In two weeks Christmas will be here and almost gone. Two weeks. That doesn't seem like much time to prepare for such a life-changing event as the coming of our savior to earth. As I've been out and about, finishing my holiday shopping and just taking care of the details of everyday life, I've noticed a distinct change in the the past few days. Perhaps people are beginning to realize that the time is almost at hand, that Christmas only comes once a year and it is time to pay attention.
However, we are still at war with Iraq and contemplating an extension of this violence into Iran. Mall shootings make headlines. The people of Darfur suffer as they have for the past two years we have been aware of their plight. But still, Christmas is coming, and we must pay attention for where God is calling us to see this great, mysterious gift. We collectively stand at a crossroad between our hopes for the world and our expectation that God's will prevails, even if we aren't sure what that means.
I feel this space between my own hopes and expectations quite keenly today. A dear friend is beginning a second battle with cancer that has arrived unwelcome at her door. My faith tells me she will survive this and come out the other side whole. My heart and soul agree with unbridled hope. Not that last resort variety of hope that is pulled out when everything else has failed. This is the hope that believes, without condition, that God is with us all, always.
How many other people are living in an advent of hope that staves off fear of the unknown? What of this world is nagging at us, pulling our attention away from that grace that leads us forward in truth and righteousness to where God always is and always will be? Perhaps too many. And, perhaps, not enough. Odd as that may sound as we expect Jesus' arrival, more of us need to be conscious of what is actually happening in the world, and most importantly, in each other's lives. This wonderful intimacy God offers us in this reconciling relationship with the Christ is only squandered when we distance ourselves from its implications.
How deeply do we want to love and be loved? That is the question God asks us to ponder as we welcome God With Us. God sent a child, the place where love begins, to remind us of all that goes into being with and for one another. How we respond to this question tells us how much we are invested in living by what we believe of who God is and how we can embody God's love for each of us and all of us. Do we care for ourselves and each other enough to think about love and its hopes and expectations as our primary concern? Do we care for God enough to consider that God abides with us now and always will, despite everything?
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Creating Hope
The Christmas season is upon us and with these days of holiday preparation come certain expectations and memories that are as integral to our celebrations as traditional foods and decorations. Cherishing each moment, and the rich blend created among many moments, makes each year special, adding to the oral history passed through generations of friends and family gathering together over time. Evergreen trees brought into our homes, cookie exchanges, Advent wreathes, carol singing, last minute gift shopping and squeezing extra guests in at the table and into spare bedrooms are all part of the fun. Little of this is accomplished without some grumbling and frustration, but that is part of the season too. Life doesn't stop, even for this most miraculous time of year.
For many of us this is first and foremost a season of miracles. The Christian tradition holds that the birth of the Christ Child, Jesus, fulfilled the prophecy that God would send a Messiah to deliver and redeem the people of Israel. The ordinary way in which Jesus arrived still doesn't appear very miraculous, but somehow, in its simplicity, still carries awe and reverence even today. How Jesus of Nazareth carried out his life mission measures as a humble existence at best. He was possessed of absolutely no material wealth, never traveled very far from his hometown and constantly relied on the kindness of strangers for his most basic needs. Despite what appears to be a rather nondescript life that ended in a horribly brutal death, Jesus' message of God's love, forgiveness and hope extended to include all those who would choose Him to be included in their lives.
But hearing a good bit of, "Bah, humbug!" spirit around me with the Christmas season barely begun, I am inclined to believe that a whole lot of people have lost touch with their sense of the miraculous and of hope itself. More so, I am seeing that even more people don't have a desire to welcome hope into their lives. There are certainly always good reasons not to hope. The world is filled with hatred, evil and just a general mean-spiritedness that overwhelms even the most joyful souls. Hopelessness is a heavy burden to carry and a difficult one to lay down once we have become accustomed to its weight. Hopelessness curves our spines and twists our souls into believing that there is nothing else for us. Hopelessness, if we let it, becomes our faith, and we lose our hearts in the bargain.
You see, for as many reasons as there are not to hope, there is always the best reason of all to hope, and that is that we can. Hope, like anything thing else is a choice, a decision or a series of decisions made throughout our lives. Hope is actively believing that something can happen when logic says that it won't. Hope doesn't exist in a vacuum, but resides in the will and the hearts of those yearning for more and knowing that it can be. Hope isn't for the faint of heart, but for those strong enough to have a vision of what they want and know it can come to be. They can then focus their attention on making that happen. In this sense hope is a form a prayer, a preparatory step of longing toward the reality of what isn't quite tangible.
I love this time of year because even among all the extra shopping, parties, stresses and strains we put ourselves through, we still have this opportunity to reflect back on the Christmas story of Jesus' birth, remember the ages of hope and expectation the preceded that simple moment that changed history and consider how it has changed us. How we live and interact with one another is still the same as then. We still gather as friends and family to share our lives, share stories and live with hope, yearning for what can be. Although we are surrounded by twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments, we are also nestled beneath the same starry night that helped lead some weary travelers to a small stable in the middle of nowhere to a newborn and his befuddled parents.
How did they know that this small baby was the person they sought? And even if he was, how old would he be before he assumed any kind of leadership role as king of his people? Perhaps that is what hope is most about, seeing the miraculous in the most ordinary of circumstances and trusting in its power to transform lives, and sometimes, even the world.
