I had forgotten the bread and the juice. 

It is not very easy to have communion without the elements! 

My mind raced. Could I message Emma or Jennifer and have them run some over to me? What was I going to do? 

My friend just laughed. He had bread, he told me. The juice... well, that would be trickier. I would have my choice. We could use OJ or tea. I laughed and said that whatever worked for them would work for me. 

So after our visit we gathered around their kitchen table with bread and OJ. I read the prayer from my Book of Worship. Then I said the words of Institution, and broke some bread, and passed our little cups of OJ, and then we prayed. 

It felt very sacramental to me. . . To be welcomed into my friend's home. To pray with him and his wife and to share communion--even if it was not as neat and tidy as I would have liked it to be. But isn't that how Jesus meets up sometimes? Just where we are. . . OJ and all? 

I Wonder--October 31

A lot has changed since the last time I sat down to write. But despite the crowded-ness of my mind and heart, God is still showing up and still causing me to wonder. 

God is calling each of us to notice the small places where He breaks in and offers a blessing as we serve the community. 

For instances. . . Last night at Bethesda Jennifer and I participated in Trunk or Treat. This is the second year that we've held the event and it was a wonderful success. Over 180 people stopped by and allowed us to serve them. 

As you can see Jennifer and I chose Disney's Up as our theme. 

We saw old friends from the daycare come back to Bethesda. I met children who sat in the church for chapel and who I shared God's Word with.  

We saw community members who we have been working on building relationships with come to the church and we cared for them. 

Members of the community who grew up at Bethesda came back to the church and I heard their stories and I listened to their needs as they talked with me about finding a place for their children and grandchildren to learn about the Lord. 

Then we gathered in the fellowship hall for a community meal and the time of listening continued as we shared how God was present with us.
 

The food was wonderful as was the conversation. We shared the blessing from table to table. You see when the Body of Christ gathers together, when we eat together and serve together, there is no limit to what God can do. 

I wonder how is God calling us to support our community in the future? How can you come together with someone else and love your community as we did last night?  

I Wonder--July 30

Last night I tried a new experiment that I want to reflect with you upon. 

Over the years, and because of our love of dogs, Jennifer and I have learned that a King Size bed works the best for us. It provides us plenty of room to sleep and plenty of room for the occasionally 'fur baby' to come visit. However, over the years the visits have stopped. Now the 'fur baby' takes up residence at (or near) our feet. So we need the extra room. 

Flynn is especially good at this. Each night he assumes one of two places: between my feet OR against Jennifer's legs. 

Now one would think that a 20-pound mini springer doodle with all the space of a King Size bed would have plenty of room to wander around. But this is not the case. Nearly every night he is either against Jennifer's leg or between my feet.  

So last night I tired something to see if it would help and as I watched, I wondered.... 

I grabbed a throw blanket that Autumn gave us for Christmas a couple years ago. It is red and white with ribbing on it that makes it look like my grandmother hand knit it. If I did not cut the tag off the blanket on Christmas morning, I would think Autumn made it herself.

I gently folded the blanket into a square and placed it in the middle of the bed and waited. Calling Flynn I smiled as I heard the jingle of his collar down the hall. He trotted down into our room holding his favorite plush toy "Harry" in his mouth (if you were a 1-year-old I bet you would want your favorite toy to take to bed as well). 

Jumping onto our bed, he did not even circle around as dogs often do, but he plopped right down with Harry in his mouth. He then slumped over onto his side and allowed Harry to rest next to him. At 5:30am I found them both in that general spot. Right where I left them. There was something soothing about the blanket for him. 

It was a very small modification that asked little of me. But he seemed to appreciate it and I wondered is there a small step, a small choice, that you can make today that will help something find peace in their day? 

Our days are filled with so much stress and so much anxiety that a small gesture might just make the difference for them. Perhaps you can be on the lookout for a chance to care for someone today? 

I Wonder--July 25

It has been a wonderful blessing to find the heat of the summer has given way... a bit. Not only has it been a hot summer, but the heat and drained us emotionally and the emotional drain that each of us confess, it can bleed into a spiritual drain that affects us as Christians. 

Now as the humidity of July has subsided (somewhat), I came across the words of Katherine May that spoke truth to me again and I wanted to share them with you. For the summer heat can burn us out and make it hard to remain faithful to the Lord. 

She writes:

"I am only just beginning to understand that my burnout was the result of multiple losses, each one of which seems so small, but I thought it didn't matter. I willingly surrendered my [prayer] time because I thought it would be a vanity to demand it. I gave up reading and time alone and long, hot baths, and walking. I gave up silence, and standing in the garden at sunrise I let those moments become overrun by work and care, and I was surprised to find that, without them, there was nothing left of me." 

I wonder how often do you find yourself following Katherine's example? Slowly giving ground spiritually and devotionally for external reason?   

