What is Your Pot of Stew

How much is your relationship with God worth? What are you willing to exchange for the blessing God has for you? What issues and agendas are you willing to pursue in spite of the effect on your faith, your witness, and your life? We all have something, or some-things, that we get so attached to that we let them affect the meaningful parts of our lives. Sometimes, we get so involved that the effect is more akin to consequence, and in that moment we lose something that is truly precious. Esau learned that lesson. He gave it all up for a simple pot of stew.

As the story line of Genesis unfolds, a dramatic encounter develops between Jacob and his brother Esau. Jacob and his mother sought to take hold of the inheritance that rightfully belonged to his elder brother. Together they formed a deceptive plan to gain the father's blessing and a plot to convince Esau to surrender his birthright. Amazingly, it actually worked. Jacob gets ready for his brother's arrival by preparing a pot of stew, and this culinary creation will be Esau's undoing. Jacob will end the day with the destiny that belonged to his brother.

Esau was not a bad man. He was diligent and committed, a little impetuous and a little foolish, but not bad. His biggest struggle was his ability to get caught up in the moment, to the end that he lost a hold on what was truly important. Returning to the homestead one day, he let his hunger, amplified by the aroma of good stew, take him away from responsible behavior. In a moment, he willingly traded his inheritance for a meager pot of stew. When his hunger was satisfied, he realized what he had done, but it was too late. The blessing and the inheritance now belonged to his younger brother. He traded his destiny for a pot of stew.

Before you judge Esau too harshly, please look carefully at your journey. Maybe you too have known the moment when you traded something of value for what was passing. Maybe you have lost sight at times of what really matters. Maybe, the issues and agendas of your life cloud your ability to clarify your priorities. The truth is, most of us have been there, and some more than once. Church history is full of otherwise faithful people who exchanged their God-given mission for the color of the church carpet, or the vote at one meeting.

It is easy to feel very justified because it all seems so reasonable at the moment. Just like Esau who reasoned that his inheritance, blessing and destiny were a reasonable trade for a good meal, we tell ourselves how important this particular moment is while we surrender God's best for our lives. We are then left with the impact of our decision to work out for some time. We never planed to trade something of eternal value for a moment of temporal success, but once done, it is often hard to reverse.

This year, as you make your plans for the new year, and as you reflect on life lived, maybe we need to ask the question, "What is my pot of stew?" What have I made so important that I am willing to trade God's vision, my destiny, my eternal reward in order to accomplish it? It is a question of significant impact... just ask Esau. God wants you to experience the fullness of His blessing. Don't let anything rob you of that. It may require some tough decisions and discipline, but it will be worth it when we receive what He has in store for us.

The King Is Born - a Holiday Acrostic

Here is a holiday acrostic poem for Christmas. May you be blessed with all the joy, wonder, awe and life that is Christmas and may the light of the Infant-King illumine your life and shine through you to light the world.


Tidings come from God's own face
Heralding his incarnate grace
Enter shepherds beneath the sky

Keeping there, a watchful eye
In an instant, angelic host
Noble King, of him they boast
Glory to our God on high

Immense praises fill the sky
Savior of the world is come

Bethlehem is now his home
Overwhelmed with this new vision
Rejoicing they accept their mission
Now to Jesus Christ they come.

Pondering Christmas Treasures

The story of the first Christmas is filled with images to remember and celebrate. The drama around Elizabeth's pregnancy and the birth of her son John, the annunciation of the coming King to Mary and then to Joseph, the stable in Bethlehem, and the host of angels declaring good news to shepherds, these are some of the images the season brings to mind.

One important part of the story that we often miss is found in just one verse of scripture in the second chapter of Luke, "but Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." (v. 19) Mary took it all in, and reflected on its meaning. Amid all the activity and experiences of Christmas, she made time to meditate on all that God was doing.