For many of us this is first and foremost a season of miracles. The Christian tradition holds that the birth of the Christ Child, Jesus, fulfilled the prophecy that God would send a Messiah to deliver and redeem the people of Israel. The ordinary way in which Jesus arrived still doesn't appear very miraculous, but somehow, in its simplicity, still carries awe and reverence even today. How Jesus of Nazareth carried out his life mission measures as a humble existence at best. He was possessed of absolutely no material wealth, never traveled very far from his hometown and constantly relied on the kindness of strangers for his most basic needs. Despite what appears to be a rather nondescript life that ended in a horribly brutal death, Jesus' message of God's love, forgiveness and hope extended to include all those who would choose Him to be included in their lives.
But hearing a good bit of, "Bah, humbug!" spirit around me with the Christmas season barely begun, I am inclined to believe that a whole lot of people have lost touch with their sense of the miraculous and of hope itself. More so, I am seeing that even more people don't have a desire to welcome hope into their lives. There are certainly always good reasons not to hope. The world is filled with hatred, evil and just a general mean-spiritedness that overwhelms even the most joyful souls. Hopelessness is a heavy burden to carry and a difficult one to lay down once we have become accustomed to its weight. Hopelessness curves our spines and twists our souls into believing that there is nothing else for us. Hopelessness, if we let it, becomes our faith, and we lose our hearts in the bargain.
You see, for as many reasons as there are not to hope, there is always the best reason of all to hope, and that is that we can. Hope, like anything thing else is a choice, a decision or a series of decisions made throughout our lives. Hope is actively believing that something can happen when logic says that it won't. Hope doesn't exist in a vacuum, but resides in the will and the hearts of those yearning for more and knowing that it can be. Hope isn't for the faint of heart, but for those strong enough to have a vision of what they want and know it can come to be. They can then focus their attention on making that happen. In this sense hope is a form a prayer, a preparatory step of longing toward the reality of what isn't quite tangible.
I love this time of year because even among all the extra shopping, parties, stresses and strains we put ourselves through, we still have this opportunity to reflect back on the Christmas story of Jesus' birth, remember the ages of hope and expectation the preceded that simple moment that changed history and consider how it has changed us. How we live and interact with one another is still the same as then. We still gather as friends and family to share our lives, share stories and live with hope, yearning for what can be. Although we are surrounded by twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments, we are also nestled beneath the same starry night that helped lead some weary travelers to a small stable in the middle of nowhere to a newborn and his befuddled parents.
How did they know that this small baby was the person they sought? And even if he was, how old would he be before he assumed any kind of leadership role as king of his people? Perhaps that is what hope is most about, seeing the miraculous in the most ordinary of circumstances and trusting in its power to transform lives, and sometimes, even the world.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Learning Abundance
What images come to mind when you consider the word abundance?
Are beautiful homes, shiny cars, lush resorts filled with palm trees and expansive beaches what you imagine? Perhaps sparkling jewels, closets overflowing with designer clothing and endless nights out on the town at first class restaurants are more your style. Would a big screen television, a computer so advanced it could almost run the world and a houseboat on the Mississippi be to your liking?
Maybe a full bank account is all you need in the world.
Financial comfort and material wealth easily accommodate one definition of abundance, the most common one, particularly here in the United States. Our American dream of single family home ownership, two new cars and great annual vacations pits itself against the realities of daily life and fluctuating economic patterns. Simply put : many of us aspire to look successful by creating a lifestyle of material means. We barter our future for lovely things, but don't necessarily feel accomplished, prosperous or content in possessing them. A consumer-based society has little else with which to work. Richness in things doesn't guarantee richness in relationships, spirituality or appreciation for our planet's natural resources.
What are some other ways to contemplate this idea of abundance? How do we shift this paradigm of abundance equals stuff? Where do we look to find ideas and examples that can broaden our perspective, maybe even change our lives? How can we learn abundance?
One resource is the Bible, which speaks of both wealth and abundance in many forms. The general perception is that God considers money and what it can leverage as evil. It's time to let go of that old, false myth and realize that God isn't so much concerned about what we possess as how we use it. The apostle Paul's first letter to his friend, Timothy, tells us, "The love of money is the root of all evils(I Timothy 6:10)." Loving money can become a temptation, a distraction from living one's faith, if it becomes a lifestyle choice. The Great Commandments encompass loving God, each other and ourselves. There is no room for the love of money in a world view that seeks to learn and live abundance. Letting go of the idea that money is the central source of abundance opens our minds to the possibility that there is more out there.
Jesus called many people blessed, abundant, throughout his three years of ministry, and explained what he meant, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter al kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so people persecuted prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:3-12)."
Jesus turned the idea of abundance on its head, pointing to those who appeared to have the least as being the most blessed. Jesus preached a new way of seeking out and discovering abundance in everyday life, places most people would never think of looking. The merciful and the meek, the peacemakers and the persecuted, lived and shared their abundance each day. Giving mercy creates an abundance of mercy in the world. Giving peaceful responses, makes the world a more peaceful place. Mourning that which has been lost to us helps others understand the importance of connectedness in community. Seeking God's righteousness in all that we do makes justice tangible and real for all people. Jesus' teachings draw each of us back to what we already have that we can share.
Recognizing we are already blessed, already abundant just as we are. is the most important thing we can know. Giving that blessing away is the most important thing we can do.
