Season's of Life

"To everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the sun."

~Ecclesiastes 3:1 

What season of life are you in? Are you content to be present in that season or are you eager to move into the next season?

May your light glow during this season!

Winter: A Soul Gone Dormant

We are in the depths of winter here in Minnesota. It is cold and there is a layer of white wet snow on the ground. The ground underneath this snow is frozen solid. When winter strikes in MN most of the trees, plants and many animals go dormant. Now, I am no biologist and don't claim to know exactly why plants and animals go dormant but my understanding is that they do so in order to conserve energy. They need to conserve energy because they aren't getting the nutrients, food or sunshine they need to thrive and grow.

It occurred to me that we humans all go through phases in our life when we go dormant. Now most of us don't actually hibernate or sleep for days on end but rather we go through times in our life when we need conserve energy so that when our spring comes we are ready to thrive. Our dormancy's probably feel like we are stuck or come to a stand still in our spiritual life. Sometimes there is something we can do to move this dormancy along other times we just have to wait it out like the plants and animals in winter.

If we are called to wait it out that can be difficult because we live in a culture that tells us to always be moving forward, to be getting more, and getting better. So we must find solace in the fact that there are times in our life that we are called into to a time of waiting of dormancy by God. During these times we need to tell ourselves that we are stuck "right now." We can tell ourselves that our Spring will soon come and that again we will see ourselves thriving and growing. That is the Good News of the Gospel - that God loves us enough to know when we need to go dormant and when we are again ready to thrive.

Are you in a time of dormancy or a time of growth and thriving? What was the time of dormancy like? What did you learn about yourself or God? How did you you the dormancy was over and that spring had sprung for you? Share in the comments so others can learn and grow form your story!

WWJD? The "Outcasts" of Society and Our Personal Response

The New Testament is filled with stories of Jesus interacting with the outcast. In fact these stories are predominate in the Gospels. Jesus is either interacting with, telling parables about or telling his disciples about interacting with outcasts. It's not just that Jesus is interacting with outcast but rather that he is treating them as a Child of God. He sees their humanity AND the divinity that lives within them. He sees and treats them as God would. By his example and teaching he shows and reminds us to do the same.

Yesterday, this concept became very real to me. I don't consider myself a prejudice person in fact I consider myself to be very open minded about and empathetic towards the "outcasts" of our society. Yet, yesterday I was forced to take a deeper look within myself and ask "how would Jesus treat this person?" The first experience occurred at First Presbyterian Church in South St. Paul MN where I was teaching an Adult Education class on Contemplative Spiritual Practices. Earlier in the week I'd been contacted (via email) by Jennifer, the member in charge in Sunday morning Adult Education. So I was expecting to be greeted by her upon arrival. I first saw her from the back; she was tall and wore a lovely dress. When she turned around to greet me and introduce herself it was clear she was a transgender women. I admit I was a bit shocked and starred at her for a moment before I responded. It was this moment of shock that has stayed with me. Why should I be shocked to see a transgendered person? Why should I be shocked to see a transgendered person in church? Why should a be shocked to see a transgendered person in a leadership position in a church? I shouldn't and yet I was!

Fast forward to that evening. Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, MN has been hosting homeless and underprivileged men, women and children for an Sunday evening meal once a month for over 25 years. The young adult group, WestConnect, had volunteered to help serve this sit down meal and I had signed up to participate. Unlike that morning when there was a moment that stuck with me, the evening experience on a whole has stuck with me. As I looked out over the individuals sitting down for a home cooked warm meal I began to see them differently. As I interacted with each individual I began to truly see them as individuals who are just like me. As a long time FEAST volunteer said in our orientation, "These people care about the same things that you do. They want to talk about what is going on the world-football, the weather, music etc." It was true!

So how would Jesus treat these people? First of all Jesus wouldn't be shocked by someones outward appearance. Jesus would treat each individual with respect, love and compassion. We all probably know that and we all know that is how we "should" be treating others. Yet, as the saying goes sometimes "it is easier said than done." So what does respect, love and compassion towards the "outcasts" of our society look like? How can we respond to the "outcast" with respect, love and compassion? These are questions that I am still pondering for myself. I know someways I can be more like Jesus but I also know that I can do more. I will strive to make better choices and strive to see EVERYONE as God see them and respond accordingly.

How will you respond?

Quiet Joy

"I wish you quiet joy today 

and that you will take it slow

so that you can note all the little things again."

~Unknown

MLK Day Reflections and Actions

It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day and frankly I have never really given it much thought. Yes, my grade schools celebrated the day and we learned about MLK's influence on the Civil Rights Movement. We probably did plays, crafts, and sang songs about MLK. It was part of the public school "curriculum". Yet, I was never pushed to think about the impacts on my life. It just hasn't been part of who I am or so I thought.

Even with all the horrific stories in the news about police brutality, racism, and senseless deaths of minorities, my only reaction has been deep sadness and prayer. Frankly, the prayers have been less and less as this past year has unfolded. Not because I don't care but because the events of my personal life needed my attention. Recently, I have wondered should I be doing more? I "watched" as some of my friends joined in peaceful protest, held Facebook conversations and contacted their politicians. I ask myself should I be out protesting, writing letters to politicians, posting on Facebook etc.?

I have come to the conclusion that, no, these are not things I need to be doing at this time. Don't get me wrong they are powerful and important actions and they need to be done. However, they are not true to who I am and how I operate. I am reminded everyday that in order to truly impact the world I need to operate as my authentic self. This means taking actions that are true to my personality. For me this means writing a blog post to share my story and inspire others, lift up these issues in prayer (more often than I have been), showing kindness to other (especially minorities), and befriending those who are different from me.

So on this MLK Day where we are asked to reflect and take action for justice and peace how are you going to be true to yourself? What actions are you going to take to further the Kingdom of God? How are you going provide peace and justice in your family and/or community?

I'd love to hear what you are doing, please share them with me in the comments!