If you had any doubt, the eradication of Christmas displays and the arrival of Valentine's Day product in your favorite retail outlet will help you understand that Christmas is, in fact, over. The speed with which this happens still amazes me. It seemed like a switch was flipped. We're on to the next thing--and it's not even New Year's yet!
My older daughter looked around the house yesterday and asked "Mom, is it okay that we still have the Christmas stuff up?"
Of course it's okay.I want my family to relish Christmas for a bit longer. I want to enjoy Christmas for a while. The lights look brighter and the colors look richer when they aren't viewed through the lens of panic, pressure, and obligation.
The celebration doesn't have to end, either. No matter the day or the season, we can marvel at the wonder of God coming to earth in the form a of little baby. Imagine: the God who loved us enough to share in our worldly challenges and remove any obstacle he could in order to love us and live with us forever.
We don't need lights and tinsel and evergreen garland, really. The miracle of that little baby's birth decorates our lives every day.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
ashamed
Why do we get angry at our kids? Usually it's because they are not listening to us. Or they are listening to us but they aren't doing what we want them to do...or don't want them to do, as the case may be.
Then there's what my mom always called "sassy-mouth" or "backtalk," the snide remarks that reveal a disdain for parental authority.
And then there's "the look." The "oh-brother-there-she-goes-again-nag-nag" look. It says it all.
There's always that final something pushes any parent over the edge. Kids will do that! But sometimes we allow emotion to transcend reason and we lash out at this little offenders. Sometimes we say and do things we later regret.
I had one of those moments today. Since she has very little understanding of the clock and how it relates to certain events like departure, my four-year-old was engaging in her morning ritual of dilly-dallying. And the eight-year-old is freaking out because she thinks she's going to be late to school. And I had had enough. And so I engaged in, shall we say, inappropriate behavior. I won't get into specifics, but it's enough to say that I am usually counseling the girls not to use such actions to solve problems.
Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26 presents some simple advice to us in these situations. "In your anger, do not sin." It doesn't say "Feeling anger is sinful" or "being angry is wrong." It's what we do with that anger.
But sometimes the root cause of anger is steeped in uglieness. When I think now about what made me so angry about this morning's situation, I am ashamed. I wanted to be listened to, and I was angry that no one was listening to me. I wanted my child to do what I was asking, because I am in charge. I didn't want to be late for my volunteer work at the school because I didn't want the teacher to think I was a slacker. I was being dissed and I didn't like it. Who did that kid think she was?
Who do I think I am?
Who do you think you are?
I am a sinner and you are too. We really don't deserve special treatment, no matter who we are or what we've accomplished or how important our work is. That is the simple truth. At the end of the day, nothing elevates me over any other human being, even our own children. And that's were the anger comes in, right? That apparent disregard for our feelings, our authority, our whatever. We are faced with that simple truth. And it hurts.
But so does shame. And Lord knows I am ashamed of my behavior. I asked both girls for forgiveness, which they gave readily. "I love you, mommy!" said the four-year-old. "I need a Kleenex," said the eight-year-old.
Next time you are angry, ask yourself why. And get beyond the easy answers. Examine yourself and your expectations, and you probably find the answers in the ugliness of your own sin. That hurts, it does. But God is ready to forgive you. No matter who you are, no matter what you've done. That is the simple truth. He is ready to tell you how much He loves you.
Then there's what my mom always called "sassy-mouth" or "backtalk," the snide remarks that reveal a disdain for parental authority.
And then there's "the look." The "oh-brother-there-she-goes-again-nag-nag" look. It says it all.
There's always that final something pushes any parent over the edge. Kids will do that! But sometimes we allow emotion to transcend reason and we lash out at this little offenders. Sometimes we say and do things we later regret.
I had one of those moments today. Since she has very little understanding of the clock and how it relates to certain events like departure, my four-year-old was engaging in her morning ritual of dilly-dallying. And the eight-year-old is freaking out because she thinks she's going to be late to school. And I had had enough. And so I engaged in, shall we say, inappropriate behavior. I won't get into specifics, but it's enough to say that I am usually counseling the girls not to use such actions to solve problems.
Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26 presents some simple advice to us in these situations. "In your anger, do not sin." It doesn't say "Feeling anger is sinful" or "being angry is wrong." It's what we do with that anger.
