The Pensive Pastor December 28th
It’s make or break time! Right now, it’s just 10 days before Christmas as I’m writing this, and we are in the middle of the most important shopping time of the year. If retail shops are to have a good year, this is the season for it to happen. The rest of the year pales in comparison to the importance of the December rush. No other month means so much to the folks at Toys R Us, or People’s Jewelers or any of the other places that make there money selling things to others.
That’s a lot of pressure, I would imagine. Having to make your big sales push in just one month must be pretty scary, especially when that month is the very last one of the year. Not only that, but a lot of stores add to their staff for this one month, because they know that they will have a great influx of customers coming to make their last minute (or perhaps more accurately, last month) purchases. Retailers also increase their stock of products as well as hiring more staff, because this is the time folks really, really seem to want to buy stuff. Like I said before, it must be a scary prospect, what with hiring new staff, buying extra stuff and making your year a success in one month.
The strange thing is that this isn’t a creation of the store-keepers. This last minute rush is not really the way they would want things to be. It would be much more reasonable for them to get a steady run of business, with their profits neatly divided through each month of the year. That way they would know mid year how their business is doing, and whether or not their year will be a profitable one. That’s not how things work, however. For whatever reason, customers seem to think about Christmas as the big time to buy, leaving many retailers in the lurch until that one time of year.
It’s funny even though the season is crucial to sales folks, it’s not that important to church folk. Oh, sure, there are the seasonal church goers for whom this is one of their two big chances to go to a worship service (the other being Easter) but for the most part, Christmas is an important time, but not the most important time of the year for those who practice their faith well. After all, while it’s wonderful to celebrate the coming of our Lord and to anticipate His return at this time of year, we know that His presence is a constant in our lives. We don’t need to wait for Him to enter our lives but once a year; Jesus is with us all the time, which is a great reason to rejoice.
Our reason to rejoice is not just the fact that Jesus is with us all the time, but the fact that we don’t have to wait to know our fate. When Jesus is part of our lives, when we serve Him and follow Him and love Him and enjoy Him as a part of our regular, normal existence, our future is pretty much secure. When things go sour, we know He will be there to weep with us and help us with our recovery. When things go well, He will be there to laugh with us and help us to even greater things. When we mess up, He will be there to forgive us and set us on the right path. And when it comes time for us to leave this earthly realm, if we’ve lived our lives in line with Jesus’ expectations, we can be pretty sure of a warm welcome in a very nice place.
For some folks, Christmas is the make or break season. But for those folks who have Jesus in their lives, there is no waiting for the Christmas rush. A good year, and indeed a good lifetime of years, is guaranteed. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor December 14th
I like watching a program called “Dragon’s Den.” It’s not a swashbuckling adventure; it’s a show that features five very successful business people, the titular Dragons, and folks seeking investment capital pitching their products to the dragons. Many of the promotions are completely ludicrous you just know will not receive financial support from the Dragons. Some appear more reasonable, but upon careful examination by the skilled and savvy mavens of manufacturing, advertising and sales, turn out to be poor business models. Then there are the products that you know are wonderful, but somehow don’t catch the Dragon’s imagination.
One such product was rejected because it was very seasonal, a Christmas tree stand obviously needed for only one brief time of the year. This very limited time-frame didn’t, and the fact that the product had no hope for expansion into other markets, didn’t appeal to the Dragons. However, in a follow-up show, we learned that the smart cookie that had developed the idea was onto something big. Immediately after the program in which she was rejected aired, her phone rang of the hook. Her business went through the roof, a bit because of the exposure she had enjoyed on the Dragon’s Den, and mostly because she had a darn fine product that met a specific, but widespread need.
Oh, sure, folks only ask for Christmas tree stands for about three months of the year, and thats not a very long time in marketing terms. On the other hand, there are vast numbers of people that need those things and that is a very good thing from a marketers point of view. No, there’s not a lot of room to get into other areas or seasonal products, but who cares when just one thing that suits just one season is all you need to have a successful year?
The Dragon’s look for products that have a broad appeal, and that have room for expansion. They want diversity so that they can profit in a broad number of areas, and to protect themselves in case one area or one product fails. Given that logic, I’m not sure how many of us would be sellable to God if He took that point of view. If God wanted products that could be marketed across a broad population segment, or that had a great number of possibilities, I don’t think many of us would make the grade.
After all, most of us can do only one or two things well, and probably can excel in only one thing, if any at all. A good business person might our potential too limited. Our market wouldn’t be big enough, which means that in the end, there wouldn’t be enough product to satisfy a Dragon’s Den god.
Our God, the God of heaven and earth, on the other hand, isn’t interested in profiting from us. God doesn’t care if we don’t bring anything to him. All he cares is that we offer ourselves to Him with the same love and care He made us. God seeks our companionship, not a company name. He seeks praise, not profit. And as far as God is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether or not we are marketable across a wide variety of skews or to a broad sector of the population. God’s business is love, and that’s all the business He wants from us. If we can share that love and make it grow, all the better. But even if all we can do is love God with all our hearts and souls and minds and strength, that’s good enough. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor December 7th
I ate an Orange the other day. Nice, fresh, fairly tasty, I enjoyed the fruit here in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, in the early part of December, despite the fact that Oranges are not native to this part of the country, or indeed, to any part of Canada. Clearly, this Orange was an import, a visitor from some land hot enough to produce this delectable bit of produce. In this case, the country of origin was South Africa. Yes, the fruit I ate the other day had travelled half-way round the world just for me.
This is a pretty remarkable feat. I have never been to South Africa. Most of my friends have never gone there. Yet this orange, and thousands of it’s tree-mates made this amazing journey, and did so with little fan-fare or excitement. Sure, the label was distinct and clear, but not flashy in any way. There were no huge signs pointing to this long-traveled wonder. The store clerks did not make a big fuss to point out it’s incredibly distant point of origin. In fact, those South African wonders were just part of the regular merchandise, sharing space in the fruit and vegetable department with tomatoes from California, garlic from China and apples from Ontario.
I am stunned by this lackadaisical attitude. I find it incredible that I and a myriad of other shoppers pretty much take if for granted that we Ontarians can enjoy exotic fruit any time of the year, even if it has to travel thousands upon thousands of kilometers. In fact, we are so accustomed to being able to enjoy such long-distance goodies that it almost doesn’t register on our conscious minds any more. Somewhere, somehow, sometime, our mindset shifted and now we figure that we can have anything we want, at any time, no matter how far it has to travel or how unusual the product might be given our local weather conditions. It also stuns me how our relationship with food parallels our relationships with others, especially our relationship with God.
Sure, we have lots of close friends, and for most folks close means in the same town, if not in the same neighbourhood. But more and more, close means emotionally, but not necessarily physically. Nowadays lots of people have relationships on-line, virtual friends that are real enough, but with whom contact is only made by computer generated image and hand typed notes. Spiritually, lots of folks are even more distant from their God, with hobbies, work and entertainment from movies to poker standing in for the soul satisfying network we all need.
It’s stunning to me. We have a God that came to us in our own form. He came to us as a child that grew into a man, as a flesh-bound holiness intruding into our flesh-defined humanity. Through Jesus God spanned a spiritual gap greater than any distance measured on earth or even the entire universe. Yet despite this no-further-than-our-heart closeness, we choose to go to other places for our spiritual fix. What’s worse is that those fixes provide only temporary and imperfect satisfaction for our soul-deep hunger.
God, on the other hand, offers us something more meaningful, long lasting and close to home. It might not seem as exciting or exotic as some as what other things offer, yet there is nothing more perfect or fulfilling than the simple relationship between us and our heavenly brother, Jesus. Heaven-born, yet no further than our hearts, no-one else can soothe our souls and inspire our minds than God’s only Son. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor November 30th
Everything must fit perfectly. It just has to, without exception. No prayer can have a paragraph lingering over onto the next page. No hymn lyric can have a word or two drop off the end of a sentence on to the line below. Choruses and verses must be made distinct from one another. If an extra page is going to be needed it had better be almost entirely filled with text. That’s just the way it is with the printed liturgy (a fancy word for a religious script) every week. Every week I ensure that the script is complete, neat and fills all the needs listed in the above paragraph. There can be no exceptions, no variations, no wasted space or things that aren’t perfectly neat and tidy.
It is a painstaking process that requires meticulous work and a great deal of focus. It’s a task I set myself knowing that it will make my Sunday in the pulpit that much easier. And it’s a task that I realize borders on the obsessive every once in a while. The pages have to appear just so, with the printing a certain size, with as few pages as possible and every detail of the worship service nailed into place. It is also a task that I realize might just seem a little nutty, when you think about it, or at least think about it too much.
And think about it I do, every week I prepare that all important script for the following Sunday. I think about how picky I am and wonder if maybe I overdo it a little bit. I think about how concerned I am with the appearance of the thing and wonder if I could compromise a little. And I think about how much time it takes and wonder if it might be time spent better in other ways.
Then I realize that yes, I’m very picky, but by being that way I get exactly what I need to help make Sunday go more smoothly. I realize that I am a very visual person and that if I am satisfied with the appearance my day goes much more smoothly than it would if I were distracted by something that didn’t satisfy my personal visual taste. And I further realize that I’ve gotten pretty efficient in poring over the details of the liturgy, so that it really doesn’t detract from the time spent doing other necessary things.
So yes, everything must fit perfectly, without hanging over pages or dropping down lines or with verses and choruses being in any way indistinct from each other. It’s just my way, and I have to accept myself for it. It’s how I work best, so I try to keep up my own personal standard. In the end, it’s time well spent so that I can feel comfortable and well prepared Sunday morning.
To know ourselves and be comfortable with ourselves is part of God’s plan for us. God’s speaks to us through Scripture, His holy Spirit and through his Son Jesus. He knows who we are and deals with us in ways that are appropriate for our unique take on life. If we’re in tune with ourselves, then we can hear God and understand Him all the better. If we don’t know ourselves very well, then God’s message is a lot harder to understand which is a shame. After all, God has great news for us; He loves us; He wants to help us. He wants our lives to fit perfectly with His life.
That’s not to say He expects us to be perfect. After all, if we don’t know ourselves completely, it’s hard to be exactly who God wants us to be. But even just knowing ourselves in part is good enough, because if we let Him, God can use us however we come to him, whether we’re perfectionists or happy-go lucky. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor November 23rd
He seemed like a bright enough young man. In all our conversations he spoke well, with a pretty good knowledge of the world, and what seemed to be a fairly solid sense of self and his place in the world. Then he shared his great dream, or ultimate ambition, and the image I had fell apart. For all his smarts, his biggest dream was to see his favourite rock group in a live performance. With that task checked off his to do list, he had no further purpose or goals in life.
Naturally, I figured he was pulling my leg, or at least overstating the case, so I challenged him on what I perceived as the paucity of his great hope. I mean, as a pastor, and someone who thinks folks are worth a lot more than a rock group, I thought that maybe there might be more to this young man than a bit of classic heavy metal. I was, however wrong: he assured me that the band in question was one of the most influential elements in his life, and that there was no higher end for him than to see them perform in the flesh. Discussion over. I mean, I know when I’m not going to get anywhere, so I didn’t see any point in pushing the issue, or possibly upsetting the kid by being too headstrong. Instead, I simply accepted what he had to say, and started praying for him.
I point out this encounter not so much to criticize the young man, but because this isn’t the first time I’ve heard about such, to put it politely, limited ambitions. Time and time again I’ve had folks tell me about goals in life that are tied to a specific event, a single happening that really doesn’t point to anything actually being accomplished. I mean, what is the point of seeing a band, climbing a mountain or mastering the perfect cheese souffle? Such goals don’t mean or say much about who or what a person is, because ultimately, they don’t accomplish anything other than selfish or trivial ends.
Think of it this way: our goals define us. That is, what we wish to do speaks directly to what kind of a person we are. Thus, if all we’re interested in is hearing that one rock band we dearly love, then we don’t have a lot of other interests. On the other hand, if we want to leave the world a better place by bringing beautiful music into the lives of others, the goal speaks of a person interested in more than themselves, in a way that teaches us about that person. That’s how our goals define us. They paint a picture of our interests, abilities, of what impacts us and what impact we want to have. Thus, if one’s goal is to build the perfect computer, it’s not much. But, if their goal is to build a computer that will solve all social ills, then they’re onto something. They might not get it done, but at least their heart is in the right place.
If our goals define us, then we had better make sure that they are worth something more than a good time or a pleasant memory. Who we are, after all, is not just something that we own, but that is defined by God, from the moment He first thought of us. The best goals, then, are those that line up, as best as humanly possible, with the heavenly plan set aside for us. Pursuing these seemingly lofty possibilities are our best chance at leading lives that are not only meaningful, but fun too. After all, what better way to enjoy oneself can there be than to do what we’re meant to do, for the reason we’re meant to do it, and to do it on behalf of the one that enjoys us for who and what we are? At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor November 23rd
I not a historian by any stretch of the imagination. I have a great interest in history, but not that great a knowledge of the subject. I am particularly fascinated by the so called “War to end all wars” otherwise known as World War One. Here my interest has been piqued to know at least a little bit of the history, and to try to deepen that knowledge as much as possible.
In my pursuit of that deeper understanding, I watched a program that talked about the “Sappers” or engineers that dug both tunnels and trenches during the four years of the “Great war.” These unsung heroes had a difficult and mostly unsung task. They were commissioned to dig underground fortifications for the troops that would otherwise have no place to go. The job was hard enough, given the fact that cave-ins and flooding were constant risks, but it was made even harder by the enemy soldiers shooting, bombing and generally harassing them.
The task turned even more unpleasant when the engineers were ordered to dig under the German trenches in order to bomb the enemy from below. Imagine being handed such an assignment. Not only was the job itself very unpleasant and dangerous, now those ordinary men were told to kill the enemy in the sneakiest way possible. Imagine that for a moment. Imagine asking someone to do the unthinkable, to knowingly and willingly prepare the means that an unsuspecting foe be blown to kingdom come.
Sadly, such orders were the order of the day, in various forms on both sides of the trenches. In those muddy, blood-stained fields, men had to do things that no-one should ever be asked to do. Yet the cause of the defenders was just. They were fighting an oppressive force that sought to take away the property and freedoms of a people that had nothing to provoke such treatment. And so the war raged on, demanding that kind, gentle men become cold, vicious killers, lest the injustice of the enemy overwhelm the innocent.
Taking up arms against tyranny, oppression or any form of injustice is never a pleasant task, but there are times when it is the only possible choice. When negotiations break-down, or the enemy doesn’t even care to try, then force must be met with force in order that justice might be restored. That’s exactly what happened when God sent Jesus to overcome the force of evil in the world. Only by sending Jesus to the cross could sin’s power over us be broken. Only by sacrificing His only Son could humanity know and benefit from God’s true and lasting forgiveness.
I’m sure that God didn’t enjoy sending Jesus to the Cross. How can a father send his son to die without feeling immense pain and loss? Nevertheless, despite the great personal cost, God did it. The unpleasant task was the only thing that could or would redeem a lost and desperate humanity. Sometimes we too are called to unpleasant tasks, tasks that grieve us as much as they grieve God, but are still necessary. There is not getting around the fact. Our only consolation comes from the fact that one day there will be no tasks too distasteful or painful. One day the hardest thing we will have to do is chose what songs to sing to God’s praises. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor November 9th
The house I live in is about 50, maybe 60 years old. Given a little care and proper maintenance, it should last another 50 or so years. When it does finally become less than useful, chances are that a replacement home will follow pretty much the same builiding techniques, since they are pretty effective. My car, on the other hand, which is only 7 years old, probably will only last another 7 or so years, but by the time it’s done it’s duty, whatever replaces it will probably be pretty different, given the rate of change of technology. Meanwhile my computer software and hardware might last for years, but it’s pretty much out of date the moment it’s unpacked and installed.
