Life Unraveled
The journey of a frail pilgrim trying to love God and love others
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Our Unique Call
June 15, 2010
I was speaking with a recent grad yesterday who was so discouraged by the events of the world and how insignificant her contribution to the world seemed in comparison. I asked her if I could share some of the highlights of that conversation…
So many terrible things happen every day that we start wondering whether the few things we do ourselves make any sense. When people are starving only a few thousand miles away, when wars are raging close to our borders, when countless people in our own cities have no homes to live in, our own mundane (or just local) activities can seem futile. Thinking about it with that perspective, however, can paralyse us and depress us.
That’s where I think the concept of ”calling” becomes important. We are not called to save the world, solve all problems, and help all people. But we each have our own unique God-given, Spirit-inspired call, in our families, in our work, in our world–our circle of influence. We have to keep asking God to help us see clearly what our call is and to give us the strength to live out that call with trust. Then we will discover that our faithfulness to a small task is the most healing response to the illnesses of our time.
The Catastrophe at the Gulf
June 13, 2010 — 1 Comment
Infographic describing significant details of the oil spill catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. Worth a look, all the way to the bottom of the page where it’s mentioned that this is just ONE of 3,858 oil wells in the Gulf!
http://www.infographicworld.com/infographics/large-crude-awakening.html
Freedom from Judging, Freedom for Mercy
June 12, 2010
We spend an enormous amount of energy making up our minds about other people. Not a day goes by without somebody doing or saying something that evokes in us the need to form an opinion about him or her. We hear a lot, see a lot, and know a lot. The feeling that we have to sort it all out in our minds and make judgments about it can be quite oppressive. The desert fathers said that judging others is a heavy burden, while being judged by others is a light one. Once we can let go of our need to judge others, we will experience an immense inner freedom. Once we are free from judging, we will be also free for offering mercy and grace in abundance.
Let’s remember Jesus’ words: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). In this verse, the Greek krino may mean either “be critical of” or “condemn.” I can’t imagine Jesus offers this prohibition as a strategy for success in temporal relationships; rather, it is a call to live in the light of the dawning kingdom of God. And this doesn’t mean that we avoid confrontation and don’t concern ourselves with the moral failings of other community members…it just means we need to move beyond the distant and removed “judgment” of someone’s condition and move toward deepest love for one another: involvement, discernment, willingness to confront one another in love, and forgiveness.
Remembering…
May 31, 2010
Thankful for those who have served obediently and sacrificed their time and lives so that I may have a more abundant life…like Jesus.
Are We Deaf to the Needs Around Us?
May 24, 2010
Traveling through Minneapolis to Dallas to Longview today, I became keenly aware of the ‘connectedness’ of people–not to other people, but to their own miniature world, mainly of personalized music through their phones and iPods. It was most noticeable when I apparently was the only one around that ”heard” an elderly passenger’s whimpers and pained sighs as we were being moved from gate to gate to gate. I think others would have helped her if they just would have heard what was going on. I wasn’t even looking in her direction–but with unimpeded ears, I was able to hear all sorts of fun conversations and distress signals while waiting for my flight. Another young passenger was explaining to the person working the counter how he missed his flight today because he never heard the announcement that his gate was moved, and he still had his iPod earbuds in each ear. Really?
It struck me that there has to be a bigger picture of which this phenomenon is merely a symptom. What is going on that so few people (desire to) take in the sites and sounds around them? Are we tired of the ‘noise’ in our own lives? Bored? Intolerant? Offended easily? Self-absorbed? Uncaring? Whether it’s sitting in the airport or on the plane ignoring the flight attendant’s safety speech or walking to class or sitting in Chapel–it seems like we’re desperately trying to control the world around us and limiting our intake to what WE want to hear and what WE think is important. I see it, too, when students bemoan the liberal arts system and move toward “for-profit” education because they feel like they know best what they need to study for a full education.
Could it be that we’re missing something (or Someone) important? We spend a great deal of time wanting to be heard…what a world that might be opened to us if we took the time to hear–and listen to–others. Jeremiah 6:10
Decision Time
May 10, 2010
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” –Teddy Roosevelt
A Ministry of Healing and Reconciliation
April 23, 2010
How do we as the Church witness to Christ in the world? First and foremost by giving visibility to Jesus’ love for the poor and the weak. In a world so hungry for healing, forgiveness, reconciliation, and most of all unconditional love, the Church must alleviate that hunger through its ministry. Wherever we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the lonely, listen to those who are rejected, and bring unity and peace to those who are divided, we proclaim the living Christ, whether we speak about him or not.
It is important that whatever we do and wherever we go, we remain in the Name of Jesus, who sent us. Outside his Name–and making it our work or our personal mission promoting ourselves–our ministry will lose its divine energy.
The Hootenanny Proposal
April 14, 2010
I am so incredibly blessed to be in love with and loved by an amazing woman of God. Here is the video of our quiet and intimate proposal on April 9, 2010 (at LETU’s Hootenanny!) I feel loved by the students, too, who so graciously initiated me into the rich heritage of the ponding tradition right afterward.
So you lost your camera…
March 19, 2010 — 2 Comments
Now what do you do? Here’s a brilliant idea from an Aussie who must have a penchant for losing things–and a realistic perspective that whoever found it would be going through the photos. Great sense of humor and facial expressions. Check this out…
God’s Imagination
March 1, 2010
So much of our energy, time, and money goes into maintaining distance from one another. Many–if not most–of the resources of the world are used to defend ourselves against each other, to maintain or increase our power, and to safeguard our own privileged position.
Imagine all that effort being put in the service of peace and reconciliation! Would there be any poverty? Would there be crimes and wars? Just imagine that there was no longer fear among people, no longer any rivalry, hostility, bitterness, or revenge. Just imagine all the people on this planet holding hands and forming one large circle of love. We say, “I can’t imagine.” But I can hear God say, “That’s what I imagine, a whole world not only created in but also living in my image.”
Blessed Ash Wednesday!
February 17, 2010
Today is Ash Wednesday, the day in the Christian calendar marking the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent which prepares our hearts and minds and ultimately our souls for the most significant holy-day: Easter. A time for reflection and soul searching, the season of Lent calls us to follow Jesus, watch what he does, listen to what he says and identify with Jesus in his mission. The closer we come to Jesus, the more we become aware of the ways our lives and actions may not reflect the life and vision of Jesus. This year, I think I will be using Goshen College’s Daily Lenten Devotional as a catalyst for reflection.
May this day–and the Lenten season–be one of repentance and self-denial as we look toward abundant life made available ONLY through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Honoring Others Above Ourselves – Chapel
February 14, 2010
“Honoring Others Above Ourselves” Prezi presentation from my Chapel on Friday, February 12, 2010. Also, here is the introductory man-on-the-street video on “If We Are the Body.”
Remember: We can only love God as much as we love the person we love the least. (Dorothy Day)
Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life
February 6, 2010
Here is an interesting video to watch BEFORE you see the Super Bowl ad with Tim Tebow and his mother. It provides a little background information and history of the advertisement, along with some video clips of those responding to the ad they have not yet seen.
