It Only Takes One Stomp
I have been so blessed to spend a week of winter down south where I need not wonder if the sun has died (which I do frequently in Indiana in the winter).
There is something primal about walking along the beach – the sound of the surf and seagulls; the rhythmic pull of the tide as it washes in and out. On Marco Island, the beach has so obviously been formed by the grinding down of shells over time. It creates the sand on which I am able to walk.
And yet, as I walk, I see and hear the crunch of feet upon the shells. I love to collect shells. They are astonishingly beautiful on the island. But often, as I reach down to pick up a shell that looks stunning, I discover it has been crushed… the victim of stomping feet. It feels, to me, to be a sacrilege. Shells are formed by a mollusk for protection. Interesting, isn’t it? As children, we learn to form a “protective shell” around ourselves as we go out into the world and people thoughtlessly “stomp” on our thoughts and feelings, right? So, too, the soft mollusk creates a shell to protect itself from the dangers of its environment. The color and texture of the shell is determined by the environment in which the mollusk lives. Shells down south have more color because warmer waters provide a more versatile, colorful ocean diet. (At least that’s what I read on the internet!)
One website I read indicated that the shells that wash up on our shores could potentially be hundreds or even thousands of years old. Even after the life of the mollusk that originally constructed the shell comes to an end, other sea creatures often move inside. Perhaps think of this as the cycle of a senior care community. As someone in independent living experiences a change to their health, they may need to move into assisted living or nursing care. They were guaranteed a space when they moved into the community. But, someone will need to vacate (one way or another) before they transition into their new space.
But, getting back to my walks on the beach…
Down comes the foot. I’m sure no one is purposefully destroying the shell. But, people are jogging, talking (sometimes doing business on their phone… a sacrilege in and of itself!), just daydreaming, perhaps even (ironically) meditating/praying. The step is taken, the foot comes down, and the shell is crushed to pieces. All that beauty – broken, crushed, ground down… and so quickly. What the ocean “housed” in its watery womb for hundreds, even thousands, of years, is destroyed at the pace of one human stomp.
What a metaphor for life.
We spend our lives getting built up and torn down, don’t we? If you were fortunate to have a loving family, you may have developed a softer shell. If your family made love conditional, you likely developed a sturdier shell as a means of survival. But, no matter how calcified, no shell – no life – is immune to destruction. And, like the feet on the shoreline, many of us don’t even notice our “stomps.” We are not setting out to crush, or even chip, someone else. We just aren’t being attentive or careful. We move through life rapidly. After all, there is so much ground to cover, right?
We stomp on so many, don’t we? Our spouse/partner, our children, our co-workers, family, friends, even those who rely on us for care and support. A critical word spoken hastily, a fleeting glance of disapproval, a sign of disappointment, a “dig” cloaked as humor.
It is the human condition, a relational inevitability I suppose. But I still grieve for the disregarded beauty of those broken shells. And, I must pray and repent for the disregard of my own “stomps” which have crushed and chipped the beauty of those around me.
Hospitality
If you Google, you’ll find there’s lots of debate out there about what was once dubbed the pandemic’s Great Migration. But based on what I observed (which is, admittedly, limited and anecdotal), it did seem a lot of young adults were relocating for a variety of reasons. I’ve moved around a lot in my life. Since birth, nine years is the longest amount of time I’ve remained in one place – Gary, IN.
Perhaps my own experiences with migration have contributed to my beating hospitality into my congregations like a dead horse. It’s tough to be in a new place and our anxiety can be dramatically impacted by how well we are welcomed into a new space by those who preceded us there.
When I was 6 or 7, my dad was moved to his first post-seminary pastoral charge near Johnstown, PA. In the church there was a couple who had no children (an unusual thing at that time). They invited us over for dinner. At their home, Dot pulled out sticker books for me! My family was too poor for sticker books and they were one of my favorite things. Over the five years my family lived in that community, Dot became my “church mom” and she was amazing.