Treasuring and pondering are important. They help us appreciate and understand the blessings of our lives and they help to shape our attitudes toward the future. The are actions that require something of us, including our focused attention and our time. When we reflect and meditate in this way, we see more deeply into the heart of God, the needs of the world, and the health of our own souls. This depth allows us to live more fully connected to God and to others and to mine more spiritual growth out of each moment.

One of the treasures I am pondering is the gift of family, specifically, the gift of our children. My wife and I are blessed to be adoptive parents. It is one of the greatest joys of our life that God allowed us to choose our children and allowed them to choose us. It was a divine connection that forever changed our lives, and the anniversary of that connection comes every Christmas season.

It was in this week, twelve years ago, that our children came to us and we began our journey as a family. What a Christmas present that was, and continues to be. This weekend we will all be together for the holiday again and I am busy treasuring and pondering once again. I am recalling the life lessons learned from my journey as a father and how I better understand my relationship with God as a result. I know what it is like to be called, "daddy," and the joy that brings to the heart of a father. I know the joy of seeing your children make good choices and come to new discoveries. I also know the pain of watching them suffer, sometimes from their own choices, and the challenge that comes as they try to discover who they are.

This Christmas, the presents are appropriate for young adults, but gone is the sea of presents that once surrounded the tree. The dolls, toy cars and blocks will be replaced with new desires, but I will not forget the toys that littered our home when they we younger. My feet still bear the marks of finding them in the dark. I will remember the joy on their faces, and on mine as I watched, and I will recall how I learned that real life, even joy-filled life is messy and cannot always be controlled. I affirm the truth that sometimes the box is better that the toy inside and that with eyes of wonder, everything has the potential to be a blessing.

These are just the beginning of my pondering this year, and I thank God for each and every one of them. As Christmas Day approaches and the season continues, it is a perfect time to capture the heart of Mary, to learn the blessing of treasuring and pondering. It is an opportune time to meditate on God and the blessings God continues to birth in our lives.

Be blessed as you meditate on God's blessing in your life. Recall the treasures he has given you and ponder them in your heart. If you can share one or two with someone else. Let them see God revealed in your life and be reminded of his presence in theirs. May your heart overflow as you ponder these treasures this Christmas.

Rejoice!

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face" - Victor Hugo

Sometimes, it is hard to laugh; hard to find the joy in the moment or the day. Circumstances mixed with our emotional position can deeply affect our mood and our feelings, leaving us without the feeling of joy or a desire to laugh.

This morning, I awoke with the gift of a Christmas cold. It was not the gift I was looking for, and after a week healing from my recent fall and battling a stomach flu, I could have done without it. My energy was sapped and with it, my creativity and desire to do much of anything. I rested on the sofa wishing my sinuses would clear and that the aches and pains would fade. I wasn't very joyful and I certainly wasn't laughing.

During some quiet time, while my wife was shopping and my daughter was working on Christmas presents, I paused for some meditation and reflection. I was attempting to take my mind off of how I felt, but it became an epiphany from God. As I sat quietly, I realized that I was beginning to think like a victim. I lamented my aches and pains with the added frustration that this is the holiday season and I wanted to enjoy it, when I asked myself the question, "Then, why don't you just enjoy it?"

I would have preferred a voice that affirmed my right to pout and was willing to commiserate with me. Instead, I heard the words of the Apostle Paul as he closed his letter to the Philippians, "Rejoice in the Lord always." I sighed, wondering why that command needed to come to mind at the time, but I already knew the answer. I needed to rejoice and my sense of joy was not dependent upon my circumstances. As I heard someone say, "We rejoice by choice." The real question was would I make that choice.

It is a harsh reality to accept that feelings follow actions, not the other way around. It would be so much easier if we could blame our attitudes and actions on our circumstances or on others. If only we could claim that it was all out of our control, but no such scapegoat exists.