Perhaps this is your invitation to regroup with the Lord... Perhaps you can take some time today and make some space to be with the Lord and 

Blessings

Rev. Derek

I Wonder--July 10

A couple weeks ago I preached from a text in Mark's gospel. The story was about Jesus calming the storm.

We all know the story as it has been taught to us since we were children. . . Jesus asleep in the boat awakens to calm the storm and save the frightened disciples from near certain death (at least that was their perspective as the evening cruise began). But I have continued thinking and considering this text since I preached about it. Mark:4:35-41 has resurfaced in a number of times for me and my learning continues. 

Today as I continue thinking about this text, I am reminded of the words of Alexander McLaren who said the following as he reflected upon it: 

"Jesus sleeps on: but He will wake up before it sinks. He sleeps on, but He never oversleeps; and there are no "too lates" with Him."

I like that idea a lot. . . The idea that Jesus does not oversleep when the storm threatens the boat. I like my Jesus to be vigilant. Alert. Present. Ready at a moment's notice even when I am not sure in my own life that I can see the path forward. 

For when I read the news or spend time on social media I witness the response of a community who is anxious by what they see. They seem afraid and upset either because of the direction our world is taking or because of the direction the world will take soon. 

In fact very few responses to what is being observed in this world sounds like: "Well we have to trust God to take care of us as God always has." 

Now I also know that tension and anxiety sell. I know click-bait earns advertising dollars and it helps garner followers. This is also a sad, yet true, commentary of society. 

But I wonder has Jesus ever overslept? 

Or, does the Lord always quiet the storm at the exact moment when the storm threatens the boat and everyone in that boat? I am not apathetic to the struggles and challenges this world and community face. Instead what would does it look like to return our faith back to the place where it needs to be and return our focus to the Lord who dwells in our midst, return to His Word, and trust Him? 

I wonder--July 9

Having just returned to church from a minor surgery, I have been thinking a lot about how we support each other as the Body of Christ. I have been thinking about how we state that we will support each other but what does that practice look like? 

The first thing that we often say when someone tells us of an impending procedure, or treatment, or diagnosis is: "I will pray for you." Or, "Let me know if there is anything that I can do." Those statements are then often followed up with a well-meaning thought like: 'I need to follow-up with them and see how they are doing.' 

A short text message is considered or a phone call a few days later is planned. We might look at a cute greeting card while in the grocery store or consider a brief email as we check our morning inbox and filter through the clutter and spam.  

But I wonder: how often do we truly follow-up? I wonder how often do we actually sent the note that we promised ourselves? 

Think about that for a minute. . .  How often do you sent the note?

My procedure was simple: a hernia repair. I was home and in my chair before noon. My pain was well managed and between Jennifer, JonMark, Emma, and Autumn I needed nothing. I was never under any type of stress or worry. 

But what about the person that you know who does not have the on-site support that I did this past week? Who promised to send them the note and then did not follow through?  

Perhaps your note, your call, your presence was needed. Perhaps just knowing that you are there is the gentle reminder that they need to know that God has not abandoned, neglected, or forsaken them. 

Perhaps this post is the reminder that we need to send the note today and let someone know that we are thinking of them and that they are not alone in whatever struggle they are going through... 

 

I Wonder--July 2

As I was reading Eric Greitens book, Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life, I came across these words that I wanted to share and invite you to consider. Eric is a former Navy SEAL who is writing to another former SEAL, Walker, who struggles with PTSD following his service to our country. 

For while it is summer time, and summer often is a time of rest and vacation, we cannot allow the excuses of life to distract us away from the call of God to be faithful as the Body of Christ. 

Yes, we are not striving for 'excellence' in practice alone, but neither does God ask us to offer excuses as to why we did not practice our faith, or read our Bibles, or serve our community, or go to worship. It takes work, dedication, consistency to grow and mature as Christians. 

As Eric talks about in the following quotation, in life we have to work. This work requires a commitment on our part. He writes: 

"Excellence is beautiful and, like all beautiful things, temporary. One moment we are victorious. The next moment we were victorious. An excuse, however, endures. An excuse promises permanence. Excellence is difficult. An excuse is seductive. It promises an end to hardship, failure, and embarrassment. Excellence requires pain. An excuse promises that you'll be pain free." (Emphasis in original text)

As the church, we must put aside our excuses and press on toward the goal of our high calling in Christ Jesus. As the church, we must continue to share God's message of flourishing and transformation that is found in Christ. As the church, we cannot offer excuses as to why we are not faithful to the calling that we have received from the Lord. 

As Paul teaches us, we have to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12) each day. We are called to work, and that work could feel painful in the moment, but the end result is the blessing of union in and with Christ. 

 

So I wonder, what does it look like in your life to press on, to put aside the excuses, the justifications, the judgments, and dedicate yourself to being faithful to the mission and work of Christ this summer?