I'm fairly confident that the people who initiated Earth Day had no idea that April 22 was my mother's birthday. She was around long before Earth Day began so, to my way of thinking, they should have known.
And if they had known my mother, they would have known that no one loved and cherished the earth more than my mother. Rosalie DeYoung Shepherd was raised on a farm in Prairie View, Kansas -- the very northwest corner of Kansas. Growing up on the farm, respecting nature was a way of life. Growing up in a very, very devout Dutch family and community, love of God was expressed in reverence for the world that God created. On the farm, mother's family believed that they were co-creating with God as they raised cattle, pigs, chickens, wheat and corn.
Mama's adult years were far away from the Kansas farm. She raised four children in Methodist parsonages across the state of Kentucky. But her reverence for the earth was imprinted in her heart and went with us everywhere. The yard of every home we lived in was more beautiful after we left than when we came. Mother loved flowers and she had a green thumb that would make anything grow.
Long before communities had recycling pickup, my mother recycled everything. Nothing was put in the garbage until it had been hopelessly used up. Mother grew up in the Depression. She didn't take anything for granted and she definitely didn't believe in wasting any resource. And we children learned quickly that we had better not even think about littering. That was a cardinal sin. Thou shalt not waste anything and thou shalt not litter were ever-present additions to biblical mandates. For the longest time, I thought those rules were quotes directly from the Bible.
Quotes from Mother's heart are only slightly less authoritative than a direct quote from a biblical passage. And she lived what she taught. She had a reverence for the earth that showed up in everyday, practical ways. She didn't worship nature. But she believed that this world was a gift given to us by the God we did worship and that we would be unforgiveably ungracious if we did not respect the gift.
So how wonderfully, perfectly appropriate that Earth Day would be held on my Mother's birthday. May Earth Day impart the reverence for the creation that my mother lived for us every day.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A beautiful witness...
I had it in my head that the cabinet met at Lake Junaluska.
I don't know when meetings at Junaluska stopped. But, sometime before my tenure, the cabinet found a centrally located, comfortable, very hospitable hotel. That's home base for the work of the cabinet.
The one thing that is outstanding about this place we call home for our work together is the unfailing hospitality of the people who work there. From the desk clerk to the cleaning people to repair people to food service waiters, they always are courteous to their guests. In the hallways, behind the desk, at the serving table or in the elevator, if you see a staff person, they are friendly and courteous. Anytime we have a need, they do everything they can to provide what we are lacking and, most noticeable, they consistently serve us with grace and friendliness.
During this year's appointment-making marathon, we had a wonderfully friendly staff person. If we ran out of soft drinks or ice or cups or hot water, she noticed and, before we ever had to ask, she made sure that we had a full stock of supplies with our coffee/tea/water/soft drinks. She couldn't have been more friendly. Nothing she did called attention to herself but all of us were touched by her sweet spirit. There is so much to be said for a sweet spirit.
The day before we left, during her last shift, we spontaneously took up a thank you offering. Every one of us had been touched by her quiet kindness and efficiency. When she came in, we closed the door and made the presentation. To be honest, she looked a little bit afraid. (No wonder, it's a rough crowd ...) When she realized what we were doing, she was smiling from ear to ear. But, before she took the wad of money, she said, "But what is this for?" We enumerated: she had been attentive and thoughtful and smiling all week. And then she looked at us and said, "But that's my JOB! That's what I am supposed to do!"
And I couldn't help but think what a contrast this earnest woman was compared to the griping and complaining and sometimes hostility that we deal with in our churches. My goodness! Church folks -- and here the term is all inclusive--aren't doing their job! But they are still whining and complaining. The difference was stunning.
If many Christians' behavior was on a paying job, they would be fired.
