The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility    Proverbs 15:33

I suppose it is obvious that the closer we get to the mirror, the more we can see our blemishes or imperfections. The better the light near the mirror, the better we can see those imperfections.  Yikes!

The metaphor here is that as we get closer to the light, and we are willing to see ourselves clearly in the mirror, the more we will see our imperfections. Not just physical defects, but character defects as well. No, we do not like to take that close a look very often, but it is a necessary function for emotionally healthy people.

Seeing ourselves in the light means seeing ourselves in the mirror, not another person to whom we compare ourselves in a relative sense. You know, “gosh, I’m not perfect, but compared to that guy, I’m a real saint!” Well, that might be true, but it is not relevant when we are trying to take a clear and honest look at ourselves.

The 4^th step of Alcoholics Anonymous says to Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This is a key step in addiction recovery, but truly, it is a step of moral responsibility for everyone.

So, periodically, get closer to that mirror, make sure the light is good, and take inventory. Most importantly, don’t get into despair. The paradoxical result of a close look at our faults is that we come to understand that it takes humility and courage to do so. The more we exercise courage and humility, and the more we see truth, the better we feel about ourselves. We can accept our shortcomings, work on resolutions as best we can, and take heart that we are on a journey of integrity!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us to see ourselves in light of your love, Amen.

Passage- John chapter 9

The entire chapter of John 9 is devoted to the healing of a blind man- a man blind from birth. I encourage my readers to read that passage. In it, Jesus does some amazing things, and those who would deny him, also do some pretty crazy things. The subject of the healing, a man blind from birth, and his parents, also play a role in this drama.

This chapter depicts people who have certain rigid religious beliefs, and they are desperate to hang onto them. They cannot fathom that Jesus would not only heal on the Sabbath, but that he could even heal at all given that those religious leaders thought him to be a sinner.

We all have religious beliefs that we try to hang onto because they seem to fit into our human way of thinking. Thinking like Only a certain type of person can heal, or healing must be done in a certain way, or people are afflicted because they or their parents have sinned, or there are people worthy of healing, and those that are not- etc.

The religious leaders of the time could not fit Jesus into their current religious mold. In fact, Jesus refused to play that game. He even used the common, probably “unclean” method of mud and spit to heal. Actually, Jesus could just as easily have healed the blind man by looking at him, speaking to him, or however he would choose. Jesus chose to give another lesson in healing, but moreover, he decided to tweak the commonly held religious tropes of the time.

Was that a cool story or what?!

Prayer: Lord, how you choose to teach us your ways is amazing! Amen

I live in a small town- one where on Friday evenings in the summer, people gather around the town square and listen to free concerts. I mean, what is more 19^th century America than that? Last evening, there was a cover band who played the music of Chicago, one of the great bands of the late 20^th century (still going great in the 21^st century!).

Thinking of the eras mentioned, and the generations spanning them, I began to look at the constituency of the crowd. Yep, mostly “Baby Boomers” like my wife and me. Yes, there were other generations represented of course, but my generation- “Boomers”- dominated the crowd. Chicago is Boomer music!

As I think of my generation, so named because our parents were having children in bunches right after World War II, I thought too of that earlier generation. My parents were of that generation that was toughened by the Great Depression, helped win World War II, and then built a strong economy in the post-war years. Tom Brokaw called them “The Greatest Generation”.

I have always wondered if people in my generation, or even others, thought that the generation ahead of them was somehow “just a little better”. You know, could we live up to their accomplishments? It is true that up until recently in America, each succeeding generation outearned the prior generation. So yes, we were wealthier, but were we as strong? Were we as determined? Were we as disciplined?

These are very subjective questions, and we all have our own thoughts. As for me, I think my parents’ generation was called The Greatest Generation for a reason.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth                                           Matthew 5:5

Just to be clear, meek does not mean weak. Weak means having little power. Meek means having power under control. Big difference. Often, we use the term a “meek and mild disposition” as  descriptive of certain individuals. It is fine to do that, but understand that just because one chooses to be mild in disposition, it does not mean that they are weak, fearful, and ineffective. Indeed, a truly meek person is one to be admired.

Jesus called them ‘blessed”.

In the politically charged culture of today, stridency and anger often seem to be traits that are rewarded and applauded. Even among some Christians, there is a culture of “warrior Christians”. That can be a bit disturbing. For some, it can harken back to the days of the Crusades, where the intention was to convert the “infidel”, or maybe just kill him. Indeed, we are called to stand up for truth, and at the same time we are called to be compassionate and understanding. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

If we truly believe that we have been given an eternal truth about how God loves us, and that God sent his son Jesus to be an example of sacrificial love, isn’t that truth strong enough to give us the strength to show meekness? We have the strength of the powerful Holy Spirit in us, we need not engage in angry debates with those with whom we disagree.

