40 Days of Embracing Uncertainty - Day 29 (for Monday, March 30)

Clear sight.  Being able to see.  Perfect vision.  20/20.  In the course of my life, I have often wondered about those words or phrases.  Primarily because I have always been partially blind in my left eye.  It’s a condition called amblyopia – or lazy eye, so I’ve learned.  If caught early enough, it could have been changed.  Maybe.  I have never really thought about that part of it.  Mostly, I’ve just wondered what it would be like to see things with both eyes at 100%.  Mind you, this is no lament or – as my Grandma Lempi used to tell me to stop “crying in your beer”.  I never understood the significance behind that, but it was effective.  Just the way my grandma said it made me stop whining about anything.

I’ve shared this with many of you before, so I’m not trying to tell you anything new.  But as I read the devotion for this day, I was just wondering what blind Bartimaeus thought about seeing with both eyes.  Usually, in that day, being blind meant that a person was on the outside looking in.  They would be on the edge of the settlements and towns and cities with all of the other outcasts – the lepers, the lame, the sick, the poor.  I can’t identify with that dynamic.  I was always protected by my family, the community I grew up in, the church that taught me about faith and love and hope.  Truthfully, I wouldn’t really know what it would have been like to ask for healing for my sight – in part because I could see. 

This is the part where I could say something about us being blind to situations or things in the world.  The devotion does that to a degree – tells us that “we are blind to the presence of God within us… blinded by our own sin.”  Sure, there are those times when we might be those things.  But in light of the recent events of our world, I’m not wanting to go there.  Mostly because I’m not so certain that we are blind to those things right now.  I think we can see with perfect vision that we are in uncharted territory and that now, perhaps more than ever, we need to see God’s presence and grace clearly. 

Yes, we remember that we are children of God.  Hopefully, we are not lamenting our situation, but praising God for the loving promises that have been made to us.  We will never be alone.  God will always be with us.  God always cares for His children.  No matter what.  No matter when.

If we can see that, then we’ve got 20/20 spiritual vision and there is no need to lament our condition.  No need to be crying in our beer.

Good thing too, because I don’t even drink beer.

40 Days of Embracing Uncertainty - Day 28 (for Saturday, March 28)

Believe me when I tell you that before going into the ministry, I wasn’t a very good servant.  Oh sure, I volunteered for some things – I sang in the choir, helped at the County Fair food booth every year, was head coach of the church softball team (won the championship and finished second three years in a row), and did some leading during the worship service by doing children’s messages.  I always enjoyed each of those things so it never seemed like it was hard – it was never tedious or difficult or boring.  I did some other things which were harder – I taught seventh grade Sunday School (now that was hard).  I helped out in Vacation Bible School (a challenge depending upon where and who I was supposed to lead).  One of the most challenging things I took part in was something called “100 Brave Christians”.

I saw the announcement for “100 Brave Christians” in the bulletin.  It said something like if you consider yourself a brave follower of Jesus, show up on this particular night at the church and you will have the chance to put that to the test.  It sounded very intriguing.  

So, I decided I was going to go.  I showed up and was paired with another fellow (Ed was his name).  Turns out it was an “every member visitation” program (which is always a challenge) with a twist.  We weren’t going to the members on our list to invite them to activity or a deeper level of financial commitment.  We were going there to get to know them better and to pray for them.  That’s it. 

Ed and I went to the people’s homes on our list and to this day, there is only one visit I remember.  It was a woman who lived on the edge of town.  Her husband was a trucker, so he was gone a lot of the time.  She told us that she didn’t come to church very often because she didn’t like to sit alone.  She also said that when her husband was home, he was tired and because they didn’t see much of one another, she felt obligated to stay at home with him on the weekends instead of attending church.

Honestly, I was never aware of her church attendance or any level of her church commitment – nor did I really care.  I mean, that wasn’t our focus.  We were not there to make people feel uncomfortable.  Ed and I talked with her for a while, offered a prayer and left.  I don’t recall seeing her or coming across her at church during the next few years while I was there.  I went into the ministry and she and her trucker husband were long forgotten.

When I think of servanthood, I think of those kinds of things that you do for the kingdom of God that make a difference, even if no one knows about it.  The author of the devotion comes down hard on humanity, I think.  It’s been my experience that there are many persons who serve selflessly, with no agenda.  They give so freely of their time – over and over and over again.  Sometimes they are the same people who wear different hats.  But they give without any thought to their own needs.  And there are others who would give more of themselves if they could, but a physical challenge or a time conflict or some other kind of obstacle is in their way.  But their desire is still to serve.  The church has many who are willing to serve.

