When Jesus sends out his disciples, he sends them out two by two. This was a wise thing to do.
Having a traveling companion meant you had someone to support you when you were weak. Having a fellow servant meant you had someone with whom to explore insights. Having a buddy meant that you didn't feel so alone, even when the way was lonely.
You have been my companion these past months. Over the course of the academic year we have carried on a conversation. Knowing that you are there provides fuel for my prayers and an additional purpose to my mediation.
I will miss you over the summer.
It is more difficult to maintain my prayer discipline over the summer. Without you there, it is easier to sleep in, or sleep right up to the time I need to be out the door. Without responses and updates, names begin to fall off my prayer list - assuming that the crisis is over or the need met.
I do better when I have a traveling companion.
Perhaps some of this applies to your summer as well. Many (most) of you report home congregations with small (or non-existent) youth groups. Who will be there as a spiritual travel companion as you return home. You have grown and developed and matured in your faith. Even those who were with you in past years may have grown in ways which have lead you to differing places.
My prayer for you, my prayer for all of us, as we conclude this year together, is that you will intentionally seek out someone with whom you can spend the summer, traveling your spiritual path. It might be a high school friend. Perhaps that pastor who you barely listened to in confirmation but is eager to have you return now and ask all those questions. It might be your parents, or a trusted member of the congregation.
Jesus sent his disciples out two by two. There is a lot of wisdom in that decision. Perhaps one of the wisest things we can do is apply this instruction to our own life.
God will be with you. God will watch over you. Remember me in your prayers and I will remember you. And we will renew our conversations come August.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Devotion - Wednesday, May 4
In addition to my role as campus pastor, I am also under call to a congregation. In addition to these roles, I am also a son-in-law. I spent a good deal of time yesterday in these latter two roles.
My mother-in-law is dying. While it was only seven weeks ago that the doctor confirmed she has pulmonary fibrosis, she is experiencing rapid deterioration. She came home from the hospital two weeks ago, with Hospice Care. In these weeks, I have laughed as she faked a breathing attack (only to use the increased attention as an opportunity to ask for more chocolate), observed her and my son singing various hymns, and occasionally been surprised at the stories of her past she has decided to share. The last 36 hours have been the sharpest decline. She is now beginning to loose much of her cognitive function.
A dear member of the congregation is also under Hospice care. She has been treated for abdominal cancer over the past couple of years. The treatments in January and February had such negative side effects that she decided to discontinue treatment. Yesterday she shared with me that she feels so much better now. She was wondering if she was premature in setting up Hospice care. She did point out, however, how much she was enjoying sitting in her chair and looking out the windows at the birds, and not really worrying about trending the yard or accomplishing various tasks.
Both of these are aiding me greatly, as I make my own way through life, as I move ever closer to my own death.
There are so many things which I consider to be so damn important - but they really are not.
There are great ends toward which I direct my energy - but these ideals too often look too much like my own ego.
There are appointments to keep and calendars to follow - but there are also flowers blooming and butterflies migrating back to the north.
And all of this is happening as we end the school year and say good-bye to our graduating friends.
I thanked Lucy and said a prayer over Granna that I would not allow their impact on my life to be muted. And so I share it with you, to encourage you to thank God and think of all that God is sending into your life. There are important tasks; but it is even more important that you live your life. We have shared so much in the year about to end, in the years which went before this one. It all finds its meaning and purpose when it serves to remind us nothing in life is as important as living a thankful life.
Let us thank God; and let us promise God that we will not fail to take notice of all the wonderful things and all the beautiful people He has placed in our lives.
My mother-in-law is dying. While it was only seven weeks ago that the doctor confirmed she has pulmonary fibrosis, she is experiencing rapid deterioration. She came home from the hospital two weeks ago, with Hospice Care. In these weeks, I have laughed as she faked a breathing attack (only to use the increased attention as an opportunity to ask for more chocolate), observed her and my son singing various hymns, and occasionally been surprised at the stories of her past she has decided to share. The last 36 hours have been the sharpest decline. She is now beginning to loose much of her cognitive function.
