Day #99

April 9, 2014

I used to think I was a good communicator. I believed I could say what I meant and people would understand that I meant what I said. But no longer do I think that I have that gift. Well, at least not as much as I once did.

As a person who preaches, I find that often what I think I said is not what people heard. Or it didn’t come across out loud like it was sounding in my head. And you never know what it will be that people latch onto. But, can’t we all be guilty of hearing what we want to hear or picking up only parts of what someone is saying?

This past Sunday I thought I was communicating hope and a positive message. But when nothing was said about the sermon as people left, I wondered if the words had fallen flat. In the message, I felt God had given me the perfect example to use, but evidently it didn’t work out that way.

The rest of the day I was bummed. Did I say it wrong? Did the words not convey what it was meant for them to? Had I just completely messed up God’s message about the dry bones living again?

Fast forward to Tuesday’s Bible Study and a ray of hope. Someone mentioned the sermon Sunday in connection to the lesson for the day and several said how good they thought it was (maybe it just took some time to sink in). Anyway, I was so taken aback that I didn’t think to ask what was good about it; I just took the positive affirmation and said thank you. Then I mentioned how difficult the last few days had been with different happenings at the church. I said I was struggling, but still smiling, and that I hoped I wouldn’t lose my cool at some point. Out of the blue, someone quoted something to me from a sermon given at the first of this year. The Sunday before Epiphany, I borrowed an idea from Pastor David Lose and prepared copies of a prayer for folks to say every morning. The prayer was:
                                                         

How quickly her quoting that prayer made my day turn around. And how encouraged I was that maybe I can still be effective with my communication skills. It certainly was a reminder that the words spoken on Sunday morning are really God’s words and that God uses them to reach people in ways I can never imagine - or control. Thanks be to God!

Blessings.

P.S. Thank you to blogger "From the Strawberry Patch" for taking the photo of the paper and blogging about it yourself in January!

Day #98

April 8, 2014

People share stories. They tell of ways that God has touched their life in sometimes small ways that mean a huge amount. Maybe it is a chance conversation. Or a “coincidence” that could only be God at work. Or an unexpected meeting. Yet, every time someone shares such a story, I am reminded of how God works in wonderful and mysterious ways.

Today’s story was about how, in a random conversation on Friday, it was mentioned that someone was hoping for something to happen. Then, in a meeting on Monday, it was suggested, randomly again, that maybe we could do just that particular thing.

To make the event more special, and tell-worthy, the person from the random Friday conversation just happened to be in the Monday meeting. As they told me about what had happened, they said something like, “Can you believe it was the very thing we had just talked about three days before? Don’t tell me God isn’t at work.”

Don’t tell me that either! I am so glad they shared that story. Let’s just hope the plan comes together!

Blessings.

Day #97

April 7, 2014

Today’s intersection is a little different. It comes in the form of a word - just one - thankful. That is what I feel about the volunteers that help a congregation keep going.

I mentioned this on day #90 - the day of the septic tank debacle - but I want to mention it again. What would a congregation do without the time and talents that folks share? In just the last few weeks, there are people who have spent enormous amounts of time doing enormous amounts of work and service. There is a new internet hookup being wired, the septic tank is almost fixed, the worship space is being prepared for holy week, the kitchen and nurseries are clean and organized, light bulbs have gotten changed, committee work has happened, etc. You name it, things have gotten - and do get - done.

Is the value of one person’s work higher than another? No. Does one person have a gift better than someone else? No. Do we sometimes forget that? Yes. Am I thankful for each and every person? You better believe it!! Everyone does whatever it is that they do for one reason - to the glory of God. So that we can gather to hear God’s word, celebrate in worship, have fellowship, and be fed to go into the world and share the Good News. Thanks be to God!

Blessings.

Day #96

April 6, 2014

You can just never tell what will keep the attention of confirmation students. The million dollar question is: how do we find creative ways to lead conversation that will encourage them to listen, be engaged, and actually take-in what we and others are talking about?

Today’s lesson was about Holy Communion. Certainly, it is a central part of our worship experience and of our Christian walk, but helping teenagers see that, well, can be challenging. We had a plan - tell a story. Really, read them a story, a description about communion, what it means, why we celebrate it.