Jesus responds to the mother of James and John by telling her and them that the greatest among them will be those who serve others.  One does need to empty themselves if she or he truly desires to serve – that point I will grant the author.  It’s true – empty yourself so you can fill others.

I had a chance to return to my home church and preach one Sunday about ten years after I had left.  After the service, I was shaking hands with the people of my home church congregation.  Many were wishing me well, telling me they were glad to see our family. I’m guessing some were still amazed that I had gone into the ministry (the ones who knew me when!).  

The line was getting close to the end when a woman came up to me and extended her hand in welcome.  She said she appreciated my message.  I thanked her.  She said “You don’t remember me, do you?”  I had to confess that she looked vaguely familiar but no, I could not remember her name.  

“You and another fellow had come to visit me a number of years ago.  I hadn’t returned to church until the last few years, but I always remember your visit.  It's one of the reasons why I am here today.”

You just never know how you are going to make an impact on someone.  

But if you are without any personal agenda and just want to greet someone, meet them on their own terms and embrace them on their own ground, it makes a difference.  Jesus is really saying if you want to make a difference, don’t be concerned with where you sit or if you are first.  Invite others to go before you.  Approach them with humility.  See what unselfish love can do.

Perhaps you can discover a way to be a brave Christian in service.

40 Days of Embracing Uncertainty - Day 27 (for Friday, March 27)

I can resonate with today’s devotion of not getting picked first because of ability, looks, or popularity.  It didn’t always happen, but I can recall a few times when it did.  You’d stand there with all the other kids, waiting to get picked because you just wanted to play – just wanted to be a part and blend in with everyone else.  But sometimes, others make the decision on who is in and who is not.

This story that Jesus tells to the disciples is really all about that dynamic with a little twist – it’s not only about who gets in, but that everyone gets in with the same reward.  Just because the workers who started earlier in the day received a full day’s pay as did those who started on the late afternoon shift and only worked a few hours.  At the end of this lesson, Jesus says something that is etched into the heart of everyone who has ever been chosen last:

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

I don’t disagree with the devotion’s author that this story is about how “In God’s eyes, everyone is acceptable because everyone is accepted by God”.  I believe that with my whole heart.  So, you’re telling me there’s a chance… no matter who you are, what you’ve done, where you’ve been, God’s umbrella of grace is there.  All you need to do is step under it.  That sounds simple enough.

What we might miss in this is something that the devotion’s author doesn’t touch on and that is this: in order for God’s umbrella of grace to cover everyone who is included, no matter when they come, Jesus will need to undergo the ultimate sacrifice for everyone.  If you read on in the next verses from Matthew 20:17-19, the very next thing that Jesus speaks about is that the Son of Man is going to be killed in Jerusalem.  They are very near to the time when Jesus entered the gates of the city and walked the pathway of the passion, giving himself up for the sins of all.  His gift of grace is the ultimate umbrella for those who believe because all of our sins are washed away. 

We are two weeks away from Holy Week and now it seems as though things are getting real.  Jesus embraces our uncertainties in life by doing what he has said he was going to do all along.  He’s going to include the least, the last, the lost, the lonely, the left out and usher them to the front of the line.  And there is nothing the established religious authorities can do about it – except have him crucified.

God’s umbrella of grace – there for you and for me and for all people.  You no longer need to be last because you've been chosen to be first.

40 Days of Embracing Uncertainty - Day 26 (for Thursday, March 26)

The devotion for Thursday, March 26^th is about the rich man and what Jesus tells him to do with his money in order to live eternally.

Truthfully, there is no topic more difficult to write about or preach upon during times like this than our treasure stores and what we are called to do with our money.  I don’t have to tell anyone that we are in delicate financial times – the stock market looks like a jagged mountain range with its fluctuations dependent upon words and actions from the people in power who are making decisions to try and help us through these difficult times.  The massive economic stimulus package passed by Congress won’t be sent out for a while yet.  Stores and places of business are closing, scaling back or scrambling to find other ways to stay afloat.

