June 2006

As I write this, I’m watching my greyhound-husky mix (Katy) sunning herself on our brick patio. She’s got on one of those dog-smiles. Occasionally she follows the flight of a bug; if it flies near enough she may or may not nip at it. Mostly, with squinted eyes she is calmly taking in the backyard. Maybe she’s solving some deep philosophical question, or creating a mental list of the things she needs to do tomorrow, or perhaps praying to God that I open the green-labeled can of food for her tonight instead of the red-labeled one. In some sort of weird–even if unintentional/unconscious way, might she at least be “meditating”? Just being, open, at peace, hopeful, and postive?

People often say they feel “close to God” in nature. Without going all pantheistic, one of my friends mentioned yesterday that it does seem fair to say that the Divine often opens up in various places of beauty–or that we open ourselves to feel or hear Spirit talking to spirit. Call it “wonder” or “worship” or whatever.

When or where or what were you doing the last time you had that sense of God’s Spirit talking, touching or just being alongside yours?

I kind of sense it now, mildly watching my dog. After this, I think I’ll go disturb her private meditation a bit by joining her.

My older brother and I were chatting and we were talking about obedience in action and obedience of the heart/will. It seems clear that if I stop at the stop sign, even if I do it grudgingly, it’s still “obeying”.

If I wash the dishes at my wife’s request, and I do it grudgingly, I’ve still fulfilled her request …I think…

If I visit and listen to one of God’s hurting children, and I successfully provide her/him some comfort, even though the entire time I’m wishing that I was someplace else or doing something else, am I still serving God?

Or to put it plainly, can one obey God grudgingly and still call it obedience?

I think of Jesus’ parable of the two children. One says, “No” but later does the chore. The other says, “Yes” but never shows up.
I think of Jonah who–after the big fish incident–grudgingly goes to Nineveh and (to his own dismay) delivers a message that saves them from distruction. And yet God feels compelled to confront Jonah’s lack of compassion. Was Jonah obedient or not?

My brother went on to suggest that we might begrudge something–and receive no joy from it–because we’re doing something that we’re actually not supposed to be doing–or not the right person for the job. But, I can also imagine that we do somethings grudgingly and “obediently” because they are a part of, support, or make possible the callings and relationships that we want to be in and do.

God loves and blesses a cheerful giver, to be sure. But how about the one who’s doing it out of obligation, or still learning how to be cheerful about it? In light of the grace that frees us (see Ephesians 2:8-10) for good works, maybe this is over-thinking the whole issue of “obedience”…

I hope to have some ideas for a June 11 discussion which kicks off a three-part series on “Word, Works and Wonder”.

At the end of one of the stanzas of Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress”, refering to the unavoidable doom of “this world’s tyrant”, it says, “One little word subdues him.”

Does anyone know or have a thought about what that “one little word” might be?

 

(The German version: “ein Wortlein,” or “one wordling.”)

As the parents of a beautiful 17 mos. old adopted son, my wife and I still find this time from Mothers’ through Fathers’ Days rough going…emotionally and spiritually. As we contemplate the hope of expanding our family in the next year or so (via another adoption, which means yet another mortgage/added debt), we find ourselves on another stage of this strange, sometimes surreal, sometimes jealous, sometimes cynical ride.  Read the rest of this entry »

This morning my wife and I get to be “Godparents” for the first time. I wonder why our denomination calls it Baptismal “Sponsors.” That sounds kind of strange given today’s usual use for that word in the commercial sense. To me, “Godparent” seems to acknowledge the ongoing, parenting, and religious aspects. Is there a good reason for “sponsor”?

This is my first blog. We’ll see how it goes… I am enjoying a new position, a new co-worker, a renewed sense of purpose and direction. This is one more area I hope to receive ideas, input, etc. & perhaps to share some of myself. Blessings, Greg