In a world that says scarcity is king, giving is uncomfortable business. If we give too much away we will have less for ourselves and less than our neighbors. So much for keeping up with the Joneses. But shifting gears, feeling that we each have more than enough to give, begins to redirect our sense of empowerment. Sharing a blessing like mercy or kindness takes nothing away from the giver. If fact, Jesus pointed out that anyone who offers blessings to another out of their own abundance will receive the same back automatically. It isn't how much we have that makes us abundant, but how much we give.
Learning abundance actively places us in the circle of wholeness that is creation itself. We each represent a portion of God's graceful riches to be shared with all of humanity. What are the blessings you hold in your life? How can you share with others out of this abundance?
Are beautiful homes, shiny cars, lush resorts filled with palm trees and expansive beaches what you imagine? Perhaps sparkling jewels, closets overflowing with designer clothing and endless nights out on the town at first class restaurants are more your style. Would a big screen television, a computer so advanced it could almost run the world and a houseboat on the Mississippi be to your liking?
Maybe a full bank account is all you need in the world.
Financial comfort and material wealth easily accommodate one definition of abundance, the most common one, particularly here in the United States. Our American dream of single family home ownership, two new cars and great annual vacations pits itself against the realities of daily life and fluctuating economic patterns. Simply put : many of us aspire to look successful by creating a lifestyle of material means. We barter our future for lovely things, but don't necessarily feel accomplished, prosperous or content in possessing them. A consumer-based society has little else with which to work. Richness in things doesn't guarantee richness in relationships, spirituality or appreciation for our planet's natural resources.
What are some other ways to contemplate this idea of abundance? How do we shift this paradigm of abundance equals stuff? Where do we look to find ideas and examples that can broaden our perspective, maybe even change our lives? How can we learn abundance?
One resource is the Bible, which speaks of both wealth and abundance in many forms. The general perception is that God considers money and what it can leverage as evil. It's time to let go of that old, false myth and realize that God isn't so much concerned about what we possess as how we use it. The apostle Paul's first letter to his friend, Timothy, tells us, "The love of money is the root of all evils(I Timothy 6:10)." Loving money can become a temptation, a distraction from living one's faith, if it becomes a lifestyle choice. The Great Commandments encompass loving God, each other and ourselves. There is no room for the love of money in a world view that seeks to learn and live abundance. Letting go of the idea that money is the central source of abundance opens our minds to the possibility that there is more out there.
Jesus called many people blessed, abundant, throughout his three years of ministry, and explained what he meant, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter al kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so people persecuted prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:3-12)."
Jesus turned the idea of abundance on its head, pointing to those who appeared to have the least as being the most blessed. Jesus preached a new way of seeking out and discovering abundance in everyday life, places most people would never think of looking. The merciful and the meek, the peacemakers and the persecuted, lived and shared their abundance each day. Giving mercy creates an abundance of mercy in the world. Giving peaceful responses, makes the world a more peaceful place. Mourning that which has been lost to us helps others understand the importance of connectedness in community. Seeking God's righteousness in all that we do makes justice tangible and real for all people. Jesus' teachings draw each of us back to what we already have that we can share.
Recognizing we are already blessed, already abundant just as we are. is the most important thing we can know. Giving that blessing away is the most important thing we can do.
In a world that says scarcity is king, giving is uncomfortable business. If we give too much away we will have less for ourselves and less than our neighbors. So much for keeping up with the Joneses. But shifting gears, feeling that we each have more than enough to give, begins to redirect our sense of empowerment. Sharing a blessing like mercy or kindness takes nothing away from the giver. If fact, Jesus pointed out that anyone who offers blessings to another out of their own abundance will receive the same back automatically. It isn't how much we have that makes us abundant, but how much we give.
Learning abundance actively places us in the circle of wholeness that is creation itself. We each represent a portion of God's graceful riches to be shared with all of humanity. What are the blessings you hold in your life? How can you share with others out of this abundance?
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Great Luxuries
My upstairs neighbors are moving out today.
I wasn't aware of their impending departure until around eight o'clock this morning when the hustle and bustle of furniture and belongings exiting the building began. I have to say I feel a little sad at the thought, even though I would have to check the mail boxes downstairs in the lobby to see what their names are. Having bumped into them occasionally on the elevator ride to our respective homes, I feel a nice sort of connection that comes from pleasantries exchanged over time.
A friend of mine had lamented my move from single family home ownership to apartment rental. He couldn't conceive of being surrounded by the noise of other people's daily lives. Dishwashers running, toilets flushing in the middle of the night and doors opening and closing were more than he could imagine, let alone bear, on any kind of regular basis. I imagine many people feel that way, considering the American dream is to cozy up to one's own fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa, a thirty year mortgage and the peace and serenity that come from knowing your neighbors are at least a hundred yards away. More peace and quiet, more distance, less hassle. Dealing with strangers in close proximity on a consistent basis takes time and patience. Believing we are the only people in the universe must be suspended, as does the need to feel offended by a good bit of other people's behavior.
Mostly, its about forgiveness and forbearance.
I was first introduced to the companionate relationship between forgiveness and forbearance by a woman in the first congregation I served. Offered up as some comfort regarding a nasty little church squabble, her words stuck with me, and I now have come to regard them as two of the greatest luxuries of being a grown up.
I didn't pull them back out of my memory for real use until years later during my stint as a retail manager. It was then, while addressing customer service and employee management issues, that I began to realize how much better it felt not to hold grudges, plot revenge or react to situations with rancor and rage. Forgiving people their foolishness, poor communication skills and rudeness made it much easier to simply get to the heart of the matter and deal with the problem that needed to be fixed. I felt much better not needing to be right, but instead invested my energy in correcting the situation and moving on to whatever else needed to be done.
