“But let justice roll out like waters, And righteousness like an ever-flowing      stream.                                    

   Amos 5:24 (NASB)

We are all familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King’s work in the civil rights arena for trying to end segregation, and to improve voting rights for African-Americans. He helped to shine a light on the violent threats that Blacks faced in the Deep South, and indeed, he survived those threats himself until his assassination in 1968.  

Less remembered is his strong witness against the war in Vietnam, and his work on the Poor People’s March, which was a diverse effort to point out the effects of poverty in America. While Dr. King met with and influenced President Lyndon Johnson, he did not hesitate to confront the President when he believed that Johnson must do more from his position of power. King was the model of speaking truth to power. Dr. King believed that he must live out his witness to Jesus Christ even though it meant unpopularity, and even more threats against him. Power was not his goal- justice was his goal.

Prophets have a responsibility to be a witness for justice. The goal of Christians should not be pursuit of power, but rather pursuit of justice. Dr. King embodied that goal, and that is why we celebrate his legacy this weekend.

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to always work for justice, not power, Amen

Liturgy: def.-

a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship

One of the definitions of the word liturgy is the one above. It is a body of rites or rituals used for public worship. When I was young, I grew up in the Catholic Church where rituals abounded. As a youth, I did not, probably could not, appreciate the value of these rites.

We would recite Litanies of the Saints after Mass at times, and I dreaded the long list of saints read aloud by the priest. After each name, we would respond with the words “Pray for Us”. However, as we droned along in my 9-or10-year-old mind, all I heard for several minutes was the monotone response “prayfrus”.

Rituals abounded in the Catholic faith. For example, February 2 was not so much the big deal of “Ground Hog Day” for us Catholic kids, because the next day, February 3, was “St. Blaise Day”- the day when we got our throats blessed by crossed candles by the priest. There were the Stations of the Cross during Lent, the covering of the statues in church with purple drapes during Lent, which were dramatically dropped during Midnight Mass as Easter Sunday dawned. Of course, there was a three-hour vigil in church from noon to 3 PM on Good Friday, and indeed, in much of Catholic Cincinnati, everything closed during those sacred hours.

If you lived in Cincinnati, you could “make the steps” in Mt. Adams and pray on each step on Good Friday as an act of penitence and devotion in memory of the solemnity of Good Friday.  

I cite these rituals because they are enduring memories of a faith lived out communally with Catholic brothers and sisters. They were special milestones of a shared culture of faith. Those rituals were beautiful examples of a shared faith.

I miss those times.

I bring this up because I see that young people on their faith journey are longing for such communal connections. Shared experiences- liturgies- are lacking from so much of contemporary worship. I suggest that a return to more shared experiences, such as Ash Wednesday, which looms tomorrow, are important experiences of faith. Perhaps we should join as Christians in more of these shared experiences to draw closer to one another, and lift up Jesus in those traditional ways.

Prayer: Lord, draw us closer to you and one another with shared experiences, Amen

I just want to celebrate another day of livin’

I just want to celebrate another day of life

I put my faith in the people

But the people let me down

So I turned the other way

And I carry on, anyhow

That’s why I’m telling you

I just want to celebrate, yeah, yeah

I just want to celebrate, yeah, yeah

Another day of living,

I just want to celebrate another day of life

Lyrics to the song by Rare Earth, “I Just Want to Celebrate”

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.                                       Psalm 118:24

Those of us of a certain age remember this 1971 song by the group Rare Earth. Actually, the song is popular enough that many people, regardless of age, know it. I use that title today because people need reminders to celebrate “another day of livin’’. Indeed, every day we draw breath should be a celebration.

Yes, I am painfully aware that many people may find little to celebrate. They may be grieving, in pain, anxious, depressed- the things that life may bring us. Yet, we need to find ways to celebrate the present.

Many of my readers may recall that a few years ago, I announced that March 1 is officially a holiday (in my way of thinking). It is my “first day of Spring”. Again, I know that it technically is not the first day of Spring, but I am claiming it nonetheless. I mean, Spring is actually within sight, literally. The daffodils and crocus are near poking their heads above the ground. Even the day lilies are pushing up from under last year’s dead leaves.

Baseball has started (Spring Training), and NCAA ‘s March Madness will be on us soon. And when somebody asks you what day it is, you can say, “It’s March!”

Yes, I do make “much ado” as Shakespeare might say, but the point is this. Whatever reason you need to celebrate, use it. Celebrate this day and you will find that your outlook is just a wee bit brighter. See, even saying “wee bit” makes me think of St. Patrick’s Day!