It's our primary responsibility as Christians to show the love of Christ. That means an open heart and respect for all; that means love for neighbors near and far; that means telling the truth and not indulging in the gossip circles; that means being kind and welcoming to all; that means selfless serving to those in need; that means dedicated study and living of God's word. That's our job! And our JOY! And I just wish that church people took their responsibilities to Christ as seriously as the hotel staff at Comfort Inn. Now there's a statement that should give us all pause.
I don't know when meetings at Junaluska stopped. But, sometime before my tenure, the cabinet found a centrally located, comfortable, very hospitable hotel. That's home base for the work of the cabinet.
The one thing that is outstanding about this place we call home for our work together is the unfailing hospitality of the people who work there. From the desk clerk to the cleaning people to repair people to food service waiters, they always are courteous to their guests. In the hallways, behind the desk, at the serving table or in the elevator, if you see a staff person, they are friendly and courteous. Anytime we have a need, they do everything they can to provide what we are lacking and, most noticeable, they consistently serve us with grace and friendliness.
During this year's appointment-making marathon, we had a wonderfully friendly staff person. If we ran out of soft drinks or ice or cups or hot water, she noticed and, before we ever had to ask, she made sure that we had a full stock of supplies with our coffee/tea/water/soft drinks. She couldn't have been more friendly. Nothing she did called attention to herself but all of us were touched by her sweet spirit. There is so much to be said for a sweet spirit.
The day before we left, during her last shift, we spontaneously took up a thank you offering. Every one of us had been touched by her quiet kindness and efficiency. When she came in, we closed the door and made the presentation. To be honest, she looked a little bit afraid. (No wonder, it's a rough crowd ...) When she realized what we were doing, she was smiling from ear to ear. But, before she took the wad of money, she said, "But what is this for?" We enumerated: she had been attentive and thoughtful and smiling all week. And then she looked at us and said, "But that's my JOB! That's what I am supposed to do!"
And I couldn't help but think what a contrast this earnest woman was compared to the griping and complaining and sometimes hostility that we deal with in our churches. My goodness! Church folks -- and here the term is all inclusive--aren't doing their job! But they are still whining and complaining. The difference was stunning.
If many Christians' behavior was on a paying job, they would be fired.
It's our primary responsibility as Christians to show the love of Christ. That means an open heart and respect for all; that means love for neighbors near and far; that means telling the truth and not indulging in the gossip circles; that means being kind and welcoming to all; that means selfless serving to those in need; that means dedicated study and living of God's word. That's our job! And our JOY! And I just wish that church people took their responsibilities to Christ as seriously as the hotel staff at Comfort Inn. Now there's a statement that should give us all pause.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Something all the time...
I am so blessed.There is something blooming in my yard all the time. In spring, first it was crocus. Then hyacinths. Then daffodils. Then tulips. As each spring species died out, another different, beautiful flower came into blossom.
At first, my hardy winter pansies were the only signs of flowering life. But now, the pansies are surrounded by blooming flowers and bushes on every hand.
Now it is the azaleas and lilacs that are flaming. And the rose bushes are just beginning their blooming.
Every day, a walk around the yard brings a beautiful new discovery.
Something always in bloom is the sign of a master gardener.
Although I plant plenty of flowers myself, I am not a master gardener. The careful planning, well-placed shrubs, perennials and bulbs in my yard is way beyond my experience and expertise. The bright annuals that I plant are only complements to the ever-beautiful landscaping that is already in place. The flowering I enjoy comes from the careful planning of a master gardener who preceded me in this place.
Each day, as I soak in the beauty of the flowering around me, I remember that God is the true Master Gardener. And I need to look in my life as much as my yard for what new thing God is bringing to beauty. God is always bringing something beautiful to life. As one thing blooms out, there is another project or person or passion to come to life.
We are very aware that life contains one worry after another, one trouble after another, one challenge after another. "It's one thing after another...." I think and hear often in a negative way.
This spring, I am certain that the Creator of the world and the Master Gardener of my life is always bringing something to life in a beautiful way of blessing. While it's hard to miss the beautiful flowers of my yard, it's distressingly easy to miss the beautiful flowering God plants in the spirit. What rich gifts each day holds!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
First words
I believe that words matter.
