Flaws like Gold

2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 (click link to read passage)

Reflection:

Paul had some sort of issue – we are not sure what it was. Maybe he had a stutter. Maybe he had chronic migraines. Whatever it was, however, it was disruptive enough for him to call it “a messenger from Satan.” He begged God to remove it from him, but God’s response was simple; “my grace is enough for you – for power is made perfect in weakness.”

At first glance, God’s response seems at once uncaring and unintelligible. What in the world does it mean that “power is made perfect in weakness?”

If we dig a little deeper, though – all of us can recognize a place, sometimes buried deep within ourselves, that recognizes the truth behind these words.

When, in your life, have you felt emptied out and ready to give up?

When, in your life, have you been forced to admit you couldn’t handle it all?

When, in your life, were you moved to humility and dependence on the divine?

Even though these times might be difficult to remember, they are often the times we are closest to the truth of God’s words to Paul. We like to put up a façade of self-sufficiency, but it is actually the cracks in that façade that most powerfully point others to the presence of Christ in our lives.

For me, my “cracks” surround childhood sadness, and my own intimate experiences with the “messenger from Satan” called depression. But oh, those cracks shine so bright with God’s grace and light! Those times show so brilliantly that God’s grace really is sufficient for me – and for you, too.

The picture above is of an ancient Japanese bowl repaired with gold filling. That’s how they did it back then – not to hide the cracks, but to make them shine all the more. I have no doubt that this is what God is doing in our lives, too.

So don’t be afraid to let God’s grace shine through the cracks in your façade. Odds are, those cracks are the very places others feel most comfortable around you because there are no pretentions – and because if you’re not perfect, maybe they don’t have to be perfect to be around you.

I want to close with a song by my favorite acoustic guitarist, Peter Mayer (www.petermayer.net) called “Japanese Bowls.” The lyrics say it all:

I’m like one of those Japanese bowls

That were made long ago

I have some cracks in me

They have been filled with gold

That’s what they used back then

When they had a bowl to mend

It did not hide the cracks

It made them shine instead

So now every old scar shows

From every time I broke

And anyone’s eyes can see

I’m not what I used to be

But in a collector’s mind

All of these jagged lines

Make me more beautiful

And worth a much higher price

I’m like one of those Japanese bowls

I was made long ago

I have some cracks you can see

See how they shine of gold

Prayer:

God of grace, when I can’t, you can. Shine through my life today – and help me to graciously accept my flaws as places where you can shine even brighter. Amen.

God Scatters Snow Like Wool...

Isaiah 55:10-12 (Click link to read passage)

Reflection:

It was hard to see any good in it. Snow was everywhere. We don’t own a snowblower, so it meant hours and hours of shoveling. I was scheduled to leave for a conference out of town, so it meant cancelled flights and non-refundable hotel rooms empty.

It was hard to see any good in the massive storm that hit the Midwest yesterday, and Spring seems so far away.

And yet, as neighbors emerged from their houses to help one another out, a sense of community developed in my neighborhood like I haven't seen in the two years we've lived there. Everyone was helping everyone else out. My kids were playing in the middle of the street while neighbors talked and joked. It was a blessed, peaceful moment in the midst of an otherwise crazy day.

In the passage linked above, Isaiah is reminding his listeners, and us, that whether we can see past current obstacles or not, God is busy bringing about new life. Isaiah is reminding his listeners, and us, that even when it isn’t obvious, God is weaving all things together to accomplish his purposes.

Isaiah uses the image of snow, which speaks to me today. Just as I can’t yet see the new flowers and grass that will sprout in months thanks to the healthy dose of water, so sometimes the “good” in some situations in our lives seems buried beneath a mountain of obstacles.

So I’m rejoicing in Isaiah’s words today -

Don’t forget – Spring is coming!

Don’t forget – Easter is coming!

Don’t forget – Jesus is coming!

Prayer:

God of every good gift, help me to put my trust in you today so that I might not miss the buried blessings springing forth all around me. Amen.

Dawn is Breaking

Luke 1:67-79 Zechariah’s Prophecy

Reflection:

I sing to my kids all the time.

But I’ve never sung like that.

In the passage linked above, you heard one of the greatest songs of praise in the New Testament, as Zechariah sings to his new little boy, who we will later meet as John the Baptist.

About halfway through his praise song, he starts singing directly to his son…

“You, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways…”

The most beautiful line, however, is right near the end. In it, Zechariah – priest, father, prophet – uses one of the most beautiful images in all of scripture to describe what Jesus will be for the world;

“The dawn from on high will break upon us…”

Indeed, Jesus’ light breaks forth in the darkness of human brokenness.

Jesus’ light breaks forth in the darkness of human pain and suffering.

Jesus’ light even shines THROUGH the darkest human experience of death, shining all the way to the glory on the other side.

So, today, no matter how short winter makes your days, or how dark your everyday struggles feel, know that just as each morning brings the brightness of the sun, so each moment brings the brightness of the Son.

The dawn from high breaks upon us!

Prayer:

God of light, shine through my darkness today. Help me to see beyond the barriers right before me – guide my feet into the way of peace. Amen.

Would you leave?

Luke 5:27-32 Jesus Calls Levi - Click here to read passage

Reflection:

Have you ever wondered why the folks in the Bible seem so ready to just walk away from their professions to follow Jesus?