I actually began laughing, but I was laughing at myself, at my self-pity and moaning. Sure, I would prefer not to be sick, but it is still the day the Lord has made, and I can choose to rejoice and be glad in it. I actually have so much to be thankful for and to rejoice in. I have people I love and who love me too. I am warm in a region covered in cold and snow, and I food to eat in a world that is filled with hunger. Christmas is still coming and God is still in control. Cards hang on the wall offering their Christmas blessing and I've already received some wonderful gifts. I not only have enough, I have more than I need. Above all, this minor virus will pass, but many people, including some close to me, will continue to struggle with serious illnesses.

As I approach the end of the day, I am glad the call to rejoice is written as a command. It is easy to find joy when all is well and going our way, but the real gift of God is finding joy in all of the other circumstances as well. Maybe, it was good for me to be sofa-bound today, because it heightened my awareness and made a way for the Holy Spirit to teach me a valuable lesson.

In this season of joy, I pray that all of us will find the reasons to rejoice because of, or in spite of, our circumstances. As children of God we can, "rejoice in the Lord always," and always includes right now. May the joy of the Lord overtake you in this season, and may it bring forth the laughter that drives the winter from your face.

Kindness for Christmas

Kindness is a wonderful thing. It is great to receive and equally wonderful to give. It can multiply the joyous times of life and bring the light of hope into the darkest seasons.

My devotions recently led me to a wonderful reflection on kindness in the form of a story from the ancient Christians:

Abba Moses was asked to travel to another community to pass judgement on someone caught in sin. He refused to go, but the pressure for him to make the trip continued. Finally, he agreed to make the journey. As he left, he took a basket, poked a few holes in it, filled it with sand and set out. Along the way, many asked the point of the leaky basket to which he replied, "My sins are running out behind me." The people understood and the one found in sin was immediately forgiven.

The one who understands they have been forgiven much, understands the need to offer forgiveness to others. When we grasp the kindness of God toward us and the blessing on the kindnesses we've been shown along the way by others, we respond by being kind to others. No one can be aware of God's great kindness and not, in turn, be kind.

If we are truly putting our faith into practice, then kindness will be a hallmark of our attitude and actions. It is an expression of our faith and a litmus test for where we are on our spiritual journey.

When we consider the injustices we face, the rudeness we experience, and unkindness of the world, we can feel justified in being unkind ourselves. But, when out attention is on the loving kindness of God, there is no such justification, no matter what our circumstances. We can stand up for justice and righteousness. We can hold up truth and mercy. But, we cannot do these things without kindness. Even in our most powerful defense of our position, we cannot know the kindness of God, and choose to be unkind.

In this season, where we sing about peace on earth, and where we remember the power of God's love toward the whole world, it is time to do more than sing and talk, it is time to act.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians said, "Be kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you." (4:32)

May those who know us and those who meet us, experience this kindness in all we say and do. Let us look at our own lives in light of the kindness we receive, that we may see others through the lens of that kindness, and let us bless others with the very blessing we received.

Limp Joyfully

   I love snow. I look forward to it every year, and as I mentioned in a previous post, my family celebrates the first day of snow as a very special day. Not everyone shares our opinion. In fact, every time one of us expresses our love of snow, some of our friends make a point of reminding us of the dangers and challenges snow and winter create. Frostbite, driving challenges and falls are real concerns that come with the winter season in the northeast. In spite of these concern, we still celebrate this time of year.

Saturday night, my love of winter was put to the test. My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful hockey game thanks to the gift of a couple of tickets to the game. When the game was over, we went out for a bite to eat, and a little more time to spend together on our date. I locked the car and made my way to the front door of the restaurant, but did not quite make it. In spite of a warm evening with no snow, there was still just enough black ice to catch me off guard and bring me to the ground. It was a hard fall. My hip, knee and back continue to attest to that.

As I gained my footing and limped my way inside, I reflected on the comments my friends made. I could hear them ask me, "How do you feel about winter now? It's not so much fun when you are hurting, is it?"

I continued on into the restroom to check the bruising and to clean up a bit. The questions continued to revolve in my head. I looked into the mirror as I started to wash the parking lot dirt from my hands and thought, "Hurting is not fun, but ice is a reality of life where I choose to live. In spite of the fall, I still love winter." I smiled, and gingerly walked back to the table to enjoy dinner with my wife.