A dear member of the congregation is also under Hospice care. She has been treated for abdominal cancer over the past couple of years. The treatments in January and February had such negative side effects that she decided to discontinue treatment. Yesterday she shared with me that she feels so much better now. She was wondering if she was premature in setting up Hospice care. She did point out, however, how much she was enjoying sitting in her chair and looking out the windows at the birds, and not really worrying about trending the yard or accomplishing various tasks.
Both of these are aiding me greatly, as I make my own way through life, as I move ever closer to my own death.
There are so many things which I consider to be so damn important - but they really are not.
There are great ends toward which I direct my energy - but these ideals too often look too much like my own ego.
There are appointments to keep and calendars to follow - but there are also flowers blooming and butterflies migrating back to the north.
And all of this is happening as we end the school year and say good-bye to our graduating friends.
I thanked Lucy and said a prayer over Granna that I would not allow their impact on my life to be muted. And so I share it with you, to encourage you to thank God and think of all that God is sending into your life. There are important tasks; but it is even more important that you live your life. We have shared so much in the year about to end, in the years which went before this one. It all finds its meaning and purpose when it serves to remind us nothing in life is as important as living a thankful life.
Let us thank God; and let us promise God that we will not fail to take notice of all the wonderful things and all the beautiful people He has placed in our lives.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Devotion - Tuesday, May 3
My appointed readings are from John 17. This is a section of Jesus' "High Priestly Prayer." In this prayer, Jesus remembers before his Father all the things that he holds dear.
He speaks of being in the world but not of the world. He speaks of being protected from "the evil one." And he prays for those whom he has "sent into the world."
Living a life modeled after Christ is easy when we are in the Church. Living in the world is where things become difficult.
As a person of faith, I am having difficulty living in the world this day. The military assault which resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden has given rise to a whole host of events - many of which are appropriate; some of which smack of the very thing we are seeking to eliminate.
I am thinking back to this morning's appointed reading. We must always be careful to equate scripture's references to "the evil one" to any human. Surely, Bin Laden organized and directed many evil deeds. He fell under the influence of "the evil one," and "the evil one" convinced him that violence and murder were acceptable means to an end.
Those whom Christ has sent into the world will always rejoice when evil is held in check. Our status of being "in the world but not of the world" means that we understand the impracticality of ending violence with violence.
I have not been on campus enough to know what is being said there. I imagine it is much like what is being said other places. Perhaps the busyness of exams has muted the reaction and the comments. I encourage you to be "sent into (your) world" with the message of Christ. That you might interject into the conversations and the discussions a regret that the world which God made and declared "Good" is all too often a world in which there is hatred and bloodshed.
The hope we all have is of a time when "the evil one" will hold no sway in this world. We may choose not to challenge the legitimacy of Sunday night's assault, but we must speak out for a world in which God's peace rules rather than hatred and war and destruction.
He speaks of being in the world but not of the world. He speaks of being protected from "the evil one." And he prays for those whom he has "sent into the world."
Living a life modeled after Christ is easy when we are in the Church. Living in the world is where things become difficult.
As a person of faith, I am having difficulty living in the world this day. The military assault which resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden has given rise to a whole host of events - many of which are appropriate; some of which smack of the very thing we are seeking to eliminate.
I am thinking back to this morning's appointed reading. We must always be careful to equate scripture's references to "the evil one" to any human. Surely, Bin Laden organized and directed many evil deeds. He fell under the influence of "the evil one," and "the evil one" convinced him that violence and murder were acceptable means to an end.
Those whom Christ has sent into the world will always rejoice when evil is held in check. Our status of being "in the world but not of the world" means that we understand the impracticality of ending violence with violence.
I have not been on campus enough to know what is being said there. I imagine it is much like what is being said other places. Perhaps the busyness of exams has muted the reaction and the comments. I encourage you to be "sent into (your) world" with the message of Christ. That you might interject into the conversations and the discussions a regret that the world which God made and declared "Good" is all too often a world in which there is hatred and bloodshed.
The hope we all have is of a time when "the evil one" will hold no sway in this world. We may choose not to challenge the legitimacy of Sunday night's assault, but we must speak out for a world in which God's peace rules rather than hatred and war and destruction.
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