That’s the odd thing about what we build and create. Some things last a long, long time, because the technology works. Balloon framed houses, a design that is now over 100 years old, and the kind that most of us occupy, will quite likely be around for another century or so, the design is that good. Cars and software, on the other hand, have much shorter shelf lives, not because the designs aren’t good enough, but because they are so complicated that there’s always room for improvement. Maybe that’s the core of the issue: the more complex a thing is, the more room there is for change and advancement. It’s very complexity means that it’s not fully understood, or at least that it’s full possibilities and permutations aren’t fully fathomed or explored. This means that even though normal ordinary folks like you and I might be happy with our cars or computers as they are, some folks see nothing but possibilities and exciting new things we simply can’t perceive.
Our faith is one of those things that can either be like a house in it’s constancy, or like a computer and it’s constant change and progression. As different things impact our lives, as we get to know ourselves better and better, we look and how and what we believe with constant, critical eyes that help make sure our practices and understanding of our faith meets our ever changing needs. Or we might be the type of person for whom the faith learned in childhood is the very one that lasts us through to maturity and even to our final breath. Then again, some folks are both fixed and variable in their faith, living out what they believe in large chunks of unchanging stability, but with the odd major or minor course adjustment along the way.
However we believe, what matters to God is that we do have some kind of relationship with Him. Whether is stormy and constantly in flux or fixed and completely stable doesn’t matter. What counts is that we believe and that we do so actively. An active belief is one that underlies and informs our lives. It is the foundation and core of everything we do, say, and are. As such, it might well be a faith that adjusts and changes over time. As our situation changes or our understanding grows, how we practice our faith might need adjustment as well. Or it might not. The way we start living out our faith might just be the only way we ever need to do it, if we’re blessed.
One thing is for sure. God’s belief in us will never change. His love will never vary. His mercy and forgiveness never end. No matter how steady we are, God is steadier. No matter how much we change, God will remain steadfast. All that matters is that we have faith, and do so actively, in a way that is true to who we are, and is as well a true reflection of the one whose belief in us will never falter. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor November 2nd
Authors invariably, and perhaps obviously, have something to say, just as inventors have something they want to do. In this way they share a great deal in common with the rest of humanity. Human Beings, for the most part, have something they would like to do or say every now and then. The difference, however, lies in the fact that authors and inventors not only have something to do or say, but they are also anxious to share their creation with others on a large scale. Sure, most folks that aren’t authors or inventors want to share their thoughts and creativity with others, but usually those “others” are the folks closest to them. Inventors and authors, on the other hand, have a great desire to offer their creations to anyone and everyone. Moreover, except for a select few who either don’t care or are extremely unlucky, most of those creative types like to share their works because it offers them a decent return for their inventive efforts. In other words, they make money from it.
Profiting from one’s imagination, whether it’s expressed in stories or machines, is nothing new, and nothing evil. The rest of humanity finds great joy and inspiration in the works of other people. We learn about our world and ourselves in the fables and stories penned by clever observers of the human condition. We also benefit from the work of inventive types that come up with labour saving devices or concepts that improve the yield of food from the land or provide life saving medical products. There is no doubt that folks like these should be rewarded for their contributions to the way we live or understand one another.
Yet the great author and inventor, God Himself, has no such need or desire for gain of any kind. His only joy comes from the joy His creation finds in him, a joy that has its highest expression in the way humans willingly love and glorify Him. Yes, it may be said that God does indeed receive a reward through that love and appreciation, but in terms of size or import, a rejoicing humanity isn’t that great compared to all the blessings God has showered upon His creation. In fact, even the best we can offer is a pretty paltry thing when you compare it to what God has done. God, nevertheless, is perfectly happy with whatever we bring to Him. The smallest bit of love, the tiniest bit of service, the humblest song of praise is more than enough for Him. When you consider that God kept on loving the Israelites even when they were furthest from Him because of their sin and lack of devotion, it’s pretty clear that God will settle for whatever bit of attention we can offer.
Perhaps that seems too easy. It may not seem good enough to just give God a bit of praise or a little smidgen of love. That lack of ease or discomfort is a good thing, because even if God might be happy with whatever we have to offer, I’m sure He doesn’t mind if we give Him as much as we can or even all that we are. Indeed, everything we do and say and are is probably the best gift we can offer Him; that way He can continue His act of creation by molding us and shaping us until we’re the best that we can be. Just imagine what it would be like if everybody gave themselves totally to God. What a blessing it would be for our heavenly creator and what a blessing it would be for all of us to be together in God, creator and creation united in total commitment and perfect love. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor October 26th
We all know that the only way to get electricity from one place to another is with a wire. Hidden from plain view, but obvious in their function, many wires run throughout our houses to power the lights and other permanent fixtures. Less permanent fixtures, however, require some way of getting the power to them. These particular items, like hair dryers or food processors have wires sticking out of them so that we can connect them to the power grid in our homes. To make things even easier, these wires have special connectors, or plugs, that simply stick into receptacles placed on the walls.
Nice and simple, isn’t it? Wires carry electricity, and that’s all there is to it right? Well, not exactly. I have a cordless rechargeable electric toothbrush that, as the name implies, does not have a wire to connect it to its source of electricity. Well, sure you say, it just plugs into a base, and the connectors carry the current to the battery. It still uses wires to carry the power from wall to toothbrush. But no, I say, it doesn’t. Yes, it sits in a base, but neither base nor toothbrush has a plug, connector or any other way of physically connecting the two together. Instead power is transferred to the batteries in the brush through the wireless miracle of (trumpet fanfare, please) induction!
Induction is a process by which energy is transferred somewhat like a radio signal. My toothbrush charger generates a magnetic field which passes directly into the toothbrush, right through the plastic case and into a special receiver that then passes the power on to the batteries. As long as the toothbrush is in the charger, power flows. Stick your hand in the charger, and nothing happens. The magnetic field has no effect on anything but a receiver specially built for it. This means that there are no wires or any kind of a physical connection between charger and toothbrush. Energy is transferred by means of a magnetic field, one that only the toothbrush can receive. It’s a cool process, when you think about it. Toothbrush and charger are tuned into one another, working together silently without being at all connected to one another. In fact, it reminds me of the way God works in our lives.
Think about it for a minute. There is no physical connection between us and God. There is a spiritual one, for sure, but this connection is not made by God reaching out and touching us, or by us plugging into our heavenly Creator. Instead we are tuned into one another so that God’s power and will flow into us without the need to be wired together. The tuning is natural and unforced. It is part and parcel of being made in God’s image, a special gift of being spiritually tied in and permanently, yet not physically, in communication with one another.
Well, that’s what’s possible, anyway. Reality often differs, because we let other things get in the way of God’s spiritual signal. Our own desires or sin’s influence block God’s Word in us, or we become so out of tune we can’t hear it anymore. But God is patient, and helpful, and through friends, the church, and our own prayers and desire for forgiveness, we can always get rid of the clutter and tune back in. What a blessing that is. No bulky wires are needed. No special connectors are required. No matter where we are, or what we’re doing, we are permanently spiritually connected to God which means that wherever we are, or whatever we are doing, God is never farther than a prayer away. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor October 19th
We were doing some work around the church, work that hearkened me back to my days as a computer technician. Back then I was involved in several installations of brand new equipment, and it was always a thrill when the stuff was finally installed and fired up for the first time. Some installations were huge. The computers filled entire rooms and required special air conditioners, raised floors and custom electrical work in order to function. This meant that there was a lot of preparation work done well before any of us techies arrived on site. It also meant that without the prep work to accommodate the special needs of those systems we couldn’t do our jobs.
If you’ve done any kind of job, whether it’s writing out a recipe or performing brain surgery, you know that this kind of preparation work is necessary and very important. To lay a proper foundation, whether it’s having excellent notes about the recipe, and lots of pens and paper on hand, or knowing human anatomy and surgical techniques, ensures that the following tasks can go as well and as smoothly as possible. Good preparation also minimizes mistakes or unnecessary work because it means that all the pens are working, or the scalpels sharp. That way you’re not caught short during the project having to send out for supplies or extra information.
Ron, one of the guys I was working with put it this way: Five minutes extra preparation means an extra hour on the dock. In other words, if you do all the groundwork and do it thoroughly and well before you start a task, you’ll be on the dock fishing all the sooner for your extra effort.
I think that’s a great way to look at faith as well. Here on earth, in this life, we’re doing our prep work for the day we face our ultimate judgement. The choices we make, the prayers we offer up, the way we treat others, all of these are part of getting ready for our day before the Lord. If we spend our time well, loving even the unlovable, sharing our gifts not because we can but because we enjoy it, doing good works not because we’re saving up for heaven but because we can’t think of anything more fun to do, then we can face Christ without fear or hesitation on that day when He has to make the final call on us.
Now, this is not meant to instill fear or terror into folks. Neither am I suggesting that it’s by means of our works that we are saved. I am, however, suggesting that how we live our lives matters. Our preparation work all depends on our faith in our Lord, on trusting Him to be faithful and just when we face Him. That’s the prep work I’m talking about. To truly believe in Jesus, to love Him, to trust Him, to follow Him, and to serve Him as best we can is the best preparation work we can do for what is to come.
At the same time, however, we can’t just be looking to the future. The work I helped with around the church was in and of itself a joyous task. Getting in there with both hands and sharing the task with a couple of good men was a lot of fun. That’s the great thing about our prep work as Christians. God gives us this life not just as a way to get ready for eternal life, but as a gift to enjoy and celebrate now, while we’re here. Sure, some prep work for later on is a good thing, but we might as well make a fun time of it right now so that what is yet to come might be an even better version of what we know now, rather than a complete surprise. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor October 12th
When you flip a light switch, you expect a certain result; the light goes on. It’s a pretty straightforward relationship. The switch simply restores a broken connection and the electricity flows and makes the light glow. It’s not a big deal. Other things, however, are a lot more complicated, like turning on your car. When you turn the key, you get the desired result, but it’s not a simple process for the automobile. All kinds of things have to happen in order for the engine to run and the car to get mobile. Thankfully, those things are invisible. We don’t need to turn the starter motor on; we don’t need to adjust the fuel mix; we don’t need to boot up the computer or any of the many, jobs need to make a car go. We just turn the key and off we go.
Believe it or not, the same thing happens with a lot of things we humans do. We, in effect, simply throw a switch or turn a key, and our body reacts without any further intervention. Take digestion, for example. All we have to do is eat and swallow. The body takes care of the rest. Or listening to a conversation. Do you realize just how much brain power it takes, and the complex process involved in making sense of the noises that strike our eardrums? Of course not; it just happens completely automatically and without any further intervention on our part.
As if those processes aren’t amazing enough, we can also train our bodies to react to certain situations. Think about race car drivers. The train and train and train so that they don’t have to think about getting out of emergency situations. When the car gets out of control, they don’t even think about how to react; their bodies are conditioned to respond with just the right counter-movement to keep the car from ending up wheels up well into the grass.
These built in or trainable reactions are extremely useful. We count on them every day in order to complete simple tasks or to keep ourselves out of trouble. But there are times when these automatic behaviours are not so good, when they actually don’t really help us at all. Sometimes we react to a situation or trigger a behaviour simply out of habit. Rather than knowing what we’re doing, we simply repeat an action without realizing it.
This is one of the great problems with some of our faith practices. We do things without thinking about them. When someone says, let’s pray, we bow our heads. When someone says let’s sing, we stand. When someone says the sermon is about to begin, we pull out our pillows.
These aren’t always very helpful reactions. Why lower our heads in prayer? Aren’t there times we would rather bask in the light of our Lord? Why stand when we sing? Aren’t there times when like to break out into music right where we are, whether it’s sitting in a car or lying in the sun? And while some sermons and speakers might not be overly inspiring, going into the listening experience expecting to be bored only leads to wish fulfillment, rather than a learning opportunity.
Sure, automatic reactions are helpful, but we have to be careful that they aren’t so automatic as to hinder true and faithful worship. Every moment with God should inspire us and awaken us and our only automatic response should be to open ourselves up to what God is doing in our lives at any given moment. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor October 5th
My office was recently redecorated. I figured that as I approached my fourth anniversary here at St. James, Chatham, it was time to finally make the place my own. The decorating was, however, not a necessarily linear process. It took a few detours here and there, with assorted plans considered, and various hands taking part in the actual work. In fact, other than choosing the items that would actually grace the walls, I was pretty hands off during the entire work.
Take the paint selection, for instance. Simply not my cup of tea. Paint is paint, and while there are certain colours I like, and certain ones I don’t, I’m not really that interested in what shade or hue goes on the wall. Well, it does have to be tasteful, and it does have to work with the other things in the room, but beyond that, I’m as blank surface as fresh drywall. As a result, the paint was chosen by someone I trust, based a bit on my two cents, and mostly her common sense and own personal sense of style.
Now, while I might seem that I gave up total control, in reality, I actually didn’t. Having chosen the particular objects that were to be featured on the walls meant that my paint designer had to work within certain limits. Sure, she still had overall creative power, but it was directed by my personal taste in decorative items.
Once the room was painted by someone who knew they were doing (that is, not by me...) it was time to place all the knick-knacks, diplomas and other fiddley-bits I wanted displayed and featured. Again, I gave up control over this part of the process, because it was another area in which I lacked the skills. Another talented person stepped in to organize my office decor, and as with the painters and the colour designer, she did a great job. My office is now decidedly mine, even though I didn’t really do that much to decorate it. I’m proud of how it looks, and even more proud of the people that shared their gifts in setting it up.
I think God also takes pleasure in seeing us create beauty in His world. Sure, he has ultimate creative control, and sure, the Creator of the universe is a far better designer and builder than any of us, but God nevertheless lets us get our fingers into the paint and our hands on the chisels.
It’s part of the essence of being human to make things lovely and wonderful. As children of the ultimate inventive, imaginative genius, its in our nature to paint, write songs, build clever inventions and generally add to the already awesome wonders of the world. It’s not that we’re improving things, or that we’re fixing things, but rather, we’re simply doing what comes naturally to us, and it’s this that I believe makes God smile.
There are probably moments when our creations make God cringe. Some of them might even make Him laugh, and not necessarily because its a meant to be funny, but overall, I think God takes great pleasure in watching us enjoy the creative part of us. And why not? God gave us gifts to use and to give us pleasure, so what greater joy could our Creator have than seeing us enjoy ourselves. In, can think of no greater joy than following the Master Craftsman’s example and creating things of beauty for His pleasure. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor September 28th
I am preparing for my stage debut as a baker and an enchanted object in a local production of Beauty and the Beast. One of the fascinating things about this process is the way everything, and I mean everything is carefully scripted and staged. Nothing whatsoever is left to chance. Every word is set in stone, every moment measured and precisely mapped, every possible possibility planned for and taken into account as best as humanly possible.
Now, one of the things that I’ve always done well is to improvise. I’m rarely at a loss for words because I usually think of something to say in most situations. In productions like Beauty and Beast, however, there is no room for improvisation or spontaneity. There are a couple of very sound reasons for this. First, you’re not alone in a play. There are dozens of other folks involved and if one does or says something they’re not expecting, it can lead to complete chaos. That would be bad enough if one person did it, but imagine what a mess it would be if everyone decided to do their own thing. The whole play would just fall apart, and that wouldn’t be fun for anyone.
The other reason folks can’t just change things or do things as they please is a legal one. The script is protected by copyright. That not only means that you can’t just use it whenever you like but that you can’t change it, either. Sure, some folks think they throw in an extra, funny line, but in fact, it’s illegal. The script is the sole property of the author, and they alone can say who uses it, and what, if any, changes can be made.
This idea of a tightly controlled, highly scripted production is contrary to what most people think of in terms of their own lives. Most folks figure that they are absolutely free to do what they please and say what they like. In fact, folks who follow God believe that freedom of choice is a vital part of life. A loving, caring God that wants to be loved in return can’t possibly run the lives of His creation like a well scripted play. If that were how things worked, then we would be no more than puppets being manipulated purely for God’s amusement, and not living, loving and beloved creatures made in the image of our Creator.