Winter has ice, snow and cold in my corner of the world. However, summer has dehydration, sunburn, sun stroke. People fall on ice and many are restricted because of the weather, but people struggle to breathe in the heat and are often forced to stay in because of high levels of ozone. Winter, summer, and everything in between has the potential for pain and difficulty, but it also has the opportunity for joy and celebration.


Life is not safe. It is a truth that we work hard to avoid, but we ignore it to our detriment. When we believe that we can create a safe existence if we just work hard enough at our self-protection, we exchange freedom and joy for a false sense of comfort. More than just the struggles that come from the annual seasons, the seasons of life are filled with similar challenges and opportunities. We can choose to spend our days trying to be safe, or we can live our days experiencing life.

There is obviously room for wisdom and good choices, but that is not an excuse to hide from life. There is so much to experience and precious little time to experience it. There just isn't enough room left to allow fear and negativity to consume our time. I am not going to venture out into the cold in shorts and a t-shirt, but I am also not going to lock myself inside and miss the crisp beauty of this time of year, and this time of my life.

We may not all like winter's ice, or summer's heat, but we can all love life, love our lives. We can face the days we are given, not with fear and avoidance, but with joy and celebration. Here, in the midst of the season where we celebrate the great love of God given to transform the world; a season where we remember Mary and Joseph who faced great adversity and the infant Christ who surrendered safety for something greater, may we find the joy, the wonder and the power of life. We may limp, tender from our falls, but we will limp joyfully forward into the future God continues to create for us.

How Far Would You Go to Celebrate Christmas?

"Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." - Luke 2:15

How far would you go to celebrate Christmas? More than mileage, what would you be willing to do to experience the full meaning of this special season? What is Christmas worth to you?

The Gospel of Luke tells the story of some shepherds who were watching over their flocks on the night Jesus was born. They were doing what shepherds do, sitting… watching… talking… watching… thinking… watching. It was their job to keep and eye on the sheep throughout the evening. It was their job and their life. They cared for sheep. It was an important job, but one without much influence.

On this night, as they were about their work, a dramatic interruption came. There, on their little hillside, an angel appeared to them and declared the good news that a savior was born. Jesus, Savior of the world was born in Bethlehem. Suddenly a whole multitude of angels appeared and began praising God for this wonderful gift. It was an amazing moment, but what happened next was even more amazing. The shepherds did the unthinkable… they left the sheep and went to see the Savior.

In a moment, this group of shepherds risked everything. They could lose the sheep. They could lose their jobs. They could lose income and be known as those who deserted the sheep in the middle of the night when they were very vulnerable. They risked everything to see this thing the Lord had told them about. They were willing to put it all on the line to see Jesus.

There are just some experiences in life that demand a response. When the King of Kings comes to set His people free, you respond. When the host of heaven inform you of God's activity, you respond. When the Savior of the world invites you to share life with Him, you respond. God revealed His will and plan to a group of shepherds near Bethlehem on the night of Jesus' birth, and today, He invites us to join Him as well. He invites us to respond.

Just as on that first Christmas, multitudes went about there business with little or no recognition of the powerful act of God that was occurring in their midst, so today, many celebrate the holiday with little understanding of its true significance. God extends His invitation, but the business and noise of the season drowns out the tender voice of the heart of God.

Others hear the invitation, but the cares of the world keep them from responding. The cost of following God's call seems too great and they respond by saying, “not right now. I simply cannot leave my sheep at this time.” They stay on the hillside of their life and miss the miracle that will change their life.

Some, however, like the shepherds on that glorious night, hear the call of God and drop everything to experience what God is doing. Their amazement turns to passion as they leave it all to see the Savior, and when they have, nothing is ever the same.

This Christmas, God is inviting you to meet with Him. God is sharing His heart with you and inviting you to join Him on the journey of a lifetime. It may require some sacrifice, but it will be worth it. The invitation is extended… how will you respond?

