Kindness.

When I was in college and really struggling with whether God was actually calling me into the ministry, I had the opportunity to attend a retreat.  The United Methodist Church holds retreats called "Exploration" for young people that feel a call to ministry.  For me this was one huge step toward answering this call.  I remember though, that I was concerned about paying for my airline ticket to get to Tampa.  Someone who believed in me before I believed in myself donated the last $100 that I needed to make this trip a reality.  I found out by a phone call and it wasn't until years later that I realized who gave me this random act of kindness.  This time away with other young adults who were feeling similarly really gave me the foundation to continue on soul-searching.  

Today I got to be the face of a generous church, as we delivered sandwiches and chips to our hospital, in order that all the people working there had lunch.  We aren't unique in reaching out to the essential workers among us, but I noticed the joy that this food brought about.  It wasn't the sandwich that did it, though Three Girls Bakery did an amazing job. I think what brought about joy was the fact that people felt seen, noticed, and appreciated.  

It is easy to go about our lives without paying attention to the people on the periphery.  It is easy to get so focused on our own lives that we don't notice the people who are longing to be seen.  Yet, when someone does something unexpectedly kind for us it can make all the difference.  People these days are often quite skeptical when you just do something to be kind, to share compassion with no strings attached.  I think that is sad.

I long for a world where taking care of one another is not conditional, and kindness is the norm, rather than the exception.  Have you ever received a gift like this?  One that made you feel seen and loved, encouraged and lifted up?

I would not be a pastor today if it were not for people who saw something in me that I did not see.  Who are the people in your life that continually offer you kindness?  Have you thanked them lately?

How can we be intentional about our acts of kindness in the midst of this pandemic?  What can we do as individuals, what else can we do as a church?  Mostly tonight I encourage you to think about the last 24 hours.  Where did kindness rule the day?  Are there places where you could have been kinder, that you can resolve before you sleep tonight?  How did you offer kindness this day?

Let's get to it....random acts of kindness will change this world...

Pastor Devon

Brave

You are defined by what you embrace, not what you resist.

-Eugene Peterson, Running with Horses

We had the best colloquy professor in my first ever preaching class in seminary.  They had broken our large class into smaller groups that served as our encouragers and critics as we delivered sermons.  Our Prof would get out this little silver sugar-cube box, hand us these delicate silver tongs, open the lid and say, "Choose your text."  It was the most fun way to find out that we would all be preaching from the prophetic Book of Jeremiah.  

Preaching to preachers is kind of terrifying and I hadn't had much practice at that point.  Luckily I chose the beloved story of the potter's house, found in Jeremiah 18:

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.  

The passage goes on with the Lord giving Jeremiah this vision and the words that declare that God can pluck up, tear down, and destroy...but that if they turn from their evil God's mind can change.  The very next verse contains the Israelites' response.... "It's no use." 

It was this Scripture that I had to work with for that very first sermon delivered to my colleagues.  And just days before, my grandmother died.  I had flown from Atlanta to MI for her funeral and found myself writing this sermon literally on one of the airplane barf bags the night before it was to be preached.  

I stood up there and started to preach, and when I got to the part in my sermon where the people declared, "It's no use."  I started to cry.  It was as though all the emotion of the past few days just caught me right then.  I did manage to finish the sermon, then stood in the hallway while they all talked about it, before receiving their gentle critiques. 

That response, ""It's no use." has stuck with me ever since.  We get the potter's hand part, that we are clay and we are being molded....and can be re-molded when necessary.  That God is the potter, and we as God's creatures can be transformed in the hands of our Creator.  That is a beautiful image that we can get behind.  But the people basically throwing up their hands and not even being willing to change, that gets to me.  

It's human nature to be challenged by change, yet change seems to be a constant thread in our lives.  This is one of the reasons I loved working with college students so much, because they embrace change with the idea that the possibilities are endless and good.  The church on the other hand, is definitely quick to throw its hands up in fear when change is in the air.  

And then...we are told we cannot meet in our sanctuaries.  We are told we cannot worship the way it has always been done.  We are told to stop doing what we know how to do, the ways we know how to do it.  Our beautiful response this time: dig in.  Learn how to make videos that are semi-ok, teach people how to do things on the computer they've never done or wanted to do previously, make all the phone calls, sew all the masks, feed all the people...

Have you noticed the valiant acts of bravery and courage that are really EVERYWHERE right now?  I have listened to people (who would not have done this before) preach and offer devotions online that absolutely blow me away.  Musicians playing their hearts out to give us all some hope and joy.  Organizations in our community working tirelessly to make sure our children have the food they need.  Medical professionals and staff persons keeping hospitals going and literally sacrificing their safety for the good of others.  

