Hopelessly weary,
dressed in rags,
her care-worn hands
and silent tears
cleanse his dusty feet.
As she kneels,
heart in anguish,
her whole being is
enveloped within
His tranquil soul.
Drying His feet
with her hair,
anointing them
with grateful kisses,
she is free.
Why me?
Do you ever ask yourself this question?
I do. I did, just yesterday, as I was driving to pick up my grandchildren from the bus stop. I was in full-on pity party mode which, fortunately, passed quickly once in the comforting presence of my grandson and granddaughter.
This morning, in the bathroom, I asked myself the same question. However, this time my blessings had overwhelmingly grabbed my heart and I was feeling profoundly grateful.
There is no answer to that question in either context except possibly, “why not me?”
This may have been what Paul was talking about in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 where he says:
In everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.
Jeffrey, 40ish—a homeless man and food pantry regular, has the most cheerful disposition. Being around him is like watching birds bathe in a bird bath or puddle of water. There is just something so whimsical and joyful about the way birds splash, shake and flutter as they clean their feathers.
Abused, abandoned—he has experienced his share of physical, mental and emotional health issues and near-death experiences which he freely shares with anyone willing to listen. Yet this man inhabits gratitude and thankfulness as playfully as birds immersed in bathing.
Freely occupying a space of awakened Trust, this beautiful soul does not feel sorry for himself and graciously praises God with every breath.
I hear your doubts, “it’s just an act to get you to feel sorry for him;” “he’s in denial,” or “he’s just crazy.”
No. While driving around town, unbeknownst to him, I have seen him walking and there is a spring in his step and a genuine expression of peace and contentment on his face.
Is he a sunny side optimist? I do not think so. My impression is that he makes the choice to be thankful in all his life’s circumstances and only he knows how difficult that decision is from one moment to the next.
“In everything give thanks . . . “
Simple, to the point . . .
. . . thank you, Jeffrey—your example is what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Of the seven different versions of the Bible that I have read from cover to cover, The Complete Jewish Study Bible, has made the most lasting impression upon me so far. In “Illuminating the Jewishness of God’s Word” as proclaimed on the cover, my experience of the scriptures has been fuller and richer.
Each version I have read—Revised Standard Version (RSV), New International Version (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), The Message (MSG), and English Standard Version (ESV)—has been an important part of my faith journey; and not one of those versions is any better than any other version.
What made reading this version particularly alive was the context—insights into the history of the times about which it was written and through which it was written, explanations of misunderstood words, use and pronunciation of Jewish names, and the perspective and purpose of Jewish festivals.
Other versions of the Bible may have those kinds of features as well, but this Jewish experience seems to have filled an intense yearning within my spirit while further deepening my awareness of God.
Every now and then some little something will grab my attention and spark a bit of creative energy. Each wee tidbit, however, does not have enough substance on its own for a full post. Yet, when all these small sound-bites, sightings, feelings, happenings, etc. combine, they become a journey of sacred moments.
Today was a day chock full of holy occurrences.
As my five-year-old grandson’s Kindergarten class was settling, preparing for me to read aloud, one little girl said: “I like your hair, it’s changing color. Some of it is white.” Precious! Then after picking up my grandchildren from the bus, there was a brief respite where the three of us were languidly lounging in a huge, purple beanbag chair with a sleepy puppy. Heaven! A friend called to see if I would be interested in being a judge for some school projects—I wasn’t, but thanked her for thinking of me. To which she responded, “I think of you a lot.” Loved!
Or yesterday . . .
Wednesday is the day I volunteer at the food pantry. There were quite a few boxes to be broken down before they could be recycled, which I did with great enthusiasm. I was thrilled that manual labor brought me such purpose and pleasure. Exhilarating!
Even though I did not feel like it, I went to choir practice—it was dark and cold and I just wanted to stay home where it was warm and cozy. Afterward, though, I felt refreshingly enervated and woke up the next morning with my spirit singing. Joyful!
The day before that . . .
. . . was a day with absolutely nothing to do and I enjoyed doing it! I sat in my recliner rocking away, watching the birds and feeling so profoundly grateful for a cousin who would give me the gift of this website. My heart felt like it was bursting with pleasure in the silent solitude. Thankful!
By now you may be thinking, “But what about those days when life is not rosy and lovely?”
I get it. Sometimes it seems as if days can turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years of one hardship after another. This crazy world is filled with overwhelming unfair and undue pain, grief and suffering.
And yet gratefulness, here we breathe . . .
My mind wanders back in time to when I was in labor with my sons, and was told to breathe. Seemingly I am still giving attention to the intentional breathing practices I learned in childbirth class.
. . . just breathe.
My yoga instructor ended our session today by having us concentrate on our breath, the “divine energy that sustains life.”
Could this be what Paul meant when he said “pray without ceasing” in I Thessalonians 5:17? Some translations say “pray regularly,” “pray constantly,” “pray continuously,” or “never stop praying.”
Breathe . . . in . . . out . . . regularly, constantly, continuously . . . in . . . out . . .
. . . sometimes that is all we can do; and maybe it is all we need do . . . each breath–this very here and now sacred, eternal moment.
Visit the link below for a treatise on the connection between prayer and breath.
“Jesus’s primary intent is to produce in sinners a terror of eternal hell—a fear that would drive them toward repentance and faith in the gospel. Knowledge of that fear should motivate believers as well.” John MacArthur
WHAT? People don’t really believe that, do they?
I wrote a HUGE, emphatic NO with multiple exclamation marks in the margin.
I could not believe I was reading this in a book written by a well-respected Christian author on the parables of Jesus, that I am using to teach a Sunday School class at the church I attend.
The author uses the following from 1 Corinthians 5:11 King James Version to support his thesis: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
Then, after finishing Sunday morning breakfast with my father at our usual diner, a local pastor was conversing to anyone who would listen about his upcoming sermon on Leviticus 19 and having good morals. His opinions continued to the effect that people are just not afraid of God and this lack of fear is what is wrong with our society.
In our culture this misinformed and harmful belief is fundamental to why so many people are traumatized through abusive relationships, and why so many have a difficult time believing that God is Love.
The fear these pastors are perpetuating does not motivate or move anyone toward lasting, loving and trusting relationships with beloveds, much less with God. Their brand of fire and brimstone fear is instead a means of controlling behavior by manipulating the mind and emotions. The fact that people continue to propagate this devastating lie is in many ways central to what is wrong with our culture.
Here is the truth . . . the word “terror,” or “fear” in some translations of the above verse and elsewhere in the Bible means “divine or reverential awe.”
Being awestruck . . . the end of separation, Creator and created as One . . .
. . . like when you view a rapturously colored sunrise or sunset . . . or listen to a moving piece of music that envelopes your soul . . . or are mesmerized by artwork that captivates your senses . . . or the fresh scents of a long walk in the woods . . . or experiencing the miraculous birth of a child . . .
. . . this is how we are to be motivated to trust that God is Love and that He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
There is much more lack of knowing in the quote that begins this essay than can be explored here with these few words, but it is the misinterpretation and misunderstanding of what has been translated as fear that ignites my ire.
I don’t know where I read this next, so can’t give rightful credit for it:
“You hear a text from your own level of development and consciousness. Punitive people love punitive texts; loving people hear in the same text calls to discernment, clarity, choice, and decision.”
Or as Marianne Williamson says,
“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us.”
To this I say, Amen.
