A little Jesus story…

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven                                                                                                                                    Matthew 5:14-16

Almost everyone loves hearing a story. Stories engage us because we are people. There is an innate draw of attention when some point is personalized with a story by a speaker. A character is introduced, maybe one that we do not even know. We become interested in that character, and we want to know, how the story ends. What happens to the character?

When we were children, we always wanted our parents to tell us a story, often at bedtime. Something about that was comforting, reassuring, grounding.

Jesus told stories all the time to illustrate lessons of wisdom to his hearers. His stories, his parables, have been retold and discussed for centuries. He told powerful stories of redemption, hope, and forgiveness, like the Prodigal Son; the story of the Ten Coins which teaches us about investing ourselves and using what has been given to us; the Lost Sheep, the Laborers in the Vineyard- on and on Jesus told great engaging, instructive stories.

I like to use stories, analogies really, with my clients to help them to visualize some mental health concepts. Sometimes, when a client is just struggling with trying to do everything and feeling overwhelmed, I use the analogy of the swimmer who is drowning. By virtue of their flailing around and aimless, frenzied attempts to save themselves, the swimmer expends the precious energy they have, and they start to sink. When a lifeguard gets to the stranded swimmer, what does he or she say to the swimmer? “Stop swimming! Your swimming is getting in the way of rescue. Hold on to me, I will get you to safety!”

The point of the story is that our continued overwork and striving might just be the thing getting in the way of our health. The paradox of that truth can often be better understood by such a lifeguard story.

Think of a story that has impacted you. Telling it to someone else is good for both of you.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your great stories which have given such wonderful life lessons, Amen.

No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.  Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”                                                                                                                                                                              Matthew 9:16-17

Jesus used parables to teach principles to his disciples. He used common, everyday materials in the world as examples- like sowing seeds; the lilies of the field; the birds of the air; sheep; houses built upon sand and those built upon rock; and wine and wineskins. He was a practical and effective teacher. He was, and is, a man of the people. As Isaiah had written long before, he was a man “acquainted with grief”. He knew suffering, and he knew joy. He knew us.

Jesus used a parable about new wine and old wineskins to teach about our receptiveness and our ability to take in change. He said that if you pour new wine into old wineskins, since those skins have already been stretched to the limit, the old skins may burst as the “new wine” ferments and expands.

I was having a discussion the other day with some dear friends who are about my age. We have a lot of experience in the service we do, but we agreed that there comes a time when the next generation must be handed the torch. We can change to accommodate new ideas, and we do, but there comes a time for new wineskins.

This does not mean that we just give up and retire. We still have a lot to offer. Our challenge is to recognize when and how to hand over that torch of leadership, yet also to stay as fresh and relevant as we can.

Prayer: Lord, help keep us fresh and receptive as we pass the torch of leadership, Amen

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need

Hebrews 4:14-16 and Matthew 4:1-11

Today’s reflection is about temptation and how Jesus dealt with it. It always struck me as odd that Jesus would even entertain a discussion with the evil one. Jesus knew him, yet he engaged Satan, and allowed the tempter to talk with him.

I have come to conclude that Jesus did this solely for our benefit, so that we could see how he was tempted- that he was not above it, because he had allowed himself to come into the world as a man. He allowed it to be an example to us of how to deal with temptation when it comes. Jesus sent the tempter away with the words of God handed to us in Scripture. Jesus was confident that his Father would take care of him in times of trouble. Finally, when Jesus was finished with Satan, he summarily dismissed him. Jesus had been able to use the experience for our instruction, so he then sent Satan away in no uncertain terms.

Temptation comes in many forms, and it comes every day. I am not one who credits Satan for all the temptations or situations that can cause us trouble. We have a natural tendency to be self-serving and self-indulgent, so we can get ourselves in plenty of trouble without the presence of an evil being. However, we need to know the remedy of how to approach those critical situations we encounter with confidence- that “God has got this”.

Jesus approached the situation with confidence- not pride, confidence. Confidence is the assurance that God has our best interest at stake, that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Therefore, we can take on any situation, knowing that God is FOR us, not against us. We also need to have confidence that God is “faithful and just to forgive our sins” (I John 1:9) when we do falter. That too is confidence.

Jesus showed us how to combat Satan, and he used the very word of God to thwart Satan’s attacks. We can do no less than that in our own struggles with temptation.

Prayer: Father, thank you that we can approach your throne for help in time of need, and that we can have confidence in you- we do not need to rely on our own strength! Amen

I went to Speedway to grab a hot chocolate as I was out for church one morning. I noted that the hot chocolate machine produced plenty of hot water, but essentially zero hot chocolate mix. I poured out the mixture and opted for a coffee instead. When I spoke to the clerk, I mentioned to her that the dispensing machine must be out of chocolate mix since I got a cup of hot water.

