As Lent begins

Ash Wednesday 2012

In many ways, my first truly real Ash Wednesday was May 1, 2007 when my surgeon said, “Go home and get your affairs in order.”
I had, of course, led Ash Wednesday services for years…and loved them. Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite of all services of the church year. “From dust you came and to dust you will return” I said to each person who came forward…along with the challenge: “Will you repent and
be faithful to the gospel?”
That late afternoon in May, 2007, surrounded by my family in Dr. Iannitti’s office—in that surreal setting of a sudden, drastic diagnosis-- the mortality reality became personal in a different way.
I took Dr. Iannitti’s advice. I got my affairs in order. I’m pretty sure he was thinking
about the sobering statistics of pancreatic cancer—the deadliest of all cancers—which
often starts with a tumor like the one I had. He could tell me the size of the
tumor (about the size of a grapefruit). But only the after-surgery pathology could tell me if it was benign or the deadly, dreaded news of a malignancy. I had a pre-surgery window of 3
weeks to get my life in order.
I took on the challenge – writing out my funeral service, completing a host of legal
forms and speaking my heart to those I loved.
At the core, Lent is that kind of window--thankfully, grasping this challenge doesn't require a life-threatening diagnosis. Lent is twice as long as my 3 week window. The goal is the same: to get our lives in order. I am grateful that my funeral wasn’t needed in 2007, but—if I do say so myself-- it is going to be a wonderful service! Since then, I have carried a copy in my Bible. On every Ash Wednesday since then, I look it over and make some inspiring additions for what will be read and sung.
To be sure, I like to tell people what to do... But writing out my funeral is so much more
than that! I encourage everyone – no matter what age—to write out your funeral. What
scripture do you love most? What songs would you like sung? What witness of
your life do you hope is shared? ( This can go too far, I guess. So let’s be clear: I have not written the eulogy part! But I am aware that right now, my life is writing what will
be said).
Every Ash Wednesday is a time to remember that life is a gift, that we do not know what is next and that we need to make every moment count while we can. Death
is the one thing that we know for sure will take place. Christian faith prepares us to face the
fragility of life with hope and triumph. We can live honestly in a dangerous world without fear because of the resources of our faith.
I am so grateful that my parents instilled in us throughout our growing up years that we do not
need to be afraid of death. When sitting with my mother through her final days and hours, what a blessing it was to be clear of her great faith! As my father celebrated his 90th birthday, what a gift it is to know his lifelong preaching and personal faith that death is not to be feared – but to
be met as a gateway to new life. Faced with my own drastic and unexpected diagnosis, their lifelong witness of faith gave me a foundation.
That foundation is the core of Christian faith offered to everyone. Lent—of all times—is the time to be honest. The time to have hope. The time to take heart.
My funeral service is looking great. How about yours?
My hope is now to live a life that makes this great joy clear to others.

Bigger--and better--than Hallmark holiday....

With the crush of time, energy and resources, so many people seem pressed just to find a Valentine's gift for their husband/wife.
The question I am hoping United Methodist Christians will consider is a broader opportunity for witness to the love of Christ for all...which is a cradle, a foundation, a blessing for romantic love -- but so much more. What can Christians – and our churches—do to share the love of Christ with friends and members who are single?
One of the things we know is that church congregations tend to be very oriented to married
couples. That is a very important part of our ministry and is a traditional strength of our church. Strengthening marriages is a continuing, ongoing emphasis for the community of faith.
One of the things we also know is that more people are single now than ever – single because of the death of a partner, single because of divorce and never married.
There are more singles in every age category. On the younger end, more and more young adults are waiting longer before getting married and, with people living longer, more people are
outliving their mates. How/if our churches welcome singles is crucial to a witness that God’s family is open to everyone. This is very important to our present members who already notice our couple-oriented congregations and is absolutely central to reaching new people. Single people are a big part of the mission field all around us.
This Valentine's Day, could the list be broader? Who do we know who is widowed, divorced or never-married who would be blessed by a thoughtful gesture from a Christian friend? Are our hearts big enough for Valentine’s Day to be a chance to reach out? I have made a list of people who have lost a husband or wife during the past year; some widows and widowers I know who still struggle with the loss of a mate; those who have been through a divorce recently and single mothers who heroically struggle to provide stability and guidance for their children and people of all ages who have never married. Who is thinking about the women living in shelters because of domestic violence or in our homeless shelters in dire financial circumstances? What a witness
if all our domestic violence shelters and shelters for the homeless had flowers on Valentines Day from churches or Christian friends with the message: You are loved and lifted in prayer. People whose names you do not know are thinking about you.
Valentine’s Day is a wide open, wonderful opportunity to reach out to bless others--one of those exceptional opportunities to reach beyond our immediate family circle to witness to the love of God for all.

Getting on with the game

My first grade grandson, Connor, plays basketball this year.
Basketball with 5 and 6 year olds is technically the same sport as ACC basketball. But the realities of the game are very different. Basketball for the starters goes pretty much like this: Get the ball. Dribble it across the line. Lose the ball to the other team and repeat going in the opposite direction. Occasionally there is a pass which is caught by a player on the same team. Less often -- but sometimes--there is an attempt at the basket. But mostly, it is dribble and lose the ball. My son-in-law is coaching Connor's team and Mark is just the right temperment -- patient, good-natured as well as having ideas that (when implemented) bring some success. Going to the game is a matter of support for the children--which is easy and fun to do.
At the last game, I saw an unusually interesting sight.
A girl who played on the other team got mad when her teammate didn't throw her the ball. So, when their team lost possession and ran back to the other end of the court, she stayed right under her basket--head down, arms crossed across her chest, scowl on her face, lip stuck out. What a sight she was! I would have taken a picture but didn't think that was appropriate...
I wanted to laugh -- but didn't know who her parents were and I was certain they were not laughing. There she was, planted under her basket while her team and her opposing team were playing at the other end.
Such a sight! Such a parable! I wanted to shout out to her, "Honey, you have to keep going. The game is going on without you! Get over it!"
So many times I have felt like that young girl! Mad about the way things happened and wanted everyone to know it. So many times I deal with church members like that young girl. They are mad about the way things happened, they want everyone to know it and they are not going to play--even if it puts their team at a disadvantage to pout.
How I wish we could learn to get over things and keep the mission of Christ moving! Doesn't it seem that the teaching and example of Jesus is more than enough motivation to keep us playing even when we are disappointed?
I'm sure this young player will learn better. Hope we all can.