Yet for all the freedom God gives us, God still knows what we’re up to; in fact, God knows not only what we’re doing right now, but what we’re going to do next. That’s how free we are. God knows whether or not we’re going to hurt ourselves, and let’s it happen anyway. He knows if we’re going to love our neighbour helpfully, and lets it happen anyway. He even knows if we’re going to reject him, and that too is allowed to happen.
It’s a strange situation, in some ways. Our whole lives are known fully by are all-knowing God, yet he leaves us free to live them out, not because it doesn’t hurt Him or bother Him, but because He loves us too much to force us to be anything but ourselves. Sure, it might be nice to have a God that didn’t let us get hurt or that always kept us by His side, but then again, that wouldn’t really be living would it? We would just be like actors in on the Almighty’s stage, mere entertainers amusing the ultimate audience and that, friends, would be completely wrong. That’s why we’re free to do as we please. It’s the ultimate sign of God’s love and respect for us. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor September 21st
Formula One racing needs specialized race tracks. These circuits offer great seating and viewing opportunities for spectators along with custom, high-tech facilities for the thoroughbred machines that are the stars of the show. Mind you, this isn’t always the case. There are a couple of race tracks that are only temporary, and run through the center of cities both large and small.
These city races are exciting to watch, and create wonderful opportunities for the spectators to see the cars in a totally different way. There, in their home towns, the cars become much more immediate. The noise, the sights, even the interruption of normal traffic flow all form part of a package that says: here we are, right with you, right where you are. There’s also a sense that the cars are brought down from their lofty perches and made much more approachable to everyone.
No longer isolated in some far off, custom track, the cars are seen on the very roads normal citizens use. Instead of fancy pit lanes dedicated to one car alone, the racers zoom by common gas stations used by common folk. The driver’s and race official’s luxurious accommodations are still there, like they are at the track, but so are regular houses lived in by regular people.
The cars themselves are also brought back to their roots, back to their place as ways of getting around. Sure, they have all there power and speed and glamour, but in town they are seen in a different context. By racing in a real city where real cars and trucks normally occupy the streets, they are brought temporarily down to their level, to the lowest common denominator from which all motorized vehicles descend.
Just as Formula One cars are usually found on dedicated race tracks, faith is often found in dedicated, isolated places far removed from everyday life. Religious practices are removed from real life, from the day to day practices of regular folks living regular lives. Churches are sometimes off in their own little space, even though they are right in the middle of town. Their habits and traditions are remote and removed from the ways the citizens around them live. They speak a language that talks about God, but it’s coded in a way that their non-churched neighbours don’t understand, and sometimes, it’s not even understood by folks from a different church tradition.
God, however, set humans apart from one another. He didn’t create some to be religious and others to be set apart from Him. He didn’t create churches or temples to house a special group of people or to remove them from the community in which they are built. He didn’t send Jesus to care for a few selected folks far from away from everybody else.
We are all spiritual beings, wherever we might be. Our faith needs to be out in the open, accessible to all, and not to others just like us. Church helps us focus our efforts, but those efforts should be focussed on the community and the world around us, and not just on our churches. We don’t belong on a specialized track, just serving our own ends. We are called to live and breath our faith right in the middle of town, sharing the same space as everyone else, and hopefully, inspiring them to enjoy what we enjoy as fellow spiritual beings. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor September 14th
Batteries are a very simple devices that store electricity. Not all batteries, however, are created equal so some special batteries allow you to recharge them when they run out of power. That’s a pretty special feature, which offers a great way to help keep our environment nice and clean. After all, batteries are filled with assorted chemicals that aren’t necessarily friends of the environment. In fact, many old batteries were dangerous both to the environment and to the operator using them.
Rechargeable batteries offer a simple solution to the environmental problem. Since they can be reused, they don’t end up being thrown out for a long time, which means far fewer batteries end up in landfill sights. Mind you, it’s not a perfect solution, because rechargeable batteries are only good for a thousand or so charges, but still, that’s a thousand fewer batteries hitting the trash system.
My toothbrush has a rechargeable battery, and every day, I set the whole assembly into a little charger to keep the thing going. The manufacturer, however, suggests that every once in a while, you should let the battery run out. Being a good customer, I have done it a couple of times, using my toothbrush until the battery quits.
This has been a very surprising experiment, because one overnight charge has given me almost a months worth of brushing! Here I thought that the device would only last for a day or two at the most, but in reality, it lasts much longer. That’s incredible value for the dollar, since I now rarely charge the battery, relying on it’s comparatively large storage capacity to save on the cost of filling it up each and every night. And yes, there is a cost, because the toothbrush is warm to the touch after a night in its recharging cost, which tells me there’s quite a bit of energy being wasted in the charging process.
The upshot is that the wee battery in my toothbrush has a great deal of unused potential; after all, it lasts for weeks without having to be recharged every day. However, that potential can only be discovered with a little experimentation, or pushing beyond the boundaries. There’s no way I would have known what was possible if I had kept recharging it night after night.
It’s like that with God as well. We know our creator in only a very limited way, tapping into His resources without realizing just how deep they really are. Some folks, the rare exceptions to the rule, plumb the full depths of the gifts and blessings God offers us. They have no fear of asking and receiving, because they know their cause is just and their work is holy.
Most of us, however, are too unsure of ourselves to enjoy even a fraction of what’s possible with God. Or we have a limited understanding of our own abilities and giftedness, which are mined from the depths of God’s own infinite abilities. Or, and this is probably the biggest issue, we let other things get in the way of making full use of everything the God makes available to us. One way or another, God is a vast and limitless resource of love, mercy, grace, and gifts beyond our full understanding, but not our reach. All it takes is the desire and the heart to serve as C
The Pensive Pastor September 7th
Race cars today, even the ones built by amateurs, are pretty fancy, and for the most part, nice, neat and tidy. Not so in the way back days of the sport. Way back, race cars were pretty brutish. Nothing fancy, or pretty, they were basically engines with wheels, free from things like safety belts, protective covers over dangerous spinny bits, or even bodies, for that matter.
One monster, the 1905 Premier, stands out as a particular example of the early monster machine race car. For one thing, it was huge. The engine was monstrously large for the day, and would be considered ridiculously big even by modern Supercar standards. Not only was the engine of an impressive, it was, well, downright scary. All of the busy bits, the cogs and cams and gears and pistons and everything and anything that moved, were exposed for all to see. And while the engine was stupidly big, and foolishly dangerous, it was also impossibly loud, since there wasn’t even an attempt at a muffler, or for that matter, any kind of exhaust pipe.
Of course, it wasn’t just loud and ugly. As if to add mucky insult to the injury to ones eyes and ears, the thing was tremendously dirty, since all the busy bits were out in the open, which meant that while they were moving, they were also spraying oil and grease in every direction. Just imagine what it was like for the mechanic trying to tune or adjust the thing. And once it was up to speed and roaring around the race track, imagine what it must have been like for the poor driver, who was sitting behind this monstrously dangerous engine, listening to it’s incredible roar, and all the while having hot oil and grease blown onto him.
Naturally, the rest of the car was no less pretty than it’s engine. There wasn’t a shred of body work. It was just an engine, wheels, drivetrain, seat, and a couple of menacing looking bars of steel to hold the thing together. If ever there was an automotive boogeyman, the 1905 Premier was it. Yet for all it’s brutish looks, the thing worked. It was tremendously fast, although it was way too heavy to compete in any sanctioned race ever held. So, incredibly, this monstrous effort never achieved any success whatsoever. Yes, it worked, it was fast, but in the end, it never actually raced with any success.
If we’re not careful, our faith can be rather brutish and ineffective, too. Our desire to serve God well and effectively coupled with a little too much emphasis and too little empathy can get us into trouble. We can easily get trapped in ugly self-righteousness. We can be loud and overbearing. We can be hard edged and ugly. Sure, it might not seem like it to ourselves, but at times folks outside the faith perceive us as ponderously religious rather than the kind, loving folks we think we are.
It’s a difficult balancing act. On the one hand, we want to let folks know about God and Jesus and what they mean to us. On the other hand we don’t want to be too forceful about it, or so heavy handed that we do more harm than good. Of course, with Jesus’ example we see just how to work out that balancing act, so that we can be true to him in ways that aren’t at all crude or brutish. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor August 31st
It was a pretty good meal following a business meeting. Not only was the food tasty, but the folks I had just met with on a professional level were also friends and colleagues that made for very pleasant company during lunch. The waitress was also a real sweetheart, the kind of nice girl you’d love your own daughter to be, the picture of health and charm and grace. It didn’t hurt that she was pretty, too, all of which amounted to a post-meal tip that was a little bit larger than it might have been otherwise.
Charm, wit, grace, these more than anything else are the most important tools employed by the best salespeople, people just like that waitress I just described; but those aren’t the only tools. By being nice to us we buy into them as people, quickly forming a relationship with them that masks their role as a business person and turns them, if not into best friends, at least into a human with whom we don’t mind spending a few enjoyable minutes, even if they are trying to sell us something. In fact, the best salespeople tend to feel more like partners and confidants rather than someone trying to foist something on us. This feeling is further enhanced with one more tool at their disposal, one that is far more subtle and effective than any other, even though it’s not under their control but ours.
That tool is our own desire to be equally charming and pleasing. A smiling face and genuine interest in us naturally and almost uncontrollably creates a similar response, and that is the salesperson’s greatest asset. You see, when we mimic their desire to please, we end up acting in ways that we hope are equally pleasing to our salesperson. In other words, we unconsciously try to make our waitress or the guy selling us a computer feel as happy as they are trying to make us feel. The result is that we are part and parcel of our own demise when it comes to buying or tipping beyond what we wanted to.
That’s an important thought to keep in mind when we’re thinking of ways to share our faith. We’re not salespeople, but simply co-explorers of faith. Just as a charming waitress makes us feel like trying to be nice to her, we can open the doors to talking about our faith by being nice to others and finding common ground. By entering into the lives of those who don’t know about God as folks just trying to find answers, we can help them find the truth. To those who have been hurt by church we can be a source of understanding and grace. To those who resist or reject religion, we can be a source of curiosity and a touchstone of an alternate point of view.
Yes, I know that it’s not easy to share our faith, because we don’t want to be thought of as being too pushy, but at the same time, nobody else is going to do it for us. God doesn’t employ a professional sales team. He doesn’t have a marketing team or an advertising budget. We, His beloved children, are all His front-line people, servants called not only to live by His word, but to share it, too. Sure, it might seem like a bit of a sales job, but in reality, it’s more a matter of forming relationships that reveal God’s love at work in both direct and indirect ways. No high pressure sales methods are required. All it takes to promote our faith is to be as charming as we are caring, to be as likable as we are loving, to be as friendly as we are faithful. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor August 24th
Perhaps it’s a matter of taste; maybe it’s a matter or understanding. Or, maybe it was just plain old bad parenting. I’m not sure which, but it was certainly disturbing to see a young child watching a movie that was clearly not meant for him. “Batman: The Dark Knight” is a very good film, but there’s no way it’s intended for grade schoolers. It is, like the title suggests, a rather dark production, with themes and conversations that give adults a lot to chew on, and quite frankly, are ‘way too deep for children to understand. That’s the trouble with reality: even when presented in comic book form (or, more accurately, graphic novel form) it’s a pretty heavy subject.
Normally we try to shield the innocent from such themes. Parents often turn the TV off or change channels when the news gets hot and heavy, and the kids are too young to understand. Not this mom, however. She brought her young charge to see a movie that dealt with good and evil in ways that just weren’t suitable for him, a fact borne out when she finally got the picture, and took the scared little boy home. It was too late by then, in my opinion, but it was better than having him stay through the very intense ending. Of course, the problem with having taken the boy out early was that he missed the resolution of the plot. He didn’t see how good finally won out over evil, so he missed the whole point of the movie. Yet it was a small loss compared to the importance of not subjecting him to what was definitely not a subject he could handle.
Parents are their children’s guardians. It is their job to protect their little boys and girls from the harsh realities they are not fully equipped to handle. With time and maturity and the careful guidance of mom and pop, children will grow to the point they can deal with most things the world has to throw at them, but it’s a process that takes time and a careful touch. It’s also a process that involves touch choices, and constant vigilance. The mom I described earlier lacked good judgment. Perhaps she honestly didn’t know that “Batman: The Dark Knight” wasn’t a kid’s movie, or maybe she honestly thought the little boy could handle it; either way, she chose poorly.
That’s too bad, because God depends on us to protect one another. Not just parents, but all of us are entrusted to care for one another, to guard one another, to watch each other’s backs. It’s not that God doesn’t watch over us Himself. He’s not simply watching things from up in heaven, and letting us do our best. He does, however, count on us to be part of His plan, to be the ones that live out what He himself has done for us time and time again.
Most of us have experienced those moments of grace that can only be attributed to God’s care and attention, those moments that have no other explanation than God’s hand having saved us. We’ve also known those moments when God’s hand has touched us through far less miraculous means; maybe we’ve also been the very tools by which God has stepped in to protect someone at risk. However you look at it, we are both protected and protectors. God not only takes care of us, he shares that responsibility with us. That way we’re not just blithely floating through God’s plan; we are an integral part of His will for us, trusted as much as we trust, cared for as much as we care for others. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor August 17th
Last year the family and I took a vacation. In case you didn’t know, the word vacation comes a Latin word that means to empty or to free something. In other words, a vacation is an emptying or freeing time, which is exactly we what we did last year. We went away from Southern Ontario, literally having vacated our premises as we headed off for parts West.
This year, we’re not going away for any length of time. We’re sticking close to home rather that vacating the home. This, I recently learned, has been dubbed as a stay-cation, that is, a stay at home vacation.
As I pondered this new word, I respelled it in my mind, producing the word stacation. Bingo, lights went off as a I realized that this fun creation actually made a lot of sense, linguistically. You see, there’s a Latin root there, too. If you’re familiar with music, you know that the word “Staccato” means broken apart, or played in distinct, separate bursts. Think of quickly tooting a car horn, rather than just leaning on it, and you’ll get the point.
So, a stacation, as opposed to a vacation, would be a brief time of separation, rather than a complete evacuation, and that’s precisely what we’ll be doing. Rather than heading away from the homestead, as a family, we’ll be separating ourselves from our house every once in a while, and I will be separating myself from my vocation for a few weeks.
I’d like to share one more word for a moment: religion. According to many sources, the word comes from an ancient Latin term meaning to retie or reattach. So, from a faith point of view, religion is the art and science of reattaching physical and spiritual sides as we reconnect with God.
Now, this year, like I said, the family and I will be taking a stacation. We’ll be staying at home, and taking little road trips, thus briefly separating ourselves from our home, and me from my calling as a minister. But that doesn’t mean we’ll separate ourselves from God. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, we’ll still head off to church, pray before meals, and generally try to live lives connected to our creator.
Lots of folks, however, are on apparently permanent stacations and virtually full time vacations. No, they’re not taking every moment off from work and heading off to distant places. Instead they are either totally separated from God, or completely vacant spiritually. This is not a healthy situation, but it is one that is recognized by humanity’s ceaseless need for religion. One way or another each of us recognizes that there is a need to fill our spiritual side. We need our minds connected to something that is other than thought, to something that meets a need beyond rational consideration.
That’s what church is all about. That’s what I do as part of my ministry. That’s what Jesus asks of each of us. We are called to help folks end their spiritual vacation so they can fill their lives with the Holy Spirit. We are invited to help folks get over their stacation so they can reconnect with God. And believe it or not, it’s not work. It’s not a chore. It’s a joy and a blessing to invite others to know their Heavenly Father. And why not help others get back to God? After all, He’s never taken either a vacation or stacation from us, has He? At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor August 10th
If you read or hear the words “Once upon a time” you know you’re in for a story. You also know you’re in for a story that is not true; it’s a fable, something made up, something that is filled with imaginary characters, some of whom, if not all, might not even be human.