On Monday evening, July 18, at 6pm in the GREAT Room at Trinity, Anthony Cawdron, manager of Westwood Estate (the home of Purdue’s president), will be our Fusion storyteller. Anthony’s father was in the Royal Air Force. That, in itself, could make a fascinating story, I’m sure! As in the US, military service meant moving around… a lot. Anthony has vivid memories of what it was like to enter into different communities, cultures and countries as a child. Perhaps that’s why he was drawn to the hospitality business. Managing Westwood brings him into contact with lots of different people who, I’m sure, have varying ideas around welcome and hospitality.
At Trinity, Anthony has helped to make our space more hospitable by planting flowers and doing landscaping. Environments – not just people – effectively convey, or fail to convey, a warm welcome.
As Christians, it’s important for us to remember that, whether introverted or extroverted, the way in which we welcome others into our space – our homes, our church, our lives – represents God’s welcome. There’s no underestimating the power of hospitality.
Fusion is a unique experience in Christian community that focuses on building relationships as we share our stories with one another. We have the opportunity to hear first-hand from those whose experiences and perspectives are often different from our own. At Fusion, everyone is encouraged to “bring you and bring your story” to a welcoming space where we connect, discover and grow as we gather around the table to eat, listen and share.
We’d love to have you join us for Fusion on July 18 to hear Anthony’s story. For more info, go to http://www.trinitylafayette.org/fusion.html
Life in the Wilderness
The identity of the Israelites is forged in the wilderness. When God delivers them from slavery in Egypt, they must travel through the wilderness to reach the Promised Land. Wilderness can be a scary place. It is a place where we must face our own vulnerabilities, even our inner “wild beasts,” and learn to rely on God.
Exodus 16:9-12: 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’ ” 10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 12 “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ” [1]
Each year, Lent begins with the story of Jesus in the wilderness. According to the gospel of Mark, in the wilderness, Jesus must face “wild beasts.” Yet, even as he is facing the wild beasts, angels are serving him or ministering to him.
Grab a sheet of paper. Take a moment to depict your “wilderness” either through a sketch or doodle or through a “word stew” (placing words on the page that, in your mind, are synonymous with “wilderness”). What “wild beasts” do you encounter in your wilderness?
When the Israelites are in the wilderness, they consistently grumble and panic, despite the fact that God cares for them and provides for them consistently. Jesus, however, reveals a different way of living in the wilderness. It doesn’t involve ignoring the wild beasts. But Jesus can endure the wilderness because he trusts that, even amongst the wild beasts, God will watch over him. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we will never find ourselves in the wilderness. It does mean that, in the wilderness, we are never alone and can trust and watch for signs of God’s care and God’s messengers of grace. Can you name a wilderness you’ve been through?
The word “angel” simply means “messenger.” Who did God send as an angel to help you when you were in your wilderness?
Prayer from the United Methodist hymnal: O God our deliver, you led your people of old through the wilderness and brought them to the Promised Land. Guide us, the people of your Church, that, following our Savior, we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Ex 16:9–12.
The Fallow Soil of the Soul
The pandemic has caused things to be different for many of us, but some of those changes are less predictable than others. My schedule is just as busy but is a bit more flexible. Whether for that reason or others, I find myself walking much more this winter at Celery Bog. This has been a particularly dreary winter. We haven’t seen the sun much. As someone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, that can create significant problems for me. But walking around Celery Bog, on those cloudy days when the air lays heavy above the bog, I have found a stunning beauty: the trees, barren of their leaves, rise majestic to the sky. One can smell the dampness of the earth as it returns to itself, the ground pressed firm by decaying leaves. It is so quiet, so empty, yet so beautiful.
Fallow was the word that came to my mind this week. I looked it up to see how it was defined. One definition I found focused on three things that captured my attention: Fallow ground is ground left unsown for a period of time in order to recover its nutrients and restore fertility as part of crop rotation or to avoid surplus production. During the winter, while Celery Bog appears quiet and barren, something is still happening. Nature is restoring itself.
I have to wonder if my newly discovered beauty in the bog and this pandemic are connected. What if we thought about this as simply a part of nature’s cycle? What if we considered our lives to be fallow soil during this COVID season? Fallow ground is ground at rest and many of us in America don’t get enough rest. During the spring lockdown, statistics revealed that the lack of commute time was resulting in increased sleep for many sleep-deprived Americans.