So, find your reason (or no reason) to celebrate “Another Day of Livin!”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for another day of livin! Amen

As I was tending to my pond de-icer the other day, I began to think about all that goes into taking care of my pond and the surrounding garden in my back yard. Nearby are several bird feeders, which feed dozens (or maybe hundreds) of finches, wrens, cardinals, sparrows, mourning doves, and several other species. Those bird feeders also inadvertently feed squirrels who may raid the feeders if I am not careful, or who may simply graze on the dropped seeds of the aforementioned birds.

My pond is home to a fish of some standing (he/she is over 10 years old) and it dominates the pond. But that fish must share the pond with up to five frogs each year, as well as snails, and the occasional garter snake or three. Of course, there is a variety of plant life in the pond also, so we have a little biosystem there in the back yard.

All this to say that the word “husband” came to mind. Husband is a word used for someone who takes care of the land. Husband is also the name I carry as the husband of my wife, Deb. I have been her husband for over 50 years now, and the term husband is one that I like.

Webster defines husband as “a married man considered in relation to his wife”. The other meaning is more general. That one says “one who uses resources wisely, economically”. Similar words used to describe husband are: conserve, preserve, save, safeguard, etc.”

I love the idea of being one who safeguards and protects those things entrusted to him. I am merely the steward of those things I have around me, and I am blessed by them. Of course, I am especially blessed to be the husband of my wife, Deb. What an honor to be given the name husband.

So, husbands, love your wives, and take care of all that is entrusted to you. It is a privilege.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the opportunity to be a husband, Amen

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.                            I John 3:18-20 (The Message)

I spoke with a client recently about her anxiety regarding how others may perceive her. She is a very bright, insightful person, but she is beset by self-doubts at times, and she worries about what people may think of her.

Of course, everyone wrestles with acceptance to some degree. All of us want others to affirm and appreciate us- it is part of human nature, and indeed is important for social functioning. We need to fit, in some ways, into our surroundings and to find an accepting social circle. This is even a survival mechanism built into us. We need some acceptance into a “tribe”.

The problem comes when we overthink that, and we begin to take on what other people “must think of me”. We may begin to build up our own narrative of what others think of us and then we act accordingly.

There are, of course, problems with this. One is, that particular way of thinking seems to put us into the “mind reading business”. I suggested to my client that it is actually disrespectful to assume what others will likely think of us. We may really sell them short of what they are capable of. Also, our thoughts are often just projections of our own thinking. Other people do not necessarily think the way that we do.

Finally, because we are anxious, we “fill in the blank” of what others may think of us with the worst-case scenario.

So, while we are tempted to project our thoughts onto others, the discipline is to remember that we cannot control what others think. We just have the illusion that we can have that control of others by acting in certain ways.

We just need to be real and be who we are. That is good enough.

Prayer: Lord, help us to accept ourselves like you accept us, Amen

The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”                                                                                                                                                                   Genesis 3:4-5 (The Message)

I have been of the opinion for some time that there is really only one sin- pride. You know, that sin that got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden. I define pride roughly as “He is God, I’m not, and I’m mad about it!”

What do I mean by that? Well, Satan tempted the Garden dwellers to “become like God”. We all “want what we want when we want it”, and unless we have developed a sense of discipline, of humility, and patience, that attitude will get us into big trouble. We tend to have a sense of entitlement to things that we want, or maybe even think we deserve.

All other sins derive from that attitude of self-serving and entitlement that pride entails. Envy, stealing, lying, adultery, murder etc. all stem from a sense of “entitlement to my own way”, often at any cost or, sadly, the cost of others.

So, let’s keep it simple. One sin that can be played out in many ways- pride.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see pride for what it is- the desire to be our own god, Amen

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.                                                                                                                                                             Psalm 19:14

I was talking with a couple the other day and we discussed the ways that communication can become troublesome. For them, as with many couples, arguments can escalate when the communication goes too fast. What do I mean by that? In the heat of discussion, which can escalate into argument, partners can get defensive rather quickly if they are feeling attacked. They may also feel defensive if a simmering resentment gets triggered by a careless comment.

In such cases, instant communication can cause instant problems.  The communication process needs to slow down- perhaps with a timeout, or maybe with a decision to write out how they are feeling, instead of trying to say what they mean without proper reflection. In the heat of the moment sometimes, words are said that do not accurately reflect what is meant to be conveyed.

I suggest that they “slow the train down” by pausing, taking a little break, and agreeing to write out their feelings to the other. This process can give time for better, more cognitive responses, not highly emotional ones.  