That simple phrase, “Once upon a time” is an obvious cue. We know what it means. But it is not the only way into a story. Stories come in many forms, some that are in your face, and others that are much more subtle, and perhaps even somewhat sneaky.
Take commercials, for example. Commercials are often brilliant, if brief, stories. They quickly set up characters, give us a plot that includes a conflict or crisis, and then resolve the plot and tie up the loose ends in less than a minute. The best advertisements are truly amazing works of the story-tellers art, because we not only remember what happens, we’re actually hooked into the lives of the characters, even if we only see a tiny slice of their existence, and we also remember what’s being offered up for sale, precisely because of the story that was told to us.
There is a secret to the art of the advertiser. Not something nasty, but one that so “right in our faces” that we don’t even realize what’s happening. The secret used by advertisers is that we are natural born story tellers and audiences. Like I said, it’s nothing earth-shattering or sinful, but it is very much at the heart of human existence. That’s why it’s so easy for us to get into a thirty second spot; the advertisers take advantage of our ability to hear a story, and to identify quickly with the characters, to figure out the plot, and to want everything to work out one way or another.
As people of faith we not only count on stories from the Bible to help us know what we are all about, we are also called to be story tellers. Just as Christ taught using various forms of story telling, so too are we able to reach out and share His message with that same, natural, God-given ability. Mind you, how we tell the story is as variable as the products advertised on TV, and the methods used to promote them. Some of us are able to literally enter into “Once upon a time” moments with folks, sharing the Good News with the classic story-tellers art. Most of us, however, aren’t blessed quite that way, so we tell the story in much more subtle ways. Those ways are remarkably simple, yet tremendously effective.
Most people tell stories by the way they live, with each action and word revealing God’s story of love and mercy. In other words, just as we are natural born story-listeners, we are natural born story-livers. God has blessed us with the gift of revealing Christ’s Good News, of introducing Biblical characters and sharing their story by acting out their lives and goodness rather. Just as folks can understand the message of a classic “Once upon a time” tale, they can also understand what’s being told as they observe a story told in life. Just look at Jesus. Sure, he told stories, but as he did, he also lived them out, revealing God’s plan not just in His words, but also by what He did. That same natural ability is ours as well. We too tell others about God and His love without words. All we have to do is live the story out loud. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor August 3rd
Did you know that the world is about to end? This is not speculation derived from reading assorted Bible passages, it is an absolute, earthly fact. The world will end on or about August, 2008 when CERN, the European center for nuclear research turns on its Large Hadron Accelerator.
The Large Hadron Collider, or LHC amongst we friends, is a giant machine designed to explore the innermost secrets of the sub-atomic world. Accelerating particles to near light speed and smashing them together to see what breaks off, the device will help scientists better know how our universe is put together, and how all the bits actually work.
Exciting stuff, if you’re a particle Physicist, and rather confusing and humdrum to the rest of us, except for the end of the world part. While few of us can understand what that great honking machine really does, or what it all means, we certainly are smart enough to understand a simple phrase like “the world is about to end.”
Like I said, this is a fact, at least according to critics of the work going on at CERN. These people are respected scientists that firmly believe the LHC will produce undesired results that will lead to the rather immediate end of the world. Some folks speculate that it will create one or more black holes, which are like giant gravity sucking vacuum cleaners, and that these will literally inhale the earth and destroy it. Others believe that the machine will create unstable particles that will tear apart the very fabric of the universe, resulting in the destruction of the earth, albeit more slowly than a black hole would do it.
You know what? I couldn’t care less if the world is about to end. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not that I’m not enjoying my stay on our planet, or that I’m looking forward to all humanity suddenly, unexpectedly passing on to the great Godly beyond. But the way I look at it, God is in charge of things, including the CERN might-be-a-doomsday-machine, and if He says the world will end because of that device, well, that’s the way it has to be. Never mind the fact that the Bible doesn’t suggest that’s the way things will end. I just figure God has a plan, and since it’s His plan, I know it’s the best possible plan for humanity. With that in mind, I’m not worried in the least as to whether or not the world will end any time soon.
Part of that lack of worry comes from the fact that I’m doing my best to follow God’s way. I’ve accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I regularly repent for my sins, and try to do what I believe God is leading me to do. Equipped with those simple tools, I’m not at all worried about when or if the world will end. As far as I’m concerned, those who have given their lives to Christ are prepared to face whatever might come next in God’s plan.
How about you? Does it matter to you if the world ends when the CERN LHC is fired up, even though it’s highly, highly unlikely? If you’re in line with what God wants for you, you shouldn’t be. After all, whatever happens, it’s all part of the plan, and if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Saviour and repented for your sins, so are you. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor July 27th
This morning I said “Hello!” to a bunny. I was on my way to work, and the little critter was sitting calmly on the grassy strip that separates the sidewalk from the street. Cooly watching me, nonchalantly twitching its nose at me, its overwhelming cuteness practically dared me not offer some sort of friendly greeting. Now, I fully realize that the bunny neither understood nor needed my salutation, but there is a playful part of me that responds to cute little animals as if they were people. Call me foolish or silly, but that’s just the way I am.
I enjoy Formula One racing, doing crossword puzzles, British sit-coms and watching the odd really, really bad movie. None of these, I know, are particularly productive pastimes, but they are mostly harmless, and definitely help keep me sane and stable. Once again, call me foolish, but that’s just the way I am.
In addition to these rather goofy ways of entertaining myself, I am also a full time minister trying hard to do what God want’s me to do, and helping others reach the same goal. Within church walls, and within the world’s religious community, this is an honourable and respected way to live. My congregation considers it sufficiently important that it provides me with a stipend or living allowance that lets me focus on my Godly work with them without having to worry about pecuniary pastimes.
Yet much of the world considers my work sheer folly. More than that, much of the world considers anyone that believes in God as being completely and absolutely foolish. Not able to understand what faith is all about, not realizing the emptiness that is within them, no knowing that there is a better way to live than what TV or movies suggest, these folks are confident that religious people, whether they’re in the pulpit or the pews, are basically total fools or so deluded as to be beyond all rational help.
I have no problem with being perceived as a little foolish by my friends. We all have our little eccenticitries that make us look a little odd to the people around us. And I certainly don’t mind being perceived as being a complete fool by folks that just don’t get religion.
Fools, after all, were once a prized part of a royal court. Princes, nobles and business people could be counted on to support the kind, even if it meant they had to be hypocrites about it. Fools, meanwhile, could be themselves, and speak the truth to the court and its leaders, even if it meant making the king or queen look like fools. In other words, fools can get away with a lot more than regular folks.
Paul, God’s great Biblical letter writer, loved being considered a fool. He knew that life was better spent being a fool for God that a wise man for less holy leaders. Fools can also have fun doing what they know is right, and if what they do is genuinely in line with God’s plan, they have the double joy of having fun while doing good, holy work. Yes, it might mean folks laugh at those who choose to be God’s fools, but understand that while others May be laughing at you, God is laughing right along with all His beloved fools. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor July 20th
Jesus is a rock star! No, not a guitar swinging Pete Townsend or a smooth voiced Elvis, but a genuine solid rock apparition starring on a piece of granite in Texas. He’s such a hit that folks from all over the place are going to see him, to maybe even get a piece of the action by buying the stony slab for themselves. Meanwhile, the big JC is also prominently featured in a hunk a’ rock in florida, where he’s been very popular with visitors. Naturally, he’s also a hit with the owner of the granite who unabashedly declared that he “expects to fetch a good price...” for it.
The big g’s little kid isn’t just showing up on rocks, either. Napkins, a footprint in church, who knows, maybe even a slice of nicely toasted whole-wheat might reveal him. Why, you might even see him for yourself, if you look at the clouds at just the right time of day...
...or maybe not. In fact, hopefully not. Noticed, friends, that so far I have refrained from referring to Our Lord and Saviour as is His due. Any reference made to Him and appearances on or in objects have been in a decidedly disrespectful tone because I’m really not too impressed by such claims. Jesus, I love. The thought of Jesus appearing in a piece of granite, well, detest is a strong word, so lets say I strongly, vociferously dislike.
Two things irritate me about this idea. The first is the notion that an image of Jesus has any real significance whatsoever. God tells us not to worship images or make them. Why would He go against His own rules in carving a likeness of His Son in a rock. Secondly, is the notion that folks consider such a thing to actually be important, as if somehow a picture of Jesus is going to make their lives better. Only Jesus can do that, not a remarkable likeness on a rock, or an exact warts and all picture on a slice of WonderBread.
Of course, there is a way to “see” Jesus, and it doesn’t involve looking at a rock. In order to have a gander at God’s one and only Son, we need only look at someone loving their neighbour in a Christ-like way. To get a picture of Jesus requires that we look in the face of a God-serving caregiver tending for an elderly patient. To really get a glimpse of our Saviour only asks us to look into our hearts to see the cross-bought love and forgiveness God has for us.
Anything else, anything other than holy encounters with Jesus, anything that involves pictures or carvings or perfectly formed clouds is a ridiculous waste of time. Sorry to be blunt, but that’s the truth. To spend money to go and see Jesus on a slab (curious mind-image, eh?) is to throw money into a waste receptacle. Might as well go and buy a piece of the original cross or get a cutting of one of the disciples beards.
Yes, Jesus is a star. Yes Jesus is our solid rock. But no, Jesus does not reveal himself on granite, toast or marshmallowy clouds. To see Him means living, loving and serving like He did. No, it’s not as easy a looking at a fixed image, but it is a lot more satisfying, and as far as our relationship with Him is concerned, a lot safer, too. Rather than settle on just looking at a fixed, dead picture of Jesus, we can live in ways that show Him alive and well, which is really the only way for folks to see Him for who He really is. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor July 13th
I saw a tree the other day. As I walked to work, one of these woody, leafy things on the corner of the church lawn struck my attention for no reason in particular, so I thought I’d give it a thorough visual going-over.
What struck me the most about the thing was how out of proportion the trunk seemed to the leafy canopy it supported. All I could see was a skinny, brown barky stick that seemed improbably small compared to the branches and leaves above it. And not only did it seem far too slender a stalk, it also looked way too short, given how tall and broad the whole tree was.
Yet the thing seemed to work. The branches swayed according to the breeze that pushed them, but the trunk remained steadfast and motion free. Gravity pulled down upon the great limbs and leaves with its full inexorable force, yet the trunk sat impassive and worry free beneath the weight above it. Birds, squirrels and other fauna flew, ran and otherwise moved along every part of the tree without any regard to maintaining it’s balance, yet the trunk bore even these unpredictable indignities without so much as a squeak or a sigh.
Of course, the trunk wasn’t doing this all by itself. It was evident, as I approached the tree, that just as the trunk branched out towards the sky, it also branched out towards the ground. Slowly at first, starting somewhere in the middle, just about exactly between where the canopy of leaves began and the earth below, the trunk grew larger and larger in diameter until it disappeared into the ground, no longer as a single cylinder of wood, but as a vast network of roots.
The roots. Therein lies the secret strength of the tree. The trunk might be steadfast, the branches flexible and the leaves spectacular, but it is the root system that makes the whole thing work. Reaching as deep into the earth as the tree is tall above the ground, and as far out as the furthest expanse of the the broadest limb, a tree’s roots literally anchor it in place, giving the trunk the stability it needs to withstand the forces of wind and animal, while at the same time offering enough flexibility to grow and expand as needed.
Our root system is equally firm and well fixed. We are grounded in Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit. This Holy Trinity keeps us strong and upright, allowing us to grow as necessary, and even permitting us to sway the odd bit. But unlike individual trees, which have their own individual root systems, we share one common system. While we are individuals, we are united by and in the same Holy Trinity. Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit work equally in and through us. They bless us with unique gifts, yet they bring us together in a common cause. They nourish and encourage us according to our particular needs, yet they draw us together in a common bond of love and affection.
We are grounded by the Holy Trinity. Yet this grounding is not a limiting factor. We are not bound to the earth. We are, instead, united with heaven, raised from earthly bonds to a Holy potential that only God can imagine, Jesus can model, and the Holy Spirit can empower. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor July 6th
Formula One racing is a highly competitive, extremely expensive sport. It’s also highly selective of it’s drivers, because they have to be supremely skilled behind the wheel, and tremendously fit. So demanding is the sport that only a handful of people can make the cut, and only a handful of teams take part.
Only twenty or so drivers make up the entire roster of racers. Only a few drivers, but those folks have the responsibility of making or breaking teams that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and entertaining millions upon millions of fans. Now, you might think that these drivers are nothing but big headed, self-centered jerks, with such highly esteemed positions. You might also think that they are incredibly competitive and utterly hateful of each other, so intense is the scrutiny they face, and so overwhelming is the pressure they must endure. Yet contrary to what what might think, they are all gentlemen. Yes, they are fiercely competitive, and yes, they know how good they are, but no, they do not flaunt it, and for the most part, they play very nicely together
In one recent race, one of the more prominent young drivers made a rather foolish mistake. It was, in fact, a mistake that not only took him out of competition, but also ruined the chances of his arch-rival, a driver with much more experience, and arguably the best pilot on the course. Think of it for a moment. A rookie has a lapse in concentration and causes and accident that wiped out both himself and his fiercest opponent. What would you do if you were the other man? What would you do if some young buck came along and spoiled your whole day because of his inexperience?
Well, in this case, the senior driver did nothing, other than offer a reassuring squeeze of the arm that said wordlessly, “Hey, these things happen.”
As people of faith, we are not competitors with God, but we are under a lot of pressure to perform. After God, God expects of us nothing less than to be His children, and to act in a way that reflects well upon His most prominent child, Jesus. That’s a pretty high expectation-factor for us, and it’s one we’re not always able to meet fully. Yet God is not a harsh dictator. Even though He has invested so much into us, creating an entire universe and a beautiful planet for us to live on, all so we can love him and serve Him in a Christ-like way, God is far too much of a gentleman to treat us poorly.
God doesn’t beat us when we make rookie mistakes. He doesn’t yell at us when we go off the rails despite knowing better. Instead, He gives us a squeeze of the shoulder to remind us that, “Hey, these things happen,” because Jesus has already borne the cost of our sin. And Jesus does the same; He doesn’t begrudge His role in setting us straight. Rather, Jesus helps us live better, more holy lives. He points the way to go, walks with us on our journey, and sits with us when we can’t go any further.
Yes, we are in a high stakes game. God has great expectations for us. Yet it is one that we are not called to win on our own, and indeed, winning isn’t even as important as trying. When we blow it, He forgives us, and when it’s time, He will give us the victory. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor June 29th
The manse (the house provided for my family and me) shares a backyard with four neighbours. Two of those neighbours have only bushes and small trees, all of which are spaced loosely apart, between our various properties. This means that together, we have a nice, big green space to enjoy, with room for all kinds of critters to romp and frolic. Well, maybe not exactly romp and frolic, but certainly to enjoy in their own critterly fashion.
Those happy creatures are aided and abetted by the presence of several feeders. One neighbour in particular has a fairly wide variety of the things, each one appealing to a different bird species. These critter-stops, filled with they are with lots of tasty kinds of seed, welcome not only the desired species, but lots of interlopers as well. Squirrels seem to find the bigger feeders quite attractive and regularly make tremendous leaps to get at their seedy offerings. Rabbits too benefit from the feeders, as they get to munch on the great quantities of seed that are knocked to the ground by the squirrels antics and the birds general lack of manners.
Now, when one considers interlopers, it is not in a kind or loving light. Interlopers are folks like the annoying uncle who always takes credit for your good ideas, or neighbours the make it a regular practice to drop by your house hungry, and coincidentally, just in time for dinner. Squirrels and rabbits, on the other hand, aren’t quite in the same light for me. Yes, I know that the food in feeders isn’t for them, but at the same time, it’s not as if the birds seem to mind too much. Rarely do you see Robin shoving a squirrel out of the way. Never do Blue Jays bombard bunnies. In fact each one seems to choose it’s time at the trough for one the other is away. And quite often, you’ll see a whole string of different birds share the feeder while a bunny is quietly munching down below.