In Hebrew scripture, God commands a time for rest. God calls it Sabbath or Shabbat. He commands it for us and for the land.
NRS Exodus 23:10 For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield; 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the wild animals may eat. You shall do the same with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.
Many of us, I confess myself included, have tried to carry on life as usual during this pandemic. We look to technology to help us do everything we were doing before. But what if we didn’t do everything we were doing before? What if we could be like the floor of the forest or the stark trees in the bog, embracing this not as a time to produce, but to rest?
Check out this week’s 20 at Twilight video post to pray and reflect around this scripture and this question.
What’s New
Seems like most of us were eager to put 2020 in the rearview mirror. But, as my cousin, a therapist, wisely reminds us, our lives don’t change automatically by turning the page on a calendar.
So, New Years Resolutions aside, while actions cement change, the process begins with perspective, I think.
One of the most interesting changes I’ve witnessed over the past two years is my dog, Hope. Yes, my dog. (Frankly, dogs are some of the best “people” I know.) Hope entered our family more than 11 years ago as dog #4. Hope is a submissive dog by nature. She didn’t engage a whole lot with Britt and me. After all, there were three other dogs to compete with… or, in her case, acquiesce to. If I began to pet her, her tail would thump and dog #3, Naomi, would hear it and come running and Hope would promptly leave my presence. All dogs live in the moment, but Naomi made a science out of it. We called her Little Miss Stop and Fast; the most impulsive dog I’ve ever met. Over the years, one by one, the dogs passed. A year and a half ago, we lost our dear Naomi. For the first time in 22 years, Britt and I were down to just one dog. But, we reasoned that, if any dog could handle it, it was Hope since she didn’t seem to require much attention or engagement. I would miss it, though. After 22 years of dog cuddles and being shadowed all over the house (especially by the Dober dogs), I would have to adjust.
But I didn’t.
Hope did.
Hope has more than exceeded my hopes and expectations. She is now an awesome cuddler. She is my #1 workout buddy. She is my constant companion. This once incredibly timid dog has become calm, but confident. Earlier this week, hiking at Cincinnati Nature Center, she had her first chance at age 11 to cross a running stream on a trail. She boldly crossed without apprehension and I told her how proud I was.
I’m proud of her… and a little ashamed of myself. Why did I expect so little of her after Naomi died? Clearly, she had been patiently biding her time and all she needed was opportunity and encouragement to blossom into a true “velcro dog.”
I wonder if my way of seeing Hope may have limited her. And I have to wonder how often I do that with people. Right now, we are such a divided nation. My denomination is divided. Many families are divided. But, what might change if we began to see one another differently, adjusted our perspective? What if we began to assume (rightly) that we all have the capacity to evolve? Will everyone react like Hope and rise to meet the challenge? Of course not. But even if just a few of us can grow along the way, it’ll be a better 2021.
Happy New Year.
The Tender Mercy of Our God
(This week marks the fourth and final week of Advent. The word Advent means “coming.” As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming as a baby in a manger so long ago and anticipate his coming again at the end of time, may we become more aware of the many ways Christ comes to us each day…)
Throughout this Advent season, we have been guided by two verses from Zechariah’s Benedictus in Luke: NRS Luke 1:78 “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Our focus this week is on mercy. Do you know the first adjective God uses to describe God’s self? Merciful. Above all else, our God is merciful. The Greek word for mercy appears five times in just the first chapter of Luke’s gospel! In this week’s sermon, I focus on how we open ourselves more deeply to the mercy of God: https://youtu.be/PkyGCvb10tk Hint: Mercy requires generosity on the part of the one granting it; but also requires a certain vulnerability on the part of the recipient. Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) makes clear that mercy is a gift forfeited by those who are proud and committed to independence and self-sufficiency. That message is a tough sell in America where we are taught from the cradle that we should “pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.”
