I Wonder--December 21

Today I got an early start on some of my tasks, and as I worked I discovered a blessing. . . 

In a little while I have several deliveries to facilitate for the church. Donations of furniture and food are coming this way. But in order to get those items, I needed to clear out the leftover recycling from our most recent turkey giveaway. 

The old scout trailer was full of broken down boxes which needed to be run off to the recycling center. So, I put on a podcast and took three trips to McConnells to handle this task. It was during the second trip that I noticed the blessing.

As I pulled the car up to the fellowship hall door to load up the last of the boxes, I saw the door to the Blessing Box hanging open. Now this happens from time to time. Some folks forget to close the door and/or latch it. When that happens normally I walk over and resolve the issue. But this time that was not going to work; I could not close the box. Something was sticking out. 

I was curious so I took an extra lap around the parking lot to investigate. Sticking out of the Blessing Box are two boxes of toys. Pulling away from the Box I thanked God and I began to wonder. . . 

Normally the Blessing Box is filled with food and toiletry items. We like to put practical things in there that can help the people of this community who are in need. Toys are not normally part of the plan. But at Christmas, when the need for Blessings is a bit greater and more pronounced, someone felt the Holy Spirit tug on their heart. 

And so someone, likely the next person who comes to the Blessing Box, will be given an additional Christmas gift--and that gift will likely bless a child from their family. 

There are just a couple days remaining in Advent. Christmas is Monday. I wonder who do you know who might need an extra Christmas blessing? What does that blessing look like for them, and is God offering you another chance to partner with Him in caring for someone else? 

  

I Wonder--December 19

So are you ready? Are all the gifts purchased and wrapped? Do they sit under the tree ready for Monday morning, or like us, do you have them neatly stacked on the hearth or some other common location in your home?

The time is almost up. . . and that realization comes with a mixture of emotions.  

Today after lunch I will purchase a final gift for Emma that will sit nicely in her stocking. Then all my Christmas obligations will be handled. (And yes, that was a deliberate word choice). 

Christmas feels so obligatory; it feels like a beast to tame. I know that walking into the store to get Emma's final gift will be a test of patience. The hustle and bustle will press down around me and I will want to retreat to my audiobook and remove myself the community entirely. . . 

But is that what we are supposed to do? 

Does the Incarnation of Jesus, and the joy of Christmas, ask us to retreat? To pull back? Does Jesus ask us to roll our eyes or silently ridicule another person whose is causing us to alter our timing and pacing?

In that case, I wonder if any of us are truly ready for Christmas? Perhaps this final week before Christmas offers us a chance to encounter our community differently? Perhaps God is showing us an opportunity where we can extend the miracle of the incarnation into the life of another person. 

I wonder if this week, as you too venture back out to finish your preparations, I wonder if you will notice the people around you and ask God how he would have you care for them? 

I Wonder--December 13

I had an interesting conversation today with some colleagues as we considered Zechariah that I want to share with you. 

As you know Zechariah was the father of John the Baptist. You also might remember that he was struck mute by God because he did not believe what the Angel of the Lord told him. For entirety of his wife Elizabeth's pregnancy, Zechariah is only able to communicate through written words and/or some form of sign-language or eye movement. 

He cannot speak. 

Imagine that. . . because you do not believe what God is doing in your life, you are unable to speak about it to anyone. You are forced to watch the proceedings from the margins. This silence creates a sense of space, or distance, for Zechariah I believe. 

If he chooses to process or consider what is happening in Elizabeth's life, or in the greater spiritual life of the world, he will do so differently from the rest of the community. 

Now we know that as soon as he announces that this child is to be named John, his voice returns and he is able to testify to God being at work in his life. His testimony is so powerful that it causes awe to be experienced by the members of his community. But as I think about Zechariah's prophecy, as it is recorded in Luke 1, I wonder how often do we share the priests predicament? 

How often do we stop believing in what God is doing around us, and by ceasing to believe, we are moved to the margins. We can only watch what is happening when the opportunity to partner with God is also present. We are invited to partner with the Lord!  

I suppose this Christmas the choice is yours also. . . I wonder if you will believe what God is doing around you? Will you speak about it and trust that what God has planned will change the community? Or will you live on the margin and let Christmas take a familiar pacing and path? 

I wonder--December 11

Getting ready for Christmas as the Body of Christ can wear you down. . .  Now I know that is not news to anyone. It seems the closer to Christmas we come, the less peaceful we feel as people. But I wonder if that is not necessary a bad thing? 

In my morning devotional I read the following words: 

"True peace comes when we see things clearly, see the whole story, not just the good parts. Jesus' birth did not deny the human experience but embraced it." 

As you know I think a lot about the role story-telling and story-sharing plays in our lives as the church. In my mind an authentic story is a wonderful tool (perhaps the best tool) for sharing God's presence and love with our community. A well-told story is just the narration of a particular slice of life--good and bad. 

A well-told story holds the tension of life in place for the moment. 

Things don't always work out the way that we plan. The prayers are not answered. But that does not mean that God is not listening to us or that God does not value our relationship. It just means the story did not turn out the way that we wanted. . . Yet we cannot forget that God is in the story the whole time. 