That’s why I like watching those assorted creatures so much, and why I don’t mind bunnies and squirrels eating what isn’t properly theirs. Nobody seems to mind. Everybody gets fed. Little critters romp and frolic freely, and with only infrequent intrusions from the local cats.
Sometimes we look down on the animal kingdom, as if they are somehow inferior to us. Yet when I look at the goings on in the green-space behind the manse, I can’t help but wonder if they know something we don’t. I also can’t help but wonder what God thinks of us humans in light of those creatures I just described. Well, I can certainly guess and what God thinks, because Jesus so often speaks about doing the right thing, about sharing and giving and playing nicely with one another. Backyard critters seem to do it naturally. Sure, the odd cat ruins things for the odd bunny, but that’s part of God’s design; it’s not as if their is hatred between the two, it’s just how things work.
I wish that we could learn something from the other creatures that share so much better with each other than we do. I wish that we wouldn’t squabble over whose turn it is, or who gets the leftovers, or the quality of the blessings we do have. As I wish, I also realize that by following the example of a few backyard critters there would be no need for wishing. Instead by sharing and playing nicely together, God might actually enjoy watching over us. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor June 22nd
I love to work with my hands, especially when it comes to creating things from raw materials. But my love building and fashioning isn’t limited to new things. I also enjoy taking old things and restoring them to working order once again. Notice, however, that I didn’t say “like new.” That was a very carefully chosen set of words I used, because restoring something back to its fresh from the factory condition isn’t always possible, or even desirable, in some cases.
Take the chair I am currently refurbishing, for example. It was, when new, a very beautiful, comfortable and practical piece of furniture. The passage of time, however, took it’s toll on the wood and various joints, rendering that lovely bit of Scandinavian wood-craft into a useless pile of stuff. Now, to get it back to usefullness, it has to be rebuilt and refinished. Broken parts have to be repaired, with new wood replacing what went missing, or was shattered beyond repair. Some bits have to be strengthened with fresh material. And, in one case, an entirely new assembly is required, because the original design was adequate, but not great. In other words, the chair will once again be a useful, comfortable and attractive piece of furniture, but because of the necessary upgrading of some of it’s parts, it will not be exactly like new once it’s finished.
Of course, part of the work, since I’m trying to do it right, means taking every joint apart. Without doing so, I wouldn’t be certain that they were factory fresh and in fact, I found a couple of places where the joints indeed need some serious attention. Totally dismantling the chair also means it will be much easier to refinish when the time comes, since each part will be able to be sanded and stained without having other parts get in the way. Finally, by completely taking the thing apart, I’ll be able to reassemble it using the newest and best in glue technology, so that I know that it will be stronger and more durable than ever before.
When all the work is done, I will, in effect, have a new piece of furniture, since the chair I had will not only be fixed, but improved. By stripping it down and disassembling it completely, it will receive new life. And that’s what God can do for us as well. In fact, sometimes that’s what God has to do if we are to move on at all.
Every once in a while, we need God to rebuild us from the ground up, to look into our hearts and souls and tear them down so that He can repair what is broken, renew what is beyond repair, and improve what we have ruined. It’s not necessarily a pleasant process, since it means we have to be willing to look into the deepest, darkest parts of ourselves, but it is a wonderful, refreshing one that helps us to be the best we can be.
God does it through Jesus, by whose death sin is overcome. But to overcome that sin, it means our sinful bits have to be removed and destroyed, and sometimes the only way that can happen is by a radical rethinking of who and what we are. That’s what God can do for us when we leave Him in charge. He can tear us down and rebuild us, refining, restoring and refinishing us to better than factory-new condition. All it takes is the willingness to let go of the sin and error that holds us back, and a desire to let God truly take control of our lives. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor June 15th
A recent letter to the editor in our local newspaper did a good job of explaining how disputes between farmers and their non-farming neighbours could be resolved. It was a good letter that made things clear, friendly, and open, but at the same time, I found it a rather sad letter.
Farmers are crucial to human life. I know I’m stating the obvious, but farmers grow our food. That’s the plain and simple truth. Without farmers we would not eat. So I found it strange that someone would have to explain how to solve problems that arose between farmers and the neighbours that don’t know what farming is about. Sad, isn’t it, that folks just don’t understand some of the core things about one of the core things of our existence.
Farming, after all, is very much a do it when you can, business. Plants grow very much according to their own, and the weather’s schedule. When the peas ripen, they have to be taken off the fields, even if it means running a combine twenty-four hours a day. When crops need watering, they need watering right now, even if it means having to run an irrigation system at night, when losses due to evaporation are greatly reduced. And of course, when farm vehicles need to get around to get other chores done, they have to move now, because harvesting, irrigation and other jobs don’t wait for human convenience, no matter how much we wish it were so.
Ignorance, when it comes to farming, means folks get irritated when farmers are simply trying to do what’s right. It also means that farmers not only have to put up with the vagaries of the weather, but also with neighbours who get hot under the collar because the fertilizer smells a bit, or a combine is a little noisy at night. Ignorance, when it comes to God, offers just as much stress to the faithful as it does to the farmer.
Folks say the church is filled with hypocrites. Well, that’s what you get when you offer a place of healing and wholeness, no questions asked. You get folks who are hypocrites, liars, cheats and other sinners. Sure, we might not like to admit it, but that’s what forgiveness, grace and mercy are all about. Folks also claim that the church has led to great wars; well, see the above answer. Churches are not perfect places; they are filled with imperfect people, and sadly, those imperfect people sometimes do their own thing, even going to war, rather than doing God’s thing.
Still, despite its perceived imperfections and shortcomings, faith and church are just as necessary to our lives as is farming. Farmers feed our bodies. Faith feeds our souls. It’s that simple, it’s that vital, but unfortunately, it’s also very much forgotten. Faith has given way to being busy, because too many folks don’t realize the true source of their hunger. Ignorant of their need, and of the way church can help meet that need, they look for answers anywhere and everywhere. That makes me sad.
It also reminds me that, just as the farmer I mentioned earlier, we need to get our message across. We need to help identify the soul’s hunger; we need to let folks know there’s a way to feed it. The problem isn’t the church; the problem is people’s ignorance of their own needs, and how the church can meet them. We need to let others know the truth about what God offers to a needy humanity. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor June 8th
I love my little Honda Civic automobile. It’s not too big, yet quite roomy outside, it handles highways, country roads and city avenues with equal ease and comfort, it’s easy on gas, and it’s my favourite colour. Since I enjoy my vehicle so much, I try to keep it as clean, neat an tidy as possible, and while I’m not as passionate as some folks are, I think it looks pretty sharp most of the time.
There is, however, one issue, and that’s the clear plastic cover over the instrument panel. Somehow, either because the wrong cleaning product was used, or for some reason beyond rational explanation, that darned piece of plastic has some markings that have been very hard to remove. Mind you, they aren’t very big or noticeable, and they don’t interfere with the safe and proper operation of the car, but they are still very irritating, because to me they are extremely visible just because I know they shouldn’t be there!
Ever since I first noticed them, I have tried everything I could, short of taking sandpaper to clean them of. Nothing, however has worked. Finally, in frustration, I thought that maybe the marks were on the opposite side of the plastic. Maybe something dripped through to the back, or perhaps it was condensation or some other phenomenon that had caused those markings. Whatever it was, that would at least explain why my cleaning efforts were futile, and it also offered my a solution. If the markings were on the inside of the plastic, all I had to do was the cover off to reach them.
In less than five minutes, I had the thing in my hand, and started going at it with some Windex. Finally, I would get some results; at least I thought I would. After a careful rub and wipe, further examination of my efforts proved that I had wasted both the Windex, and my time. The marks were still there. In fact, when I looked at the “glass” more closely, I realized that no amount of Windex, Javex or any other cleaning product would work. The marks weren’t dirt at all; they were actually defects within the plastic, little pits or distortion buried in between the exterior surfaces. Well, now that I know what they are, and that they can’t be cleaned, I’ll just have to live with the fact that while the rest of the car may be as clean and pristine as I can make it, I have no control over that #$*%(*@ clear plastic dashboard panel.
I think God came to realize that about us along time ago. He knows that, try as He might to keep us safe and healthy, there is a stubborn part of us that refuses to do as He asks. Although we were created perfectly, we let sin spoil that perfection. It’s just who we are, and there’s nothing God will do to change it for now. One day, our last day, yes, God will make us clean and pure for eternity, but for now, He’s willing to accept us as we are, and makes the best use of us despite ourselves.
That’s a wonderful gift; God’s patient acceptance of us as we are gives us the freedom to come to Him as best we can. It allows us to use our gifts even if they aren’t perfectly developed. It lets us mess up and try again. Most of all, God’s patience let’s us be who we are without forcing us to be something we are not. One day, sure everything will be perfect, but for now, we should be happy knowing that God is perfectly content with those who love Him as best they can. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor June 1st
Way back in High School, I learned to use a typewriter. For those of you who are unfamiliar with those devices, they are manually operated (and often manually powered) printers. They are, however far more limited than today’s computer driven devices. You can’t choose from a million fonts, you can’t adjust the print size with the click of a button, you have only two choices of colour, and you can’t print graphics. Still, the message is very clear when you’re done, making the machine very effective, as long as know how to put together a decent sentence; if not, then no matter how good the typewriter is, your message might still be completely unintelligible.
Typewriters aren’t around much any more. Today we use our computers to write letters or send notes using the latest word processing systems. Of course, the technology still can’t make up for the folks that have no idea what purpose grammar or spelling serve, but it does at least try to help out. In fact, some word processing systems actually help folks become better writers, because they have fairly decent grammar and spelling aid built into them. While not perfect, these checkers do their best to ensure that what you write actually makes sense. If you go astray, they can suggest a better way to assemble that thought, or how to spell a tough word.
This world of computerized typing offers yet another advantage to the budding Shakespeare or J. K. Rowling. If you are connected to the internet, most word processors let you use external aids like thesauri or rhyming dictionaries so that your writing will be the best you can offer. It’s pretty amazing stuff really, and worlds beyond what an ordinary typewriter can do. Sure, those old devices get the job done, but compared to what’s possible with the latest technology, it’s no wonder you see more and more of them for in thrift stores or at garage sales.
The “technology” that God uses is pretty simple; His message hasn’t changed since that first day He spoke to Adam and Eve. Throughout the ages and for the eternity that is ahead of us, God will continue to love us, be frustrated by us, and provide for us, as He always has. Yet within that constant, God makes room for change, not in the way He comes to us, but in the way we come to Him.
Whether its in the way we worship, or in the needs that have to be addressed, God gives us the room to use whatever tools we come up with to praise and serve Him. Modern farming techniques help us feed more people yet use less land. Modern communication makes it harder for the tyrant to hide their crimes, and simpler for us to spread God’s Good News. Modern medicine helps us improve life for everyone.
Sure, technology doesn’t solve our problems; sometimes it even creates its own problems. But, with God’s help, it can help us do things in new and more effective ways than ever before. Granted, just as a good typewriter or computer does not a writer make, technology itself doesn’t do anything without it’s wise use. But it can help bring out the best in us, whether its improving our writing skills or feeding more people. And that’s a good thing, when it comes to being the best we can be for God, who wants nothing but the best for us. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor May 25, 2008
As I get to know Chatham more and more, and generally as I figure out what I want to be when I grow up, I find myself getting involved in more and more clubs and organizations. Sometimes it’s for fellowship, sometimes it’s for a specific interest, sometimes it’s for community service, and sometimes it’s a little bit of all three. Each group or club has its own set of rules and regulations, things written and unwritten that are right and wrong, ways to behave and not to behave. Some groups are more formal than others. Some have a great sense of pomp and circumstance. Some have well ordered and complex rituals. Some are just plain silly, yet rich with friendship and a sense of belonging. Each group has its own unique identity that comes from its purpose, its people and its rules, yet each is bound by something far more common... ...and sometimes comical.
You see, what I’ve noticed lately is that even the most solemn and ceremonious of these groups features very little silence. Even in the quietest moments, someone is chatting in the background. During serious rituals there’s always a joker willing to share his or her thoughts. While we’re getting down to business, someone is there ready to keep things slightly silly.
Now, I’m always up for a little fun. In fact, I’m not a huge fan of long, depressing rituals. But I don’t mind being quiet and respectful either. When someone else is talking, or leading a particular rite or ceremony, I like to listen and follow along. In fact, sometimes I like to get caught up in the pomp and majesty of an event, because something like that doesn’t happen all the time. However, like that person in the movie theatre that insists on whispering even when an important plot detail is being discussed, there seems to be more and more folks ready to offer their two cents at any given moment, even when something unique and special is happening around them, and frankly, it can be kind of annoying.
Now, I’m not lining myself up with the Almighty, but I think I know how God must feel sometimes. There He is, trying to get His point across with a beautiful sunset, and we go and pollute the skies. There He is, spreading a bountiful table of wonders for all the world to share, and someone tries to hog it all to themselves. There He is, giving us His Son, offering Him to anyone who needs Him, and there’s somebody trying to say He doesn’t exist, or that they’re the only ones who deserve Him.
It must drive God crazy to have all these voices and actions trying to make themselves heard above His wisdom and majesty. It must drive God crazy to know that folks are so easily distracted when He’s trying to get through to them. And it must drive God crazy that we people of faith not only let it happen, but sometimes we’re just as responsible as the folks who don’t know any better.
As bothersome as it might be, God’s patience is even greater than His sense of annoyance. After all, humanity has a long history of making pests of themselves. But within that history, God has never stopped loving us. In fact, it’s precisely because of our history that God keeps after us. He knows that we need Him, and He’s not about to give up on us. No matter how annoying we might be, God has the patience to stick it out and wait until we settle down and pay attention. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor May 18th
A little while ago I gave up drinking caffiene on my doctor’s orders. It wasn’t a big hardship, although it did take some getting used to. I also chose not to be a total anti-caffeine tyrant, so occasionally I still have the odd cup of coffee or cola type beverage. This, however has been the cause of certain, shall we say, surprises.
My previous coffee-drinking self was used to five or six cups of java a day. That’s one of the reasons my doctor suggested I get off the stuff. He also listed a number of things caffeine did to the body that were good enough incentives to go along with his suggestion that total abstinence was not a bad idea. What pushed me over the edge was the fact that caffeine makes dieting a lot harder, something that is of particular concern since I’m trying to lose weight. So, over a gradual period I reduced my caffeine intake to virtually nil. No more dependence on the stuff for me. No more regular trips to Timmy’s for a fix. Best of all, no more desperate searching for change in the lowest, dirtiest levels of my car interior.
There is, however, the occasional downside to being un-addicted yet not totally abstemious. This came to light a few days ago when I had my first cup of non-decaf in a long time. Like I said, I’m not a total anti-caffeine tyrant, so every once in a while I enjoy a cup. However, having rid myself of my dependency on the drug, it’s effects are far more pronounced now, something I didn’t think of when I sipped some fresh java.
Af first, it just tasted nice, and that was about it. However, after a while, I found myself getting jittery and agitated. The stimulant effect of the caffeine had kicked in! My pulse was racing; my heart was racing; I was all a-twitter.
At first I couldn’t figure out why I felt that way. Sure, it was a busy day, sure there were a lot of things on my mind, sure I had some things to worry about, but I’m normally not that kind of person. Only after some careful thought did I realize why: my immunity to its effects had been eliminated through abstinence so I was feeling the full impact of the dreaded coffee bean with just one drink.
Sometimes our faith life goes the same way. Backsliding. That’s what it’s called. We try to do our best, we make changes to our behaviour that are pleasing to God, we get rid of bad habits or pick up new ones, then bang, one little slip and we feel the full impact of our old ways. That’s not a bad thing. My experience with caffeine reminded me of its negative impact on my being and encouraged me to stay off the stuff as much as possible. It also reminded me that while God is in control, or at least I try to let Him, He doesn’t force the issue, even if it means we mess up.