I mean, if you trained for years to be a mechanic, let’s say – and your livelihood depended on what you brought in from that work…and then some wandering preacher comes and tells you to follow him, learn from him, and be part of his movement – would you leave it all, trusting that this was the right thing to do? Of course not!

This highlights the difference between the culture of Jesus’ day and our own. Back then, rabbis were well-respected members of the community…and to be a “follower” of one of the rabbis was a distinct honor. It meant that you had excelled past your classmates in knowledge of the Scriptures. It meant that you had memorized the Scriptures. It meant that you were the best of the best. Only the ‘cream of the crop’ got called to be a rabbi’s disciples.

Except this rabbi did things differently.

He went to those who were ‘not good enough.’

He went to those who had not excelled past their peers.

He called regular, everyday folks like you and I to be part of his radical movement of good news, joy, and peace.

That’s why the disciples dropped everything and followed him – because it meant that before they even believed in him, he believed in them. He believed in their ability to carry his message. He believed in their ability to be a vehicle for his love. He believed that this rag-tag group of “anybodies” could change the world. And they did.

They still do. Now you and I are a part of that rag-tag group as well. Thanks be to God!

Prayer: God of all people, you call us to be your followers and to echo the love you show to us. Help us to rest secure in the fact that before we even believe in you, you believe in us and our power to let your love flow through us to others. Amen.

What Are We To Say...?

Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 God’s Love in Christ Jesus

Click here to view passage

Reflection:

One year ago yesterday, a terrible earthquake rocked the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Recent news headlines remind us that the weight of systemic poverty is more than a year can lift. Many, many people still suffer terribly in Haiti.

Last night, a memorial service was held for those lost in Tucson a week ago. The weight of that tragedy, and the loss of public servants, family members, and even a 9-year old child brings the inevitable question: “Why did this happen?”

When faced with tragedy, loss, and unanswerable questions, words seem to fail us. But the scriptures remind us that there’s one thing that never fails us in such situations…

In the passage linked above, Paul clearly states his reasons for hope in the midst of despair. The love of the one who bore the cross of despair now pierces through any obstacle. Said simply, “nothing…will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now, it is simply our job to live and act as though this is true. We do not succumb to the temptations to point fingers of blame. We do not lose heart or hope. We do not retreat into apathy or cynicism. We live and love as though Christ is reaching others through our hands and our hearts.

Prayer: God of uninterrupted love, be with the family and friends of those lost in Haiti, Tucson, and elsewhere. Show us what we might do to reflect your love in significant ways to those we encounter this day. Amen.

Gathered to be Scattered

Acts 8:4-8 Philip Preaches in Samaria (Click here to view passage)

Reflection:

The old adage goes: “There’s strength in numbers”

Usually, a crowd loses its power when it is scattered.

But the Christians were, and are, a different sort of phenomenon.

Right before the passage linked above, we hear about Saul, before his conversion to Christianity. He is a zealous persecutor of Christians…and that persecution causes the group to scatter to the four winds to save their own tails.

One might think this is the end of the “movement” of Christianity. The group’s been scattered away from their leaders. They no longer can claim strength in numbers. It’s over.

Except for this group – the scattering simply spreads the message further. We hear of Philip, on his own, telling people in Samaria about Jesus…and God’s grace extends to more and more people.

Eventually Saul will get knocked off his high horse and become Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles…and God’s grace extends to more and more people.

On Sunday mornings, you and I are gathered for an hour; to be trained, to be blessed, to be strengthened; to be shown by example what love looks like. But then, just 60 minutes later, we are scattered to the four winds again – to make sure God’s grace continues to be extended to more and more people.

So wherever you are reading this devotion from, no matter how far it is away from the church, know that you are the presence of Christ’s love in that place. Extend God’s grace to those you encounter today; through words, through actions, through a willingness to be the hands and feet of Christ.

Prayer: Gracious God, give us the strength to be scattered today, so that the walls of the church may not keep others out, or your love in. Amen.

Take Off My Shoes?!?

Exodus 3:1-5 Moses at the Burning Bush

Reflection:

Most people have to be pretty comfortable with you to take their shoes off.

I don’t know what it is – maybe we’re all afraid that we have ugly feet…maybe it’s a feeling of nakedness on some level…but whatever it is, most folks don’t like taking their shoes off around other people.

Unless, that is, you are truly feeling at home.

For me, the places that I feel comfortable removing my shoes are also the places that I feel most comfortable, period. They are the places where I know I’m loved and accepted for who I am, warts and all (and no, I don’t have warts on my feet!)

I can take my shoes off at home.

I can take my shoes off at my parents’ house.

I can take my shoes off at my inlaws’ house.

These are the places where I know I can be myself.

As Moses approaches the very presence of God in the passage linked above, God tells him to remove his shoes, because the ground he is standing on is holy. On one level, this is to show respect to the divine. But on another level, it is an intimate moment. Moses is himself before God. No shoes. No barriers. No pretentions.

This week, it is my hope that you know that the ground you walk is holy ground, because Jesus walks every step with you. Maybe, knowing that presence of unbounded love in your life, you’ll be able to remove your shoes!

Prayer: God of peace, open our eyes to your presence in our daily lives, that we might know your all-encompassing love. Amen.