But sometimes the root cause of anger is steeped in uglieness. When I think now about what made me so angry about this morning's situation, I am ashamed. I wanted to be listened to, and I was angry that no one was listening to me. I wanted my child to do what I was asking, because I am in charge. I didn't want to be late for my volunteer work at the school because I didn't want the teacher to think I was a slacker. I was being dissed and I didn't like it. Who did that kid think she was?
Who do I think I am?
Who do you think you are?
I am a sinner and you are too. We really don't deserve special treatment, no matter who we are or what we've accomplished or how important our work is. That is the simple truth. At the end of the day, nothing elevates me over any other human being, even our own children. And that's were the anger comes in, right? That apparent disregard for our feelings, our authority, our whatever. We are faced with that simple truth. And it hurts.
But so does shame. And Lord knows I am ashamed of my behavior. I asked both girls for forgiveness, which they gave readily. "I love you, mommy!" said the four-year-old. "I need a Kleenex," said the eight-year-old.
Next time you are angry, ask yourself why. And get beyond the easy answers. Examine yourself and your expectations, and you probably find the answers in the ugliness of your own sin. That hurts, it does. But God is ready to forgive you. No matter who you are, no matter what you've done. That is the simple truth. He is ready to tell you how much He loves you.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
a big stink
What does a skunk do when it feels threatened? It lets loose with a horrendously offensive spray from its posterior that can scare away grizzly bears, cause temporary blindness in other predators and nauseate humans. It's worth noting that skunks can spray with high accuracy up to 7 to 10 feet. Just another reason to keep your distance. You might not even be thinking about making the skunk your dinner -- the threat might not be justified -- and you get a face full of noxious chemicals anyway.
Last night we had close (enough) personal experience with such a stinky polecat outside of the house. I actually thought it was a natural gas leak, but then my husband opened the door and we knew the truth. Although we didn't see it, we certainly knew it was there and had been disturbed (even with doors and windows closed). The little guy was ticked off and letting the world experience his pungent displeasure. Because I muse about such things, last night's incident made me think about raising a stink in general.
What do you do when you've been dissed? Say someone you live with left his dirty clothes on the floor, another driver cut you off on the tollway, or your manager gave someone else the coveted assignment.
Do these folks know who you are? You are much more important than a maid.
Does that driver understand where you need to be in the next 10 minutes? You certainly deserve the right of way more than she does.
Does your manager know who he is dealing with? He's obviously overlooking your talent.
So you find some way to show your displeasure. You might raise a little stink and bawl out the offending housemate for his obvious inconsideration. You might make the univeral driver hand signal to convey your displeasure to the driving school dropout. A lesser person than you might think ill of the manager; worse yet, might share opinions about the manager's abilities in a less than favorable light. And the odor grows. The strong odor of judgment. Once uttered or even thought, it is hard to come clean. It permeates clothing, seeps in the skin. And what do we gain from allegedly defending ourserlves as we pass judgment?
Not much, according to the New Testament book of Romans. The second chapter begins:
We are rarely justified in our judgment of others, mostly because we're just plain wrong. We think we know the whole story, but we don't; worse yet, we act on the story we think we know. The housemate may have been very ill when he left the clothes on the floor. The offending driver could be on her way to the hospital hoping she'll make it there before her husband dies. The manager was looking for a certain skill that, admit it, you just don't have. You and I have a very limited understanding of what's going on with our own lives, much less someone else's.
In light of this, I'll leave you with another passage that rings true and smells better than any knee-jerk reaction. Remember, the word speak can be interchanged with think and act in this case.
Last night we had close (enough) personal experience with such a stinky polecat outside of the house. I actually thought it was a natural gas leak, but then my husband opened the door and we knew the truth. Although we didn't see it, we certainly knew it was there and had been disturbed (even with doors and windows closed). The little guy was ticked off and letting the world experience his pungent displeasure. Because I muse about such things, last night's incident made me think about raising a stink in general.
What do you do when you've been dissed? Say someone you live with left his dirty clothes on the floor, another driver cut you off on the tollway, or your manager gave someone else the coveted assignment.
Do these folks know who you are? You are much more important than a maid.
Does that driver understand where you need to be in the next 10 minutes? You certainly deserve the right of way more than she does.