I know that video is compelling and interactive is energizing. But words still matter. Simple phrases can turn life upside down: "I'm pregnant." "I don't love you anymore". "You're fired." Words matter.
And just like first impressions matter, first words matter.
The Scripture doesn't tell us if Jesus planned, prayed or pondered over his first words after His resurrection. What we know is that His first words to His disciples are amazing. According to John's Gospel, the first words of Jesus to his gathered disciples after His resurrection were words of peace. Hmmm. "Peace be unto you."
Peace to a group of men who had gone to sleep on him in his hour of need, denied him and deserted him. I don't think "peace be unto you" would have been my first words.
Peace to a group of disciples who were huddled together in a locked room even though Jesus had sent a personal witness to his resurrection.
"Peace be unto you"? I would have said, "Why are you locked away in this room after I sent Mary to tell you the glorious good news?"
And, eight days later, Jesus finds them again in a locked room.
"Peace be unto you"? I am sure that isn't what I would have said. After appearing to them in person, showing them His hands and side and still finding them locked room, I would have said, "What are you doing up here? What do I have to do to get the message across?" Not "peace be unto you".
The resurrected Jesus came to bring peace to His followers.
He didn't appear to them to point out their failures or inadequacies. He came to bring them peace.
He sought them out. He brought them peace.
With all the fear and condemnation in our culture, it doesn't seem to me that we have received the gift of the Risen Christ. Peace. Peace. The peace of Christ.
I know that video is compelling and interactive is energizing. But words still matter. Simple phrases can turn life upside down: "I'm pregnant." "I don't love you anymore". "You're fired." Words matter.
And just like first impressions matter, first words matter.
The Scripture doesn't tell us if Jesus planned, prayed or pondered over his first words after His resurrection. What we know is that His first words to His disciples are amazing. According to John's Gospel, the first words of Jesus to his gathered disciples after His resurrection were words of peace. Hmmm. "Peace be unto you."
Peace to a group of men who had gone to sleep on him in his hour of need, denied him and deserted him. I don't think "peace be unto you" would have been my first words.
Peace to a group of disciples who were huddled together in a locked room even though Jesus had sent a personal witness to his resurrection.
"Peace be unto you"? I would have said, "Why are you locked away in this room after I sent Mary to tell you the glorious good news?"
And, eight days later, Jesus finds them again in a locked room.
"Peace be unto you"? I am sure that isn't what I would have said. After appearing to them in person, showing them His hands and side and still finding them locked room, I would have said, "What are you doing up here? What do I have to do to get the message across?" Not "peace be unto you".
The resurrected Jesus came to bring peace to His followers.
He didn't appear to them to point out their failures or inadequacies. He came to bring them peace.
He sought them out. He brought them peace.
With all the fear and condemnation in our culture, it doesn't seem to me that we have received the gift of the Risen Christ. Peace. Peace. The peace of Christ.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
A new church is launched
Easter had so many new beginnings -- signs of new life! This morning, I was privileged to be part of the launch of a new church -- the new church start, Reactivate! at the Fairgrove Campus of Christ Church -- our United Methodist multi-site church in the Statesville District. Both the 9:00 a.m. and the 11:00 worship services were standing room only. A walk through the campus showed signs of new life blossoming as vibrantly as the dogwoods and tulips are bursting to life in my yard.
The launch of a church -- like the birth of a baby--has a LOT that goes into it. And that investment has come from many sources. In this case, it included the ending and beginning made possible by a merger of Fairgrove United Methodist Church with Christ United Methodist Church. The launch is grounded in the Christ Church vision to reach unchurched people for Jesus Christ -- especially those in the young adult age group. The launch required extensive renovation of the Fairgrove facilities and untold hours of volunteer labor. There has been planning and praying and, now, preaching. The conference has paid the salary of the new start pastor, the district has been partners in prayer and the Christ Church campuses have been praying, paying and volunteering to birth this new church as another way for us to reach the sea of unchurched people around us.