She looked up at me with a little surprise and said, “Most people are pretty mean when that happens.” I told her that I thought that she should be aware of the fact, but that I was not upset with her or the machine for that malfunction. She thanked me with a smile and I went on to church.

I later thought about this little interaction, and I was dismayed that courtesy seemed to be in somewhat rare supply these days. I share this not to say that I am such a thoughtful person. What I did was, in my opinion, a normal response to the situation. What concerned me was that this poor clerk had to put up with a number of customers who take out their frustrations upon her. My simple (and expected) courtesy was an exception to this clerk and, evidently, far from the rule from her perception.

Is courtesy a value that has become outdated? Have the simple virtues we once cherished been overtaken by a mean spirited age? I think that social media has produced a large amount of intolerance; or maybe it has just given voice to long held resentments by providing a platform for people to shout their anger to the world.

I am not unaware of the irony that this blog is a social media platform, and that I too am voicing my concerns. My hope is that by ringing a bell for a return to some long held virtues such as courtesy and kindness, the norm may once again be caring about our neighbors- the ones with whom we share the planet.

Today we commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion that ensured the end of the Nazi horrors that beset Europe, and indeed the world. It was June 6^th, 1944, and that day is seared into the memory of so many.

On June 6^th, 1944, most of the soldiers, sailors and airmen who were in the invasion were just hoping to make it through to see June 7th ,1944. It was an intense and bloody day. Very few of those who were involved in that invasion are still here to celebrate the 80^th anniversary. For those who are, and to the families of those valiant soldiers, we thank you for your courage and service.

As Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg Address,

“But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion…

It is my sincere hope that we can continue to celebrate the freedoms secured for us through the sacrifice of these soldiers. We stand at a very difficult time in America- a time when we seem so cavalier and insensitive in our political power struggles, that we lose sight of the noble and precious rights and freedoms we enjoy.  

So, pause today, and pray a prayer of thanks for the things we enjoy as a free people, but also pray for the courage to lay aside petty political posturing, and to rededicate ourselves to the principles that unite us and serve as a beacon of hope to the rest of the world.

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.  In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone women like this. What do you say?”  They said this to test him, because they wanted a reason to bring an accusation against him. Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. They continued to question him, so he stood up and replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.”                                                                                                                                                  John 8:4-7

This is a familiar passage, because it illustrates several points so well. One is the mercy of Jesus toward a person caught in the act of breaking Jewish law. Another point is that it captures the brilliant response Jesus employed to cut through the improper motives of the accusers. Finally, it illustrates the pervasive nature of sin- it is the common human problem which none of us escape.

The woman who was brought to Jesus and accused of adultery had no defense. She was guilty. Yet she was also simply being used as a prop for the crowd. Her partner in the crime for which she was being accused is nowhere to be found. Clearly, justice was not being served here.

Jesus saw through the plan, and he did not just say to them, “You all are sinners too, and this is not right what you are doing!”  They would have reacted defensively and angrily. Jesus carefully and deliberately used a process so that they could see for themselves their own guilt. This is called conviction of the heart, and it was a brilliant strategy.

What he wrote on the ground in the dirt is open to speculation, but whatever he wrote was powerful and convicting. Maybe he named their sins, maybe he wrote their names, or maybe he wrote out another scripture. Whatever he wrote stopped them in their tracks.

Jesus recognized the guilt of the woman. Yet he pardoned her and said essentially, “go and don’t do this sin again”.

The point here is that “casting stones” at others seems like a bad idea- and yes, we all do it figuratively. If we consider our own actions, and the mercy we have received from others, maybe we aren’t so quick to throw stones.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the example you have given us in your son, Jesus. Help us to remember what he taught, Amen.  

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”        Luke 1:28

I am currently reading a book about charisma, and how that has influenced American political and spiritual leaders throughout the centuries.  The word charisma has at its root the word “charis” meaning gift, grace, favored, or a variant of those concepts. Paul used the word, for example, to describe how Mary was given the gift of being a “God carrier” as she carried Jesus during her pregnancy.

Charisma, as we have come to use the term, tends to take on the meaning of likeable, charming (there is that root word charis again), compelling others to follow or be drawn to them. Many political leaders have been described as charismatic, partly due to looks, mannerisms, sense of humor, passion etc.

The bad news is that people with charisma do not always use it for good. There have been leaders who use their charisma for evil or egotistical purposes. We need to be careful to look beyond what appears to be charming and winsome. We need to see consistent character, servant leadership and humility as guide stars for our leaders. Yes, that is a very idealistic benchmark for our elected leaders, right?

