Devotion for October 26

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field… Matthew 13:44

Hidden in the midst of bodies, young and old, each working to keep in shape, was a young man. I would guess he was all of 25 – give or take a year or two. His smile was crooked, his hands at strange angles and his legs struggling to make use of the exercise bike. I was taken by how hard he worked. I was touched by the glee he found in the simple motion of the pedals of that bike.

I suppose some would suggest that he didn’t belong there amid all the functioning bodies of young and old. There may have even been some who glanced his way and quickly looked away in embarrassment. I don’t know. I didn’t pay attention.

As for me, I was thrilled by him. I found his exhilaration at the simple movement of limbs infectious. He was like a treasure hidden in the field. He reminded me of the pleasure I often overlook of being able to move and breath… the sheer pleasure of life.

I looked at him and thought of how generous God is. God gives joy to each as we have the capacity to experience it. God provides the simple pleasures of life in the shared connections between us. This gift of a common humanity that lays hidden so often beneath the soil of our daily habits… our daily grinds.

But every now and then, we stumble upon this treasure. And when that happens to me, like it did at the club the other day, my heart beats a bit more strongly, my spirit lifts and my mind goes to the Creator who, in spite of every human flaw, gives us the opportunity to smile; the possibility of seeing, really seeing, life in a new way.

I hope that today you will stumble on just such a treasure hidden in the field of your work – or workout.

Devotion for September 14

Come to me… and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

The front page of the Des Moines Register on the day after the tenth anniversary of 9/11 was startling. Rarely have I seen a picture that I immediately thought, “This ought to win a Pulitzer Prize.” This one elicited that response. If you haven’t seen it, it is of a father kneeling before the 9/11 memorial, head down on the slab, one arm outstretched and the other holding the memorial – perhaps pointing to the name of his son, lost on that tragic day.

I immediately thought two things: first, how profound this portrait of grief was; second, how grateful that I have not lost a child. Both were born, not out of intellect, but out of that place in the human soul where we experience deep connections to one another and face our worst fears. If I close my eyes, I can still see that photograph with absolute clarity. Ten years later, the loss still vivid in his posture; his grief silently communicated to the world.

I wonder if God felt that way at the death of his son, Jesus? I know it’s a bit of human projection, but I find comfort in the thought that, just perhaps, God did. I believe that God groans at the expensive spiritual cost of such a tragedy and loss. The comfort promised by the Savior in Matthew’s Gospel somehow seems much nearer and more accessible when I think that God grieves over such mindless evil and unnecessary pain.

And I want to reach out; to kneel with him in silence and help carry the burden. But I can’t. I don’t know him, though I have met him in so many others who have experienced great loss. So, I count my blessings, pray for him and so many others whose pain in grief is laid bare, and then I promise to be with others whenever I can to share the burden, penetrate the loneliness and, by God’s grace, share some bit of comfort.

It has been said that “Christ has no hands or feet but ours.” I believe that is true. Sometimes, however, it is more important to be Christ’s presence and heart because there are times we cannot do anything else… or, should I say, anything more?

Devotion for January 21st

… let us hold fast to what we have attained. Philippians 3:16

Jeff, our primary custodian, and I were setting up in the new coffee area in our Worship Center. I stopped what I was doing and turned to Jeff saying, “Jeff, just stop for a moment and look around. This wasn’t here just a few months ago. I hope you take time to stop, now and then, and celebrate what God has done here – and especially your part in it.” Jeff smiled and replied, “Oh I do… I really do.”

I have spent much of my life sprinting from one thing to another. There has always been a sense that I shouldn’t take time and enjoy the success of the moment for a couple of reasons. The first is the awareness that it can change so quickly – be taken away in the blink of an eye. The second reason was that I was taught not to become prideful. Somehow, taking the time to savor and celebrate a success seemed too close to arrogance and pride.

I have learned to see things through the eyes of St. Paul in the quote above. This has come late to me, but I am grateful that I have finally come to a place in my life when I can stop and enjoy the blessings of success. First, I know that no real success is individually achieved. Second, I have come to the conclusion that St. Paul is telling us that we ought to take pride in the blessings God has worked in and through us. Of course we cannot ignore the challenges that are before us – and there are always more challenges aren’t there! Nor can we nurture the illusion that our success will always last – some do, some do not. But simple gratitude to God and others requires us to stop and enjoy (hold fast) what we have attained.

I hope you’ll do that: take time to savor and celebrate whatever accomplishments God has given you – then thank God and those who made them possible. You’ll find your soul growing if you will.

Devotion for July 8

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Psalm 68:19

            “Three blessings for today,” I asked Chris as we drove through the Iowa countryside? She thought for a moment and then began sharing. Then she asked me the same question. It is a routine we share that reminds us of the presence of God in our lives on a daily basis.

            Life is so daily. The problem is that our faith can seem so distant – like some far off pay-off for living well or believing the right thing. The psalmist reminds us that God daily bears us up. Even when we are unaware of God’s supporting presence, it is there. The scriptures are unanimous in their witness to the daily connection of God to this world, this life and us. To celebrate God’s presence is to acknowledge and thank God for the life we have, not the life we wished we had.

            The difference is profound. This is the difference between satisfaction and frustration, serenity and anxiety. God is daily present to bring joy into our lives as we truly live them. Even in the midst of our longing and struggles, God supports us and limits the challenges we face. As a sign I saw recently said: “If God led you to it, He’ll lead you through it.”

            According to the psalmist, salvation brings us a daily confidence in the active presence of God. Faith is relying on that presence when we cannot see or feel it. Both are gifts of God. When we separate salvation from our daily lives, we render faith impotent. A real faith for real life trusts that God will daily sustain me and lead me through whatever comes my way and that creates the vision to see God’s  daily blessings and the will to claim them.

            So, what about you? Can you name three ways God has blessed you today?