In addition to the extraordinary welcome and inspiring worship, people are invited to additional ways to get involved in discipleship through the church. There are all kinds of open doors provided for people who are ready to take a next step in faith.
As one who deals mostly with congregations that are very lackadaisical about welcoming others and resistant to change, the ReActivate! service was a great sign of hope and life to me on this Easter Day.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The rich gift we often miss
Holy Saturday. Silent Saturday. The Sabbath that prevent the women from getting to the tomb of Jesus...
Today, Saturday is often errand day-- picking up the ham for Easter lunch, finding last minute goodies for Easter baskets, being sure we are stocked up with enough candy.
There's nothing wrong with errands. But I think we miss the richness of the day.
Maybe we, somewhat like the early disciples, are worn out with the heaviness and gore of the crucifixion. We feel a need for a break and welcome the reprieve. Nothing wrong with that, either unless it causes us to miss the gift of the day.
I say this is important because, of all the three days commemorating the Pascal Mystery, I say that most of us live in Saturday. There are some people who are in Friday's vise grip of suffering, persecution, pain and sorrow. And there are some people who are feeling the Easter healing, rebirth and joyful fullness of life that we see in the springtime world around us. But most of us live in Saturday--that in-between time when life has hurt us, defeated us, broken us but before we see how God is going to use that for good. The person who has had a family member who has died, the person who has lost their job, the person who has been betrayed in their marriage. They are the Saturday people. And that's why we shouldn't miss the great message of Saturday.
Saturday is the day when God is working in powerful though not-yet-visible ways. On Saturday, God was already working to redeem the hopelessly cruel, horrible death of Jesus. By the time the women got to the tomb, Jesus was already gone. It was Sunday before they saw what God had done -- and even longer before they grasped the full scope of resurrection. Saturday is the time for us all to remember that God is at work long before we can see it.
That shouldn't be such a surprise. Long before Christmas morning, I am dreaming and working on gifts for my family. When we get together, we see the fruit of love that has been in the making for a long time. Why are we so reticent to believe that God is powerfully at work until we see it?
John Wesley eloquently described God's Saturday working as prevenient grace: the grace that goes before. Although we don't usually recognize it except in hindsight, we believe in faith that God is going ahead of us. And the crucifixion is the reminder that God's grace can redeem even the worst that the world can bring.
Easter morning, we will wake to celebrate the resurrection that is revealed at the empty tomb. But most of our lives are spent in Saturday time where we need to have faith in God's work even though it is not yet visible.
Today, Saturday is often errand day-- picking up the ham for Easter lunch, finding last minute goodies for Easter baskets, being sure we are stocked up with enough candy.
There's nothing wrong with errands. But I think we miss the richness of the day.
Maybe we, somewhat like the early disciples, are worn out with the heaviness and gore of the crucifixion. We feel a need for a break and welcome the reprieve. Nothing wrong with that, either unless it causes us to miss the gift of the day.
I say this is important because, of all the three days commemorating the Pascal Mystery, I say that most of us live in Saturday. There are some people who are in Friday's vise grip of suffering, persecution, pain and sorrow. And there are some people who are feeling the Easter healing, rebirth and joyful fullness of life that we see in the springtime world around us. But most of us live in Saturday--that in-between time when life has hurt us, defeated us, broken us but before we see how God is going to use that for good. The person who has had a family member who has died, the person who has lost their job, the person who has been betrayed in their marriage. They are the Saturday people. And that's why we shouldn't miss the great message of Saturday.
Saturday is the day when God is working in powerful though not-yet-visible ways. On Saturday, God was already working to redeem the hopelessly cruel, horrible death of Jesus. By the time the women got to the tomb, Jesus was already gone. It was Sunday before they saw what God had done -- and even longer before they grasped the full scope of resurrection. Saturday is the time for us all to remember that God is at work long before we can see it.