Wouldn’t it be nice if such characteristics were expected and demanded?

Prayer: Lord, help us to discern the qualities that make strong and faithful leaders, Amen

Never tire of loyalty and kindness. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart.                                                                                                                                   Proverbs 3:3 (Living Bible)

I’m sure you have done it, or you have been on the receiving end of it. You are at a restaurant, and when it is time for the check, the waitress says, “Your meal has been covered by someone who wishes to remain anonymous. Enjoy the rest of your evening!”

We have enjoyed blessing people that way in the past, and recently, while on vacation, in Mackinaw City Michigan, we were so blessed by a total stranger.  Our suspicion is that it was the woman in a wheelchair who my wife assisted into the restaurant. The woman had struggled at the door, and when my wife saw that, she sprang up to help her.

It was a small gesture, but it seemed to have been very impactful to that woman. She wanted to express her appreciation, and she wanted to do it anonymously.    

It made me think of how gestures of kindness, however small, may be very impactful to others. The kindness of strangers is one of the great joys we can experience, and often it is so easy to do. You never know what the impact will be.

Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that little gestures, performed out of love for others, can change everything, Amen

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand                                                                                                     Isaiah 41:10

When I speak to groups about leadership, I often start off with a story. I talk with the group about the story of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. His father, of course, was the 26^th President of the United States. Roosevelt Jr. has a lengthy back story, but I will mention only this- he was not supposed to be on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944, and he had to fight to get there.

Finally given permission to directly lead his men into battle, Brigadier General Roosevelt was confronted with the chaos and terror of D-Day. He was the highest-ranking officer in the first invasion wave, and he would have it no other way. He would personally lead the way.

In the confusion of the landing, everything went wrong. His landing crafts had drifted far from their designated landing site, the promised air cover had not done the job of clearing the beach and providing craters for cover, and they were under heavy enemy fire. When asked by his lieutenants about orders for what to do, Roosevelt calmly said, “Gentlemen, we’ll start the war from right here!”

I love that. Roosevelt showed calm and clear leadership under extreme pressure. He had fought with his superiors to even be with the troops – Generals no longer were on the front lines with their troops by World War II.

The mental health concept I also love is this- when we are confronted with difficult situations, there is no time for self-pity, blame, and inaction. Roosevelt spoke the obvious truth that, if the troops did not rally and move forward immediately, they would be wiped out. They had to rally together and be united in the effort. They also needed the belief that they could still be effective warriors, and that they could actually do something. They were not defeated just because the odds were so against them.

Roosevelt Jr. gave his men hope, courage, and direction that day. He would be dead just 5 weeks later of a heart attack. That was one of the reasons that his superiors had not wanted him in the front. His health was that poor. Later, Roosevelt would win the Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

I tell that story at times to my clients as a reminder that no situation is hopeless unless we deem it to be so and then quit. When we quit, it is hopeless.

So, whatever you are facing, have the hope and courage to take action Don’t wait for something else to happen- start the war from right here.

Prayer: Thank you Father for examples of hope and courage. Give us that strength right when we need it, Amen

Tomorrow is June 2. This day has been designated as Lou Gehrig Day by Major League Baseball. Lou Gehrig died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, now better known as ALS, but in Gehrig’s day, the dreadful disease took on his name. He had become the face of the then barely know disease.

Gehrig faced this terrible disease with courage and character. On the day that he retired from baseball, knowing that he had a death sentence, he called himself “the luckiest guy on the face of the earth”. People who battle this disease, which progressively robs them of nearly everything, and eventually ends their life, fight it with amazing courage. I have walked through that struggle with one dear friend, and he and his family gave new meaning to courage and the sense of community it created around him.

Lou Gehrig is one of my heroes. All one need do is look at my office, and they will find no less than three pictures of Gehrig on my walls. However, there are many lesser known heroes who battle the disease themselves, or support those who do.

Huntington’s disease is in some ways similar to ALS, but is even lesser known. Huntington’s is a neurodegenerative disease every bit as devastating as ALS, but it has a genetic pathway which looms over every family with a history with the disease.

Another major league ballplayer, Joe Smith of the Houston Astros, along with his wife Allie LaForce, have been strong advocates of finding ways to eliminate this terrible disease. They too are heroes in this fight to deal with the devastating effects of the illness.

So, on this Lou Gehrig Day, I ask my readers to consider donating to either or both organizations to help the fight continue. I have included links for contact information. Let’s also pray for these families. They are not alone in the fight…

www.HelpCureHD.org

www.als.org

Prayer: Lord, we lift up those who suffer from grievous illness, no matter what the source. Help us to be your hands to help ease the suffering, Amen