The forbearance part came into play most often with disgruntled employees who either felt compelled to pick fights with customers who had hurt their feelings or had made them angry. Taking a deep breath, letting oneself unhook from those kind of feelings and moving into a helping stance is very had to do. It takes consciousness, loads of practice and the ability to stay engaged in situations that frequently feel as if you are being blind sided by a truck. What helped some of my sales associates and assistant management staff become more familiar with the concept was seeing me work with customers at different levels of irritation and rage.
Most people just want to feel heard, so listening was key, and making sure the customer could see I was paying attention to them was doubly important. Eye contact, affirming nods and verbal agreement made it clear to them that they were my focus. After that, it was simply a matter of figuring out what they wanted, giving it to them if I could or offering another suggestion if I couldn't and following through on that offer. With rare exception the customer was thanking me, giving me a hug and offering to buy my coffee before they waked back out the door. When they came back to shop they sought me out, showed me their children's latest school pictures and inquired about my life as if we were old friends. It feels as miraculous now as it did then.
Forgiveness and forbearance are indeed miracles, luxurious in ways that cannot be quantitatively measured. Like fine wine, each takes care, caution and time to produce, but are worth the necessary effort. Forgiving is giving something to another person before they may deserve it in our eyes. Forbearance is continuing that practice of forgiveness for as long as it takes. I believe Jesus said something about "seventy times seven," but I don't think he was being literal, just expansive and generous.
Perhaps those are two more luxuries of being a grown up.
I wasn't aware of their impending departure until around eight o'clock this morning when the hustle and bustle of furniture and belongings exiting the building began. I have to say I feel a little sad at the thought, even though I would have to check the mail boxes downstairs in the lobby to see what their names are. Having bumped into them occasionally on the elevator ride to our respective homes, I feel a nice sort of connection that comes from pleasantries exchanged over time.
A friend of mine had lamented my move from single family home ownership to apartment rental. He couldn't conceive of being surrounded by the noise of other people's daily lives. Dishwashers running, toilets flushing in the middle of the night and doors opening and closing were more than he could imagine, let alone bear, on any kind of regular basis. I imagine many people feel that way, considering the American dream is to cozy up to one's own fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa, a thirty year mortgage and the peace and serenity that come from knowing your neighbors are at least a hundred yards away. More peace and quiet, more distance, less hassle. Dealing with strangers in close proximity on a consistent basis takes time and patience. Believing we are the only people in the universe must be suspended, as does the need to feel offended by a good bit of other people's behavior.
Mostly, its about forgiveness and forbearance.
I was first introduced to the companionate relationship between forgiveness and forbearance by a woman in the first congregation I served. Offered up as some comfort regarding a nasty little church squabble, her words stuck with me, and I now have come to regard them as two of the greatest luxuries of being a grown up.
I didn't pull them back out of my memory for real use until years later during my stint as a retail manager. It was then, while addressing customer service and employee management issues, that I began to realize how much better it felt not to hold grudges, plot revenge or react to situations with rancor and rage. Forgiving people their foolishness, poor communication skills and rudeness made it much easier to simply get to the heart of the matter and deal with the problem that needed to be fixed. I felt much better not needing to be right, but instead invested my energy in correcting the situation and moving on to whatever else needed to be done.
The forbearance part came into play most often with disgruntled employees who either felt compelled to pick fights with customers who had hurt their feelings or had made them angry. Taking a deep breath, letting oneself unhook from those kind of feelings and moving into a helping stance is very had to do. It takes consciousness, loads of practice and the ability to stay engaged in situations that frequently feel as if you are being blind sided by a truck. What helped some of my sales associates and assistant management staff become more familiar with the concept was seeing me work with customers at different levels of irritation and rage.
Most people just want to feel heard, so listening was key, and making sure the customer could see I was paying attention to them was doubly important. Eye contact, affirming nods and verbal agreement made it clear to them that they were my focus. After that, it was simply a matter of figuring out what they wanted, giving it to them if I could or offering another suggestion if I couldn't and following through on that offer. With rare exception the customer was thanking me, giving me a hug and offering to buy my coffee before they waked back out the door. When they came back to shop they sought me out, showed me their children's latest school pictures and inquired about my life as if we were old friends. It feels as miraculous now as it did then.
Forgiveness and forbearance are indeed miracles, luxurious in ways that cannot be quantitatively measured. Like fine wine, each takes care, caution and time to produce, but are worth the necessary effort. Forgiving is giving something to another person before they may deserve it in our eyes. Forbearance is continuing that practice of forgiveness for as long as it takes. I believe Jesus said something about "seventy times seven," but I don't think he was being literal, just expansive and generous.
Perhaps those are two more luxuries of being a grown up.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Serving Your Purpose
Purpose is a pretty big deal.
In the context of life, purpose matters. Our purpose is the answer to the age-old question, "Why are we here?" When we find ourselves wondering what difference our lives make or even why we were born, our purpose is the reason. We each were created and came to be here on earth with a specific mission that would serve humanity in a uniquely powerful way, a way that could not be manifested by anyone else on the planet at this time. We all share in our collective gifts, skills and talents, and we are all served by each other's purpose.
What is your purpose? Discovering your reason for being, at whatever point in life you find yourself, is a prospecting expedition filled with unexpected treasures. Serving that purpose, nurturing it to its fullest capacity to give to others, can deepen into a life-long passion full of wealth and happiness.