That shouldn't be such a surprise. Long before Christmas morning, I am dreaming and working on gifts for my family. When we get together, we see the fruit of love that has been in the making for a long time. Why are we so reticent to believe that God is powerfully at work until we see it?
John Wesley eloquently described God's Saturday working as prevenient grace: the grace that goes before. Although we don't usually recognize it except in hindsight, we believe in faith that God is going ahead of us. And the crucifixion is the reminder that God's grace can redeem even the worst that the world can bring.
Easter morning, we will wake to celebrate the resurrection that is revealed at the empty tomb. But most of our lives are spent in Saturday time where we need to have faith in God's work even though it is not yet visible.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The power of patience
I must say that I am inspired by NC Tarheel Coach Roy Williams. I am not as good a person as he is. After the season Carolina had, when the NIT invitation came, I would have gathered the team and said, "We're not going. After the way you have played this year, I am not going to give you one more opportunity to embarrass me."
But he didn't. Coach Williams has never coached in the NIT before. But he went with his TarHeels and they have played some of the best basketball they played all year. Personally, as a devoted Duke fan, I am happy for them to be in some other post-season tournament than the NCAA where the Blue Devils are knocking on the door of another championship. But I shudder to think of the great experience that the young Tar Heels are getting in this tournament. I am sure we will face a stronger Carolina team next year because Coach Williams didn't give up on them.
At the core of the Christian experience is the amazing patience of God. And Maundy Thursday is exactly the day to remember that Jesus didn't give up on us. He had every reason to be discouraged: relentless religious critics, undependable disciples, fickle crowds. If, in Gethsemane, Jesus had prayed to the Father: "They are not worth it. They absolutely do not get it", we could never have criticized Jesus. Human nature gave Him more than enough to be grounds for giving up.
And that's where the amazing love of God steps in -- the love that will not let us go, the love that always believes we can do better, the love that gives grace and second chances, the love that always chooses forgiveness.
And today, as we stand at the special day when we remember that Jesus did not give up on us, can we show Him that we DO get it --that we truly appreciate the grace that has been lavished on us? Our appreciation will show most truly when/if we extend that grace to someone else that we have given up on...someone who needs forgiveness...someone who needs to experience grace.
Who in your life needs you to not give up on them? As we stand in Maundy Thursday's outpouring of grace, let us pass on the great gift we have received.
But he didn't. Coach Williams has never coached in the NIT before. But he went with his TarHeels and they have played some of the best basketball they played all year. Personally, as a devoted Duke fan, I am happy for them to be in some other post-season tournament than the NCAA where the Blue Devils are knocking on the door of another championship. But I shudder to think of the great experience that the young Tar Heels are getting in this tournament. I am sure we will face a stronger Carolina team next year because Coach Williams didn't give up on them.
At the core of the Christian experience is the amazing patience of God. And Maundy Thursday is exactly the day to remember that Jesus didn't give up on us. He had every reason to be discouraged: relentless religious critics, undependable disciples, fickle crowds. If, in Gethsemane, Jesus had prayed to the Father: "They are not worth it. They absolutely do not get it", we could never have criticized Jesus. Human nature gave Him more than enough to be grounds for giving up.
And that's where the amazing love of God steps in -- the love that will not let us go, the love that always believes we can do better, the love that gives grace and second chances, the love that always chooses forgiveness.
And today, as we stand at the special day when we remember that Jesus did not give up on us, can we show Him that we DO get it --that we truly appreciate the grace that has been lavished on us? Our appreciation will show most truly when/if we extend that grace to someone else that we have given up on...someone who needs forgiveness...someone who needs to experience grace.
Who in your life needs you to not give up on them? As we stand in Maundy Thursday's outpouring of grace, let us pass on the great gift we have received.
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