Backsliding isn’t great, but it’s not fatal, either. In fact, if we’re smart, it can even help us. Repeating old mistakes is a reminder of how they hurt us. Skipping a, healthy habit renews our desire to get back to it. A break in our closeness with God reminds us of how much we need Him. Wandering away from Jesus reminds us of just how lost we are without Him. So, while life might be easier without backsliding, it can help us, even if it’s just to help us appreciate how far we’ve gotten, and how much better it is to do what’s healthy, or right, or Christ-like. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor May 11th
The sign on the side of a business van proudly proclaimed: “Image is everything.” Is it really? Does how we appear, our image, really matter more than anything else, even to the point of excluding all other considerations, or is there more to it than meets the eye?
Consider this: We were made in God’s image, but that’s not the whole story. An image is a picture; but we’re not a photograph of God. An image is the key to imagination, something we create with our minds but might not be possible or realistic; we’re not that either. We are made as a likeness of God, that is, we are similar to God in many ways, but not exactly like God. That’s very different from the concept of an image being everything. An image, after all, doesn’t necessarily portray reality.
Fictional hero James Bond posed variously as a photographer, a businessman, a diamond expert and in other disguises. He donned these images so that he could gain the enemies confidence before dispensing his “Double-0” justice; in other words, James had the appearance of a sheep, but was in reality a professional wolf, dispatching his prey with the cold hard justice of a Walthers PPK handgun. Image, in this case, clearly isn’t everything. In fact, image is merely deception.
So where does the truth lie? How important is an image? After all, it is said that the first impression is the lasting one, but is that an absolute fact? Aren’t we capable of changing our opinion about a person or once we get to know them? It seems to me that any mature thinking person would look beyond a someone else’s image to see the truth that lies within. After all, most of us are pretty average looking and none of us have any visible traits the reflect our skills, talents or shortcomings. Accountants do not have numbers strewn across their foreheads, teachers don’t have blackboard emblazoned on their chests and carpenters don’t have hammers for hands. The only way to know who they are is to see them at work.
Image is, however, important to a lot of folks. Look at the current crop of moms that try to look as young and hip as their daughters. Think of all the number of middle aged men flocking to the gym so that they can look like the young sports heroes they were in their glory days. Think of all the kids that are being dressed up to look like the adults in high fashion magazine. Clearly, image means a lot to these people or their parents. Somehow, they believe that if they look good on the outside, then everything will be alright on the inside.
That’s not what being made in God’s image is about. Being made in His image means having the wisdom and potential to do amazing things. It means being holy from the inside out. It means that we cannot be measured by how we look, but by what we do. That’s why we never get to see God; what He looks like doesn’t matter. That’s why there are no physical descriptions of Jesus; He is the Saviour of all humanity. That’s why the Holy Spirit breathes into us rather than covering us with something; it is God’s own breath bringing our God-imagined and imaged selves to life.
Image is nothing; only what we do with image in which we were created means anything. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor May 4th
I’m trying to lose a little weight. Sure, I will never have a six-pack set of abs, but I at least hope to reduce the size of my “keg” to maybe a small jug. This, however, is not an easy process. There’s a lot of work and discipline involved. Weight loss also requires a bit of calorie counting so that I can eat only what I need, and no more. This has been a very interesting exercise. In fact, it’s been a very surprising one, especially when it comes to popcorn.
When you think about it, there’s not much to popcorn. It’s just dried corn that’s been heated to the point at which the water boils and causes the kernel to expand. Being such a simple and light food, one wouldn’t think that it’s too fattening, but one would think incorrectly. An average serving of popcorn has as many calories as three slices of bread. That’s not excessive, I guess, but it’s not minor either. When you add butter to the mix, the number skyrockets to the ridiculous, making popcorn a poor choice for someone trying to lose weight.
Who knew? Who knew that popcorn, in all its innocent lightness and airiness, could pack a significant caloric punch. Who would have thought that instead of contributing to my healthier lifestyle, it was doing nothing at all to help? OK, I know that the popcorn in movie theaters isn’t good for me, but I didn’t realize that I was sabotaging my dietary efforts with the stuff I was eating at home.
That just shows the difference between knowing and assuming. I assumed my popcorn habit was a healthy one, that it was a kind of free snack that didn’t contribute to enlarging my personal keg shape. Now I know better. That got me to thinking; how many other things do folks assume rather than know? And just how much trouble do we get ourselves into because of our assumptions?
Certainly God knows that problem. God knows that we often guess at things rather than get the facts. Or we just carry on in ignorance, assuming we’re doing or saying the right thing, without any factual basis for our assumption. God also knows, and we should also know this, that our ignorance is no excuse. Whether or not we know we are hurting ourselves (or in my case, not helping my weight loss plan) we still cause ourselves pain or suffering.
God knows this, and has provided several aids to us. God has given us His great instruction book, the Bible, so that we can know what’s right and wrong. He has also given us brains and the wisdom to fill them, so that we can apply what the Bible teaches us. God has given us Jesus and Christ-like people to guide us. Finally, God has given us an infinite number of chances to recover from our mistakes, because His forgiveness is never-ending.
That’s the beauty of a God who truly loves His creation. He loves us enough to let us make our own mistakes, but also gives us the tools we need so that we can either avoid them in advance, or learn from them afterwards. Sure, I messed up with my choice of popcorn as a health-food, but that’s why God gives all of us the brains to figure out where we’ve blown it, and to make better choices. And that, my friends, isn’t just an assumption. It’s fact. I know that God has given us the tools to make smart choices and to learn from our mistakes. It’s just up to us to use them wisely. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor April 27th
Last week I wrote about Formula One race cars, automobiles whose tires and engines wear out completely after just one race. I’m amazed at that concept of a thing, or a person, pushing themselves to the limit that way. I concluded my thoughts by saying: “So go ahead. Give God all you’ve got, and He’ll make sure you’ve got all you need...” suggesting that it’s a good thing to let it all hang out for God. But there’s a different side to the story I’d like to share with you.
Formula One race cars are designed to fall apart on impact. The moment they hit a wall, parts break. That’s not to say the cars are fragile or poorly built. It’s a special feature, a specific function of the car, just like the tires and engines are designed to last only one race. But there is a big difference in the reason for those features. Engines and tires are designed to be pushed to the limits so that every once of energy or performance can be extracted without weight or any other factor getting in the way.
The break-apart bodies, on the other hand, are designed and built purely with the driver’s safety in mind. By letting the cars fall apart when they hit the wall, the energy of the impact is absorbed by the body, not the driver. In other words, the various parts of the body are a sacrificial component of the design. They are made to protect the racer, bearing the brunt of the crash forces when things go horribly wrong, for whatever reason.
I doesn’t matter why a car heads into a wall or has an accidental encounter with a competing machine. The front wing doesn’t ask the driver if he was too close to the car ahead when it breaks apart upon impact. The wheels and parts holding them up don’t ask the driver if he entered a turn too fast before folding up when they hit the wall. Neither does the roll cage need to know how the driver ended up flipping his car when it takes upon itself the forces of a rollover. The car does whatever it can to protect the driver, breaking apart in a controlled way so that the driver will remain in one healthy living piece should he screw up. That’s the nature of the machine.
Jesus gave, correction gives himself up the same way. He doesn’t ask why we messed up before offering us forgiveness through His death and resurrection. Instead, He bears the full force of our sin, paying the price that we could in no way, shape or form pay for ourselves.
God loves us too much to lose us to sin, knows us too well to ask why and realized that we are too weak to pay for our mistakes on our own. So He sent His only son to do what we can’t. unlike Formula one cars, which don’t know what their doing, and only have one body to give, Jesus knows full well the sacrifice He makes for us, but still does it willingly and lovingly.
That’s an incredible gift, and it comes with no charge and no strings attached. It is eternally renewable and totally effective. Of course, it does call us to seek Him out and ask for it. Naturally, that means that we have to be willing to admit to our mistakes, but that shouldn’t scare you. Jesus knows us and wants us to be whole. He can handle it, willingly and lovingly. Ask for forgiveness, do your best not to blow it again, and Jesus will do what no human can. His life for yours, as often as you need it. There is no better gift, no greater love or grander hope. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, April 20th
I’m a big Formula One racing fan. I love the fact that the cars are great technological marvels in the automobile world. I love the speed and power they exude. I love the strategy on and off the track. And I love the fact that both driver and machine are pushed to their absolute physical limits, and sometimes even beyond what seems possible for either man or machine.
Now, when I say that the drivers and their cars are pushed to the edge, I’m not kidding. A driver might lose as much as 10 pounds (4.5 kilos) during a race. And the cars are pushed pretty much to the point where there is nothing left. The engines and tires are driven so hard that they are on the verge of falling apart by the end of the race. It’s a delicate balance, but in Formula One, the tires are expected to wear out just shy of the point where they lose traction and the engines are on the verge of blowing up.
Why go to such extremes? Why push rubber and motor almost, but not quite, to the breaking point? Well, it’s a matter of getting the most bang out of your buck. Tires wear as a natural part of their life cycle. Every inch, every centimeter they travel, they shed tiny amounts of rubber, and that’s pretty much where they get their traction. In other words, its in that sacrificial contact that they are most effective. That means that you want to have just enough rubber to make the tires last a race, but not so much that you add too much weight to slow the car down in any way whatsoever.
That might seem like an awfully fine line, and maybe even wasteful, but in a competition measured in hundreds and even thousandths of a second, every gram of weight counts. That’s true of the engines as well. You want them to last one race and no more. Anything else is, again, extra weight. So, engines are built just strong enough to last one or two races, and nothing more. That means that compared to a regular car engine, the life span of a Formula One engine seems incredibly short, but on the other hand, during that short life it does things no other motor could possibly do. Actually, you might even say that such an engine has lived it’s life fully and richly, doing exactly what it was intended to do, without holding back.
So, how does, this extreme treatment of tires and engines apply to a life of faith? Simple: God gave us lives to live, not simply to save away. He gave us gifts spiritual, physical and worldly to use, not keep in sheds or banks. And He gave us faith to move mountains, not to hide under a rock. Anything left unused at the end of our earthly race goes wasted, and that’s not at all part of God’s plan for us.
Think about it. We’re not here to die leaving a beautiful, perfectly preserved body. We’re here to give our lives away, to spend them them to their fullest, to exhaust every possibility we have to bless others as we have been blessed. Neither are we here to store up a great pile of treasure. We’re here to give God everything we’ve got, and once we’re done, we’re done. If nothing is left, well that’s just fine, because all of our blessings, even our lives, are given to us in trust. When this earthly life is done, God has a new one in store for us, one that will last a glorious, joyful eternity. So go ahead. Give God all you’ve got, and He’ll make sure you’ve got all you need for both this life and the next. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, April 13th
The church’s hot water heater went on the fritz and had to be replaced. So, with a new system in place, a couple of guys came to take the old one away. They were quick and efficient, and had brought whatever equipment they needed to do their work. Picking the equipment, however required a little assessment of the job and the site, so they first took a look at the tank and where it was placed. Once down in the basement, they realized a hand-cart would be useful, so instead of having them go to their truck, I let them borrow the church’s. Things changed when they got to the steps however. There they needed what the boss called a “lifting device.”
At this point my ears perked up and my interest was piqued. What did they trained professionals have in store for the hot water heater? What manner of technological marvel would they use to simplify there task. Just how far had technology advanced since that brief summer I had worked as a mover? I couldn’t wait to learn the answers.
Well, the answer was not what I had imagined. No, there were no great advances in the science of moving heavy objects. There was no marvel of technology. In fact, all they had in store was a short piece of pipe that screwed into one of the water inlets on the heater, thus creating a simple handle to make there lift a little easier. So much for being impressed, at least from a wonder of modern invention point of view.
On the other hand, I was suitably impressed at the ingenuity and simplicity of their solution. A hot water heater is a big, awkward and slippery thing. Yet with the right equipment, it’s not totally unmanageable by a couple of strong people. All it takes to make the task a little more doable is something to hold on to, and a simple piece of strong iron pipe fit the bill perfectly. Was their solution exciting? No, not in the least. Was it ingenious? Absolutely. Was it deviously cheap and easy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better example.
Sometimes we overly complicate things in our faith life. We look for tricks or devices to make things work or to understand God. Yet God Himself offers us very simple solutions to the big issues in life. In fact, one of the greatest theologians of our century once summed up his life’s work with the simple statement: Jesus loves me, this I know. A deep, meaningful faith is angelically simple. Jesus loves us, this we should know. This we should put into practice. This we should allow to build us up and equip us as folks who in return love Jesus.
This simple basis for faith calls for equally simple, yet incredibly powerful, tools, tools like kindness and charity, friendship and openness. Sure, there are complex things we can do, and those are necessary. We need mission workers and church leaders, we need teachers and theologians, we need preachers and pastoral care workers. Mostly, however, we need love, the kind of love that reveals Jesus alive in simple ways, in in ways that touch others, and that show Him alive in the world. We need a little effort, the kind of effort that makes that love into something practical, that feeds the hungry or welcomes the lost. And with those simple tools, we can do the most amazing things, the amazing things that God Himself wants us to do. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, April 6th
Lately I’ve been watching a new TV show called “Smash Labs.” No, this isn’t a program about dogs going on a rampage, or a study of laboratories that specialize in destruction. Contrary to it’s name, the show is about finding novel solutions to old problems. True to it’s name, however, there is some destruction involved, since some of those problems include things like keeping a car safe if it gets caught in the path of an oncoming locomotive. You can probably guess that it took a few wrecked automobiles and a dented train before they came anywhere near to solving that conundrum.
Failure, and the odd broken bit of hardware, is one of the prices that the show’s stars are willing to accept. They realize that the experimental process is one of discovery, and that breaking something inadvertently still can teach them something. The thing that I really appreciate about the show, however, is that not all of their ideas are great ones. Sometimes the entire concept is flawed, and it takes a number of tries before they realize that reality. Or, on other occasions the idea is OK, but is absolutely impractical in real life.
They hide none of this. Their mistakes and successes are given equal air-time. No punches are pulled in their own criticism of themselves, and when things go wrong in a spectacularly smashing way, we viewers get to watch it in all its disastrous, unsuccessful misery. That’s what keeps me interested in “Smash Labs.” The inventors that drive and host the show let it all hang out, without apology or embarrassment because they know that they are trying new things, and that not every idea is a great one. They also realize that the only way to move ahead is to learn from ones mistakes, even if it means admitting that something won’t work in real life.
This is an important lesson for folks who are trying to follow in Christ’s footsteps. Failures, even the spectacularly humiliating fall-flat-on-your-face kind, are just as cherished and appreciated by God as are our moments of success and achievement. That’s because you can’t have a failure without trying. The safest, least embarrassing way to live is to never push our limits, to never go beyond our comfort zone, to never stretch our wings in an effort to soar. But living in our safety zone also means never growing or learning. It means closing the door on living fully.
Now, I’m not suggesting that we need to go out and do things that are dangerously stupid. Nor am I suggesting that we should try our best to fail by going way too far beyond our own capacity. I am, however, suggesting that it’s OK to fail. It’s OK to try something new and realize that it isn’t your cup of tea. After all, that’s how we learn about ourselves. That’s how we grow. And that’s how we get closer to emulating Jesus in our own way.
One last thing. The failures on “Smash Labs” are sometimes funny, and at times the hosts do really silly things, but I never laugh at them because they mess up. After all, I don’t like seeing folks humiliate themselves; for me it’s all about trying your best, no matter how embarrassing it might be. And I know that God loves us too much to have us fail just for a laugh. Instead, He takes pleasure knowing that we are doing our best, even if our attempts are sometimes a little embarrassing for us. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, March 30, 2008
Noted advice columnist Ann Landers once said: “Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” In a world of advertisements catering to our ego far less than our common sense, it’s not bad advice for most of us. Dogs have a vested interest in our happiness, because dogs are desperately dependent on us for their happiness. They need us to be complete; they wait pathetically by the door for their owner; they rejoice with mad abandon the moment they hear their master or mistress return to them.