Where are you in your life journey? Take a few moments right now to consider what you enjoy in your life. What do you feel good about? What brings you pleasure or a sense of fulfillment? Perhaps the relationships in your life, family, friends or co-workers, are satisfying and special to you. For some people work is much more than a paycheck, but also a source of creative inspiration. For others hobbies, such as gardening, decorating, camping or canoeing bring them endless delight. Chances are very good that what brings you pleasure is somehow connected to your purpose.
Does that surprise you? For some reason purpose has gotten the bad rap of being difficult, miserable, even a burden, and as far away from what we naturally love doing as can possibly be. Simply put, it's not. Our purpose is a part of us, a part of what we love about ourselves that we can't wait to share.
Having identified what brings you joy, how do you share that with other people? How are other people served by what you bring to life? Are you a parent whose home is open to the neighborhood children? Perhaps your purpose is listening and advising young people. Do your organizational skills benefit the efficiency and over-all positive energy of the company for which you work? Perhaps your purpose is to create a framework for those around you to do their jobs well. Do your skills in food preparation bring praise from those who are lucky enough to sample your culinary delights? Perhaps your purpose is based in hospitality.
Most of us have come to believe that purpose is grand, larger than life and only valuable if worthy of being made into a Broadway musical extravaganza. While the stage is meant for some, our own, individual stories are profoundly more interesting. Being able to make a friend laugh, presenting a solid talk about values at a PTA meeting or teaching someone how to write a love letter may make much more impact in transforming the world than we will ever know. Purpose matters because we never know how many people we will touch by living into what we have been created to do and be.
Now, one more thing to consider. How will you serve this purpose you have identified as your own? How will you nurture it, care for it, so that you may continue to use it well in service to others? Based in these questions is the simple truth that we must care for ourselves before we can care for others. It may seem selfish or out of order to care for ourselves first, but the reality is no one else is going to do it for us, and feeding and growing our purpose is a crucial part of living our lives fully and happily.
My guess is that gardeners understand this concept very well. Known for their gift of producing great displays of color and texture, quite literally from dirt, they are also aware of the time, planning and grunt work it takes to produce these natural marvels. What motivates them? Seed catalogues, florist shops, appreciation of other gardeners' efforts and results. They give themselves the gift of loving what they do best in all kinds of forms and shapes and sizes. They nurture their purpose by connecting to it everywhere they can find it. It's a great example we can all follow. Pay attention for ways you can serve and nurture your purpose every day.
Whether you have recently discovered your purpose or you are an old hand at sharing your gifts with others, we each have the chance to make a difference in other people's lives while enriching our own. The wealth of living one's purpose well may or may not be financial. But true abundance can be measured in as many ways as we can make a positive influence in the world each day.
In the context of life, purpose matters. Our purpose is the answer to the age-old question, "Why are we here?" When we find ourselves wondering what difference our lives make or even why we were born, our purpose is the reason. We each were created and came to be here on earth with a specific mission that would serve humanity in a uniquely powerful way, a way that could not be manifested by anyone else on the planet at this time. We all share in our collective gifts, skills and talents, and we are all served by each other's purpose.
What is your purpose? Discovering your reason for being, at whatever point in life you find yourself, is a prospecting expedition filled with unexpected treasures. Serving that purpose, nurturing it to its fullest capacity to give to others, can deepen into a life-long passion full of wealth and happiness.
Where are you in your life journey? Take a few moments right now to consider what you enjoy in your life. What do you feel good about? What brings you pleasure or a sense of fulfillment? Perhaps the relationships in your life, family, friends or co-workers, are satisfying and special to you. For some people work is much more than a paycheck, but also a source of creative inspiration. For others hobbies, such as gardening, decorating, camping or canoeing bring them endless delight. Chances are very good that what brings you pleasure is somehow connected to your purpose.
Does that surprise you? For some reason purpose has gotten the bad rap of being difficult, miserable, even a burden, and as far away from what we naturally love doing as can possibly be. Simply put, it's not. Our purpose is a part of us, a part of what we love about ourselves that we can't wait to share.
Having identified what brings you joy, how do you share that with other people? How are other people served by what you bring to life? Are you a parent whose home is open to the neighborhood children? Perhaps your purpose is listening and advising young people. Do your organizational skills benefit the efficiency and over-all positive energy of the company for which you work? Perhaps your purpose is to create a framework for those around you to do their jobs well. Do your skills in food preparation bring praise from those who are lucky enough to sample your culinary delights? Perhaps your purpose is based in hospitality.
Most of us have come to believe that purpose is grand, larger than life and only valuable if worthy of being made into a Broadway musical extravaganza. While the stage is meant for some, our own, individual stories are profoundly more interesting. Being able to make a friend laugh, presenting a solid talk about values at a PTA meeting or teaching someone how to write a love letter may make much more impact in transforming the world than we will ever know. Purpose matters because we never know how many people we will touch by living into what we have been created to do and be.
Now, one more thing to consider. How will you serve this purpose you have identified as your own? How will you nurture it, care for it, so that you may continue to use it well in service to others? Based in these questions is the simple truth that we must care for ourselves before we can care for others. It may seem selfish or out of order to care for ourselves first, but the reality is no one else is going to do it for us, and feeding and growing our purpose is a crucial part of living our lives fully and happily.
