Although it's been a while since I've posted a blog, despite the title of this one, I actually have not been slacking off. I've just allowed myself to believe that I've been too busy to write. Granted, I have been very busy over the last few weeks. I'm still working on my commissioning papers for my ordination process. I have to answer a lot of questions, write and present a sermon, write and present a Sunday school class, and other stuff. It feels kinda like what I think a dissertation defense would feel like. And I've been teaching Sunday school classes, and visiting folks in the hospital and at their houses, and working on this coming Sunday's services (because I have to film this one for my ordination process), blah, blah, blah, etc., etc., etc.
I'm not complaining at all. Nor am I trying to gain sympathy. I'm just explaining to myself the reasons I haven't carved out time to write...or run much...or work out...or have quiet time to listen to God. So right now this is my quiet time - on a rainy Friday afternoon while I'm in my office. As I look out my windows I can see how beautiful the leaves are on the trees. I think the bright orange ones are my favorites this year. And there's a chill in the air today. Today's the perfect rainy fall day where you just want to curl up on the couch with a big 'ol blanket ( or three) and read a huge book while drinking lots of hot coffee (or tea) and eating lots of soup. I think nature is reminding me today to slow down, breathe, enjoy the journey, and be still and know that God is God. Thanks nature.
So as I listen to God, I thank God for my family, my friends, my job, all the great people at the church and in my life, the change of seasons, for music and all creative expressions, for love, for coffee, for children, for overcoming obstacles, for togetherness, for the french horn, for the unknown experiences yet to discover along the journey, for those already lived, for Junior Mints, for ministry dogs, for past kittys, and for peace of mind, soul, body, and spirit knowing that I am not here to solve all the world's problems. I am here to walk with my fellow humans, remind us of our infinite worth and dignity, celebrate together, weep together, accept people for who they are and love, and try my darndest to imitate the radically loving character of my God.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Dirty Laundry...
Well...with a title like this, you might be expecting some juicy tidbits of gossip, or some low-down on myself. Sorry to disappoint you on that front, but what I want to talk about is the amazing amount of "dirty laundry" that can be found when reading the Bible. Yes...the Bible.
I have been reading the book of Genesis again, and, although I have read the book numerous times, I am still amazed at some of the off-the-wall, strange, and downright boneheaded things that we humans sometimes do. For example - take Abraham and Isaac. No, I'm not talking about when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. That is a pretty amazing story of faith and courage. I can't even imagine being willing to offer my child as a sacrifice to God (though technically, I do everyday. She's not mine - but God's...but that's another blog post). I'm talking about BOTH Abraham and Isaac telling people that their wives were their sisters! I know that they were both scared of being killed by their enemies, but c'mon! They put their wives in serious danger. They compromised their dignity. Did they really not trust God enough? Guess not at the moment.
Then there's Lot's daughters who both slept with their father in order to get pregnant. They both thought the world had pretty much ended after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
And there's Jacob, later named Israel, and his momma Rebekah. She concocted a scheme to cheat her other twin son out of an inheritance so that her favorite son could get it all so that SHE would taken care of later in life. Hmmm...
Let's not forget Jacob (again) and his uncle Laban. Laban cheated Jacob 10 times in about 20 years on his wages. Laban also agreed to let his nephew Jacob marry his daughter Rachel, but then cunningly switched his other daughter Leah for Rachel. In today's terms, all I can say is Ewwwwww! Oh yeah, he eventually gave both of his daughters to his nephew!
But Jacob got Laban back, because he told him that he would only take the spotted, striped, and speckled animals as a parting payment (because they were considered unusual). Yet, somehow, Jacob was able to have mostly spotted, striped, and speckled animals born to him. Oh, that tricky trickster!
Then the battle over who's gonna have the most children - Leah or Rachel. Leah gets a head start...pulls ahead on the child count...so Rachel lets Jacob sleep with her servant in order to get a child...then Leah keeps birthing kids...then lets Jacob sleep with her servant for more kids...then Rachel has a son, then a daughter...AAAAAHHHHH.. I can't keep it all straight!
Jerry Springer's got nothing on the Bible!!!