Throughout this season of Advent, I invite you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and God’s presence through scripture and prayerful meditation, perhaps using the process below. A free app to assist you with this way of practicing attentiveness to God’s presence can be found at https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-mobile-app/
- Read a passage of scripture
- After reading, say this simple prayer of the early Church, “Come, Lord Jesus” or the prayer of the boy Samuel from 1 Samuel 3:9-10, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
- Sit quietly for ten minutes or more, listening for God’s voice
- If your mind begins to wander, refocus yourself by using a mantra, perhaps: “God, guide my feet into the way of peace”
You might use the following resources to select a scripture – a different one for each day or one for the full week:
- Trinity’s weekly online devotional. This week’s devotion was written by Rev. Britt Leslie, Ph.D. (New Testament) and can be found at: http://www.trinitylafayette.org/advent/fourth-sunday-of-advent-our-savior-comes and focuses on the following scripture passages: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:47-55; Rom 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38
- Trinity’s weekly Advent group will focus on additional scriptures, including Exodus 34:1-6; Luke 10:25-37; Joel 2:12-14; and the 4th chapter of Jonah.
- Twenty at Twilight is a weekly video post that provides a 20 minute guided meditation, a way of praying with scripture, to conclude the day focusing on and resting in the presence of God. Each Wednesday evening, 20 at Twilight is posted to Trinity’s webpage (www.trinitylafayette.org) and FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/TrinityUMC509 and will also be updated on this blogpost.
Join us for worship on Christmas Eve live, via Zoom, on Dec. 24 at 6pm at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83072737662?pwd=cjNHU3liSkZENXlESUZBdVYvQTVPZz09
Walk in the Light
This week marks the third week of Advent. The word Advent means “coming,” as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming as a baby in a manger so long ago, anticipate his coming again at the end of time, and – hopefully – become more aware of the many ways Christ comes to us each day…)
On the third Sunday of Advent, my morning message, Walk in the Light (https://youtu.be/q542XpTMVIw) looked at the beginning of the gospel of John (John 1:1-9). As human creatures, we need light for life. In reality, we don’t know the time of year Jesus was born. They didn’t issue birth certificates to first-century Galilean peasants! But it is fitting that we celebrate the birth of Jesus so close to the time of the winter solstice since, at Christmas (according to John), “the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:9)
But light is more than a physical phenomenon. Light signifies insight, vision, discernment and understanding. We can gain insight and understanding, we can discern more clearly, when we bask in the presence of the Light of the World, Jesus. Jesus is, according to John’s gospel, the incarnation of true Light and of God’s Word. He is the source of Life.
Throughout this season of Advent, I invite you to bathe in the light of God’s Word and God’s presence through scripture and prayerful meditation, perhaps using the process below. A free app to assist you with this way of practicing attentiveness to God’s presence can be found at https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-mobile-app/
- Read a passage of scripture
- After reading, say this simple prayer of the early Church, “Come, Lord Jesus” or the prayer of the boy Samuel from 1 Samuel 3:9-10, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
- Sit quietly for ten minutes or more, listening for God’s voice
- If your mind begins to wander, refocus yourself by using a mantra, perhaps: “God, guide my feet into the way of peace”
You might use the following resources to select a scripture – a different one for each day or one for the full week:
- Trinity’s weekly online devotional. The Dec. 13 devo is written by Suzanne Clemenz, Trinity’s Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and and incorporates scriptures from Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; and John 1: 6-8, 19-28. View it at http://www.trinitylafayette.org/advent/third-sunday-of-advent-the-light-of-the-world
- Trinity’s weekly Advent group will focus on additional scriptures around this theme of light, including: Genesis 1:1-5 and Revelation 21:1-4, 22-25 and, of course, our biblical theme guiding us through this season, Luke 1:78-79.
- Twenty at Twilight is a weekly video post that provides a 20 minute guided meditation, a way of praying with scripture, to conclude the day focusing on and resting in the presence of God. This week’s 20 at Twilight reflects on Mary’s Magnificat in Luke, chapter 1. https://youtu.be/RlgiTPa94AM
No Peace Without Justice
(This week marks the second week of Advent. The word Advent means “coming,” as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming as a baby in a manger so long ago, anticipate his coming again at the end of time, and – hopefully – become more aware of the many ways Christ comes to us each day…)
On the second Sunday of Advent, Pastor Suzanne’s morning message (https://youtu.be/qU2cJE75IWk) looks at the message of John the Baptist according to the gospel of Luke. In Luke’s presentation of the Baptizer’s message (found in Luke 3:1-17), we see that justice or righteousness (they are, by the way, the same word in Greek) are more than churchy words or concepts. They are about the way that we live. They are about sharing with those in need and not living from a place of fearful hoarding or self-preservation. They are about being in a right relationship with God, other people, and all of creation.