My guess is that gardeners understand this concept very well. Known for their gift of producing great displays of color and texture, quite literally from dirt, they are also aware of the time, planning and grunt work it takes to produce these natural marvels. What motivates them? Seed catalogues, florist shops, appreciation of other gardeners' efforts and results. They give themselves the gift of loving what they do best in all kinds of forms and shapes and sizes. They nurture their purpose by connecting to it everywhere they can find it. It's a great example we can all follow. Pay attention for ways you can serve and nurture your purpose every day.
Whether you have recently discovered your purpose or you are an old hand at sharing your gifts with others, we each have the chance to make a difference in other people's lives while enriching our own. The wealth of living one's purpose well may or may not be financial. But true abundance can be measured in as many ways as we can make a positive influence in the world each day.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Discount Kingdom
This past holiday weekend, like every one on the calendar, provided endless opportunities to SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!. If Congress has legislated a postal holiday there is an equal and AMAZING BLOWOUT! or EXTRAVAGANZA! to spend money you would have otherwise been earning that day. Just in case you can't make the actual EXTREME SALES EVENT! you can take in a PRE-HOLIDAY or POST-HOLIDAY SALES EVENT! I believe I have actually seen the before/during/after television sales campaigns inadvertently converge late at night, creating a sort of time warp shopping wonderland in which people are always giddy with delight over FANTASTIC SAVINGS! I seriously wonder if, or why, anyone would pay full price for anything anymore.
But apparently there is a story, told long, long ago, from a time since past, about a soul who paid full price, and then some, for something so glorious that it could not be passed up. Matthew's gospel recounts Jesus' words in the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value. "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46)."
Today's shoppers would call this man a fool. Why pay full price when waiting a few days, maybe a few weeks at the most, will net you the same product and keep more money in your pocket to spend elsewhere. Only a fool would pay full price, and only a bigger fool, or a crazy person, would pay more than full price. That's the problem if you let a merchant know how much you want something. They take you for all you are worth. Never let your guard down when you are trying to be a savvy shopper.
But our Biblical shopper was probably as savvy as they come because he was a merchant himself, someone who knew the ins and outs of smart bargaining and smarter purchasing for resale better than most. It's quite clear that he was on the hunt for fine peals because he knew what he was looking for and was eager to find them. He'd had success on his quests before and intended this venture to be equally successful. This merchant was no novice, but a seasoned professional striking out on a trip designed to continue building his business and his professional reputation.
Imagine his surprise then, upon discovering this one, magnificent pearl of great worth, an unexpected treasure-among-treasures right there before his eyes, but in another merchant's possession. What should he do? How should he proceed with the situation? He knows this pearl is meant for him, but he doesn't have enough money with which to purchase it. He must go home, gather all his resources and pray that no one else purchases the pearl before he can return. His one hope rests on the merchant holding his pearl (for he has now come to regard the pearl as his own) seeming oblivious to the value of the treasure he holds in his stock.
So our merchant travels home as fast as he can, counts his money, sells literally everything he owns to make up the difference and hurries back to his fellow merchant to retrieve his pearl. The other merchant feels he has made an incredible deal, selling a single pearl for an outrageously large sum, much more than he would have ever expected. He is quite surprised that his colleague was willing to pay so much, but he doesn't question the fellow's motive or integrity.
It is an interesting sort of twist, to realize that the search for the kingdom of heaven isn't about making the best business deal or appearing wise in its transaction. The kingdom of heaven isn't about putting our nose to the grindstone, living in the real world or taking advantage of whatever life offers us either. The kingdom of heaven appears more to be about discovering the mystery and wonder of God's presence among us , for us, when we bump into it on an ordinary day, even during a simple shopping trip.
But apparently there is a story, told long, long ago, from a time since past, about a soul who paid full price, and then some, for something so glorious that it could not be passed up. Matthew's gospel recounts Jesus' words in the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value. "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46)."
Today's shoppers would call this man a fool. Why pay full price when waiting a few days, maybe a few weeks at the most, will net you the same product and keep more money in your pocket to spend elsewhere. Only a fool would pay full price, and only a bigger fool, or a crazy person, would pay more than full price. That's the problem if you let a merchant know how much you want something. They take you for all you are worth. Never let your guard down when you are trying to be a savvy shopper.
But our Biblical shopper was probably as savvy as they come because he was a merchant himself, someone who knew the ins and outs of smart bargaining and smarter purchasing for resale better than most. It's quite clear that he was on the hunt for fine peals because he knew what he was looking for and was eager to find them. He'd had success on his quests before and intended this venture to be equally successful. This merchant was no novice, but a seasoned professional striking out on a trip designed to continue building his business and his professional reputation.
Imagine his surprise then, upon discovering this one, magnificent pearl of great worth, an unexpected treasure-among-treasures right there before his eyes, but in another merchant's possession. What should he do? How should he proceed with the situation? He knows this pearl is meant for him, but he doesn't have enough money with which to purchase it. He must go home, gather all his resources and pray that no one else purchases the pearl before he can return. His one hope rests on the merchant holding his pearl (for he has now come to regard the pearl as his own) seeming oblivious to the value of the treasure he holds in his stock.
So our merchant travels home as fast as he can, counts his money, sells literally everything he owns to make up the difference and hurries back to his fellow merchant to retrieve his pearl. The other merchant feels he has made an incredible deal, selling a single pearl for an outrageously large sum, much more than he would have ever expected. He is quite surprised that his colleague was willing to pay so much, but he doesn't question the fellow's motive or integrity.
