Friday Photographs

"Let there be space in your togetherness. Let the winds of the heavens dance between you." 

Kahlil Gibran

Radical Acceptance

A few months ago my sister in law posted two words as her Facebook status- “radical acceptance.”  I had heard the phrase “radical hospitality” but not “radical acceptance.”  I was very intrigued by the statement and began pondering what this means for me as a Child of God.  Radical acceptance has a different connotation as well as additional implications for Christians.  

In order to better understand for myself the idea of radical acceptance I decided to use my trusty computer dictionary to look up the definition of each word.  According to the dictionary when something is radical it is “characterized by departure from tradition [and is] innovative or progressive.”  The idea here is that there is a change in the fundamental nature of what is being described as radical.  Acceptance is defined as “the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group.”  Radical acceptance can be viewed as a fundamental change that is innovative or progressive in the nature of the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable in to a specific group.

As Christians we are called into radical acceptance.  We are called to be transformational in our thoughts and actions.  We are called to transform the way our culture views the concept of acceptance.  Jesus was perfect embodiment of radical acceptance. Jesus healed those were the culture viewed as not healable.  He ate meals with sinners.  He touched those who the culture said were impure.  He loved those who were not lovable.  Jesus’ full acceptance of those in society who were considered unacceptable is epitomizes radical acceptance.  

How do we as Children of God embody radical acceptance in todays culture?  Our culture tells us to accept only those who are like us and agree with us.  It tells us to accept others only if it will benefit the group the way WE want it to.  It tells us to accept the status quo.  If we as Christians want to embody radical acceptance we must do as Jesus did.  We must seek out those who our culture deems unacceptable.  We must see them through God’s lens and see them as the perfectly spiritual beings they truly are!  When we are able to see them in this way we can then accept them as Children God.  They will become an essential member of our family or faith community.  Remember God calls us to embody radical acceptance everyday!

In what ways can you embody radical acceptance?  In what ways can our congregations embody radical acceptance?

It Takes a Village: Mentoring

I recently watched KARE 11‘s special “Be the Change: Mentor”.  They stated that “mentoring is one of the most successful means of improving the lives of young people in [ones] community.”  They also noted that “the statistics say it all-mentored students are less likely to skip classes, use illegal drugs and drink alcohol at a young age. They also perform better in school and are more socially aware.”  In other words mentoring works! The stories of the relationship that are built because of mentoring were inspiring and touching.  

This television program made me wonder mentoring ministries for children and youth are not more prevalent in our congregations.  The saying goes “It takes a village to raise a child!”  It takes the ENTIRE congregation to raise a child.  We affirm this commitment every time a child is baptized.  At its core mentoring is about building relationships.  Christianity is relationally based.  God created us to be in relationship God and with one another.  This said it seems to me mentoring ministries with children and youth is a natural fit for congregations.

Not only is it a natural fit, it is my belief that congregations could greatly benefit from mentoring ministries.  Mentoring ministries with children and youth must focus on building healthy Christian relationships.  These relationships are intended to foster intentional faith-nurturing relationships between children/youth and faithful adults who are available, authentic, and affirming.  Our children and youth thrive when they have adults in their lives who are available, authentic and affirming.  If congregations can encourage and affirm these relationships with in the faith community the community and individuals will greatly benefit. 

What would our congregations look like if we took mentoring children and youth seriously?  Would we see more of our youth continue to attend church?  Would our children see and experience life in a faith community differently?

(More on what this type of ministry might look like and how it might affect congregations in future posts.)

Sabbath-Keeping

“So God blessed the seventh day and hollowed it, because on it God rested from all the work God had done in creation.”  Genesis 2:3

“Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy.”  Deuteronomy 5:12

“Be still and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10 

These Scripture passages are some of the most recognized passages about sabbath-keeping.  The word sabbath comes from the Greek word meaning “to rest”.  When we rest we cease work or movement in order to regain our strength.  The word keeping refers to “the action of owning, maintaining, or protecting something”.  Thus sabbath-keeping is protecting time to cease work and regain ones strength.

I often pray the following, “God grant me the grace of a strong soul.”  A strong soul comes from God.  It comes from being who God has created us to be-our authentic selves.  It does take “work” to peel back the layers that are hiding the truth of our soul.  These layers come from living in a world of sin, pride, self-indulgence, fear, loneliness, pain, suffering, and so much more.  Yet, each time we peel back one of these layers more of our authentic self is visible to the world.  We become stronger each time we peel back one of the layers that is hiding the light of God in our soul.  

One of the most important ways to “work” at peeling back these layers is to “Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46: 10).  When we are resting in God’s presence we become aware of the Holy that is at the core of who we are.  Sabbath-keeping is about taking time to rest, become aware, and rejoice in the fact that we are created in God’s image thus God lives within each of us.  When we are resting in God’s presence we put aside our fears, worries, loneliness, suffering and whatever else keeps us from experiencing God’s amazing unconditional love.  In sabbath we can let this healing love wash over us and infuse every cell of our body.