Now, I must admit, I had my doubts reading to them would work. However, my partner came up with a way to help them use their imagination. He suggested traveling back in time to when they were younger, before fifth grade, and they used to come down front during worship for the Children’s Message. Most kids seem to love that part of worship. So, today, as they gathered in the sanctuary around the altar, they pretended to be young kids again.

Believe it or not, it worked. Every one of the youth listened, put down their electronics (well, almost every), and paid attention. Then we celebrated Holy Communion. They really did seem to “get it.” Praise the Lord. It’s too important for them not to!

Blessings.

Day #95

April 5, 2014

Christian

When I first meet people in a purely social setting (like I did today - friends of my husband from high school I had never met), I wonder when I should tell them I am a pastor.  I would just like for people to be themselves, but when they discover what I do, things often change. For example, on vacation trips when someone I meet finds out I am a pastor, they often proceed to tell me all about their pastor and their church, both the good and the bad. It usually monopolizes the conversation. My dear husband endures it patiently, but that’s not exactly my idea of vacation conversation.

Then there are the folks who seem so uncomfortable when they find out. It is like they are monitoring everything they say, or, hoping I don’t start preaching to them. The bottom line is, it can be difficult to make friends when you are clergy - friends who understand everyone needs a little time away and no one wants to just ‘talk shop’ all the time.

All the way home from meeting my new friends at dinner, however, I was mulling over the reasons (excuses) for my hesitancy to reveal my occupation. I am not nearly as hesitant to reveal my vocation, for being a Christian is just who I am. But the calling of pastor is a little more difficult for folks to handle, it seems. It isn’t that I am embarrassed (I pray it's not!), but that I would prefer folks to get to know me just a little before they know what I do.

All this made me stop and think: how many times is one of my first questions when meeting someone new, ‘what do you do?’ Is our occupation really reflective of who we are? Is there a more appropriate way to learn about others? What could it be....?

Blessings.

Day #94

April 4, 2014

It isn’t really unusual to see white crosses on the side of the road. Sometimes there are small ones, often with flowers or other trinkets laid at their base, placed in memory of someone who tragically died  in that location. There are also large crosses. Sometimes three are placed together, as a reminder of Jesus’ death at Golgotha. But at the sight I witnessed, there was a single, tall (probably 12-15 feet), white cross, maybe eight feet off the highway.

What I noticed first, though, was the vehicle parked on the side of the road. Only as I slowed down to change lanes did the man standing at the cross catch my eye. He was facing it, with his hat in his hand, and his head bent - presumably in prayer.

I must admit, my initial reaction was skepticism, but it quickly turned to respect. Whatever was going on in his mind, his heart, or his life, he was taking it to the foot of a (the) cross. Which is exactly where Jesus would want us to take our cares, joys, thanksgivings, petitions, sorrows, requests, etc. 

This man, who I will never know, made an impression on me. I cannot say I recommend literally  stopping on the side of the road, however, because the truth is, we can take our cares to the foot of the cross at any time or place, in a figurative way. In fact, I took my prayer to God for this man while traveling down the highway at 65 mph.

Fortunately, God hears us whenever, or wherever, we are. It must have meant something, however, for this man to actually stand at the foot of a cross. What a privilege it is, however we do pray, to have a God who loves us so much as to always be there with us and for us.

Blessings.

Day #93

April 3, 2014

Had the best conversation today with a colleague about hope for the church. He was sharing about a meeting with a consultant where this question was asked - as the church, do you want to rust out or wear out?

I had to really think about what makes the difference. Rusting out brings to mind something sitting idle, possibly outside, in all kinds of weather, because it is either too broken to get in out of the rain, or too apathetic to make the effort. Rusting indicates un-use, un-care, and un-motivation.

But wearing out is different. Something is used so much it may get to where it just cannot go any longer. It brings to mind, however, the need for having regular maintenance to keep going (like worship, prayer, study). It brings to mind having the will (faith) to try for as long as possible. It brings to mind use, care and motivation.

Churches have life cycles just like anything else. Sometimes they die, either from rusting out or wearing out. However, someone with the gift of refurbishing can take what looks completely lost and turn it completely around. God can do that.

It also connects with the vision God gave to the prophet Ezekiel. In a valley full of dry bones, God’s breath and spirit revived them. The people of Israel were to hear about this and take it as a word of hope that their despair in exile in Babylon would one day end because of God’s spirit and love for them. The church should hear a similar word of hope, because, after all, it is God’s, too.

Blessings.