The Invisible and the Unspoken

How do you explain to someone that  you live your life based on an invisible hero? On a historical moment or series of moments that have been the most disputed events of all time? On a life and world view that has perpetrated more good and evil than probably any other outlook?  On a 'faith' adventure that you have yet to fully see come to fruition?

Well, the truth is, you don't usually get a chance to explain this, because few of life's moments allow conversations of this depth. Seldom do we get past the Justin Beiber movie, or the topic of weather (really? there's something to talk about in California?) or the newest hot topic of the economy, and the accompanying slew of political entities we blame for it.

But, it broils beneath the surface. Like when one of my students teased, "What are you going to do with your last year since the world is ending in 2012?" Did he really want to know what I was going to do? Or did he want to know if I was a scared as he that it might be true?  Or when my neighborhood gangsters slather some secret code on my parks' bathroom wall. They are begging for notice, for significance, for engagement in a conversation about power. Or when my radio proclaims that they have found a solution for a good night's sleep. Don't we all want that? To lie down and sleep in safety?

The conversation is swirling around us. We need to speak the language, pick up the dialect.

9-11 presented a crash course in spiritual language, a Rosetta Stone of necessity. God knows we speak it best when reduced to the common denominator - survival.

Let's grab the open mic. As Augustine said, "Preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words."

The Holy Spirit

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if everyone were totally surrendered to the Holy Spirit? The thought is almost as scary and wierd as total apocalypse, minus the violence, of course.

I mean, what would God ask of us, and what would He be free to do among us if we said yes and really meant it?

My pastor's talk from Acts last night prompted me,with my stoic, proper Protestant background to say, "Yes, Lord" to whatever. I had to add in that I wasn't necessarily trusting in the Pentecostal version of things, but I certainly do trust God. If there's something He wants for me, I don't ever want to say no. I think He knew that still meant yes.

And in addition to the gifts of the Spirit, such as healing, tongues, prophecies, etc. I couldn't help thinking of the fruit of the Spirit, ie love, joy, peace...

We hold back from getting love, joy and peace? Are we crazy?

Well, no, just scared.

After all, Apocalypse is easier to visualize, don't you think?

Love and Other Problems Re-Blog

After I sent out the previous post, my husband showed up at the door with this bevy of pleasures.

"What did you do that for?" I asked.

"So you could re-blog" he said.

Call me speechless.

But, I repeat, "I'll take flowers and chocolate any day."

Thanks, honey!

Love and Other Problems

Mother Teresa said,"Love is the fruit in season and within the grasp of every hand."

On Valentine's day it is customary for woman to expect something from the men they love. I've been there.
Some years I could have bought a new wardrobe for what my poor hubby had to pay from the flower scalpers. Ok, that's a slight exaggeration...

Most men don't get bent out of shape if they don't receive flowers or candy, or do they?

And then there are the pining singles, with no one to attach that sense of expectation. Lucky ducks.

How we do set ourselves up, and so soon after the frenzy of Christmas! You'd think we'd learn.

I'm not trying to be sarcastic here, but really? There's a day of the year you HAVE to show your love or it's over? What about the other 364 days of the year? Are they off the hook? Besides, Anniversaries and Birthdays, of course.

I'm proposing a new look at Valentine's Day, and new look at love.
Expect love from yourself, not from others. Hold yourself to the acid test. Am I loving? What else do I have control over, anyway?

Just sayin's all. I'm the first to love chocolate and flowers. Frankly, I'll take them on any day of the year. 

Scary Things

You just never know, do you, what a day may bring forth?

Today a good friend told me how her life was falling to pieces with one swoop of the ax.

Her soul is intact, mind you, but her outer life is a nightmare that makes Afghanistan look like a next door neighbor.

Which reminds me that He, the living Lord is here, as well as there. Good thing. My brother just signed up for the Army, and he may be sent to Afghanistan.

Scary things are everywhere.

The domestic situation in Jesus' day was no picnic either. He, the Prince of Peace, was born under life-threatening situations to poor people far away from the comfort of home. I guess He knows.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)" 2 Corinthians 10:3,4

If we could see as God sees, we would see his protective love and light where there is darkness. Give us eyes!

Find a Way To Win

ESPN's interview with Jarrett Bush, cornerback for the Packer's after the arguably 'surprising' win on Sunday left me with a phrase he repeated several times. We had to "find a way to win." And win they did.

That kind of drive and dedication, though concentrated into a four hour ordeal in front of the entire world is a result of many more hours of training when no one was watching, no one was cheering, and no one knew if they would win or not.

If winning matters to you, and there is all kinds of winning, then both the steady attention to everyday detail, and the last rush of oomph when the pressure's on are what makes the difference. Sometimes I find that I don't win, because I don't care enough to do what it takes. But, after watching the game for the first time in my life, I must admit, I want to win.

The details may be different for you, but join me? Let's find a way to win!

Feeling Good

Humans like to feel good. This basic drive causes us to make money, spend money, develop friendships, marry, have children, listen to music, create art, and a myriad of other activities that bring satisfaction.

In this fallen world, the craving to feel good also leads us down some very destructive alleys which initially feel good and ultimately feel horribly bad. This in turn creates a vicious cycle in which we choose increasingly more dangerous alleys in search of, you guessed it, feeling better about how the last thing we reached for didn't make us feel better.

I'm not trying to be simplistic, I've just been made startlingly aware of how many times during the day my mood spikes and plummets, and what I choose to do about it. Food, my spouse's approval, shopping for something new are all my drugs of choice. Sometimes, not often enough, I just live in the moment and thank God that He knows what He's doing. Of course I ask for help too, but no matter how good I feel in one moment, the hunger to feel good again is always lurking around the corner.

Realizing our motivations, and telling ourselves the truth about them., and perhaps confiding in someone else is tremendously healing in and of itself. It even can make us feel better about why we did what we did to make ourselves feel good.

Being able to withstand emotional pain is a skill reserved for maturity, but none of us ever escape the need to have positive feelings. The next time you find yourself feeling bad and reaching for a cure, allow yourself the full weight of the emotion. Don't do anything, just experience it. I feel a little like a LaMaze instructor here, but feeling pain is not the end of the world, it just feels like it.

What kinds of things do you reach for to feel better? How has emotional pain helped you to mature? I'd love to hear your thoughts.