On Friday night, the Governor of Minnesota called everyone to do their part by staying at home for two weeks – unless you have a job that is falls under providing essential needs and services.  I’m not sure how many of our church members or members of the community are going to be impacted by this because some can work from home and some can’t.  Finances are going to be a delicate issue, if they aren’t already.

I appreciate what the writer of the devotion shares about this topic – read this excerpt from Thursday, March 26’s installment:

“Jesus’ answer [to the rich man] packs a surprising punch: living the perfect life, whole and complete and free of need, has nothing to do with money.  In fact, Jesus tells the man, money may actually be standing in your way, and what you may have to do is free yourself from it.”

I was talking with someone about what the world would look like one year from now – will we be different?  When the chaos from this pandemic clears and the world returns to what it was before the coronavirus invaded our lives, will we have changed anything about what we hold precious?  I think it’s the same challenge that Jesus is posing to the rich man… can you give up what you have and yet be content?  Are you willing to part from those things which you are placing great value upon, but ultimately matter little to your eternal destiny? 

Those questions echo in my mind, not because my mind is empty either.  It’s because they are key questions that we need to pay attention to.  I’ve heard it so many times throughout my lifetime “The best things in life are free”.  I believe that is true.  C’mon, there is no doubt that we need money to survive – we need funds to purchase things that are important. 

I believe Jesus wants us to keep it in perspective.  If we are not willing to give it all away, then perhaps our money owns us and the best things in life are not free after all.

40 Days of Embracing Uncertainty - Day 25 (for Wednesday, March 25)

This topic seems like a repeat of an earlier devotion (Day 5) where I talked about the importance of children and their role in the kingdom of God.  Certainly this is a continuation of that conversation – children have such an important place in the kingdom of God.  Young people can often see things that older adults cannot even envision.  We used to be able to use our imaginations (see Peter Pan) and our creativity in positively amazing ways.  But, as we age, we lose a bit of that imagination and creativity. 

What’s more, we sometimes (I say it gently because it’s true – we sometimes do this) we ignore the vision that the youth share with us.  We cannot see those same possibilities. 

I asked my grandson Wyatt a question the other day.  We were in FaceTime mode and I wanted to know how it was going – being home every day from school.  Wyatt didn’t miss a beat – “It’s like it’s the weekend – every day.”  Young people understand life and they get it.  Perhaps they don’t have all the wisdom or experience that older adults possess, but they give our world a fresh look at what life is like through another set of eyes.  I believe it’s important to listen for what we all might learn from our young people. 

I grew up during a time when young people were a little different than they are today.  We had distractions, yes, but today’s distractions seem more, how do I say it – distracting!  Computer apps, iPhones, iPads, virtual reality games, and other gadgets seem to interrupt the creative flow that young people have to share.  

This isn’t meant to be one of those “back in my day” comments, but I know we were challenged by our parents (okay, we were ordered) to use our creativity outside and we did.  We performed plays and skits.  We imagined we were sports heroes of the day.  We played outdoor games and made up our own rules as we go along.  When we couldn’t be outside, we had black and white television with three stations (on a good day) for our daily entertainment.  It was a treat to have the 64 count box of Crayola crayons to draw something from our imagination.

Young people today also have these moments, I’m certain.  Their creative energy and imagination are evident.  And even if we older folks aren’t able to see it, parents and teachers see it all the time.  It seems to me when these things are balanced, young people have a great deal of creative energy and imagination to share!

So, yes, as Jesus calls the young children forth – let the children share for they are the children of the Kingdom!   Let’s pay closer attention to what they have to say to us!

40 Days of Embracing Uncertainty - Day 24 (for Tuesday, March 24)

For a lot of years, my beloved Nancy has been trying to convince me of the merits of owning a pet.  She would bring up the subject “how about we get a cat?’ or “gee, that dog looks so cute – wouldn’t you like a dog around the house?”  Last year, in a moment I can only describe as dire weakness, she convinced me that we should get a rescue cat as a house pet.  Ever since we took on that pet, I’m the one whose been searching for rescue!

Two days ago, while she was taking a break at work, she texted me that we should get a dog.  Not just any dog, but a pet that would be able to play with the cat – so she said.  She sent me a picture of this dog – a Shih Tzu.  I admit – I was reluctant to hear it.  I was reluctant even after I saw the picture.  But my wife was persistent.  She was ever pressing forward that this dog would be a blessing to our family.  I wasn’t so sure.  I expressed as much with my initial response.

