A HARVEST OF LOVE

The fields harvested under a blazing blue sky captured my attention, slowly I pulled to the side of the road to soak in the pastoral setting. I am mesmerized by the vastness of farms waving with corn or land freshly mowed and hayed; surely years of childhood play between stalks of growing grain have shaped my soul and held my longing heart in open spaces and sustaining fields. Mounds of collected hay makes me wonder about what we gather through the years, not just in the season of growing, but how what we plant deeply within us comes to fruition and even defines us.

We build fences to hold in what is ours and that which we do not want others to touch or tread upon; secretly we sow into our emotional lives and later realize we do not always reap what brings life. We pile up resentment into bales of anger; our hurts fill our barns to overflowing with an unwillingness to extend mercy. Our whole interior world can hold so much pain that we are paralyzed by the gleanings we have gathered and these fuel our continued outrage and silent fury. If this is hard for you to believe, think for a moment about how you process the pain of the world right now: some of us go to fear, some are furious, some terrified, but few of us have learned to lean into the One who, "is before all things and holds all things together." Colossians 1:17 

We reap what we sow, examined or unexamined, intended or not. Peer carefully into the storehouses of your soul and ask yourself if you find faith, hope and love there. Only three things remain, Paul tells us at the end of 1 Corinthians 13, "And now these three things remain, faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Jesus gives startling words to us in the Beatitudes, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44 Let us continue to pray for those being persecuted, yes, but let us also pray for the persecutors. Are we, "rooted and established in love," as Paul prays in Ephesians 3:17? We cannot hold both fear and love in the ground of our being; as we cultivate love we find fear has less of a hold on us. We are loved and can gather grace and extend mercy from this place, even for the ones who persecute us.

The fields are ripe for harvest, what is being harvested in yours?

Medicine from Sacred Writings:

"For not by laboring and sweating, not by fatigue and suffering, but merely as being beloved of God we receive what we receive."

John Chrysostom   Fourth Century

OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD

I couldn't write yesterday, I could only pray. It seems the world can't bear the evil it must. Dark clouds on so many horizons gather while we sit watching, preparing, perhaps even expecting. In Romans 8:22 Paul says, "We know that the whole of creation has been groaning as in the pangs of childbirth right up until the present time." The world under our feet must shudder as the darkness of men's hearts spills onto its soil.

Stories filled our minds and hearts as we remembered: heroes who lived and heroes who died and so it will continue to be. "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 In our own neighborhood a local store is held up and the children cowered in fear as they experienced lock-down in the darkness of possible terror. We are overcome by evil when are emotions are locked down by fear.

We overcome evil with good by emptying our souls of the debilitating darkness that fear brings and live in the light. The paralyzing pain of loss and grief in the world does not need to cripple us; we can bring life. I will need to clear my own heart of hatred, of my little violence done to others, and extend forgiveness to all and be willing to consider God's mercy.

I have the smallest of candles, a mere flicker amidst the world's great darkness, but I can be a light and my light, along with yours, will begin to dispel the darkness. I can believe that God is greater than any evil known to man, I can choose to trust in His mercy for those who are suffering. I can hope."You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand and it gives light to the whole house.
 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:14-16

What kind of light are you bringing to those around you?

Medicine from Sacred Writing:

The command to forgive others sets us free from all revengeful passion; while promising in return for this to pardon us also, God holds out good hopes, and instructs us to have high views of the  unspeakable mercy of God towards men."

John Chrysostom    Fourth Century

PACKING FOR LIFE

What does this look like? This time of moving and plans and changes, as if we can pack a car full of our belongings, hoping our hearts and emotions will follow. We build an existence on one coast and tell ourselves we'll  live on another, whole, free, and engaging the world in a meaningful way. Many do this, some never will. It isn't a requirement, but if you embark on such a journey it will suck the life out of you, this moving, and it will give it back again.

My solution for the twenty somethings: make them cookies. Provisions; a taste of home along a very long road. What will we choose to take with us as we make our way in the world? What do we keep with us if our way is closer to home? Love would be a good thing to carry in our hearts. We are always loved. "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8 When we walk through transitions and face the unknown the anchor for our souls is love; we must wake each morning and remind ourselves, "I am loved, I am loved, I am loved," the fear will subside for, "perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18

Hope would be necessary food for our hearts. The way is often lonely and treacherous, perhaps not in a physical way, but emotionally we lose our bearings, haven't found our footing, this is when we must trust. We speak to ourselves, again, and say, no matter what is swirling around us, "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-22 It may be as simple as reminding ourselves of the One who cares for us: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26

The journey home to ourselves requires us to pack our own suitcases, decide what we will keep or discard from years of  life, and cherish what remains. A deep sense of belonging and being cared for needs to be cultivated in us so we can effectively live in a broken and fallen world. We choose love, keep hope alive and deepen our faith in God and others as we open our eyes to His provision. He promises, "Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Medicine from Ancient Writings:

“God's works move and breathe; they use and judge the things of sense. The workmanship of such an Artist, will you dishonor Him? Yes, when He not only fashioned you, but placed you, like a ward, in the care and guardianship of yourself alone, will you not only forget this, but also do dishonor to what He committed to your care! If God had entrusted you with an orphan, would you have neglected him? He has delivered you into your own care, saying, I had none more faithful than Myself; so keep this person for Me, and preserve him as he is by nature: modest, faithful, high-minded, a stranger to fear, to passion, to agitation."

Epictetus second century philosopher

NATALIE'S GARDEN

"Do you hear the bicycle's bell? It's Natalie, she will ride through the park and come to the garden." All week I prayed Natalie would appear, as if a single face would help me make sense of the poverty and need found in the brokenness of the world. Years ago I had come to this community with the youth of our church but I could not process the overwhelming stories, the raw pain and sadness I encountered, so I worked in the community garden. I weeded as if pulling crab grass could change lives; it felt hopeless and useless, but we created space for beauty to take root.