The quote above by Eugene Peterson came to me as I was struggling with this quarantine last week.  It is that which we embrace that has the potential to change us, to mold and shape us.  When we are open and courageous enough to embrace even the hardest, scariest, messiest things we make space for God to show up, and God will show up.  When we are filled with resistance, which usually means we think we are right, we can easily slide into that "it's no use" mindset.  

Friends, as Christian people in this world right now - let's get brave, let's embrace newness and potential, let's trust that God is about a deep process of transformation.  Let's break down the walls of certainty that separate and open up to the movement of the Holy Spirit as it leads us forward.  

Tonight I wonder how you are being called into courage?  What are you bravely facing these days?  Are you the clay in the hands of the potter, or too busy throwing up your hands and saying "it's no use?"  

On this journey with you -
Pastor Devon

Poor in Spirit

This afternoon on my Zoom with the kids they asked to watch a little video about the Beatitudes.  These videos are pretty simple and they always end with a question that we can talk about.  But I was struck as this first verse was mentioned and have thought this evening about what Jesus may have meant when he said it.  The Beatitudes are found in Matthew 5: 1-12 and are part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  At first glance you might read them with a bit of confusion....why would being poor in spirit be a good thing?  

The longer we are socially distanced from one another, the more often I hear sadness and grief in the voices at the other end of the phone.  I've spoken with so many of you who are feeling unproductive and really beating yourselves up about not accomplishing all the things on your to-do lists.  This unique and strange head and heart space is taking its toll.  For some it is motivation to reach out and call, write, zoom, and generally connect with as many people as possible.  For others, lethargy, sadness, and a deep feeling of being lost are companions on the journey.  For all of us though, there seems to be this profound realization that we really DO need one another.  

It is really easy to take our people for granted.  It's easy to get short tempered with the people you know are stuck with you - right?  These days it is easy to focus on what we are missing out on, the things we long for, what WE want...and to forget that there's a much larger movement at work for the good of the whole.  And yet, these days in that recognition of how much we long for our church, our friends, far-away family members, the normalcy of shopping and eating out without concern, it's in the midst of all of that, when we begin to understand what Jesus meant by poor in spirit.  

Being poor in spirit means that what I want is not more or less important than what others want, that having my needs met is not more important than the needs of others.  I suppose in some sense it is a form of humility, yet it is also a way of being, or a rule of life even.  Jesus is constantly calling his followers into an active form of sacrificial love.  

Now, don't hear me as beating up on any of you.  Because what I think we forget is that caring for ourselves may also be a true act of sacrificial love right now.  If you're feeling like you are the only one who can't seem to get it together, or that you should be accomplishing more, or that you're wasting this opportunity - remember that when Jesus called us to love our neighbor, he finished with....as you love yourself.  Are you showing yourself the grace and kindness that you show others?  

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.  When I think about the Kingdom of God I marvel at the way God fashions us all uniquely, and as Paul said, we are one member of the Body of Christ - but think what we would be without all the other people making up the other parts!  We aren't supposed to do this life thing in solitude - because it is when we interact with people who think and act differently than we do, that we catch one more glimpse of the identity of God.  The Kingdom of God is here...and not yet.  It is breaking into this world in which we live currently, it is the voice of God challenging us to really ponder what's most important, to look hard until we see the Image of God in ALL people.

So whether this finds you completely irritated at the world and the people with whom you share your current space,  riding high on quarantine productivity, or feeling like you might not make it another day....remember that you're never alone and that YOUR piece of the Body of Christ is a creation of the Great I AM. You are crucial to what God is doing in the here and now....yes, even in quarantine time.  May we continue our journey into the new normal, where I pray poor in spirit leads the way.

Love to you this rainy night.
Pastor Devon

Grace and Gratitude

Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth.  

Grace evokes gratitude like the voice and echo.  

Gratitude follows grace as thunder follows lightening. 

 -Karl Barth

I love this quote from theologian Karl Barth, it offers a beautiful image of the connection between grace and gratitude.  The link is logical, grace begets gratitude, and gratitude follows grace.  How have you experienced God's grace today?  I have some relentlessly loving people in my life who always show up, and seem to know when I need an extra bit of encouragement.  They are the presence of God's grace to me when I can't always find it.  

Who are the grace-bearers in your life these days?  Have you been able to take note of them now that things are moving at a different speed?  Have you been able to offer grace to someone that might need some help finding it?  

What is the relationship between grace and gratitude for you, and how is it being made manifest in your life currently?  One of the most helpful spiritual practices I engage in before I go to sleep each day, is to reflect on my gratitude - taking note of the entire day and those moments or conversations for which I am most grateful.  This helps me recognize the presence and activity of God, even if a day is long or difficult. 