May God richly bless you with His presence as you respond Him this Christmas season.

What Does God Want This Christmas?

What does God want for Christmas? It may sound like a strange question, but it may be the most important one we answer in this season.

As we approach the holiday, many of us are scurrying to make all of the necessary preparations for our family and friends. There is food to buy, decorations to find and hang, and, of course, presents to buy. In fact, we spend a significant amount of time thinking about, and buying, presents for family, friends, and even ourselves.

I know, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I want. Once the commercials begin and I commence the "hunt and buy" process, I find that I become more aware of what I hope to receive Christmas Day. I like to convince myself that I am only gathering ideas so family and friends will to know what to get me, but, truthfully, it involves some of my selfish side as well.

I also spend ample time asking, and thinking about, what other people in my life would like to receive. While part of me thinks about me, a greater part rejoices in begin a blessing to others. I love to see the joy on the faces of my wife and children as they open a gift they wanted. I get excited thinking about the happiness the gift I giving will bring to friends. I pray that the staff gifts will bless and encourage my staff. Part of the joy of Christmas is found in the sharing.

What about God? Do I think about what God would like to receive for Christmas? Do I ponder what the One who gave everything for me would like to have for the holiday? Sadly, no, or at least, not enough, and I wonder if others do either. In the midst of the busyness of the season and the concern for self and others, it is easy to assume that since God doesn't need anything, there is nothing to offer him.

It is true that God needs nothing, but there are things God desires. Sure, the Almighty could merely speak and any desire would be fulfilled, but part of God's desire is that we would be the source of that fulfillment so he waits for us to respond.

So what does God desire. The first thing God wants for Christmas is us. He wants our heart, our love, our attention. Like a mother or father who is less concerned with the cost or quality of the gift, but is filled with joy to be remembered, God is not looking for a bigger gift in the offering plate or some extravagant gesture, but is blessed when we remember him.

It is true that ultimately it is the thought that counts, but how that thought is expressed can be important. So how can we express our thoughtfulness to God? Allow me to offer a short list to stimulate your creativity.

Love one another.
Love someone you consider other.
Love mercy, justice and humility.
Work for all three.
Share the compassion and grace God has shown you.
Pray for peace.
Work for peace.
Make time to be with God.
Make time to be with people.
Feed the hungry.
Clothe the naked.
Visit those imprisoned by law or by life.
Be good news to poor and captive.
Encourage the brokenhearted.
Proclaim the year of the Lord.
In short, embrace the Gospel, live the Gospel, and be the Gospel.

May the joy of Christmas be yours. May it come to others through you, and may you feel the joy of the Lord as he rejoices over you this holiday season.

When Christmas Finds You

Where will you be when Christmas finds you? It happened to me tonight in a most unexpected way.

This morning, I was in the office commiserating with someone who shared my sense that it just did not feel like Christmas. Sure, many of our presents are already purchased, and yes, the carols have been playing in the stores and in our car. There is even plenty of snow on the ground and more falling even now. In so many ways, the signs of the season are all around, yet, I still wasn't feeling like it was Christmas.

I was blaming it on a busy November and the exhaustion that followed. There are still many preparations left to address, and programs to attend. Both factors only served to obscure my experience of Christmas even more.

Tonight, included one more activity to fit into a over-full schedule. My youngest daughter was performing in her last High School Christmas Concert. I was excited to support her, and a little melancholy about this season of school concerts coming to an end. I knew it would be fun to be there, but I really did not want one more thing to attend. I drove to the school with my wife and daughter, hoping that the concert would not go too late.

My daughter did a great job, along with the rest of her choral ensemble. The other groups also did a great job. It was clear they preparation was paying off and I was enjoying the concert.