Power under control- blessed are the meek…

Prayer: Lord, help us to show the meekness that you call “blessed’, Amen

Making your way in the world today Takes everything you’ve got
Taking a break from all your worries Sure would help a lot
Wouldn’t you like to get away? All those nights when you’ve got no lights
The check is in the mail And your little angel
Hung the cat up by it’s tail And your third fiance didn’t show

Sometimes you wanna go Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came You wanna be where you can see (ah-ah)
Our troubles are all the same (ah-ah)
You wanna be where everybody knows your name

(Cheers theme song lyrics)

Do you remember the old TV show Cheers? Of course you do, and now I’ve got you singing that song in your head. You’re welcome.

It was a funny, well-written show that was about the activities that went on in the local bar. A place where regular customers came in and bantered about life. The theme song (first stanza above) has some very interesting and true-to-life words. The words of the last two lines always struck me:

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came you wanna be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name

I had a client recently who was suffering a very painful estrangement from her family. There had been much rejection, even abuse, and this client was trying to find places where she would be validated and accepted. Her family of origin, unfortunately, was not one of those places. While she was hurt by family rejection, she still longed for their validation.

I suggested to this client that such validation is necessary for all of us. We seek out places where we are accepted, “where everybody knows our name”. A place where, “they’re always glad you came”

My suggestion to her was involvement in small groups at her church, or perhaps volunteer work with others with whom she could connect in a mission larger than herself. Perhaps in places like that, she could find meaningful connections and acceptance just for who she is.

It is interesting that many people do seek such validation at bars. The show’s characters like Sam, and Norm, and Cliff, and Diane found acceptance in the bar. I would hope that perhaps churches could be places where people find the comfort of caring relationships. Where everybody (or many) know your name; where they are glad you came, and missed you if you did not come.

Maybe then more people would seek out churches rather than bars for those relationships.

Prayer: Lord, you have made us relational beings. Help us to validate and encourage one another, Amen

“You can observe a lot by just watching“                                                       Yogi Berra

Look at the birds of the air, for they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?                     Matthew 6:26

My regular readers know that I think Yogi Berra was an unsung American hero. He was a wounded combat veteran of D-Day, yet he refused the Purple Heart for his wound because he didn’t want his mother to worry about him. Later, he played Hall of Fame level baseball for the New York Yankees, but he was overshadowed by players like Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. Yet he was arguably the most valuable player on the Yankee dynasty of the 1950’s.

Today I look at Yogi’s simple, yet deceptively profound quote above- “You can observe a lot by just watching.” I was reminded of this recently when I watched the behavior of some animals in my own back yard. There were the chipmunks, squirrels and birds converging on the sunflower seeds that had fallen uneaten from my bird feeder. They would crowd one another, bluff and bully one another, and finally find some kind of order as they picked through the seeds.

They would also try to outwit one another. The Housefinches are bullies and the skittish Goldfinches are usually wary and easily frightened off. Until one brave Goldfinch stands his ground and finds that he can compete for the cherished sunflower seeds.

The squirrels will often try to raid the birdfeeder (successfully, if I do not take it in at night), then they will feast (gorge!) on seeds, burying what they cannot consume in one feeding. They will bury the seeds in the ground around the side of my house. Recently, the chipmunks found the cache and have been raiding it for themselves. Just watching this scenario felt like a drama or mystery movie, maybe even a comedy, in my own back yard.

All this to say, if I had not taken time to pause and watch, I would not have been able to make these observations.

 Like Yogi said, “you can observe a lot by just watching.”   

Prayer: Lord, help us pause long enough to enjoy your creation, Amen

 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.                                             Hebrews 11:6

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.          I Timothy 2:3-4

One of the tenets of the Christian faith is that Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Recognizing that Jesus is the way to come to an understanding of the love of God, and that we cannot save ourselves, well, that sounds to me like good theology. Jesus did things that pave the way for a relationship with his Father.

Yet, those who are outside of the Christian tradition will surely struggle with such a statement. How do we reconcile a relationship with God for those who do not know Jesus in the way that Christians seem to understand? Is there some formula for knowing God that we do not understand?