Psalm 136 offers us a beautiful reminder:

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

 Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever.

 who by his understanding made the heavens,

His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth upon the waters,

His love endures forever.

 who made the great lights—

His love endures forever.

the sun to govern the day,

His love endures forever.

 the moon and stars to govern the night;

His love endures forever.

So this evening, let's take a few minutes and give thanks to our good God, whose love endures forever.  Let's also give thanks for the people who teach us the importance of grace, God gently places these people in our lives to encourage us to keep on, keeping on.  

And maybe, just maybe, you've been called to be the grace of God for someone too.  Let's keep our hearts open for these grace and gratitude opportunities.  Especially important in these challenging days.  

Grateful for YOU!

Pastor Devon

Earth Day is EVERYDAY.

Today is Earth Day, and I hope you have had an opportunity to reflect on that, at least a bit.  For us, it has been a snowy one, which most people aren't too happy about.  But, this too shall pass.  I wonder if you have kept on eye on the things that are happening to the Earth, now that the humans have been put on restriction.  The Earth is healing, and it is pretty fascinating to read about.  (One article from earlier is here: Climate Crisis in Coronavirus, but you can find all sorts of interesting things about this online.) 

I have been so blessed in my life to experience the beauty of creation in all sorts of ways.  I love to be outside, and have experienced God in such profound ways just by being present with creation.  When I was trying to figure out if God could possibly be calling me into a life of ministry I spent an entire summer sneaking moments before work on the beach in Saugatuck with my Bible, just praying that God would help me figure out what I needed to do. God moved big for me that summer.  

I was so blessed when working with Hearth to Hearth Ministries to be in Africa multiple times. (Check them out here and adopt a child who needs you: https://hearthtohearth.org/). It is one of the most beautiful places I will ever go in my lifetime, with the most beautiful young people.  I met God in new and life-changing ways there.  
  

                               

A few summers ago, after my first year in campus ministry I was again reminded of the healing power of nature on a retreat at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.  This was a life changer for me, and offered my soul the rest it needed.  This tidal island is a place of pilgrimage, and walking from the mainland to the Island, with the seals barking and the North Sea wind whipping reminded me of God's persistent presence and care for me. 

When I think about the beauty of our earth and the amazing creatures therein, I recognize the depth of our responsibility as its stewards.  We have failed so often and are now seeing the consequences of our abuse of the earth, our constant over-use, and disregard of that which truly does keep us alive.  So much of our activity as humans is about getting what we want, when we want it.  It is good to be reminded that we have responsibility to care for the other creatures too.  

Thanks for letting me share these pics with you, I wonder where you have met God in the wild world?  Have you taken some time lately to just listen to the sounds outside? Did you wake up early enough to see the sunrise this morning? 

We can't take all of this for granted, because it speaks boldly of the creativity of our Creator.  God is still creating, redeeming, and sustaining...let's do our part to help.  

Be Blessed,

Pastor Devon

Masks

I have spoken to many people recently who find themselves struggling with really understanding their reactions, emotions, frustrations and fears. I wonder if this bewildered state of being has been caused by the fact that we are having to spend a lot of time with ourselves.  We have been forced to hang with all the "stuff" that we tend to carry around.  And, when we can't be as busy as normal, and we are in the midst of a great loss of control, it is like God is holding up a mirror to the person we can usually hide or cover up with the busy-ness and productivity of our lives.  

Ironically we are wearing very visible masks in public these days, but long before this I think most of us wore the invisible kind really well.  I have thought a lot recently about these masks, and just why so many of us are walking around living less than authentically, maybe even a bit afraid to live into the person that we have been created to be.  We learn in our youngest days some really false teachings about success, beauty, popularity, and strength.  Girls recognize early on what they "should" look like, and boys are often taught that being emotional is a no go, for a strong man.  And as we age these masks are layered as we learn to cope by keeping our true selves hidden and safe.  

This past fall right in the midst of the loss of one of the saints of our church, a bunch of us got really sick.  I was visiting at the hospital when it hit me, but one by one like dominoes it seemed to take us all down.  We all lost a lot of weight that week, and it really made me think about how fundamentally we humans are really all the same.  That's one of the lessons this virus has taught us too, that no matter who we are, how much money we make, or what we think we must accomplish...we all have these bodies that humble us and connect us, because we aren't as invincible as we might think we are.  I suppose aging and illness are truly the great levelers. So I wonder why we spend so much of our lives trying to fit into molds that someone else has designed. 

