SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Month: January 2019

  • Divisive?

    Divisive…that’s the word that came to my mind as I was running this morning.  It all too often describes our world.  It is true that I prefer love and encouragement and peace.  I completely understand the need to take a stand or knee for what you believe.  I am extremely grateful for the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. and his unwillingness to accept that things had to be the way they were.  But I don’t see Martin Luther King Jr as divisive.  I don’t see Harriet Tubman as divisive.  I don’t see Rosa Parks as divisive.  I don’t see Jesus as divisive.  I see a drive to bring people together and a refusal to accept the divide.  The willingness to risk their lives to bring people together in love is beyond comprehension (and many more like them). 

    So what do I mean by divisive?  I mean those that purposely put their agendas ahead of people.  I mean those that aren’t willing to hear anyone else…it’s my way or the highway.  I mean those that post hateful comments to “prove their point” or to inflate their ego.  I mean those that could find common ground with others, but instead choose to find fighting ground.  I find this mostly on social media.  There are short, quick snapshots (memes, gifs, etc.) that are meant to be jabs at other that have a different opinion.  I suppose they are “meme warriors” because that is what you see constantly.  Those do not help start a conversation but are great at starting an argument.  They also are wonderful at finding out who thinks your opinion is just the best (insert eye roll here).  In school, these may have been bullies…or at least it feels like bullying… 

    So, what is the opposite of divisive? 

    Listening (really listening to those that differ in opinions, lifestyles, politics, beliefs, or anything)…

    Loving (even loving those that we see as unlovable…you know…loving like Jesus)…

    Respecting (offering respect to others because…I don’t know…they are people)…

    These are places that I choose to start.  I am grateful for the opportunity to voice opinions…I just think there is a better way…and I don’t think that divisive is the way to do it.  Just my thoughts on this day when we remember the contribution of a Baptist Preacher that refused to accept the divide.

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  • What Are You Looking For? (Blog 5 of the Series)

    Be is struggling.  He has been wondering where God is in his life.  Over the last few weeks, he has searched for what is next.  It wasn’t long ago that he lost his job.  His marriage ended a year ago because he spent more time working than he did taking care of his wife.  She took the kids and although it hurt, it allowed him to focus on work…it was, after all, where he found his purpose and where he felt he mattered.  Now all is lost.  It is all gone.  He has money in the bank and he will be fine financially.  There are other prospects.  His position being eliminated did not stop him from having other places to go work. But it did remind him that he was not nearly as important as he thought he was.  He is not nearly as valuable as he conceived in his mind.  Here he is…no family, no job, no purpose.  And so today, he decides to step into a sanctuary.  It really wasn’t intentional.  It came as an idea in the middle of the night.

    Be grew up going to church as a child.  He knew the Bible stories.  He remembered the power of stepping into the sanctuary, a Holy place.  He wanted that feeling again.  It had been too many years, but what other option did he have?  And what could it hurt…to just step in one more time…to wade in the waters?  So, he enters the church…

    It is interesting that Be is not considering the coffee or donuts, although they may be an added bonus.  He isn’t thinking about who is there or what the demographic of the church might be.  He doesn’t care if there are fresh flowers on the altar or if the carpet is purple.  Be wants to be in the presence of God.  He has had enough of the world and its disappointments.  He has struggled enough with stress and competition.  He walked into the sanctuary to be with God.

    Here is what Be doesn’t care about…he doesn’t care what the average attendance is for the church…he doesn’t care how this church compares to the church down the street (he could have gone there if he wanted, but he didn’t)…he doesn’t care about who doesn’t like who or who doesn’t get along with someone else…he doesn’t want to hear gossip and he doesn’t want to be asked why he is there…he doesn’t want to feel like a stranger but knows he doesn’t quite fit in yet.

    What Be cares about…is God there.  Yep, that’s it.  He could give to his favorite cause without coming into the church.  He could have socialized with neighbors without ever stepping foot in the sanctuary.  He could have heard about the comparison in churches by sitting at the diner on Sunday after church.  All else fades away when one is welcomed into the presence of the Almighty.  He simply wants to meet God.  What would Be find in our churches today?

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