Does your manager know who he is dealing with? He's obviously overlooking your talent.
So you find some way to show your displeasure. You might raise a little stink and bawl out the offending housemate for his obvious inconsideration. You might make the univeral driver hand signal to convey your displeasure to the driving school dropout. A lesser person than you might think ill of the manager; worse yet, might share opinions about the manager's abilities in a less than favorable light. And the odor grows. The strong odor of judgment. Once uttered or even thought, it is hard to come clean. It permeates clothing, seeps in the skin. And what do we gain from allegedly defending ourserlves as we pass judgment?
Not much, according to the New Testament book of Romans. The second chapter begins:
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on
someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? (Romans 2:1-4).
We are rarely justified in our judgment of others, mostly because we're just plain wrong. We think we know the whole story, but we don't; worse yet, we act on the story we think we know. The housemate may have been very ill when he left the clothes on the floor. The offending driver could be on her way to the hospital hoping she'll make it there before her husband dies. The manager was looking for a certain skill that, admit it, you just don't have. You and I have a very limited understanding of what's going on with our own lives, much less someone else's.
In light of this, I'll leave you with another passage that rings true and smells better than any knee-jerk reaction. Remember, the word speak can be interchanged with think and act in this case.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen,slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20).
Monday, November 06, 2006
Too much for me to handle
Ever feel like the world is crashing down around you? You might not be touched personally by tragedy (meaning yourself or your immediate family) but sadness is all around you. From your friend’s friend’s husband being killed by an armed robber to a friend losing a baby to another friend being diagnosed with cancer to a neighbor dying from cancer….I could go on, I suppose. No longer are overwhelming tragedies relegated to soap operas—they are part of our everyday lives.
Could this be my age? I’m over 40 now, which logically would expose me to more illness and age-related issues among friends and relatives. But I’m not sure that’s it. I’ve run into plenty of extraordinarily random tragedies that have nothing to do with age. I wonder if the cultural movement to encourage people to talk openly about their crises, to be real with their anguish has led to this overwhelming sense of global personal suffering.
The flip side of this openness is that it’s almost as if you need some sort of tragic circumstances to be able to enter into a conversation. And if you haven’t suffered in some way you are one of the uninitiated few. The sufferers look upon you with an odd combination of disdain and pity. “Poor slob,” they murmur. “Just wait until tragedy strikes for her. She’ll have her day of suffering just like the rest of us. We’ll see if she can handle it.”
And along with the sense of guilt you might feel at being “untouched,” you wonder if, indeed, you will be able to handle tragedy when it comes. You might begin to greet each day with a sense of foreboding, as if this is the day when IT happens. The crisis of your life. The other shoe drops, your fortune turns, and time runs out on the parking meter. You peer around corners, squint into the shadows, and generally flush any enjoyment from where you are due to the overwhelming fear of where you’ll be.
In the New Testament Book of Matthew, Jesus says …do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). I find this a curious statement coming from a man who did know what would happen tomorrow (and would be righteous in his fear). But we can’t begin to guess what will happen in the future, so all the defenses, the strategies, and the coping mechanisms we devise for dealing with tomorrow’s tragedies take us away from today’s very real struggles…and very real victories and joys.
So, how to deal with uncertainty? How to not let worry consume us? Though I might not agree with his plans, his timing, and his outcomes, I have made a choice to trust in God. What other choice to I have? What other choice do you have?
Jesus himself is calling you to make that choice, as shown in the account of Mary and Martha in the New Testament book of Luke. (Keep in mind that worry is relative here – one person can handle the worry that consumes someone else.) Martha is freaking out at her preparations for a dinner party and that her sister is chatting away with Jesus. Martha indignantly approaches Jesus, full of righteous anger at the inequity of it all, when Jesus answers quietly and lovingly: “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Understand that I’m not talking about blind faith, I’m talking about trust. No matter what, the friendship, love, and wisdom of Jesus and the Holy Spirit within us cannot be taken away from us. We will worry, yes, but let us choose what is better.
Could this be my age? I’m over 40 now, which logically would expose me to more illness and age-related issues among friends and relatives. But I’m not sure that’s it. I’ve run into plenty of extraordinarily random tragedies that have nothing to do with age. I wonder if the cultural movement to encourage people to talk openly about their crises, to be real with their anguish has led to this overwhelming sense of global personal suffering.