In some ways, social media has also contributed to the “instant communication, instant problem” dynamic. Quick responses to social media bait can cause all kinds of problems, including anger, hurt, and a response that stays on the internet forever.

If we slow the train down in communication, it can save us a lot of headaches.

Prayer: Lord, let our words be thoughtful and considered, Amen

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.        Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

I often start my counseling sessions with this question: “What was the best thing that happened for you in the past week?” If it had been longer than that since I saw the client, it would be “in the last two weeks”, or the “last month”, etc.

The point here is that I want to start off with some positives in their life. They are already coming to counseling because some things in their life are not going the way that they would like or like they would have imagined. Therefore, I want to start out with a positive or two.

By asking that question, I can also affirm what work they have accomplished, maybe with the homework I gave. I always give homework. You know, the work that will be of lasting help does not come in my office, it comes from using tools we discussed and behaving in different ways with their personal disciplines, or in their relationships with others.  

We can then discuss current concerns or problems that they want to bring forward in counseling. Which brings me to a frequent second question: “What is the best thing we should talk about today?”

I want the client to own the content of the session, so they bring forth the topics. I will, however, ask them how the homework went. Accountability is important for both client and counselor. They are accountable for doing the work we discussed, and I am accountable for having reviewed their file and refreshing my understanding of their goals and progress.

Just a little picture today of my process of counseling. Hope this is encouraging for you as well!

Prayer: Lord, help us to keep positive thoughts in our day, Amen

And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?  Romans 12:1 (Living Bible)

Today is February 22^nd. Almost everybody remembers it as the birthday of a celebrated hero. I remember it as the birthday of two heroes, both born on February 22, but separated by 179 years. That other hero was my mother, born February 22, 1911. Both of these heroes freely sacrificed for others, and both endured hardships in those acts of service. George Washington has been celebrated worldwide, especially of course in America.

My mother, on the other hand, lived a quiet life, bearing four children, and grieving the loss of a miscarriage. She did not come from wealth, and she had to work early in life, even working days and going to “night school” to complete her high school diploma. My dad owned a bakery in the Clifton Heights area of Cincinnati (near UC and where he grew up), and mom worked in the bakery with him to help make the business survive.  

Mom had a deep faith, and she made sure that her kids did too. We all knew the expectations that mom had for us, and we had better (and we did) live up to them. There was no question about those expectations- regular attendance at Mass, Catholic education through college, good grades, hard work, and regular disciplines to maintain physical and spiritual health.

Mom took in her mother after grandma suffered a debilitating stroke in 1959, and mom cared for her until grandma died, in our house, in 1967.  Mom did not complain, nor did she let others know of all the sacrifices she made for her family. Mom’s selfless lifestyle was visible, but not expressed to others by her very much.

She lived a quiet, but powerful life- one that honored her God and her family. She is one of the heroes born on February 22, and now you know about the hero less celebrated, but the one more beloved.

Prayer: Lord thank you for the sacrifice of those who lay down their lives in the service of others, Amen.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Out of the genius of Benjamin Franklin came the concept of the lightning rod. It is counterintuitive really since the object of the lightning rod is to get struck! As we know, the lightning rod absorbs the massive energy from a lightning bolt and thereby saves the building, on which it is perched, from harm. The lightning rod directs that massive energy to a safe place- the ground. The lightning rod is not harmed, usually, because it is an efficient channel to move the electricity to where it will cause no harm.

I was speaking with a couple the other day, and we discussed her role (unwanted) of being a lightning rod for her husband’s anger. While she is effective at deflecting his random energy into a safe place, and thereby allowing him to feel some relief, both needed to discuss this with another lightning rod- me.

I was not affected by their storm of energy and hurt, and therefore I was a safe place to absorb all that energy. I did not take it personally, and I was not hurt at all.

Jesus was a lightning rod of sorts too. He willingly accepted the wrath of those around him who did not understand him. Many believed that he was a threat to the current order and system of worship. He was. Jesus attracted such pent up energy because people saw that he was different, and therefore, a threat.

Jesus absorbed our sins and dissipated the harm that would come from them. He directed that energy into healing and salvation for humankind. His body paid the ultimate price for that, but he arose from death and emerged as an on-going source of peace to those afflicted with hurt and pain.

Maybe you as a reader sometimes feel like a lightning rod for those around you. Consider how that affects you, and how you function in that role. Sometimes it helps to see that lightning rods can be of great use, as long as we understand the process and our role in it.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see our role in turning pain into peace, Amen