(On a side note: If you haven't read this book, you should at least rent the video...it's wonderful.)
Sometimes I feel like May, though she is much more genuine and loving than I. Things that seem so clear to me as good, right, and just are met with such resistance from people who think differently. This is life, I know, but it often causes me to question if I am using my life in the best way to bring about the kind of change in the world that only God's love and grace can cause. Recently we had a leadership retreat and we discussed whether or not we truly believe that the church continues to be God's vehicle for the redemption of the world. We all agreed that we DO believe it and we want to BE it. This is harder than it sounds because the church is made up of people. We all cherish the love and power of the community, but we also love to be "right."
Sometimes what we love can cause us the most pain, can't it. I'm sure anybody who has children will understand that right away. I've been thinking about my Lent journey these last few days. I really need to be more disciplined about some things in my life. I have gotten off track with some things. In some ways, though I feel like I'm more "at home" in my calling than I've ever been before. I have learned in the past few years to worry much less about pleasing other people and caring more about following the Holy Spirit's nudging. This last few months has helped me realize that I need to spend more time investing in the lives of my family members, especially when they may not be long for this world. I continue to ponder "balance" and exactly what that means for me. Because I love the Church and have embraced God's call to serve the local church, I want to do it in a way that leaves a positive impact on the world. I guess that every single pastor would say the same thing! It is our passion to serve a church that actually DOES help bring the world to redemption that makes us work so hard. It is that same love and passion that makes us want everyone to attend "our" church or stick with "us." But, just like people, God has allowed a variety of different theologies, worship styles, missions, classes....etc. All of these can be seen as dividers, yet could also work to embrace and bring about redemption to the masses.
I have told my congregation many times that I think they truly are a "mission" church. The many waves of people attending and leaving have caused a lot of pain and confusion...and yet we have helped to grow lots of other churches in the community. Can we really see it like that? Can we be grateful that even when someone chooses to "move on" that they are truly searching for the church-home where God can speak most clearly to them? Can I get rid of "me" and be filled with Christ enough to stand strong in the call to lead and shepherd those whom God has placed where I serve? Have I become too saturated in culture wanting more and more... rather than transformation of my life and others at God's pace?
My goal this Lent is to eat less chocolate...but more importantly to focus on the way God is bringing things together, placing before me and you many opportunities to be the church. I want to focus less on that which divides, less on the political "you're wrong and I'm right." I want to laugh with my brothers and sisters in Christ, cry with them, share and grow together as we look again at the power of the cross in our lives.
When I think about what Jesus left behind I realize that he was so passionate about doing the work of healing and redemption that he encountered the same sort of pain that we all do. Like May, he must have sensed the overwhelming burden of sin and struggle present in the people to whom he ministered. He must have used those times in prayer, times when he went off by himself to pray, in order to fill up again on the strength of the Divine. When we are passionate about something we experience the most Sacred amazing moments. We also encounter those times when we realize that the world has a long way to go. Along with passion comes pain, and that is why we too must take time to reflect, recharge, and be renewed in God's grace, love, and call for us. This is what taking Lent seriously is about me for.
So today I am truly grateful for the many opportunities to encounter God's redemption at work. I am humbled by those sacred moments spent in the presence of God as lives are challenged and changed. I am thankful that "my church" isn't the only one (though it is pretty awesome :-) and that God isn't done with us yet.
May the Church continue to be God's vessel of redemption and transformation for a world in need.
Sometimes I feel like May, though she is much more genuine and loving than I. Things that seem so clear to me as good, right, and just are met with such resistance from people who think differently. This is life, I know, but it often causes me to question if I am using my life in the best way to bring about the kind of change in the world that only God's love and grace can cause. Recently we had a leadership retreat and we discussed whether or not we truly believe that the church continues to be God's vehicle for the redemption of the world. We all agreed that we DO believe it and we want to BE it. This is harder than it sounds because the church is made up of people. We all cherish the love and power of the community, but we also love to be "right."
Sometimes what we love can cause us the most pain, can't it. I'm sure anybody who has children will understand that right away. I've been thinking about my Lent journey these last few days. I really need to be more disciplined about some things in my life. I have gotten off track with some things. In some ways, though I feel like I'm more "at home" in my calling than I've ever been before. I have learned in the past few years to worry much less about pleasing other people and caring more about following the Holy Spirit's nudging. This last few months has helped me realize that I need to spend more time investing in the lives of my family members, especially when they may not be long for this world. I continue to ponder "balance" and exactly what that means for me. Because I love the Church and have embraced God's call to serve the local church, I want to do it in a way that leaves a positive impact on the world. I guess that every single pastor would say the same thing! It is our passion to serve a church that actually DOES help bring the world to redemption that makes us work so hard. It is that same love and passion that makes us want everyone to attend "our" church or stick with "us." But, just like people, God has allowed a variety of different theologies, worship styles, missions, classes....etc. All of these can be seen as dividers, yet could also work to embrace and bring about redemption to the masses.
I have told my congregation many times that I think they truly are a "mission" church. The many waves of people attending and leaving have caused a lot of pain and confusion...and yet we have helped to grow lots of other churches in the community. Can we really see it like that? Can we be grateful that even when someone chooses to "move on" that they are truly searching for the church-home where God can speak most clearly to them? Can I get rid of "me" and be filled with Christ enough to stand strong in the call to lead and shepherd those whom God has placed where I serve? Have I become too saturated in culture wanting more and more... rather than transformation of my life and others at God's pace?
My goal this Lent is to eat less chocolate...but more importantly to focus on the way God is bringing things together, placing before me and you many opportunities to be the church. I want to focus less on that which divides, less on the political "you're wrong and I'm right." I want to laugh with my brothers and sisters in Christ, cry with them, share and grow together as we look again at the power of the cross in our lives.
When I think about what Jesus left behind I realize that he was so passionate about doing the work of healing and redemption that he encountered the same sort of pain that we all do. Like May, he must have sensed the overwhelming burden of sin and struggle present in the people to whom he ministered. He must have used those times in prayer, times when he went off by himself to pray, in order to fill up again on the strength of the Divine. When we are passionate about something we experience the most Sacred amazing moments. We also encounter those times when we realize that the world has a long way to go. Along with passion comes pain, and that is why we too must take time to reflect, recharge, and be renewed in God's grace, love, and call for us. This is what taking Lent seriously is about me for.
So today I am truly grateful for the many opportunities to encounter God's redemption at work. I am humbled by those sacred moments spent in the presence of God as lives are challenged and changed. I am thankful that "my church" isn't the only one (though it is pretty awesome :-) and that God isn't done with us yet.
May the Church continue to be God's vessel of redemption and transformation for a world in need.