As the above quotation says, 'true peace' comes as we see things authentically and fully. The good and the bad. 

Perhaps right now you can think of someone who is seeing their story only through negative eyes or a negative lens. Do not deny their experience. . . Instead come alongside of them and join them in wondering, in looking at, the whole story. Perhaps God is closer than any of us imagine? 

Blessings

Derek

I Wonder--November 29

I wonder if you would pray with me for someone you have not met? 

Today I had my yearly physical with my doctor and it went very well. Heart, lungs, BP, etc. all were good. I enjoy seeing my doctor; he is a good friend to boot! As the appointment ended I was sent to the lab for my yearly blood work--this too was expected just ask my grumbling stomach (I was fasting and had not eaten yet). 

The young lady working the desk called me up to give blood. I went into the room and the normal small talk began. But then God walked into the room, sat down. . . 

The young lady asked me, "What do you do for a living?"

"I am a preacher." I replied. Pausing I asked: "How can I help?" Her eyes widened. 

Then she told me her story. It was unremarkable; it was not tragic. But in her story she faced a choice--a moment of discernment that she was struggling with and she wondered where is God in that moment? And in her moment she did not know what to do or even where to turn. She had some faith, but she said she talk like Job standing before God. 

She asked me for a scripture and maybe (her words) a prayer. I offered her both. 

Then she drew my blood. 

We talked a bit more and I left and began the remainder of my day. 

But walking to my car I wondered: how often do we follow up with a promised statement? She asked me to pray for her; it was clear that she needed prayer. Had I done that? Had I kept my word? Would I continue to pray for her later in the day when I thought about the morning and the events at the doctor's office? 

Or would her need float away the further away from the office that I got? 

That is a temptation that we all face. We know we should pray; we should care for others. We should serve them as Christ has served us. But do we follow through with this most simple act of Christian faith and practice? 

So today, I wonder, will you pray for someone you do not know? Someone who does not know you? 

I Wonder--November 28

I wonder how do we learn to work together? 

Now that is a loaded question with deep, complex, and personal, answers. Trying to answer this question too quickly will result in platitudes and niceties. Answering to quickly will lead us to answers that fit on Hallmark greeting cards or Instagram posts surrounded by various nature scenes. 

For the last month I have spent time thinking and considering this question as it surfaces at various points in life? 

How do we work together when we come before God to ask Him "Why?" . . . "Why did this have to happen?" Or more personally, "Why did you do this God?"

How do we work together to teach the lessons of God's Word to children--some of whom are not listening and do not desire to listen? 

How do we work together as the Church when we see the hungry, the cold, the needy drive into our community and ask for help without actually hearing them say 'help?"

How. . . How . . . How? 

We are conditioned to answer "How" questions in a certain way. In my experience, asking "How" means finding a solution and then implementing the solution repeatedly. But I want to resist that temptation. I want to resist trying to 'fix' anything that I define as broken. Instead, can we notice what the "How" question makes us address and wonder about? 

I read a story recently of a man who visited a L'Arche community. These communities, which exist all over the world, serve and support the needy--no matter how 'needy' is defined. 

This man spent a time with a group of folks who are handicapped. During his visit he would work alongside of them at a task that he never did before. To increase the challenge, this man did not speak the language of the people, and if that is not enough, one of the group members did not like others translating for their visitor. She believed that he would learn and understand words he never heard before, if he just listened. (fascinating I think). 

Interestingly enough, he did. He mirrored the work of others. He followed their nonverbal leading. He was gentle and allowed the other people in the room to have the place of authority and power. And at the end it was a wonderful experience. 

So to return to my question: how do we work together? . . . Perhaps if we follow the Lord silently, allow the nonverbal communication of the Holy Spirit to guide us, and trust that God places us in the exact right position or moment, we might learn something about working with God in the kingdom. 

I wonder, how might you respond to the question? How do we work together? 

I Wonder--November 15

This morning as I was walking I listened to an interview with the famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. His gentle words spoke deeply to my heart and caused me to wonder. . . 

The story he told was about Mr. Rogers--a man he had the privilege of meeting and working with. Once Mr. Rogers was in front of congress seeking funding for his television program. As a PC(USA) minister Fred was deeply familiar with God's Word and voice. Yet he was gentle and did not lash out when congress pushed him on topics.  

At an important moment in the hearing, when the tension was high, Mr. Rogers offered the congressmen and women a pair of Hebrew words which translated: "Heal the world." 

He did not provide any direct programming ideas and did not offer any solutions/platitudes (or even a rebuke to the leaders of congress who didn't 'get it.')  about how he felt called to do this work. It was just simply his mission: Heal the World. 

We have a lot of opportunities in our days to practice what Mr. Rogers taught that day. While we know that God ultimately does the work necessary to heal the world, we are offered a place in partnership with the Lord. We are offered the chance to step outside of ourselves and be the hands and feet of Christ working with other people. 

But the choice is ours. God does not force His will upon us. We have the choice to respond to the call. The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives each day. The Spirit speaks to us; invites us. I wonder, will, and how, will you practice what Mr. Rogers taught? How will you serve to heal the world?