The flip side of this openness is that it’s almost as if you need some sort of tragic circumstances to be able to enter into a conversation. And if you haven’t suffered in some way you are one of the uninitiated few. The sufferers look upon you with an odd combination of disdain and pity. “Poor slob,” they murmur. “Just wait until tragedy strikes for her. She’ll have her day of suffering just like the rest of us. We’ll see if she can handle it.”
And along with the sense of guilt you might feel at being “untouched,” you wonder if, indeed, you will be able to handle tragedy when it comes. You might begin to greet each day with a sense of foreboding, as if this is the day when IT happens. The crisis of your life. The other shoe drops, your fortune turns, and time runs out on the parking meter. You peer around corners, squint into the shadows, and generally flush any enjoyment from where you are due to the overwhelming fear of where you’ll be.
In the New Testament Book of Matthew, Jesus says …do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). I find this a curious statement coming from a man who did know what would happen tomorrow (and would be righteous in his fear). But we can’t begin to guess what will happen in the future, so all the defenses, the strategies, and the coping mechanisms we devise for dealing with tomorrow’s tragedies take us away from today’s very real struggles…and very real victories and joys.
So, how to deal with uncertainty? How to not let worry consume us? Though I might not agree with his plans, his timing, and his outcomes, I have made a choice to trust in God. What other choice to I have? What other choice do you have?
Jesus himself is calling you to make that choice, as shown in the account of Mary and Martha in the New Testament book of Luke. (Keep in mind that worry is relative here – one person can handle the worry that consumes someone else.) Martha is freaking out at her preparations for a dinner party and that her sister is chatting away with Jesus. Martha indignantly approaches Jesus, full of righteous anger at the inequity of it all, when Jesus answers quietly and lovingly: “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Understand that I’m not talking about blind faith, I’m talking about trust. No matter what, the friendship, love, and wisdom of Jesus and the Holy Spirit within us cannot be taken away from us. We will worry, yes, but let us choose what is better.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:57.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
satisfaction
What does it take for you to feel a sense of accomplishment? What does it take to make that feeling last?
We're so geared to check things off our list and move on, aren't we? There's no such thing as "resting on our laurels." There's no glory in savoring the moment. If you take a break to relish a personal victory, you're not to be taken seriously. Put out a Number 1 hit, and the critics are already anticipating your next CD. Write a bestseller, and the hum begins about the next book. Get the corner office and most people think you should get ready to set your sights on something better.
Not that I'm familiar with these accomplishments, but I've seen the trend in my life as well. Get married and friends and family will ask you "So, when are you going to have a baby?" Have a baby and people are already asking "So, when are you going to have another baby?"
Is it possible to be satisfied with your situation when every indication is that the world is passing you by? I think so. When satisfaction is no longer a byproduct of how well we're keeping up with the rest of the world. When we look at what we're doing and seek to do it the best we can instead of moving on to something else. When we really appreciate where we are, what we've done, and who we're with.
The Old Testament story of King Solomon shows a man who is both grateful for and content in his circumstances, not eager to move onto something else, but to do the best he can in his situation. He is described in 2 Chronicles as "established...firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great." Solomon has the respect of commanders and heads of families alike and he rules over "a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth."
So what does he ask for? More territory? Another exciting assignment? More money?
Not at all. Solomon's only request is that God gives him the smarts to do what he's already doing.
It might be considered countercultural to refrain from looking to the next event, project, accomplishment, milestone, whatever. I'm asking you to fight against a pretty strong current, but wouldn't it be nice to find satisfaction--however momentary--in where God has placed us?
The chorus of Linkin Park's A Place for My Head echo this simple wish for the weary:
We're so geared to check things off our list and move on, aren't we? There's no such thing as "resting on our laurels." There's no glory in savoring the moment. If you take a break to relish a personal victory, you're not to be taken seriously. Put out a Number 1 hit, and the critics are already anticipating your next CD. Write a bestseller, and the hum begins about the next book. Get the corner office and most people think you should get ready to set your sights on something better.
Not that I'm familiar with these accomplishments, but I've seen the trend in my life as well. Get married and friends and family will ask you "So, when are you going to have a baby?" Have a baby and people are already asking "So, when are you going to have another baby?"