This Advent season, Trinity is focusing on the message of the angels to the shepherds on that night of Jesus’ birth: “Peace on earth, good will toward all.” Right now, we are all so desperate for more peace in our lives and our world. But we must remember that there can never be peace without justice.
Throughout this season of Advent, I invite you to engage in a process of being attentive to God’s Word and God’s presence through scripture and prayerful meditation, perhaps using the process below. A free app to assist you with this way of practicing attentiveness to God’s presence can be found at https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-mobile-app/
- Read a passage of scripture
- After reading, say this simple prayer of the early Church, “Come, Lord Jesus” or the prayer of the boy Samuel from 1 Samuel 3:9-10, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
- Sit quietly for ten minutes or more, listening for God’s voice
- If your mind begins to wander, refocus yourself by using a mantra, perhaps: “God, guide my feet into the way of peace”
You might use the following resources to select a scripture – a different one for each day or one for the full week:
- Trinity’s weekly online devotional. The Dec. 6 devo is written by Melissa Kramer, Trinity’s Director of Congregational Ministries and focuses on Mark 1:1-8. View it at http://www.trinitylafayette.org/advent/second-sunday-of-advent-prepare
- Trinity’s weekly Advent group will focus on additional scriptures around this theme of righteousness: Matthew 1:18-25 (Joseph is the first righteous character presented in Matthew’s gospel); Matthew 5:17-20; and, of course, our biblical theme guiding us through this season, Luke 1:78-79.
- Twenty at Twilight is a weekly video post that provides a 20 minute guided meditation, a way of praying with scripture, to conclude the day focusing on and resting in the presence of God. This week’s 20 at Twilight guides us through a prayerful process to consider how to bring more “rightness” into our relationships. View it at https://youtu.be/k5IYcVNemWU
Coming
(Advent begins on Sunday, November 29. The word Advent means “coming,” as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming as a baby in a manger so long ago, anticipate his coming again at the end of time, and – hopefully – become more aware of the many ways Christ comes to us each day…)
On the first Sunday of Advent, as my morning message (https://youtu.be/qU2cJE75IWk) looks at scripture from the prophet Isaiah, we discover that God’s Word and God’s presence go hand in hand. Jesus is God’s Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14). In Hebrew scripture The Ark of the Covenant in the Temple contained the Word of God (the two tablets of the covenant given to Moses on Mt. Sinai) and the presence of God (on the Mercy Seat atop the Ark).
This Advent season, I invite you to engage in a process of being attentive to God’s Word and God’s presence through scripture and meditation, perhaps using the process below. A free app to assist you with this way of practicing attentiveness to God’s presence can be found at https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-mobile-app/
- Read a passage of scripture
- After reading, say this simple prayer of the early Church, “Come, Lord Jesus” or the prayer of the boy Samuel from 1 Samuel 3:9-10, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”
- Sit quietly for ten minutes or more, listening for God’s voice
- If your mind begins to wander, refocus yourself by using a mantra, perhaps: “God, guide my feet into the way of peace”
You might use the following resources to select a scripture – a different one for each day or one for the full week:
- Trinity’s weekly online devotional. The Nov. 29 devo is written by Jeremy Grossman and focuses on Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19. View it at http://www.trinitylafayette.org/advent
- Scriptures from the sermon. The Nov. 29 sermon uses and references: Isaiah 2:1-5; Luke 1:78-79; Luke 2:14; John 14:25-27; John 2:13-22
- Twenty at Twilight is a weekly video post that provides a 20 minute guided meditation, a way of praying with scripture, to conclude the day focusing on and resting in the presence of God. The Scripture accompanying this week’s 20 at Twilight is a passage from Revelation, chapter 21. View it at https://youtu.be/I7UaCUBv1nc
traceyleslie 