Then, it happened, the final group entered the auditorium singing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." The tune they chose was a form of Gregorian Chant and its power was very moving. I felt my heart begin to warm. A few more pieces and I was captivated. As the last selection began, in a moment I never expected, Christmas found me. There standing in the fourth row center, savoring the choir and the orchestra as they performed the, "Alleluia Chorus," I was overtaken by the power, wonder and awe of the season. Suddenly, it was Christmas in my heart. With a smile on my face and tears in my eyes, the joy of the season flooded over me. It was wonderful.

Just when I though the concert was over there was a final surprise. All of the choirs returned, surrounded the audience and, as the lights dimmed, sang, "Silent Night." it was the perfect ending to the concert, and the perfect beginning of my Christmas season. Who knew it would be a High School choral concert that would open my heart to God's great message of Christmas this year?

So, where will you be when Christmas finds you; when God captures your attention afresh and inspires your spirit to soar in the season? What unexpected ways is the Holy Spirit using in your life to speak joy, love and life to you? Are you willing to be ready to receive the gift wherever, and however, it may arrive? This may be your chance to enter in and begin to experience the beauty and wonder of this holy season. May you be richly blessed as Christmas finds you this year.

A Dangerous Christmas Memory

Some memories are dangerous. Some are dangerous to remember and others are dangerous to forget. Last night, I happened to meet a colleague while we were out with our daughter. In the midst of our conversation, he reminded me of a memory from my life that was dangerously close to being forgotten. He said, "I remember a few years ago, when you were sick over Christmas, and could do nothing. You had to surrender to God and simply receive."

It was true. There was a Christmas when I was too sick to lead and I had to wait on God when I typically would fill my life with a flurry of activity. I was surprised when he mentioned it because I never thought anyone else would remember, and especially, because I'd nearly forgotten it myself.

I suppose part of me wanted to forget that season. It was a very difficult time for me and for my family. There were memories that were far from pleasant and it would have been fine for me if no one ever thought of them again. The problem is, if those memories were forgotten, then the ones that should be remembered would be lost with them.

In truth, that season was spiritually, not about my sickness, but about my surrender. Christmas can be such a busy season, and it is easy to think that you have everything under control. I typically thought so. Often the leadership of the church during this season prevents me from experiencing all that Christmas has to offer, and I settle for knowing I have all of my holiday ducks in a row.

That year, everything was different. I had to rely on others. I found myself with excessive amounts of time to rest and reflect. I was in the midst of one of the great seasons of ministry, and I was the one being ministered to.

I thank God for the surprise encounter last night. I needed to remember the blessing God showed me in my weakness. Too often, I forget to own my weaknesses. Like most people, I want to feel like someone who has it all together, but the truth is, I don't. Few of us do, and when we deny our weaknesses, we hide the gracious power of God that shines through them. The Apostle Paul said, "Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses." Why? Because in them, God is glorified. He even went on to say, "When I am weak, then I am strong."

Jesus chose to enter the world in the weakness of an infant, held in his mother's arms. God's greatest strength, revealed in such a frail form. God does great things with and through weakness. Sometimes that is where we see his love at work in our lives the most.

I invite you to join me in celebrating weakness and the power of God found there. I also pray that you will find time to reflect during this season, to surrender to God and receive all that is waiting for you. Take time to remember, even what seeks to be forgotten, then let God help you transform those memories while you make new ones with him.

Behold the Beautiful

There is something about good art and the wonder of the artist's eye that opens our eyes to the beauty that is around us. When we look through this creative vision, we see the grand wonders of creation, but we are also drawn to the smaller pieces that make up the whole. Even each color and brushstroke are pieces of beauty hidden within the bigger picture.

I find that art is a powerful tool for the contemplative life. It helps us to appreciate these pieces of beauty wherever they may be found and trains our senses to actively look for them. When we begin to appreciate such things, we find the world of creative wonder designed by the ultimate Artist.

I am currently rereading a book on creative writing designed on helping the aspiring poet develop their senses and their attentiveness to the world around them. One of the assignments is to go outside, turn over a rock and list three things you are surprised to find. While I have not yet turned over a physical rock, I have been turning things over in my mind. I wondered what I would see under the rock, would there be anything I did not expect? Could I heighten my senses to see what I so easily miss?