I do not have answers for these deep theological questions. I do know that God would have all people be reconciled to him, no matter what their tradition. Leaning on the work of Jesus as the atonement for our fallen nature and sin is pretty easy for me to understand. I cannot reach God by my own works and righteousness. I don’t have any.

I have come to understand, in my own way of thinking, that Jesus is the way to God, but there are a lot of ways to Jesus. What do I mean by that? Each of us has a history, a story, a journey, where we are seeking God. Recognition of our own inadequacy in that attempt allows us to see the need for Jesus. I don’t think there is a specific formula for finding Jesus. He is the one who loved people enough to come to earth and become a sacrifice. Jesus is the one who gave the example of what love looks like. As Jesus essentially said, if you want to see the Father, just look at me.    

So, how do people come to know Jesus? I am convinced that people can come to know Jesus in ways that are far beyond our concrete, narrow thinking. People will understand Jesus in ways that I do not understand. And that is comforting to me. People of different faith orientations can find Jesus in ways that I cannot predict or prescribe.

But I trust that Jesus can be found by those who seek…  

Prayer: Lord, your ways are higher than our ways- and I am glad of that! Amen

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.                                                II Corinthians 12:9

I was recently speaking with a client about grace, and he talked about his feelings of unworthiness regarding God’ s gracious acceptance of him. He had hurt people in his life, and he felt shame for his actions. I reminded the client about the definition of grace, being “unmerited favor”. I suggested that it is common for us to keep trying to put our own merit (or lack of it) into the equation, and that by doing so, it no longer remains grace- it then becomes the wages of our work.

It is, I think, a pretty natural tendency for us to expect compensation for our work. We expect that we get paid for our work, and conversely, we do not get paid if we do not work. Perfectly sensible and right in our economy.  

Yet God’s economy is different. The grace that we receive- his love, forgiveness, even favor in circumstances where we deserve failure, but end up with success- all are examples of grace. We may struggle with these things because we “don’t deserve them”. The answer is, it is true, we do not deserve grace. We don’t earn it, we receive it.

Perhaps it challenges our sense of justice. Maybe it is an indicator of our pride. We just have a hard time receiving grace, and we make a narrative that we are unworthy.

The concept of grace is contrary to our nature oftentimes. Yet, God’s economy is just that. He loves us and he extends extravagant grace that we may not understand, grace that we feel that we do not deserve, and have trouble accepting.

I suggest that we try not to understand, but just receive it gratefully.  

Prayer: Lord, your grace is sufficient, even if we do not completely understand it, Amen

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

 Matthew 7:7-8

Our pastor has started a new series on prayer, and I think it will be a very good one. It got me thinking about a piece I had written some years ago about prayer being like asking for directions. It is based upon the verse above, Matthew 7:7-8. I began to think about what it’s like when we ask for directions.

The seeker humbly asks for help knowing that she/he is lost. Indeed, it takes quite a bit for me to ask for directions! Once I ask for those directions, I listen attentively, trying to figure out if I have the directions exactly right. After all, at this point I am hopelessly lost, and I need help!

Having received what I believe is proper guidance, I trust that it is a true direction. I need to trust the person who directed me since they presumably know the way, and I clearly do not. I then go on to seek my destination. If I have done a good job of following the directions, I arrive at the destination. But my job is not quite finished. I need to take a step of faith. I need to knock on the door.

I do the action step, knock on the door, and I am rewarded with the connection to the person or place that I intended to see.

So, the steps are: humility to recognize that I am indeed lost; trust that the direction giver is honest and competent; courage and faith to complete the task to the end.  

This sounds to me like a formula for prayer- humility, trust, and courage/faith

Prayer: Lord, help me to have the humility, trust and faith that I need in prayer, Amen

Are there things that you are putting off doing? I would bet that there are. Just like everybody, there are some things that you have avoided doing, or been “putting them off” for one reason or another. I have found that doing just one of those things- that phone call, that appointment- whatever it is, will give you the momentum to do more of those nagging tasks that are just waiting out there that you have said you were going to do someday.

Those little things that you are putting off are probably causing a low level of stress that you may have been carrying for a long time. By doing just one of those little tasks, you open the door to change your whole attitude and outlook.

Remember one of my sayings- “change one thing, change everything”. By overcoming the inertia of completing just one simple task, you open up the door for a relief of an underlying stress. You can change your whole outlook.

That’s it. That’s the whole message today. Do one thing, one little thing, that you have been putting off, and see how relieved you will feel!

Prayer: Lord, help us to do that one little thing today, Amen