What a Long, Strange Trip

Deuteronomy 8:1-20
“Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

Two thoughts cross my mind when I read and reflect on those words from our Old Testament reading this morning. The first is the song “Truckin” by the classic rock group The Grateful Dead, which includes this refrain: “Sometimes the lights all shinin’ on me; Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it's been.” There are indeed times in my life when I have looked back and marveled at what a long, strange trip I’ve been on, the ups and the downs, the challenges and the accomplishments, the doubts overcome and the assumptions proved wrong, the questions answered and those that remain unanswered, the times of light and the hours of darkness. In a number of ways my life (at age 52) has been a long, strange trip, and I’m sure the people of Israel, standing on the cusp of the promised land, poised to enter and, with God’s help, to subdue it, were given cause to think in similar terms. But according to Deuteronomy God had been at work throughout, guiding and sustaining the people and testing to see their intentions. Wherever they had gone, God had been with them, and that fact had made the journey possible. Wherever we’ve gone, wherever our long, strange trips have taken us, God has been with us, too, leading us and making our journey possible.

And that leads to my second thought this morning. A minister friend of mine once spoke of his sense of call as best seen in hindsight. As he had moved from church to church in his career, it was when he took the time to reflect on events and opportunities in his life that he could most clearly recognize the hand of God at work. I’ve experienced the same reality. I’ve found myself wondering why I was in a particular situation as a minister and only after the fact, only when I’ve taken the time to ponder events and opportunities, have I recognized the real reasons that I had been there. As the book of Deuteronomy points out, the people of God finally had reached a place in their history where they could look back, reflect, and fully recognize their journey in terms of God’s actions.

Perhaps as we journey through the season of Lent each of us will be given the chance to look back, to reflect, to consider where, by God’s grace, we’ve been and how God has led us and cared for us. Perhaps we will find time to ponder the journey ahead and behind and note that, no matter how long or how strange, our trip has never been without God’s encouragement. Granted, some trips are longer and stranger than others, but the one God of Israel lies at the heart of them all.

Prayer: Lord God, make your presence known to us that we may remember we do not journey alone, but always in your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Who Indeed?

Exodus 2:1-22

According to our Exodus account Moses once confronted two of the Hebrew people who were involved in a heated exchange. When Moses sought to pacify the situation one of the men asked him, “Who made you a ruler and judge over us?” (Exodus 2:14). In hindsight it is an interesting question. At that time Moses might have had little reason to assume a place of authority. But before long he would become, if not a ruler, then certainly a judge among the Hebrew people as they made their way toward the promised land. What events does the future hold for us? What seeds has God planted in our midst? How might today’s questions find true relevance tomorrow? “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?” No one just yet, but very soon God would set Moses aside for a holy purpose.

I recently began leafing though journal entries I wrote a decade or so ago. Many of the questions I was asking then have since been answered—but seldom in ways I might have expected. Neither the Hebrew who questioned Moses’ authority, nor Moses himself could have known what lay ahead for each of them, but God was already at work, and God’s efforts would become more apparent in the near future. The season of Lent is filled with many questions: What is the true purpose of Jesus’ ministry? Where is he leading his followers? What does he mean when he speaks of his death? Other questions abound as well: What meaning does life have for me? Where am I going and what should I be doing? Is there any relief to the pain I feel? In due time—and by the grace of God––we will find answers. In the mean time we have hope.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live in the present as we look ahead to the future. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pot Roast and Clean Hands

Nancy Taylor

Mark 7: 1-4

1Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 2they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.)

Washing our hands is important today. As pastors, we are instructed to wash our hands, or use the antibacterial gel every time we enter a patient’s room and especially when we hold hands with them to pray. I know a nurse who insists that the doctors, nurses, etc. who care for her or her loved ones always wash their hands in her presence. She knows how easily disease can spread.

Washing hands was important in the Jewish tradition in Jesus’ time, too. Perhaps it is possible that leaders knew intuitively that somehow washing their hands and striving for cleanliness was valuable in the preservation of their people. The only problem is that tradition became concrete irrefutable law.

You might have heard the story of the granddaughter who wanted to cook her grandma’s famous pot roast. When she asked her mom how to make it, her mom replied that the first thing she must do is cut 2” off both ends of the roast. The granddaughter asked her mom why she must do that and the mom replied that she didn’t know why, it was just the way grandma, and grandma’s mother before her had done it. It was the way it was supposed to be done. A few weeks later she was talking to her grandma and asked her why she always cut the 2” off. And grandma said, no reason, except that she inherited her mom’s roasting pot and since it is small, she always cut off about 2” of the roast to make it fit. A good idea had become concrete irrefutable law.

I have a hunch that Jesus wasn’t about wasting 2” of a perfectly good roast. After all, he wasn’t about washing hands if it was just to abide by an ancient ritual that had become law. Jesus wanted us to think about our spiritual lives. He wanted us to clean up our insides; that part of us that hates, gets angry, is unforgiving, petty, greedy and disrespectful. If we don’t get rid of the bad stuff, there won’t be room for the good stuff.

Now, there are lots of corporate types who may think that the bad stuff isn’t so bad. But you and I know better. You and I know that when we are clean on the inside, something is right that isn’t right when we have dark, dirty thoughts and actions invading our soul. The Lenten season gives us an opportunity to cleanse our lives of the things that clog and keep us separated for God. A colleague of mine tells this story: “I ran across a friend at church who asked me how I was doing and I said, ‘Actually, pretty good.’ And he said, ‘I know, I can tell by your bright eyes. You have clean windows!’”