It is a good question, not only for me, but for all of us who seek to appreciate the beauty of God in the world around us. It is the heart of contemplation and appreciation, of thankfulness and wonder. To look deeply, beyond our expectations and assumptions, is to open our minds and our spirits to something more amazing that we first thought.

I intend to turn over some rocks, physical and personal. I cannot wait to see what treasures and surprises await me. Maybe, in the busyness of this time of year, you would join me in looking for the hidden wonders and opening your heart to the beauty of God that is all around us. May we be blessed on our question to behold the beautiful things of God.

What Happened to Civility

What happened to civility? I know we are overburdened and rushed for time. I understand that we are working to make ends meet and worried about the current economic forecast. I recognize that we have opinions and passions, but when did it become acceptable to subjugate the way we respect and treat others in order to make ourselves and our agenda the only thing that matters.

On Black Friday, we watched as people, rushing to get into a local Target to get discounts on televisions and other items, trampled a man and ultimately sent him to the hospital. A local news channel captured the horrific experience as the man, and others, cried out for people to stop only to watch them push by and even step on him. All this was for a good deal where the average person saved less than $100.

In the past few days, I've watched drivers ignore people waiting for a parking space, pulling in at the last moment just to block the waiting driver. I heard others cursing the person ahead of them because they did not go ahead and pull out into a river of traffic. I even caught two health care professionals in their scrubs mock and verbally abuse a woman who was obviously working with some challenges, because she was sweeping the floor and they could not get past her quickly enough. I know these are not isolated incidents, so I ask again, "What happened to civility?"

I watch as people and media, liberal and conservative, Christian and not, all malign and degrade everyone who does not share their particular worldview. Their words go far beyond unfriendly, they are simply malicious, intended to harm both feelings and character. They even identify these behaviors in those they oppose, but cannot see it in themselves.

Maybe the question is not just, "What happened to Civility," but, "When did grievous sin become the acceptable norm?"

In one of the devotional books I am reading, one of the chapters focused on cultivating humility. The author suggested that for a week, we should focus on serving our family, instead of expecting them to serve us, by doing what they would like to do, without expecting them to do what we would like to do.
The assignment continued by encouraging the reader to let people have the best parking places, and allow them to cut in front of us, placing their desires ahead of our own. Not easy tasks, but important for those who want to embrace the life of faith the Bible describes.

The Apostle Paul offered the following command to the church in his letter to the Philippians, "Do nothing through selfish rivalry or pride, but humbly consider others to be more important than yourselves, and do not just look after your own interests, but look after the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4) There is nothing hidden or obscure in that passage. We are to consider others to be more important than we are and look after the interests of others, not just ourselves.

I could continue to lament the brokenness of the world, but real change begins with looking at my own brokenness. We could all continue to declare the evils of others, but judgement first begins with ourselves. If civility and righteousness are going to return to our land, then it will begin with people like you and like me choosing to live that way - every day. Then, we can challenge the broken systems of our world, not from a position of superiority, but of humility.

Maybe it is time for us to stop ignoring the needs of others, stop pushing and shoving our way through the world and its highways, even stop adding to the abusive political and social banter. Instead, we can choose to be representatives of grace, love and peace. We can exemplify patience and consideration. We can be the fruit of the Spirit for the world - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Yesterday was, "Pay It Forward Day." Maybe every day we can make an investment in the future by celebrating the compassion, grace and forgiveness of God in our lives and reflecting the same into the world around us.

A Child is Born

A Child
is born to us
and His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty
The King.

A son
is given now
of His kingdom and peace
there shall be no end. He will reign
always.

Jesus
Light of the world
found in human likeness
He is here to deliver hope
to all.

Savior
we welcome You
Come make our hearts Your home.
Be born in us anew each day
Amen.
 
(A Holiday Cinquain)