My forever favorite Psalm 139 speaks to the truth that God has created us intentionally, for a purpose, and that beyond our ability to comprehend we are known, loved and understood by our Creator.  

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down,

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

    O Lord, you know it completely.

You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is so high that I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from your spirit?

    Or where can I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there;

    if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

If I take the wings of the morning

    and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me,

    and your right hand shall hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

    and the light around me become night,”

even the darkness is not dark to you;

    the night is as bright as the day,

    for darkness is as light to you.

For it was you who formed my inward parts;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

    Wonderful are your works;

that I know very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.

In your book were written

    all the days that were formed for me,

    when none of them as yet existed.

What would the world look like if we took off our own masks, and truly offered people the grace to live authentically?  What if our expectations of one another were rooted in the understanding that we are all doing the best we can, with what we have?  I wonder how different our world might become.  Before we can even take those steps, though, I think we must realize that throughout all of our days we have a God that knows us, inside and out.  God already knows who we are, and loves us the most.  

One of my favorite Christian folk artists is JJ Heller, and a few weeks ago just as this was beginning she recorded a new song that sums all of this up pretty well.
It is called You Already Know, and you can listen to it by clicking here: You Already Know.

God does know, and I hope that brings comfort to you.  It sure does to me.  That even when I'm not sure which end is up, God is already there helping me figure it out.  I am so hopeful that as this all slowly moves into a new phase we won't just go back to putting on the masks we've worn for way too long, but that we will embrace this time as a transition into a new way of being the Body of Christ, authentic and strongest together.  

Have a good night everyone.
Pastor Devon

The Tough Days

I wonder how you are all doing today?  It was a beautiful day here, and I am so grateful for time spent outside in the sun.  Sunny days seem to make this a bit easier. 

Tonight I thought I would share with you a bit about my yesterday.  
Each week we record our worship service on Saturday, so that it can be ready to be viewed on Facebook and Youtube on Sunday morning, at our normal worship time.  It is always a relief to get it all set up, but then there is this half hour period between our Sunday school zoom gathering, and the beginning of worship.  I find myself full of nerves as I sit in front of the computer hoping it will all go as it is supposed to, and ready to "fix" it if something goes wrong.  

And as it starts I see the names of people pop up and say hello, checking in.  Some of these names are people I normally see on Sunday, others are persons I have loved for years, but don't get to see because they live so far away.  Once in a while I will see someone join that I haven't talked to since high school, or a family member of one of our parishioners joining in from another state.  There is this rush of joy to know that we can gather, even though we are not physically together.  And yet, yesterday I found myself so filled with sadness.  I just longed for normal, for the energy of the gathered people of God that fills my spirit on Sunday mornings.  I miss the joy of seeing new faces, and the comfort of hugging those people who have attended for years.  I miss the sound of laughter and the fist bumps I receive during children's time.  And the list could go on...and on.  

Figuring out ministry in this context has been a challenge, but I have found such joy in the fact that people are hanging in there and trying their best to stay connected.  I can generally find something hope-filled and positive about most situations.  But yesterday I just tanked.  I'm not telling you this to ask for encouragement, or for your affirmations, because I think it was just my turn.  I'm just telling you this because I imagine that many of you have gone through, or are going through days a bit like this one was for me.  And, it doesn't look like the end is in sight anytime soon.  

It made me think of the beloved Scripture from Matthew 11 that says: 

28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I have often heard people say things like, "Just give it to Jesus.  He will take care of it."  But when I read these verses I realize that what Jesus is saying isn't, hand over all your tough stuff and I'll deal with it.  What Jesus is saying is, share with me your burdens, and together we will journey through this.  Together the burdens of life are lessened, and when we stay connected we can find rest.

The Message Version of this same Scripture says:

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

This morning dawned and it was a new day, though they do seem to be running together a bit.  I realized that today needed to be soul-filling in a different way.  So, for me, today was a day of putting away my phone, setting aside the computer and spending a bit of time with some people I love, outside just being.  I have reflected today on what it means to "learn the unforced rhythms of grace."  I am not very good at making space for real rest, and yet this is such an important aspect of the life of faith.  

Barbara Brown Taylor puts it beautifully in her statement above.  We learn things from the darkness, from the hardest days and the longest nights, that we might not learn any other way. I wonder what things you have learned about yourself in the last six weeks?  How have you been learning about the rhythms of grace?  These rhythms are comfortable, free, and light.  

So, my prayer for all of us tonight is that we might engage this time less focused on output or getting things done, and come to a new understanding of what it means to be yoked with Christ, the author of these unforced rhythms of grace.  

Blessings, my friends.
Pastor Devon