This spring, clean your windows, you will see so much better!

Prayer: Dear God, cleanse my spirit that I might draw ever closer to you. Amen.

Nancy Taylor is a Presbyterian minister in northern Arkansas. You can follow her delightful blog “Hmmmm…” here.

Restoring God’s Renown

Habakkuk 3:1-18

The prophet Habakkuk offered these words to God in prayer. “O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2). What would it mean for God to revive the divine renown, the holy work in our day and age? What would it mean for God to remember mercy in the midst of wrath today? In other words, can these be our words as well? Is this an appropriate prayer for Lent 2012 and beyond?

In truth, God has been visibly at work in our world all along and has, “in our own time,” continued to show profound mercy and compassion. In Jesus Christ God entered our lives and suffered alongside us, going so far as to die for our sake, and to rise again with a promise of eternal life. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit performed spiritual CPR on a small band of terrified believers and emboldened them to share the good news. On the Damascus road Paul caught sight of our risen Savior and a new meaning for his own life. At every step of the way God has remained steadfast and merciful, leading God’s people to serve and to share with heart, mind, soul, and strength. When we have failed and faltered God has judged us and held us accountable but has never once ceased to love us or forgive us when we have confessed. Today the people of God–inspired by the Holy Spirit, guided by the will of Jesus Christ–are involved in countless forms of outreach and ministry, all to the glory of God.

So is Habakkuk’s prayer suitable for our own time? Is it even necessary? The answer is yes. I say this because we, the people of God, need constant reminding of whose we are and who we serve. To pray with the prophet is to reflect on the needs of the world and our own shortcomings. It is to lay claim once more to the charge that Jesus gave us saying, “go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). It is to reflect on where we are and where we need to be. In short, to pray with Habakkuk is to use the season of Lent for repentance and renewal.

Prayer: O Lord, in our own time revive you renown and make your work known; and in wrath may you remember your mercy. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

NOTE: Beginning on February 25, I will be including blog posts each Saturday written by "guest bloggers" who will offer their insights on the readings for that particular day. I deeply appreciate the willingness of these folks to share their time and talents with us. Be sure to stop by on upcoming Saturdays to see what they have to say.

The Search for Honesty

Jeremiah 5:1-9

Romans 2:25-3:18

In our reading from Jeremiah for today God has a challenge for the prophet. “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “look around and take note! Search its squares and see if you can find one person who acts justly and seeks truth — so that I may pardon Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 5:1).

Perhaps these words remind you of Diogenes, the ancient Greek, who was said to walk the streets of Athens by day, lit lantern in hand, “looking for an honest man.” Or maybe you are reminded of the conversation between God and Abraham in Genesis 18:22-33 where Abraham urges God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if only ten righteous people can be found there. In either case, the search is in vain. Paul has his thoughts on the matter. Quoting Psalm 14 he tells his readers in Rome that “There is no one who is righteous, not even one; there is no one who has understanding, there is no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:10-11).

Not exactly cheerful stuff. But if we are honest with ourselves we will admit the truth. In all of God’s creation there are no sinless people, none. Not you, not me, not anyone. We all struggle with the will of God. We all fall short of God’s intentions for us. And God knows this and wants us to recognize it, too. After all, it is the season of Lent, a time of self-examination, of coming to terms with who we are and seeking God’s help in overcoming our deficiencies. Even though God loves us and wants what is best for us, God remains our judge, the one who holds us accountable. Only in the act of judgment does God’s grace make any difference to us. Not that we are to wallow in our sin, but when we confess to God—even knowing we will be forgiven—we do not take it lightly, either. All of us need God’s help, and in grace God gives it. Not in a meaningless way, but with the power to save us from ourselves. In all honesty we need God’s forgiveness.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see our sinfulness and to trust your forgiveness, that by your grace we may live as your people. In Jesus' name. Amen.

When Good News Sounds Like Bad News

Ash Wednesday

Jonah 3:1-4:11

As far as prophets go Jonah was hardly the most enthusiastic person God could have sent to Nineveh. Jonah’s unwillingness to carry God’s message is well documented. And it is this unwillingness that casts Jonah’s profession of faith into a strange light.

“O Lord!” he laments, “Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing” (Jonah 4:2). Can it really be true? Is Jonah really complaining about God’s mercy and grace, about God’s abounding love? Yes, he is. What it all boils down to is Jonah’s insistence that God is too nice. Why should he, Jonah, proclaim destruction to the Ninevites if God is just going to forgive them anyway? Instead of rejoicing in God’s love, Jonah resents it and crawls away to pout.

Today marks the beginning of Lent, a season of self-awareness and repentance. Many of us will pause today to worship, perhaps even receiving the imposition of ashes, marking us as sinners in need of God’s redeeming grace. Will we spend the day rejoicing that God offers such forgiveness to those who accept it? Or will we find ourselves resenting the “other folks” who God seems willing to interact with? It’s an honest question for us to consider. Are we willing to let God’s good news be good news? Or will we twist it until it becomes a lament over God’s steadfast love?

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the grace you offer as a blessing to us and to others, and may we be led to share it with all people. Amen.