Like dogs, advertisers are dependent on us for their joy and survival. Without us buying the products they promote, they would be nothing and nobody. Their lives would be devoid of meaning, purpose and substance. So one might consider modifying Ms Landers’ thoughts this way: Don't accept an advertiser's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. In fact, run away screaming when a commercial proclaims you a genius, because while one hand is busy stroking your ego, you can be certain the other is reaching for your wallet. And, unlike dogs, who really do believe their owners are the greatest thing since sliced bread, advertisers have no such delusion. They know they need you, but they don’t actually respect you.
Advertisers make their sales by taking advantage of our shared gullibility. They promote their products using every psychological trick in the book, carefully making us feel that we are absolute geniuses for buying their stuff, while at the same time making us feel desperately needy. Masters at manipulation, the writers and producers of commercials carefully reveal our shortcomings while offering us answers in a way that pleases our egos, even if the compliments are completely insincere. So, like I suggested earlier, Don't accept an advertiser's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
God, on the other hand, can be trusted when He tells us how wonderful we are, because our heavenly Father doesn’t have a vested interest in us the way advertisers do. Having created all that there is, including us, and having the wisdom not only to design and implement creation but also to keep it running, God certainly doesn’t need us to stroke His ego and tell Him how wonderful He is. Nor does He need any help from us in running creation or even taking care of us.
I’m quite glad that’s the case, because I know that I would be totally useless helping our heavenly creator with His majestic wisdom and power. Indeed, in god’s greater scheme of things we aren’t really much help at all. Yet God thinks we’re wonderful anyway. Having been made in our Father’s image, God naturally knows the possibilities within us, so there is something to be admired. But God, having given us free will, which we abuse in so many ways, thinks we’re wonderful despite our mistakes and assorted boo-boos.
That leads me to write yet another version of Ms. Landers’ thought: Go ahead, accept God’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. After all, He made us, so He should know. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, March 23, 2008
Mozart is dead. I know that for a fact, because I’ve read it in books and heard about it in documentaries. Beethoven is dead too. So is Leonardo Da Vinci, Archimedes, Marlon Brando and John F. Kennedy. They are dead and buried, no longer part of this earthly realm, gone to meet their maker, and generally speaking, not alive any more. Yet I just listened to music by Mozart and Beethoven. Leonardo Da Vinci continued to capture the imagination and even inspired a best selling novel. Archimedes is still touted as one of the great thinkers of all times, and Henry Fonda gets just about as much respect for his acting abilities. And JKF? Well, even though he’s been gone for over 40 years, some people still don’t seem to have gotten over his passing, and the rest of us remain fascinated with any new bit of information about him or his assassination.
Granted, some of these folks did some pretty amazing things. Some entertained us in memorable ways. Yet others made as big an impact by the way they died as they did in the way they lived. It’s reasonable, therefore that we remember a Kennedy or a Mozart. You can understand why folks are still enthralled by Brando or are trying to get a handle on Da Vinci. In ways they are bigger than life and certainly far more interesting than our own mundane existence, so we look to them for inspiration. Yet others have left a legacy of creativeness that continues to teach or entertain us. Think of a Mozart concerto or Beethoven symphony. Such works can move grown men to tears and cause women that know better to swoon, even though the authors themselves no longer can hold a decent conversation.
So what about the rest of us. Will we be remembered with the same fascination or adoration? Will they write books about us, have retrospective concerts or produce fascinating documentaries so as to teach and inspire the generations that do not have the pleasure of meeting us in person? I think not. Most likely history will forget most of us, and once our friends and relatives and others who knew us in life are gone, so too will be our legacy.
That’s OK by me. I don’t need the world to remember me, because I’ve got something better. So do you. God will remember us. From the least to the greatest, God will remember us. What’s more, God won’t just hold us as memories, He will have us by His side and we will know Him face to face. That’s the promise He makes to all those who turn to Him through His son, Jesus. Through Jesus God offers us a memorable life not only in the present, but throughout eternity. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, if you turn your life over to Jesus today, God will be faithful to you in all the tomorrow’s that come.
Not just as a side note, not just as a passing fancy, not just as an acquaintance, but as a beloved friend or child. That’s the legacy in store for those who follow Jesus. Sure, it might be nice if folks remembered us for our great deeds on earth. It would be nice to have a TV series or documentary of my life. But it will be even nicer to be close to God and be called by name. And that’s a legacy we can all look forward to, through God’s Son, Jesus. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, March 16th
It seemed to me the most normal and simple thing to do. It was a coffee shop, I was an experienced coffee drinker. The lady was a trained professional, I was a polite customer. They offered coffee with optional cream, sugar and other niceties, I wanted a coffee with two of everything. Normal and simple, our transaction should have been quick and easy.
“I’d like a double-double, please” I said enthusiastically. “Pardon me?” she replied quizzically. Clearly the microphone was distorting, or I should have specified coffee rather than tea, althought I’d never heard of a “doulbe-double tea.” “I’d like a coffee, double-double, please” I said, trying to make things perfectly clear. “I don’t know what that means!” came the slightly desperate response and suddenly it dawned on me. The server had no idea what a double-double was. You see, I had placed my order in the United States of America, where my word combination of “double-double” meant nothing. So, I said “I’d like a large coffee with two creams and two sugars, please” and finally got my creamy, sugary, caffeinated beverage.
We speak a common language in North America, one that is increasingly being adopted as the standard of business throughout the world. In fact, English, in all its glory, is becoming the “lingua franca (that is, the common tongue) of many nations. Yet English, partly because of its tremendous vocabulary, partly because of it’s flexibility, and partly because of the differences between folks from region to region and country to country, isn’t always exactly the same wherever you go. My conversation with the salesgirl in the US of A was a clear example of how words can shift or lose meaning in different places or with different people.
That should give us pause to think as people of faith. Within our belief system there are many different phrases, words and expressions that have special and particular meaning to us. They are important and useful words that help us express the vastness and beauty of God’s work in our lives. One or two words can help us express big ideas in manageable ways. This common language and understanding helps bring us together within our faith community.
It can, however, divide us from those not within our circle of believers. Our language can confuse or mystify those who aren’t in on our way of speaking the Good News and that’s not such good news. Our language should help bring us together with those who don’t know much about our beliefs. It should speak our truths plainly and clearly, without losing folks, like I did when I ordered a “double-double” from someone who hadnever heard the phrase before.
That calls us to be careful in how we talk to others. Our language should be clear and easily understood. That doesn’t mean dumbing things down; it simply means ensuring that we don’t use code words that might be unclear or confusing to those who aren’t in the loop. When you think about it, it should be too hard. After all, Jesus spoke in simple terms. Common fishermen, housewives and children understood Him. We have much in common with Jesus, so all we have to do to get other to understand Him is to speak and act as lovingly as He did, without confusing or mystifying messages. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, March 9th
I am truly appreciative of being a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada (or PCC for short). Perhaps one of the nicest things of having this position is the high regard our denomination has for education. While preparing for this role I had excellent Biblical training while in seminary and received great hands-on experience during a one year internship. But my education didn’t stop after leaving seminary. The PCC has mandated that congregations provide their ministers (or pastors, as I prefer to be called) with two weeks study leave and a book allowance. That’s a blessing that helps us keep up with the latest ideas, develop and deepen our skills..
For the past several years I’ve used my study leave to go to a continuing education program offered by a Presbyterian seminary in Montreal. It’s just a week long, but it’s very intensive, stimulating, and more often than not offers a great deal of practical stuff. This improves my preaching, gives me new insight what it means to be called to ministry, and generally helps me get closer to God. There’s also the side benefit of getting together with my peers, which is always an enriching and enlightening experience. Not only do we reflect on the material offered by the college, we also bounce ideas off one another, commiserate together, and generally offer ourselves a reality check on how blessed we really are to be serving within our denomination.
Of course, you might see this as part of the job. As a trained professional I’m supposed to keep current on all the latest helpful God-stuff. Other experts in other fields have peers and colleges to help them advance, and are expected to do so, so why should I be any different. That’s all well and true, but there is another reason that it’s so important for me to keep up to date. It’s what the Bible says I should do. The Bible offers constant injunctions, reasons for, and examples of the importance of knowing your Biblical stuff. However, as we examine Scripture, it becomes apparent that these injunctions, reasons, and examples are not restricted to trained professionals like myself. They are aimed at everybody.
Let me repeat that last thought in a new paragraph, with slightly different language: the Bible asks to be read, regularly, diligently and studiously, by all folks, whether they are pastors, ministers or ordinary people. In other words, even though I am privileged to have paid study leave, no-one is exempt from taking time to learn more about their faith. That makes a lot of sense, since we all have unique gifts, learning styles and ways of understanding. I can teach and guide others only so far. After that point, folks have to absorb the Scriptures’ teachings and make it their own. I can reveal new ways of seeing things, but my students have to take those visions and apply them to their day-to-day life. Plus, there is something wonderful and inspiring about delving into God’s story and learning that it is very much our own story.
Sure, I’m blessed, and have a special responsibility to keep current and well informed. But that doesn’t mean I’m unique. God’s word is for everyone. Jesus’ teachings are meant to benefit all humanity. The Holy Spirit’s wisdom serves everyone according to God’s plan for them. And the only way to know that plan is to jump in and learn about it for yourself. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, March 2nd
There’s no doubt that we are challenged in many ways. We have our own personal decisions and demons to contend with at all times; there are family forces and farces to face; we have church commitments, work woes or school schedules. As if that weren’t enough there are larger forces at play in our lives, things like society and our overall place in the world as responsible participating citizens of creation, or doing what God wants us to do.
Of course, it’s not as if these decision affecting forces are acting alone. Everything impacts everything else, sometimes directly, sometimes not so. A decision that is personally pleasing might not be the best one for our careers. Family might be an inherent part of our life, but sometimes we wish we had a totally different lineage, hopefully in a separate part of the world, if not the universe. Societal pressures, sometimes persuasively obvious and sometimes insidiously sneaky give us pause to think about what’s right and what’s not. The combinations are endless, and sometimes a little hard to keep straight in our minds.
Given this basic truth of life, how can we ensure we make the best choices for ourselves. Where do we turn to ensure that we’re best serving God? How do we face the challenges and maybe diminish them? Is it even realistic or possible to so come to terms with life that the challenges aren’t so daunting?
Unfortunately, there isn’t enough room in this brief snippet to answer those questions. In fact, I couldn’t even begin to scratch the surface of how to lessen the challenges that we all face. But I can offer a suggestion or two of how to meet them, and how to deal with them even in this tiny little space.
Actually, the answer came up a little earlier in this column, but it kind of snuck by rather quickly. It came up when I mentioned the challenge of doing what God wants us to do. More correctly, when we face our challenges starting with that thought in our minds rather than starting with ourselves, the other decisions almost fall into place, the challenges are eased and life begins to make more sense.
I know, I know, it’s kind of what you expect me to say as a Pastor. It’s kind of obvious that I should trace everything concerning the challenges of life back to God. But even though it’s obvious for me to share it, it’s also obvious that folks need reminding of that simple claim on my behalf. I would even go so far as to suggest that one of the major reasons we face so many challenges is that we’ve forgotten the place of God in our day to day decision making process.
That’s why I’m restating the obvious. If we want more direction in our lives, we need to focus more on the One that’s given us our final destination. That might be challenging in itself, but it’s also extremely rewarding. It might not make life easier, but it will certainly make it more bearable. It might not make our choices any easier, but it will ensure that they are better. And ultimately, making our decisions with God in mind will help make those challenges far more rewarding. Rather than struggling against the forces that impinge upon us, we’ll actually we working with the One that not only encourages us to live well, but also loves us and supports us throughout all our challenges. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, February 24, 2008
Dust and dirt are a disgusting but normal part of life. Just ask anyone with a freshly washed car, a new pair of shoes or an infant in diapers. Mind you, the presence of grime and muck or other unclean things does not mean someone or something is unworthy. Such icky things might make a person or an object somewhat unpleasant, but they aren’t necessarily a reflection of what they are like normally.
Dust and dirt are a by-product of life, the result of wear and tear, regular use, a little neglect and maybe even the odd bit of abuse. You simply can’t avoid them. In fact, it’s almost as if they want to help us out in some way. After all, you don’t really know how white a shirt is until you have the nice red spot of tomato sauce artfully splattered on it; the true brilliance of a TV screen is vastly under-appreciated until you see it toned down with a nice child-sized palm print; and you can never, ever notice the wonder and majesty of a river without it being stained by a local paint factory.
Well, Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit. Dirt and dust or other greasy grimy things don’t really make us see things in a better light; in fact, for most of us a lack of cleanliness is completely unacceptable. Just ask the makers and sellers of cleaning products if you have any doubts. They’ll be the first to tell you that our society is just about obsessed with having and keeping things clean, pure and spotless. So, while it’s true that dust and dirt are a disgusting but normal part of life, and it’s equally true that they aren’t really a reflection of a person or thing’s value, we act as if they aren’t normal, and that they do really speak to what a person or thing is really like.
I find that rather surprising, because while we’re busy keeping our clothes clean, our houses spotless and our cars showroom perfect, we have totally forgotten about ourselves, at least as far as our souls are concerned. Sure, we have any number of products available to wash our hands and hair and keep us internally and externally pure and virtuous, but we don’t take nearly as much care of our inner persons, the real part of us that matters, as we do our physical bodies.
The dust and dirt of our souls is called sin, and just like bacteria poisons our bodies, it poisons the very essence of who and what we are. Yet we don’t take nearly as much care to keep that vital part of us clean as we do in keeping our windows spotless and our dishes worthy of holding our dinners. So we let sex and violence dominate our entertainment, pass off immorality and greed as the lifestyles of the rich, famous or neighbours we don’t like, and let malice, spite and self-centeredness sully our own souls.
Thankfully, God does care about the state of our souls and through Jesus, He gives us the power to recognize our impurity and to clean up our act. Best of all, God doesn’t ask us to buy expensive cleaners to clean ourselves up. All it takes is a little elbow grease to avoid the muck that is sin, a little bit of guidance to help distinguish between what’s right what’s wrong, and a sincere desire to live a blameless life before God. He’ll take care of the rest for us through Jesus, who can make even the messiest life totally clean as often as it needs doing. Sure, sin, like dirt, is a part of life, but with God’s help, it doesn’t have to stain us permanently. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, February 17, 2008
There is no doubt that the saying “ you can’t judge a book by its cover” has some merit, especially in today’s world of glib, glossy marketing. Flashy, sexy covers draw the reader’s eye to grab a book and look inside. The titillating cover art having done its job, it’s up to the writer to draw their potential customer into actually buying their great ‘opus.’ Pity, however, the would-be purchaser of computer software. Software is just as easily marketed and packaged as any book. Colourful covers draw the buyer in. Smart, positive descriptions draw them closer to making a purchase. Assurances that the stuff is easy to install, easier to use, and more helpful than a swiss-army knife (or more fun than a barrel of monkeys, when you’re looking for a bit of fun) seal the deal.
But there’s one problem. You still don’t know what you’re getting, because you actually have to put the software into a computer before you can read it. You can’t just get drawn in by a slick cover, read a few of the actual paragraphs written by the author, and then make up your mind from that up-close experience. Computer programs just can’t be studied that way. You can’t simply open the fancy box and read the computer disc inside. You have to take the thing to your home or office and try it out.
So what if you don’t like the product. What if the product is nothing but junk? What if it’s more useless than wings on a piano? What it it’s less fun than being audited by Revenue Canada? What if it doesn’t work on your computer? Well, once you’ve broken the security seal on the nice package, you are on your own. There’s no going back. There are no returns. You’re stuck with your purchase and that’s all there is to it. That’s because, unlike a book, software can be very easily copied onto your computer, which means vendors are afraid you’ll install the product, then try to get your money back because you no longer need the actual discs.