My points are twofold. First: our sacred text is not afraid to air people's dirty laundry. The Bible reminds us that we are humans. We err, we endanger, we trick, we steal, we kill, yada, yada, yada. Our text is not filled with perfect people with superhuman perfect lives. It's mostly full of people like you and me who trip and stumble along our paths of life.
Which brings me to my second point: how does God react to all this dirty laundry? What does God do in the midst of people trying to fulfill God's promise for God? God laughs. Really. You won't read this explicitly in the Bible. But God laughs at us...and with us, and cries, and hopes, and encourages, and guides, and directs, and loves us unconditionally, and never, ever, ever, leaves us alone. This is amazing! We have done everything possible to separate ourselves from God, but God never leaves us. God is always ready with arms open wide to accept us as we are! We don't have to come to God as perfect superhuman saints. God merely wants us to come, to trust, to accept, and to let go, so that we can live dynamic lives.
God takes us with our dirty laundry and wants us to take each other, complete with dirty laundry, not to exploit or make fun of one another. But instead, God wants us to accept one another, celebrate our differences, and help carry each others' burdens - just like God does with us.
Let's break out the washboards, my friends!
I have been reading the book of Genesis again, and, although I have read the book numerous times, I am still amazed at some of the off-the-wall, strange, and downright boneheaded things that we humans sometimes do. For example - take Abraham and Isaac. No, I'm not talking about when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. That is a pretty amazing story of faith and courage. I can't even imagine being willing to offer my child as a sacrifice to God (though technically, I do everyday. She's not mine - but God's...but that's another blog post). I'm talking about BOTH Abraham and Isaac telling people that their wives were their sisters! I know that they were both scared of being killed by their enemies, but c'mon! They put their wives in serious danger. They compromised their dignity. Did they really not trust God enough? Guess not at the moment.
Then there's Lot's daughters who both slept with their father in order to get pregnant. They both thought the world had pretty much ended after Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
And there's Jacob, later named Israel, and his momma Rebekah. She concocted a scheme to cheat her other twin son out of an inheritance so that her favorite son could get it all so that SHE would taken care of later in life. Hmmm...
Let's not forget Jacob (again) and his uncle Laban. Laban cheated Jacob 10 times in about 20 years on his wages. Laban also agreed to let his nephew Jacob marry his daughter Rachel, but then cunningly switched his other daughter Leah for Rachel. In today's terms, all I can say is Ewwwwww! Oh yeah, he eventually gave both of his daughters to his nephew!
But Jacob got Laban back, because he told him that he would only take the spotted, striped, and speckled animals as a parting payment (because they were considered unusual). Yet, somehow, Jacob was able to have mostly spotted, striped, and speckled animals born to him. Oh, that tricky trickster!
Then the battle over who's gonna have the most children - Leah or Rachel. Leah gets a head start...pulls ahead on the child count...so Rachel lets Jacob sleep with her servant in order to get a child...then Leah keeps birthing kids...then lets Jacob sleep with her servant for more kids...then Rachel has a son, then a daughter...AAAAAHHHHH.. I can't keep it all straight!
Jerry Springer's got nothing on the Bible!!!
My points are twofold. First: our sacred text is not afraid to air people's dirty laundry. The Bible reminds us that we are humans. We err, we endanger, we trick, we steal, we kill, yada, yada, yada. Our text is not filled with perfect people with superhuman perfect lives. It's mostly full of people like you and me who trip and stumble along our paths of life.
Which brings me to my second point: how does God react to all this dirty laundry? What does God do in the midst of people trying to fulfill God's promise for God? God laughs. Really. You won't read this explicitly in the Bible. But God laughs at us...and with us, and cries, and hopes, and encourages, and guides, and directs, and loves us unconditionally, and never, ever, ever, leaves us alone. This is amazing! We have done everything possible to separate ourselves from God, but God never leaves us. God is always ready with arms open wide to accept us as we are! We don't have to come to God as perfect superhuman saints. God merely wants us to come, to trust, to accept, and to let go, so that we can live dynamic lives.
God takes us with our dirty laundry and wants us to take each other, complete with dirty laundry, not to exploit or make fun of one another. But instead, God wants us to accept one another, celebrate our differences, and help carry each others' burdens - just like God does with us.
Let's break out the washboards, my friends!
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