Is it possible to be satisfied with your situation when every indication is that the world is passing you by? I think so. When satisfaction is no longer a byproduct of how well we're keeping up with the rest of the world. When we look at what we're doing and seek to do it the best we can instead of moving on to something else. When we really appreciate where we are, what we've done, and who we're with.
The Old Testament story of King Solomon shows a man who is both grateful for and content in his circumstances, not eager to move onto something else, but to do the best he can in his situation. He is described in 2 Chronicles as "established...firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great." Solomon has the respect of commanders and heads of families alike and he rules over "a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth."
So what does he ask for? More territory? Another exciting assignment? More money?
Not at all. Solomon's only request is that God gives him the smarts to do what he's already doing.
"Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" 2 Chronicles 1:9-10.
It might be considered countercultural to refrain from looking to the next event, project, accomplishment, milestone, whatever. I'm asking you to fight against a pretty strong current, but wouldn't it be nice to find satisfaction--however momentary--in where God has placed us?
The chorus of Linkin Park's A Place for My Head echo this simple wish for the weary:
I'm sick of the tension, sick of the hunger
Sick of you acting like I owe you this
Find another place to feed your greed
While I find a place to rest.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
what's next?
"What are we doing tomorrow, Mommy?" My oldest daughter asks me this question nearly every night. It's one of many questions asked as we are flirting with the dangerous topic of bedtime, but it's the only question that really sets my teeth on edge.
I don't want to think about tomorrow yet. I'm not finished with today: it's only 8:00pm and I still have dishes and laundry to do, phone calls to make, emails to answer.
I also dread the question because she will then want to negotiate tomorrow's activities right then and there, instinctively knowing that I don't have the intestinal fortitude at that time of night to argue. I will agree to almost anything. And she doesn't forget anything.
Next day after school, it's "You said last night we could go to Target after school! You said!" I did? I guess I did.
Some parenting experts say that preparing children for the next activity or event in their day helps smooth out the transition process. I think perhaps I overdid it, wanting to prepare my firstborn adequately. "Okay, honey, after we eat lunch we're going to read books then take a nap, okay? Now eat your sandwich." After a while it became apparent that she didn't engage in nearly any activity wholeheartedly without anticipating the next one. We'd be 5 minutes into a favorite TV show and she'd say "when this is over, I'm going to watch the next show."
I know, I know, part of this is an age phase, part of it is just being a kid. But part of it is the human desire to be in control of our future, planning out every minute so we are prepared, not surprised. We desire the proverbial crystal ball. We guess at outcomes. We anticipate. We hope.
Reading from the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes, you see that the writer speaks to the pursuit of hopes and expectations as "meaningless." Read through the pessimistic renderings ("Everything is meaningless!" "This, too, is meaningless, a chasing after the wind!" "Everything to come is meaningless!") and you wonder if the writer is simply working through a deep depression. Yet the writer is not saying life is meaningless because we can't control it. He comes out of this pit of despair to share the affirmation that life without God is meaningless.
I wish that for my daughter, to be "occupied with gladness of heart" and accept her lot and enjoy her days instead of looking longingly into the future. Jesus wishes that for me, and you as well.
I don't want to think about tomorrow yet. I'm not finished with today: it's only 8:00pm and I still have dishes and laundry to do, phone calls to make, emails to answer.
I also dread the question because she will then want to negotiate tomorrow's activities right then and there, instinctively knowing that I don't have the intestinal fortitude at that time of night to argue. I will agree to almost anything. And she doesn't forget anything.
Next day after school, it's "You said last night we could go to Target after school! You said!" I did? I guess I did.
Some parenting experts say that preparing children for the next activity or event in their day helps smooth out the transition process. I think perhaps I overdid it, wanting to prepare my firstborn adequately. "Okay, honey, after we eat lunch we're going to read books then take a nap, okay? Now eat your sandwich." After a while it became apparent that she didn't engage in nearly any activity wholeheartedly without anticipating the next one. We'd be 5 minutes into a favorite TV show and she'd say "when this is over, I'm going to watch the next show."
I know, I know, part of this is an age phase, part of it is just being a kid. But part of it is the human desire to be in control of our future, planning out every minute so we are prepared, not surprised. We desire the proverbial crystal ball. We guess at outcomes. We anticipate. We hope.