It is an interesting sort of twist, to realize that the search for the kingdom of heaven isn't about making the best business deal or appearing wise in its transaction. The kingdom of heaven isn't about putting our nose to the grindstone, living in the real world or taking advantage of whatever life offers us either. The kingdom of heaven appears more to be about discovering the mystery and wonder of God's presence among us , for us, when we bump into it on an ordinary day, even during a simple shopping trip.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Faith Talk
The ABC network recently offered up what appeared to be an interesting program promising discussion about faith in the United States. While I prepared for a yard sale I was hosting on my front lawn the next day, I observed several women considering a vocation in a cloistered convent, statistics indicating how many of us say we believe in God (91%) and a young high school woman's anguish for being ridiculed by teachers and students because she is an atheist. I turned the channel as previews of the next segment's exorcism began. At that point I also wondered if this was a rerun of a program I had already seen. Either I had seen it before or this attempt at addressing faith dialogue in our country completely missed the mark as so many others before it had.
A friend also saw parts of the program and concluded that whoever conceived and developed it was not a person who embraced her or his own faith perspective. I agreed and we also came to the conclusion that religious issues sell if they are limited, extreme views that can be sensationalized. The closest anyone came to discussing faith was a man connecting these values to appreciating nature and falling in love. Billed as a discussion of faith, these two hours did a better job of talking around faith, almost avoiding it all together. Perhaps in an unintentional way this show did address faith dialogue in the United States for what it is, existing only in extreme forms and carried on by people who don't really have a chosen, growing faith perspective. Perhaps now is the time to change that.
One of the things I love best about Jesus is how he drew people into talking about what they believed. He spent a good deal of time doing the talking among his preaching, storytelling and sharing of parables, but he also asked a whole lot of questions. He asked people what they wanted from him before he healed them. He asked his disciples who people said he was, then asked them directly who they believed him to be. His, "I'll answer your question after you answer mine," style with the Pharisees almost appears comical to us because they fell into the trap so easily and so frequently. I don't believe Jesus was trying to trap them. I suspect he hoped that if they stopped to consider their own motives, and how Jesus' message may connect with their own faith, they may come to appreciate how different the present and the future Israel could be. Jesus asked lots of questions, not to elicit specific responses, but as a tool to help people understand their own faith as it existed, exploring it more fully in the process of seeing where they were heading.
Which brings us back to the preaching, storytelling and parables for which Jesus is also well-known. As Father Mulcahy, chaplain to the fictional MASH 4077 unit, replied when complimented on a sermon, "You can't miss when you've got good material." Once primed to think about what they believed, the people responded to Jesus' words because it kepi them thinking, stirred up their faith and expanded their vision of who this God of Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Jacob, and now, Jesus, was to them on a daily basis. Jesus talked about who was blessed, how they were salt and light, and that the kingdom of God already existed among them. Imagine the conversations as friends and families came together after Jesus had preached or taught in their communities.
The Biblical Epistles tell us that conversation continued and expanded even further as the early church grew. The Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians, as well as the individuals Timothy, Titus and Philemon, all received letters from Paul discussing specific issues each had raised in long distance dialogue with him. Christianity was an exuberant, vibrant faith movement that took root, survived and flourished when other religious groups did not last. Surely God's grace and the Holy Spirit moved among these people striving to integrate the teachings of their savior into their hearts and lives. But even as they aimed to embody their beliefs they talked about what their faith meant to them, how they applied its tenets in their communities. When confusion, frustration or roadblocks occurred, the conversation didn't end. This is to say that the faith of the early church wasn't blindly accepted. It was lived as Gospel.
Valiant effort that this latest attempt to explore faith in the United States was meant to be, it didn't show viewers that there are people out here who think about what they believe, aim to grow in those beliefs and live them each day. Are these ideas part of your faith experience? Who do you talk with about your faith? Who challenges you to educate yourself, to grow, to dig inside yourself for the richness that God's grace provides? How can we continue to hear Jesus' questions, listen for his stories and lessons, and continue to talk to each other about what they mean to us?
A friend also saw parts of the program and concluded that whoever conceived and developed it was not a person who embraced her or his own faith perspective. I agreed and we also came to the conclusion that religious issues sell if they are limited, extreme views that can be sensationalized. The closest anyone came to discussing faith was a man connecting these values to appreciating nature and falling in love. Billed as a discussion of faith, these two hours did a better job of talking around faith, almost avoiding it all together. Perhaps in an unintentional way this show did address faith dialogue in the United States for what it is, existing only in extreme forms and carried on by people who don't really have a chosen, growing faith perspective. Perhaps now is the time to change that.
One of the things I love best about Jesus is how he drew people into talking about what they believed. He spent a good deal of time doing the talking among his preaching, storytelling and sharing of parables, but he also asked a whole lot of questions. He asked people what they wanted from him before he healed them. He asked his disciples who people said he was, then asked them directly who they believed him to be. His, "I'll answer your question after you answer mine," style with the Pharisees almost appears comical to us because they fell into the trap so easily and so frequently. I don't believe Jesus was trying to trap them. I suspect he hoped that if they stopped to consider their own motives, and how Jesus' message may connect with their own faith, they may come to appreciate how different the present and the future Israel could be. Jesus asked lots of questions, not to elicit specific responses, but as a tool to help people understand their own faith as it existed, exploring it more fully in the process of seeing where they were heading.
