LENTEN LINE #10: What are you looking for?

 The interviews for Summer Program Staff to work at the Annual Conference’s Camps were led by the conference camping director, the directors of the three conference camps, the conference lay leaders, the president of the conference UMW and three clergy tossed in for good measure. All representatives of WPA Annual Conference power. Along with “If your best friend was asked to describe you, what five adjectives would she/he say?” The other question I remember is “What is your favorite Bible story and why?” I was twenty-years old; I had not prepared for that question. My fellow interviewees reverted to their childhood Sunday School lessons and most of them said Noah’s Ark.  I went with the Nativity. If I was asked that question today, I would say LUKE 15 the story of losing and finding.

 

As the great storyteller, Jesus builds the narrative of lost and found raising the significance of what is lost from money to livelihood to a person. For many of us, we can relate to each example.  

 

When one can’t find their car keys or wallet, a mis-placed folder, a book ---- there is frustration.

When one faces layoff and losing a job ---- there is fear.

When on loses a person --- there is fracturing.

 

The story arc of the chapter is the movement from lost to found; the relaxation of tension when the lost item is found; the exhale of relief when being called back to work or finding a new job; the hope found and possibility present when a relationship is restored.

 

Losing and finding and celebrating is central to the Christian story.  We each have lived experiences of the roles featured in the chapter’s culminative story of the prodigal. 

·      We’ve known and expressed boldly a love that is passionate more than practical

·      We’ve judged, we’ve been part of the “pew posse” that circles and defends the space keeping out whomever we define as “those people.”

·      We’ve strayed, we’ve been arrogant living in the realm of “all about me” and spent the currency of ourselves and our self-respect and dignity on trying to find ourselves and fill the “God-shaped hole” in our lives.

·      We’ve named our failings, owned our mistakes and returned to the person or community we hurt and hoped for, needed a safe, soft place to land and be and rest and renew.

·      By the WOW and wonder of God’s grace we’ve found the grace for which we long.

 

That grace….even more than finding grace….have we offered grace, been grace to another?

LENTEN LINE 7: Why???

Clergy folks tend to get asked the WHY? Question frequently. The inquiry appears to be asked most often during times of loss, fear, suffering, war…..times just like these.

 

At my first congregational appointment, a young couple had been trying for years to have a baby. Finally, the grand news for which all were praying and waiting…. she was pregnant!  There was much celebration and anticipation. The baby was born premature, the little girl lived for a day and passed on.  Why?  

She cried the question to me…. Why…. usually followed by, “how could God let this happen?”

 

I am not one to pontificate nor to offer trite, tidy phrases found often on tea-towels. 

I listened. I offered the comfort of being present to her and her grief. The question kept being asked, why?

I answered honestly…I did not know. I didn’t then and I don’t now.

I shared what I did know and do believe --- God was present, there with her in the midst of such deep sorrow and that “God’s heart was the first to break.” (A line offered by the Reverend William Sloane Coffin on the tragic death from a car accident of his twenty-something-year old son).

 

Personally, I find comfort in a God who grieves with us, is in process with us. I don’t need an omnipotent God with all the answers.  

 

Here’s a riddle, a puzzle to discuss and wrestle and ponder:

            God is all powerful

             God is all loving

             Evil exists

 

I cannot and will not give up on my deep belief that God is all loving, steadfast in love and that God constantly shows up for us. 

 

I could be way off in my understanding, yet that is what based on experience and reflection I believe. Now, for me, I need the courage and the willingness to live as disciple to that belief.

LENTEN LINE 6: PREPARE THE WAY

 I was never a scout. All good for those who were, yet it just wasn’t my scene. The “Mental Floss” website has an article on Eleven Retired Girl Scout Badges which include the Dairy Maid badge where one learns how to clean the utensils used in milking cows and also how to churn butter. There is the Pioneer Badge which includes being able to identify and cut down trees for fuel and shelter. 

 I’ll stick to playing sports, thank you.

 

We all know the motto for scouts is “Be prepared. Plan, do the work that gets you ready for whatever is placed before you. Similarly, the season of Lent is to prepare us for deeper disciple living and being and becoming. Lent is so much more than what one gives up or denies oneself for the 40 days.  

It’s the orange cone season here in Southwestern PA.  Road crews are out and will be even more numerous in the coming weeks and months. With the recent scary bridge collapse here in Pittsburgh, I’m good with the crews and their work. I’m learning to be more calm and patient as I sit in traffic….I bring a book or a bottle of bubbles to entertain myself and fellow motorists….works for me.

A frequent sign in the orange cone season is BE PREPARED TO STOP.  The preparation helps when speeding along the highway and you spot the orange cones in the distance. 

 

We ought not to come to Easter with the attitude of having made it through the 40 days.  Early in my ministry when I was doing a lot of youth work, I didn’t know a whole lot  and joined with the youth in giving up something for Lent. I gave up chocolate and let everyone know I did. Believe me when I say that Easter was one of the best ones ever!  I was gifted with chocolate everything! It was wonderful!

 

There is no “Be Prepared to Stop” sign in the disciple living; ours is to be willing to trust and then to leap and go deep, to keep growing and strengthening in our spiritual lives.  It’s why we do this disciple living best when we do so in community with others also on the journey.