Reading from the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes, you see that the writer speaks to the pursuit of hopes and expectations as "meaningless." Read through the pessimistic renderings ("Everything is meaningless!" "This, too, is meaningless, a chasing after the wind!" "Everything to come is meaningless!") and you wonder if the writer is simply working through a deep depression. Yet the writer is not saying life is meaningless because we can't control it. He comes out of this pit of despair to share the affirmation that life without God is meaningless.
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to
find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of
life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any
man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and
be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of
his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, NIV.
I wish that for my daughter, to be "occupied with gladness of heart" and accept her lot and enjoy her days instead of looking longingly into the future. Jesus wishes that for me, and you as well.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
it's not always about money
I get tired of thinking about money, don't you? It seems like we can't do anything without going back to...money. Want to lose weight? Need money for that...the health club costs money, healthy food will be more expensive and if I'm going to exercise I may as well look good doing it so there's a good $300 blown on apparel and shoes at Sports Authority (not to mention the IPOD I'm going to need while excercising so I don't get bored).
Want to get a better job? Well, you'll likely need to get that advanced degree, which means tuition and books, not to mention the requisite Starbucks grande that all graduate students bring with them to class to show that they are not only forced to draw most of their sustenence from caffeine-laced beverages but that they are in vogue as well.
Thinking about having children? Those little bundles of joy ain't free...there's the ordinary costs of diapers and well-baby care, but that's just the beginning. The nursey must be outfitted properly (hello Pottery Barn Kids catalogue) and we must prepare them adequately for life by getting on the waiting list for the both the right preschool (at $380/month) and the right soccer team.
I can think of other steps in life that take cold hard cash to fulfill, can't you? Some take less money than others. And really, if we think about it clearly, the money required depends on the kind of impression we want to make (i.e., won't people take us more seriously if we look like we're invested in the process?).
What about becoming a Christian? You might say there's monetary traps there as well. If I'm going to take that step, I need to buy the "right" accoutrements: the Bible that's currently in fashion, the church membership through my monetary support, the right clothes to wear to service, the right books to read, etc. etc. Right?
Let's leave the monetary factor out of this equation. Your experience with organized Christianity may lead you to believe that it's all about cash, but it's not. Following Jesus is not: buying/reading the right books + giving the right amount of money to the church = a ticket to heaven. It's not: giving money to a Christian charity + buying Christian music = deeper spirituality.
Jesus wants your heart. He loves you for who you are, not what you do, who you know or what you buy. He saved you despite of your shortcomings.
For Jesus, it's not about the money: your love, your life, is priceless.
Want to get a better job? Well, you'll likely need to get that advanced degree, which means tuition and books, not to mention the requisite Starbucks grande that all graduate students bring with them to class to show that they are not only forced to draw most of their sustenence from caffeine-laced beverages but that they are in vogue as well.
Thinking about having children? Those little bundles of joy ain't free...there's the ordinary costs of diapers and well-baby care, but that's just the beginning. The nursey must be outfitted properly (hello Pottery Barn Kids catalogue) and we must prepare them adequately for life by getting on the waiting list for the both the right preschool (at $380/month) and the right soccer team.
I can think of other steps in life that take cold hard cash to fulfill, can't you? Some take less money than others. And really, if we think about it clearly, the money required depends on the kind of impression we want to make (i.e., won't people take us more seriously if we look like we're invested in the process?).
What about becoming a Christian? You might say there's monetary traps there as well. If I'm going to take that step, I need to buy the "right" accoutrements: the Bible that's currently in fashion, the church membership through my monetary support, the right clothes to wear to service, the right books to read, etc. etc. Right?
Let's leave the monetary factor out of this equation. Your experience with organized Christianity may lead you to believe that it's all about cash, but it's not. Following Jesus is not: buying/reading the right books + giving the right amount of money to the church = a ticket to heaven. It's not: giving money to a Christian charity + buying Christian music = deeper spirituality.
Jesus wants your heart. He loves you for who you are, not what you do, who you know or what you buy. He saved you despite of your shortcomings.