Sabbath-keeping can take many forms.  For some true resting from the wold might be a run or hike in the woods, a moment of peace and quiet in a busy day, scripture reading, a silent retreat, or daily meditation.  In our busy world sabbath-keeping is what ever helps you take time to stop, rest, and experience God’s healing love that strengthens you soul.

9/11: A Watershed Moment

As I sit listening to the names of those who died at Ground Zero 10 years ago I think about each family who still grieves their loss.  The reading of names emphasizes the enormity as well as the individuality of what occurred that day.  Ten years later I ponder two different yet connected thoughts that bubbled up from the memories of 9/11.

9/11 was a watershed moment in our nation.  According to the dictionary on my computer a watershed moment is “an event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs”.  During and after a watershed moment we must choose how to move forward.  Reflecting on the events of 9/11 Sojourners magazine says this about our the choices that were made, “There were two paths forward from the ashes a rubble of 9/11: One path led to war, torture, and fear, but another path -- led by people of faith across our land -- was marked by soul searching, genuine mourning for the lost, and standing up for peace-building and caring for our neighbors.”  While we cannot change the choices that were made we can transform those choices going forward.  We can pray and work for shalom-peace and wholeness among and within nations, states, churches,communities, families, and individuals.  Each of us needs to discern for themselves what peace-building looks like in their own lives.  

As we reflect on 9/11 a watershed moment we all share we also reflect on watershed moments or events in our own lives.  What are those watershed moments?  How might they intersect with 9/11?  How will you choose to move forward in a new or different way?

Remember God loves you and in within you during all your watershed moments and events!

Prayer: Benefiting God's Kingdom

Why is that I always think of my prayer requests of as a “laundry list” of my wants?  It seems that these requests are more about me than they are about God.  They seem to be about what I think is best for the situation.  For me there is a similar feeling when I pray for others.  It often becomes a “laundry list” of what I want for those I am praying for.  It just does not seem very genuine because it does not take into account the relational aspect of God nor does it take into account God’s will.  I am not saying that praying for ourselves and others is in anyway bad.  In fact I think it is an essential aspect of prayer.

Recently, I attended a worship service at Presbyterian Church of the Way in Shoreview, MN.  The focus of the worship service was the twofold.  First, the members of a recent mission trip to Ghana were sharing their stories, reflections and insights.  Second, their reflections centered around the Scripture The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).  One member of this trip was reflecting prayer in Ghana.  She said the prayers of the Ghanian people focus on how they hope their requests will better God’s Kingdom.  As I pondered this statement I realized this shift in the intent of our supplications or requests completely change the focus of prayer.  

This shift reflects the intentions rather than the content of our prayers.  The “laundry list” may still be there but we pray the “list” with a different intent.  The intent is no longer to ask for what we want or need because it will benefit us.  Rather, prayer now focuses on how our requests will effect the world and others in a positive and just way.  Our prayers for ourselves become about uncovering our authentic selves and how we will speak our truth in love.  

For me the key word in the above statement is hope.  We are not God and thus do not and cannot know what is best for the God’s Kingdom here on earth.  Our prayer requests do not dictate what will happen instead they convey what we expect or desire to occur.  Our “laundry lists” are not demands of God but rather statements of what we hope God will do to to better God’s Kingdom!

Surrendering to God's Providence

In recent months I have been experiencing a lot of care and support.  I have also been working at caring for myself during this time of transition in my life.  When I came across the phrase “surrendering to God’s providence” I decided to ponder and explore this idea.

Both the first and last words caught my attention.  Providence is the protective care of God.  Thus, it is God who is protecting us from the sin and despair of this world.  It is God’s unconditional love that penetrates the depths of our being protecting us from all that tries to mask our authentic selves.

For me the word surrender has a slightly negative connotation.  I always think of surrendering as giving up total control.  If this were what God wanted us to do we would no longer have free will.  We would essentially be puppets controlled my God.  Thinking there must be another definition I went to my handy dictionary and found the following definition “to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority”.  In this definition we are longer resisting God but rather we are submitting to God’s protective care.

It can be hard for us to surrender to God’s providence.  We tend to resist God’s love.  We tend to resist God’s nudging to take a sabbath, to get out of an unhealthy situation or relationship, to seek spiritual direction, or to experience something new.  We tend to resist God’s love, comfort, and support shown to us in a stranger or even a trusted friend.  We tend to resist God’s healing love for our soul.

It is when we are open to God’s healing, comfort, and love both in both the expected and unexpected we surrender to God’s providence!

Questions to ponder:

Why do you feel you need God’s protective care today?

What does it mean for you to surrender to God’s providence?

What changes need to happen in yourself so that you are better able to surrender to God’s providence?