That makes for some pretty tough decision making, or very smart shopping. Since you can’t get a true understanding of what a program is like without trying it, you have to do a little research and find out if someone you trust has had any luck with the product. Or you can look at magazine articles or other independent sources. One way or another, in order to avoid making a mistake by judging software by it’s cover, you have to do a little research. Otherwise, you might just end up throwing your money away.
People looking for answers, or shopping around for a church, or just curious about God, have similar challenges. They need an attractive, soul-catching way to peak their interest and move them to look deeper. Which means people of faith should know that more often than not, they are the very cover by which not a book, but God himself is judged.
In other words, we’re the ones drawing people to know God better, and hopefully, what they find in us is worth hanging on to. At the same time, we need to let go when folks don’t buy into our beliefs. After all, faith is very personal, and we each need to choose for ourselves. We can’t force anybody to love God. We can, however, do our best to present ourselves so that God’s love can’t help but draw and hold anyone closer to Him. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, February 10th
Hi. I'm Pastor John, from St. James Presbyterian Church. I've been in ministry for about 14 years, but I did have previous career completely away from serving God. Before pursuing my call to the ministry, I spent 8 years working as a computer service technician, because science and technology has always been one of my passions.
I'm the type of guy who loves anything mechanical, anything that goes buzz, whirr, clank or ping, anything that can be assembled or tinkered with, anything that involves motors or levers or lots and lots of blinking lights and flashing screens. Now, I know that this technical and scientific bent might not seem entirely in line with being the Pastor of a church and taking care of God's people. In fact, when you look at the way some scientists regard religion nowadays, you might even think that science and religion are a bad mix, and that my choice of hobby isn't entirely appropriate, but I beg to differ.
You see, science is simply a way of looking at the world. Science is, in fact, the art of figuring out the way creation works, where we humans fit in, and understanding what's possible or impossible. In other words, science is just another way of getting closer to God, because as we better understand our physical world, we get a better insight into the amazing mind of God, as well as a keener understanding of how vast His knowledge is, and how limited our own science really is.
That's always been the goal of science and the scientific method. Indeed, one of the greatest thinkers of all time, Sir Isaac Newton, paved the way for both our current understanding of the world and the way we obtain that understanding. He devoted his scientific curiosity to the sole purpose of getting closer to God by better understanding the rational mind of His creator.
That's why I'm troubled and irritated by scientists who are trying to distance themselves from God. They're like children who want nothing to do with their parents. They deny their roots, forget what really matters, and end up straying further from the truth rather than getting any closer to it.
As far as I'm concerned, the better we understand our world from a scientific and technological point of view, the closer we get to our heavenly Father, who not only gave us life and breath, but who put all creation into place, and is still very busy running things.
Of course, I don't expect everyone to love technology or science the way I do. It would be a pretty boring world if we all had the same approach to life. But that doesn't mean anybody is off the hook when it comes to trying to know God as best we can. It's a part of a healthy faith life to know who our Heavenly Father is, and how we fit into His creation. That way we can better serve Him. The more we know God, the more reasons we have to give Him glory. And if nothing else, the more we understand our amazing and incredible creator, the more we come to realize that He's not just a rational and logical inventor, technician and manager, but that He is also the one and only God of love, grace and mercy. In fact, if that's all you know about God, then you're off to a great start. At least that's the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, February 3rd
Over the years I have managed to learn to play a few different musical instruments. Mind you, I’m not that great on any of them. I can do passable job on the trumpet and accordion, can fake it with the piano, and can hold my own on congas, but I’m not a master of any of those wonderful noisemakers. What my meagre talent does offer, however, is a deep appreciation for those who are indeed masters of one or more instruments.
This skill level is something that is so obvious, it almost makes playing a piano or harp easy. A case in point happened just last week. Our congregation had invited a wonderful musician, Glen Soderholm, to play for us one evening. As he and his accompanist, David, were warming up, Glen suddenly stopped during the middle of one song and said to his friend: “We’re in the wrong key!” Now, for those of you without a musical background, being in the wrong key is roughly like driving in the wrong car. You still get where you’re going in the end, but it takes a lot of adjustment to feel comfortable doing so.
David, however, didn’t so much as bat an eye when Glen started out incorrectly. He simply did his thing, and to my untrained ear, it sounded just as good as if they had been playing in the right tonality. That’s what it means to be a skilled, well trained musician. David’s absolute mastery of his mandolin meant that he didn’t have to think about what he was doing. He heard Glen start the song, and adjusted himself accordingly to play in key Glen had chosen, even if it was the wrong one.
Each of us is a master in one or two areas of life. We each have a particular skill that we do almost without thinking, and do it so well that it looks easy to the untrained eye. Those skills or talents are the particular gifts that God gives each of us so that we might be special, and bring something unique to the table. However, each of also has a wider set of skills that are useful, important and necessary, but which we haven’t necessarily mastered. The lives we lead just about demand such versatility, and God has seen to it that one of our skills is the ability to do a great number of things well enough to suit whatever needs doing. We might not be masters at them, but then again, they aren’t things the necessarily require such refined skills.
In the end, it’s not our greatest gifts that will get us into heaven. Neither is it any of the million and one things we do moderately well. And don’t worry, we won’t be judged solely on the things we do poorly, either. In the end it what we did with our whole lives that matters more than anything else. God will look at how we used our talents and abilities, whether minor or major, to love and care for others. Did we do our best to spread the Good News? Did we let Christ be seen and felt through us? Did we leave the world a slightly better place? These are the questions God will ask of us.
And since God is the unparalleled master of love, he won’t be too strict if we weren’t completely successful. That’s why He is also the master of grace and forgiveness. That’s why He sent His son to be master of our lives. God knows we’re not all like Mother Teresa or St. Francis. So maybe we aren’t masters at doing what God would like us to do. As long as we are, however, masters at doing our best and trying our hardest, that’s good enough for God. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, January 27, 2008
I am rather amazed with my current container of shaving cream. I know it might not seem that exciting as a topic for discussion, but just bear with me for a moment. You see, this particular container of shaving cream has lasted for a good long time. It’s over three years old, yet it’s still going. While it’s clearly on its last legs, I am continuously surprised that it still has useful product to deliver. Every time I think it’s empty, there remains yet another squeeze of foam. Now, this isn’t what one might call a quality product. It’s just the house brand of a cut-rate store, and it was on sale to boot. The can is showing signs of age, with rust appearing at the base. The shaving cream itself has lost all it’s great foamy bubbliness, but it’s still perfectly effective. So despite it’s many shortcomings, and the fact that it’s nearly empty, it has been a pretty amazing product, if no other reason than its failure to give up.
I’ve lamented before that I would only like to have top quality products in my workshop. That’s because many of the cheap bargains I’ve found have been of such poor quality that they were hardly worth buying in the first place. Furthermore, the workshop is one place where you need tools that are precise, durable and safe, which means you’re looking for top grade stuff. But not all areas of life are quite so ‘mission-critical.’ While my personal hygiene is very important, I have very basic needs, so very basic products serve me very well, even if they aren’t the greatest quality.
Take that container of shaving cream. All I really need is a product that smells nice and offers useful lubrication while shaving. An inexpensive, no name product does just as well for me as something more high end. And just because something might be inexpensive, it doesn’t necessarily have to be poorly made or substandard quality. In fact, when it comes to a lot of beauty and personal care products, there’s often more hype and hullaballoo than there is product. Not always mind you; there are a lot of excellent products that are worth every penny of their rather high asking price, but not everyone needs that kind of quality.
So yes, a humble container of shaving cream turns out to be a worthy topic of discussion because of the steadfast and trustworthy way it performs its duty, It’s also worthy for discussion because that’s the way God looks at us, too. God isn’t looking for super-high quality; he’s looking for reliable, trustworthy folks. He’s looking for the ones that do good work, even if it’s humble and simple. He’s looking for the ones that just get the job done without calling too much attention to themselves. He’s looking for ordinary folks to do ordinary things that are so vital to His heavenly plan.
That means we don’t have to be Mother Teresa in order to care for the needy. We don’t have to be Billy Graham to bring people to Him. And we certainly don’t need to walk on water to follow His ways. God wants to be amazed by our simple faith and dedication. He wants to be amazed by the way we get the job done without pomp and circumstance. He wants to be impressed by the way we stick steadfastly to His plan for us. And whenever we do something for God, no matter how insignificant the work, or how insignificant we ourselves might be, God will receive it with the same deep appreciation as he would the greatest treasure offered by the mightiest person on earth. After all, He’s not looking for anything more than a sincere heart, and an honest effort, and that’s something we all have to offer. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, January 20, 2008
The weather has been rather odd, to say the least, this winter. So odd, that I found myself walking in a light rain during the season one would normally expect something a little more white and flaky. Of course, this being winter, all the trees were completely devoid of all leafy matter. At least that much has been normal this year. Yet even though the trees were bare, they still provided a tiny bit of shelter against the rain. Much to my surprise, the naked branches were able to deflect the light mist of water descending from the sky, leaving a nice dry patch on the sidewalk at my feet.
I have to admit that I didn’t expect to see such a sight. I always thought that bare, defoliated trees weren’t able to offer any shelter whatsoever. To see their branches completely exposed, and the relatively clear expanse of sky visible through them, suggested to me that there wasn’t much there to offer even the tiniest bit of protection. Clearly I was wrong. While the rain wasn’t coming down too strongly, it was enough to be noticed, and while the branches had no leaves at all, they were still able to provide a noticeable blocking action to that water descending ever so gently.
It’s all too easy to assume that quantity can mean quality. You just know that a tree packed densely with leaves will keep you pretty dry. It makes sense. Yet first-hand evidence revealed that it wasn’t just a fully laden maple that could do the job. A winter-bare example of that species did a good enough job in a winter-strange rainfall. Think of the tiny amount of food colouring needed to make icing bright blue. Think of how little too much salt you need to make a meal inedible. Think about how even the tiniest gesture can go a long way to heal a broken heart.
God does some pretty amazingly big things. He is, after all, all knowing and all powerful. Yet God also does some amazingly small things that are just as important as those big things. Just as God keeps the planets in order and the stars shining, he guides the first hesitant steps of a child and offers that child’s parents a reason to smile brightly. Just as God directs the currents of the oceans and the ways of the wind, he gives us tears of joy and gasps of delight.
Nothing is ever too small, to interest God, and nothing is too small to be of value to God. As a barren tree still offers some protection our tiniest gift matters to our heavenly Father. However, there is a significant difference. While that winter-bare Maple had only a slight effect in modest conditions, even a tiny effort, when offered in holiness and prayer, can have a mighty effect. A child’s smile can erase the bad day suffered by her daddy. A word of prayer can help ease the victim’s bitterness. A gentle touch can make the stranger feel welcomed and loved.
There’s an amazing side effect of this take on smaller things. It comes in the fact that we can all do something small much easier than something big. Big is good, but it takes a lot of work. Small might not have as great an effect, but it is still powerful, and it’s a lot easier than doing the big things. And when we do a lot of little good things, they build up and can have the same or even greater impact than doing just a few big things, which is simply amazing. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, January 13, 2008
It’s nice to get feedback every once in a while. You try things, you say things, you do things to make a positive impact on people’s lives, but you don’t always know how it touches them. Attempts at kindness might be received with thanks, but you don’t always see if they are truly making a difference. Helpful or challenging words might be acknowledged with a nod or a smile, but you don’t always know whether they’re something useful or just another source of greenhouse gas emission. A helpful act might appear to make things go more smoothly, but you don’t always know whether it was entirely the right thing to do.
Feedback helps set the record straight. Hearing from someone well after the dogged attempt, the well-intentioned advice or generous act is the only way to really know what those efforts meant. Did you make a good decision you can repeat in a similar situation? You’ll only know with feedback. Were the words wrong for that given moment? Feedback will let you know for certain. Was that the right thing to do? Honest feedback will answer that question.
Feedback doesn’t have to be direct. It can come from other sources, which is exactly what might happen when a mistake was made. After all, kind folks don’t want to hurt a benefactors feelings when they see that the intentions were good, even if the effort was not entirely appropriate. And sometimes, when the effort succeeded, the recipient simply might not realize that a little follow-up feedback can settle any feelings of uncertainty from the giver.
Feedback allows for growth in both the giver and the recipient. Givers learn how their actions are seen, what works and what doesn’t, when it’s good to step in and when it’s better to step back. For the person at the getting end, feedback provides a mechanism for giving thanks, as well as an opportunity to speak out the feelings and needs that led to the kindness from others.
As a Pastor, it’s nice to know how my words and actions impact others. Feedback is essential to my calling. It gives me permission as well as setting limits. It creates opportunities and closes doors. It moves me forward or backward or whatever direction I need to go. It lets me hear and feel how my words and actions are perceived by those who are at the receiving end.
Most importantly, receiving feedback is a way that God speaks to all of us about how we’re doing. The voice of the other becomes God’s voice of guidance, of support, of encouragement. God speaks through the feedback of those we touch to let us know if we’ve gone to far, said too much or done too little. Hearing feedback from those we reach out to is God’s way to lift up the givers who are feeling down and to deflate those who are too puffed up with themselves.
Feedback, really, is just another way of giving. It is a holy act that God can use to bring us closer together, of training givers and empowering getters. It is a tool for keeping us on track in our walk with God. It is a blessing that makes us better servants, and in turn, better people. Go ahead: offer your feedback to me, to those around you. When it’s done with love, it’s all good. At least that’s the way I see it.
The Pensive Pastor, January 6, 2008
A couple of weeks ago I described the happy discovery of a much desired CD hidden inside a car stereo I bought from a local thrift shop. In that Pensive Pastor I mused on the nature of why stuff happens, and our desire to explain things. This week I thought I’d talk about the process of discovery, because that’s something that I think most of us really enjoy. It’s something that kids are particularly fond of during Christmas, and if we’re at all honest with ourselves, we’re pretty happy too, when it comes to finally opening the prezzies under the tree and discovering what joys are therein hidden.
It’s the same thrill for treasure hunters on the prowl deep beneath the seas. People looking into their family histories love finding the unexpected, especially if it concerns a rich obscure relative and an forgotten inheritance. Researchers of all kinds thrive on the process of discovery, and can’t wait for that one big one that sheds new on previously dark corners of confusion or ignorance.
This thrill of discovery is built into us. From the earliest days of humanity, our ancestors couldn’t resist trying something new, even if it meant eating the wrong fruit. Ancient explorers boldly sailed their ships into uncharted rivers, lakes and seas, even if it meant the possibility of falling off the edge of waterfalls or of the earth itself. Alchemists, inventors and tinkerers of all kinds willingly subjected themselves and their household goods to the discovery of new machines or substances, even if it meant blowing themselves up, or worse, feeling the wrath of their spouse by slicing the bed-sheets into wings for their new flying machine.
Perhaps the greatest joy in discovery, however, comes not from those things we actively seek out, but from those that happen to discover us. When I found an inexpensive, mildly used car CD player in Value Village, I was quite thrilled, although I knew that with persistence, I would eventually find it in one thrift store or another. But when I got it running and discovered a completely unexpected gem hidden within, I was completely stunned. It was such an absolute surprise to find a copy of my favourite album from one of my favourite bands that I couldn’t help writing about it in this Pensive Pastor and on a previous occasion!
This is exactly the kind of unexpected revelation that took place a long time ago in Bethlehem, within the confines of the manger behind an overcrowded inn. There, God in human form was revealed to the world in Mary and Joseph’s wriggling baby boy, Jesus. The full grown Jesus is exactly the revelation that awaits those looking for something more in their lives. Jesus, Emmanuel, ‘God-is-with-us’ shows us all we need to get closer to God. All it takes is an open heart. All it takes is an eye to see. All it takes is the desire to live a life that’s full of love, purpose and possibility. Through Jesus, God shows us the way. He opened a door of understanding. He created a path to the life He meant for us at our birth.
Have you discovered Him yet? Has He revealed himself to you? Have you had that Aha! Moment of life-changing discovery? Just open yourself up to Jesus, and He will surprise you with his unparalleled love and goodness. At least that’s the way I see it.
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