Which brings us back to the preaching, storytelling and parables for which Jesus is also well-known. As Father Mulcahy, chaplain to the fictional MASH 4077 unit, replied when complimented on a sermon, "You can't miss when you've got good material." Once primed to think about what they believed, the people responded to Jesus' words because it kepi them thinking, stirred up their faith and expanded their vision of who this God of Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Jacob, and now, Jesus, was to them on a daily basis. Jesus talked about who was blessed, how they were salt and light, and that the kingdom of God already existed among them. Imagine the conversations as friends and families came together after Jesus had preached or taught in their communities.
The Biblical Epistles tell us that conversation continued and expanded even further as the early church grew. The Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians, as well as the individuals Timothy, Titus and Philemon, all received letters from Paul discussing specific issues each had raised in long distance dialogue with him. Christianity was an exuberant, vibrant faith movement that took root, survived and flourished when other religious groups did not last. Surely God's grace and the Holy Spirit moved among these people striving to integrate the teachings of their savior into their hearts and lives. But even as they aimed to embody their beliefs they talked about what their faith meant to them, how they applied its tenets in their communities. When confusion, frustration or roadblocks occurred, the conversation didn't end. This is to say that the faith of the early church wasn't blindly accepted. It was lived as Gospel.
Valiant effort that this latest attempt to explore faith in the United States was meant to be, it didn't show viewers that there are people out here who think about what they believe, aim to grow in those beliefs and live them each day. Are these ideas part of your faith experience? Who do you talk with about your faith? Who challenges you to educate yourself, to grow, to dig inside yourself for the richness that God's grace provides? How can we continue to hear Jesus' questions, listen for his stories and lessons, and continue to talk to each other about what they mean to us?
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Faith Coaching: Encouraging One Another
When was the last time you needed support in your life?
Perhaps you were getting ready to lead a study group and asked a friend to listen to your presentation and offer suggestions or feedback.
Maybe you decided to replant your backyard with new trees, shrubs and flowers and decided to attend a class at your local nursery to get some advice.
Birthing babies is usually a team effort and a labor coach can be a spouse, partner, friend, mom or sister, whoever is up to the task.
Many people use personal trainers to guide them through fitness routines to maximize the benefits of exercising.
Whenever we look to someone else for feedback, direction, advice or support we are acknowledging what we want to bring into our lives and that we need another human being with expertise, training or different skills than our own to help us make that happen. sometimes we simply require someone's candid eye and discerning ear to help us shape our goal before we map out our next steps. Other times we need a hand to guide us on the path itself. We need a coach to point out our best and cheer us through our growth.
Just like making presentations, planting gardens, delivering babies and creating physical health and well-being, working on our faith takes time, attention, planning and support. We all know that worship, prayer, study and fellowship strengthen and nurture our faith, but how much time do we give ourselves to these opportunities for spiritual growth? Where does responding to God's presence in our lives fit in among all the other priorities we must attend to in our daily lives? A faith coach can help us set faith development as a priority in our lives and help us integrate the steps we choose to shape our journey with God.
Faith coaching is about welcoming the best from ourselves as God's creation. It is a partnership between two people of faith, a relationship of encouragement, honesty and receptivity to God's activity in our lives. Faith coaching can also be explored within a group of people seeking to understand God's presence among themselves, in the world and in each other's lives. Specific questions, issues and concerns can be raised and addressed from a faith perspective. Unique ideas and views can challenge participants to consider how God acts, looks, sounds and feels to them, and how those beliefs inform their lives.
Most importantly, faith coaching affirms the reality of what we believe as central to how we live our lives. When we focus in on our faith, give it attention and allow it to expand, we feel more connected with all of God's creation, especially each other. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for God who has promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:23-25)."
Perhaps you were getting ready to lead a study group and asked a friend to listen to your presentation and offer suggestions or feedback.
Maybe you decided to replant your backyard with new trees, shrubs and flowers and decided to attend a class at your local nursery to get some advice.
Birthing babies is usually a team effort and a labor coach can be a spouse, partner, friend, mom or sister, whoever is up to the task.
Many people use personal trainers to guide them through fitness routines to maximize the benefits of exercising.
Whenever we look to someone else for feedback, direction, advice or support we are acknowledging what we want to bring into our lives and that we need another human being with expertise, training or different skills than our own to help us make that happen. sometimes we simply require someone's candid eye and discerning ear to help us shape our goal before we map out our next steps. Other times we need a hand to guide us on the path itself. We need a coach to point out our best and cheer us through our growth.
Just like making presentations, planting gardens, delivering babies and creating physical health and well-being, working on our faith takes time, attention, planning and support. We all know that worship, prayer, study and fellowship strengthen and nurture our faith, but how much time do we give ourselves to these opportunities for spiritual growth? Where does responding to God's presence in our lives fit in among all the other priorities we must attend to in our daily lives? A faith coach can help us set faith development as a priority in our lives and help us integrate the steps we choose to shape our journey with God.
Faith coaching is about welcoming the best from ourselves as God's creation. It is a partnership between two people of faith, a relationship of encouragement, honesty and receptivity to God's activity in our lives. Faith coaching can also be explored within a group of people seeking to understand God's presence among themselves, in the world and in each other's lives. Specific questions, issues and concerns can be raised and addressed from a faith perspective. Unique ideas and views can challenge participants to consider how God acts, looks, sounds and feels to them, and how those beliefs inform their lives.
Most importantly, faith coaching affirms the reality of what we believe as central to how we live our lives. When we focus in on our faith, give it attention and allow it to expand, we feel more connected with all of God's creation, especially each other. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for God who has promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:23-25)."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