For Jesus, it's not about the money: your love, your life, is priceless.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
sibling squabbles
I was an only child, so parenting has taught me a lot. One of the things I've learned is that my two girls have a reasonable amount of sibling rivalry. They don't spend every waking moment fighting, just some moments. Now I understand that's not unusual. But their squabbles still grate on my nerves and sometimes their childish cruelty ("you babyface!" "I'm not your sister anymore!") cuts me to the heart. More than 30 minutes of bantering just wears me out!
But I can say that I've never experienced more joy than watching them play peacefully, work cooperatively, and treat each other fairly. I wish it could be like that all the time, not just for my nerves but for their own happiness.
In this way I get a small glimpse of God's desire for his people around the world. Imagine His pleasure when a peace treaty is signed, when friends reconcile, when people unite for a common cause. Psalm 133 begins "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live to gether in unity!" The desire for this peace has been placed on our hearts also.
In the New Testament, Jesus warns us of the alternative: "But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgement! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell!" (Matthew 5:22)
Inevitably, the squabbles move into the plaintive realm ("she hit me first!" "she's not nice!"). I'm trying to teach my daughters to concentrate on what they are doing, not what their sister is doing. Kind of like the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Be peaceful. Cooperate. Treat people fairly.
The world would be a different place if all of us did so.
DJS
But I can say that I've never experienced more joy than watching them play peacefully, work cooperatively, and treat each other fairly. I wish it could be like that all the time, not just for my nerves but for their own happiness.
In this way I get a small glimpse of God's desire for his people around the world. Imagine His pleasure when a peace treaty is signed, when friends reconcile, when people unite for a common cause. Psalm 133 begins "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live to gether in unity!" The desire for this peace has been placed on our hearts also.
In the New Testament, Jesus warns us of the alternative: "But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgement! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell!" (Matthew 5:22)
Inevitably, the squabbles move into the plaintive realm ("she hit me first!" "she's not nice!"). I'm trying to teach my daughters to concentrate on what they are doing, not what their sister is doing. Kind of like the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Be peaceful. Cooperate. Treat people fairly.
The world would be a different place if all of us did so.
DJS
Friday, October 06, 2006
joining the fray
So what does one say upon joining the ranks of bloggers? Here I am? Welcome to my blog?
It's probably best to focus on why I am here.
Here's what I hope to accomplish: provide an antidote for weltschmerz. A fancy word for mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state (thanks Webster's).
Many of us suffer from this ailment. The phrase "that's not fair" comes from a longing to be somewhere where justice is served. Where bad things don't happen to good people. Where honesty is the norm.
I don't think I'm the only one overwhelmed by the natural disasters, scandals, excesses, and tragedies that make their way into our lives via TV, Internet, radio, conversations. It's exhausting. Sometimes it feels hopeless. It's enough to wear you out. We can be weary of this world. Sometimes we long for a better place.
I believe God places this longing in our hearts because he does have something in mind for us. Something better. He has a place for us in his Kingdom. In the New Testament book of Revelation, the apostle John speaks of a vision where he heard someone saying," Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." (Revelation 21:3-4).
Sounds wonderful doesn't it?
So that's the purpose of this blog. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:7 to "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near." That's what I aim to do.
But I don't want you to think I am offering some sort of apocalyptic prediction. I want to help you and all the other world-weary souls discover hope for the journey...in God's Word.
DJS
It's probably best to focus on why I am here.
Here's what I hope to accomplish: provide an antidote for weltschmerz. A fancy word for mental depression or apathy caused by comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state (thanks Webster's).
Many of us suffer from this ailment. The phrase "that's not fair" comes from a longing to be somewhere where justice is served. Where bad things don't happen to good people. Where honesty is the norm.
I don't think I'm the only one overwhelmed by the natural disasters, scandals, excesses, and tragedies that make their way into our lives via TV, Internet, radio, conversations. It's exhausting. Sometimes it feels hopeless. It's enough to wear you out. We can be weary of this world. Sometimes we long for a better place.
I believe God places this longing in our hearts because he does have something in mind for us. Something better. He has a place for us in his Kingdom. In the New Testament book of Revelation, the apostle John speaks of a vision where he heard someone saying," Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." (Revelation 21:3-4).
Sounds wonderful doesn't it?
So that's the purpose of this blog. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:7 to "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near." That's what I aim to do.
But I don't want you to think I am offering some sort of apocalyptic prediction. I want to help you and all the other world-weary souls discover hope for the journey...in God's Word.
DJS
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