As I stepped into the community park this year I was surprised to find the Seeds of Strength Neighborhood Garden well cared for and growing, yet there were still a few empty planting boxes. We worked on the big picture, installing a gutter for the rain barrel and creating a  compost bin, but I waited for the small miracle, the face of a little child. She arrived on Thursday afternoon, ringing her bike bell, as if to let the world know she was on her way. She broke open the hearts of the girls on my garden team and she solidified the purpose in my heart, to sow love, to work at bringing beauty, to never give up hope.

A girl's dream, a garden of her own, replete with the touches that childhood brings: painted rocks and blooming flowers, restored my dream as well. Pouring love and energy into the world around us creates beauty and joy. I am merely a  shadow in the picture of Natalie's garden and life, but we have touched her with our love and she has changed us. We hope, we work, we pray, we love, all in the Name of the One who brings joy and transformation to a hurting world, to a single life.

Who and how are you loving today?

Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously... you will be made rich in every way so that on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

 2 Corinthians 9:6,11

CALM SEAS

Sailing on Sunday refreshed and quieted me, though I was holding on for dear life as the boat tipped upwards to gather wind. Perhaps this is the way to following God no matter what the weather. When seas are rough it is natural to reach for God, our own resources not being enough for our circumstances, and when all is calm we carry on with a faithful love that keeps us safe on our journey.

The demands of life toss me about till I am weary and worn. It used to be the incessant demands of toddlers needing one more thing- one more story, one more game, one more hug, one more nap. My "one more" has changed, but the pressure and performance remain. One more berry to pick, another batch of jam to make, this friend needing a call and those children needing a meal. My sailing friend felt this as well, "how can I let go of things so easily out here on the ocean?" It is because illusions are stripped in the sheer vastness, reminding me of my smallness and His greatness.

As we draw near land I let go of my vise-grip hold on the rigging and relax. This is telling. I have found my land legs and lost my perspective. At sea I realize I am a mere passenger on this boat, and have a great King sailing with me who would very much desire that I let Him trim the sails and set the course of my life. My haste to get to land where I can feel the ground beneath my feet and walk where I will, unaided, shows me how very precarious my vessel is. Sailing lessons might be in order.

Have you found yourself, "in over your head," in certain areas of your life? Perhaps this is where faith to follow the One who calmed the waves and the wind come in.

Medicine from Sacred Writings:

"For they, as being strong, are able even in the midst of the raging waters to enjoy calm; but you, who are leaky on every side, have need of tranquility, and to take a little breath after the successive waves." 

John Chrysostom

HOME

Come home to 

Me, child,

welcome Me in.

Open the door 

of your heart.

Allow Me entrance there.

I come full of grace and truth;

to bring the fire of My love,

to light the depths of your soul.

I am nourished by grace and mercy in ways my mind cannot grasp, but my soul cannot live without. God invites me home, He longs to give me rest: "Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." Matthew 6:11 When the older boys, men actually, come home I let them sleep until they are rested. It is pure gift; I long for their bodies and souls to catch up with the journey each has been on. 

Our recent guests enjoyed pancakes, fresh picked strawberries and baked doughnuts. I find great joy in feeding others, in creating spaces where they feel refreshed and their bodies restored. And conversation. I pray continually that all we say and do in our home brings hope and healing, that we are grounded in truth and connect by God's grace. 

Is this then God's heart? To bring us His love, giving us rest and joy in His presence and strength for our way if it is weary.

Medicine from Sacred Writings:

"For He was not, we know, a healer to bodies only, but a curer also of the soul." 

John Chrysostom Fourth Century

LOVE AND BLEACH IS ALL YOU NEED

This is not my best day: I woke and google-searched, "Can you bleach granite counter-tops?" Apparently you can, as well as the handles of all the doors and anything that cannot move. I am holding in tension (huge tension) God's loving words to me yesterday and cleaning up after the stomach flu in our home. God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) but how can I hear Him when my world is not the same yesterday, today and forever. Family members get sick (plural), sons almost break ankles, others move across the country; lives change, we change, people change. He reminds me, "I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6

So, I must sit here as He sits with me and refines and purifies me. Why didn't someone warn me that the fire would be so hot, so all-consuming, so untamable. Is it true that the Refiner purifies gold in a fire until He sees His own image? I do not want lessons from Hebrews where God reminds me, "Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29; I want to be taught by a good Shepherd who promises, "I came that you might have life and have it  to the full." John 10:10 

This fire, this kingdom and this abundant life are all connected. He is the way, the truth and the life; to have Him I must be cleansed of all that is not Him. For His kingdom to be at hand, near me, in me, there would need to be a house fire where God takes all that does not give thanks, and worship Him and burns it to the ground. He creates space in me with His holy fire that He might come and dwell within, but the way He makes room is so uncomfortable. Oh, that is suffering, trials, challenges- these break us open and burn away the unholy so that we can receive this unshakable kingdom. All that can be shaken in us will be shaken so that He might be worshipped.

What is a mere mortal to do in such cases? Make applesauce.

This will heal my family members and ground me. All is not lost; love is all I need. God's love carries us when we cannot go on: clean one more bathroom, soothe one more child, let go of one more attachment. He will remain the same, He will not change. His love is my rock, my anchor, my shield and it seems my heart is broken open that I might rely on, trust, and put my hope in His unfailing love even as I bleach the world I live in.


Medicine from Sacred Scripture:

"May your unfailing love be my comfort." Psalm 119:76