So, we are naming the dog “Maisy”.  Of course, I am a bit apprehensive about adding another animal to the house, but sometimes persistence pays off.  That’s where the story of the judge and the woman who was seeking justice comes in.  A woman who was on her own was prepared to do what it took to see that justice was done for her.  She was after the local judge to make sure she received that justice.  She was relentless.  She was persistent.  She never gave up and she never gave in.  Finally, the judge saw to it that she would receive her justice – not because it might have been the right thing to do, but because it would relieve the pressure the woman was putting on the judge.

The point of Jesus’ story about this persistent woman is that people should never give up when life gets hard.  Always persevere in prayer. 

This is timely for us today, isn’t it?  I cannot even estimate how many persons have taken a moment to pray, ever since this coronavirus has advanced across our nation.  The number has to be a large number.  I’m certain each prayer has lifted up the persons who have fallen ill because of this virus, prayed for those who are leading the efforts to find some sort of solution to contracting the virus, lifted up those who are in harm’s way as they continue providing the essential services we need day to day.  Persistent prayer – the primary focus of this modern day parable of pandemic proportions.

The verse that really captured my attention was at the end of that story:

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Now that is a really intriguing question at the end of a lesson in persistence!  Will the Son of Man find faith on earth?  Certainly, we can pray all we want, but do we have the faith required to know that God has heard our cry?  Do we have the faith needed to trust that God will answer our pleas and comfort our hearts and provide safety for our journey?  Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat this one.  It’s right there for us to see.

We can offer up as many prayers as we want and God will listen.  But will we have faith?

There are worse things than getting a cute dog for the home.  Not having faith in God during tough times could be one of them.

40 Days of Embracing Uncertainty - Day 23 (for Monday, March 23)

If you’ve been following this blog for these past 22 days, you’ve been wondering what happened to me the past three days.  Honestly, I wish I could put my finger on it.  I think I hit a wall.  With everything that has been going on the past month, I just smacked into an emotional, intellectual, and mental wall.  Believe it or not, on Monday, I had read the devotion for this particular day – Day 23 – all about the coming of the kingdom of heaven on earth.  I looked at the computer screen and waited for inspiration.  But nothing came.  No clever little story from my past.  No apparent connection to today’s worldly issues.  Not even a commentary on that particular text. 

I had nothing.  Just a creative block in my head.  So, I did the only thing I could do. 

I didn’t do anything.  I took a brief hiatus.  

I stepped back for a couple of days to recharge my imagination, my intellect, my emotions, and even, yes, my spirit.  I would love to believe that had I been experiencing this in those New Testament times, Jesus would take me aside and tell me we need to go to the hills and rest a while.  I wouldn’t have argued. 

So here I am, three days later - back in the fold.  I was talking to someone whom I have tremendous respect for today who told me that perhaps one can only talk about the coronavirus for so long or highlight the pandemic situation we discover ourselves in today that can only be dissected so many times before it seems like you’re just repeating yourself.  It was a good point.  But I did wonder about the last paragraph posed in the devotional: 

“If you are going through a particularly tough time of uncertainty in your life at the moment, Jesus’ words are an invitation to embrace it, not hide from it.  As you enter and embrace the darkness, do you know what you will discover?  God is right there.  Closer than you think.”

The writer of the devotional book “Embracing the Uncertain” has been spot on nearly every single day.  Every day of devotions have spoken loudly to what we have been dealing with in this world today.  In retrospect, I wasn’t trying to hide from the struggle or the chaotic days we’ve been experiencing lately.  At least, I don’t think I was trying to run from it.  Up until this point, I was right in the mix, ready to take it all on knowing and trusting that the Lord has always been by our side. 

I was just having a moment – not unlike Elijah in the cave when he ran from his enemy.  He stood in that cave waiting for a directive from God to help him get through the chaos.  He didn’t find it in the earth, wind or fire.  He found it in the still small voice of God – “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God asked.  From that moment, Elijah found his way and continued to be a blessing, leading the people.

I believe we all have to take a moment a time or two to simply be silent… to reflect… to consider how God is present in the moments we live.  As we embrace the uncertainty of these moments, don’t apologize if you need to check out for a time. 

I’m certainly not going to.  Because I trust that God is in control.  I hear His still small voice: "What are you doing here, Daren?"  When I hear that voice, it's time to get going again.