Author: J Brad Mitchell

Psalm 8

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
    mortals that you care for them?

When it’s cold outside, it is difficult to appreciate the beauty.  When the wind chill brings the temps in the single digits, there isn’t time to sit still and enjoy.  For me, I have to keep moving to avoid feeling like I might freeze.  It is easy for me to want to just “get it over with” and get back inside.  But during these times, when I’ve paid close attention, I have noticed the most clear and amazingly beautiful sky.  I know…most of you are thinking you will just have to trust me on this.  I get it.  But I think this is what happens so much of our lives.

We have reasons for moving quickly.  We have a meeting to attend, an appointment upcoming, a meal to prepare, a job to take care of, a family to love – these are all necessary things in life.  But we can get caught in the rhythm.  We can become captured by the mandatory.  And we don’t notice how much God has provided for us.  We don’t see the beauty.  It’s too cold, dark, light, hot… it’s always too something.  But God’s creation is too perfect to miss.  

We only get a short time on this journey.  The death of a loved one reminds me just how short this really can be and how everything changes so quickly.  Don’t get so caught up in all the things to complete.  Pay attention.  God has provided something amazing.  And one of those amazing things is you.

I have a special gift, an ability which seems to only get stronger as time goes on… it is the ability to lose things.  I shouldn’t say lose, it’s really a temporary misplacement, a momentary forgetfulness, an unintentional hiding place.  Today, it was my house keys.  I got home, pulled in the driveway, got ready to get out of the car and realized I didn’t have my keys.  My first thought was, I had put them in my backpack with my computer.  That was incorrect.  I thought about the pocket on my hoodie.  Wrong again.  Surely I had put them in the cupholder.  And that was also incorrect.  Wendy was already on her way home so I just decided to hang out in the car and wait.  It was a few moments to sit still.  As it turns out, my keys were still on the key stand, inside the house.  Apparently I didn’t think it was important to take them off of the stand when I left this morning.  But, I gave myself credit for at least putting them where they belonged – or belonged when I was inside the house (not outside).  

This is a normal occurrence for me. It is a daily challenge to remember where I put something.  I have really good intentions and sometimes I get it right.  Sometimes I put things in places to help me remember.  But most of the time, I can’t remember where I put the thing to help me remember.  It’s okay, though.  It’s just a part of life for me.  It just means I spend my time seeking.

Jesus reminds us he is always seeking the lost as well.  It isn’t that he has lost something, like I do.  He is seeking those who are lonely, hurt, defeated, hopeless… He is seeking those who feel this emptiness deep inside.  He is seeking those who are beaten down by a society which says you aren’t good enough.  He is seeking those who are lost in this world.  

When Jesus seeks, he finds.  And when he finds, he changes everything.  He brings hope to the hopeless.  He brings meaning to a life which seemed pointless.  He lifts up, he rejoices, he fills in the empty places.  He calls the lost his children and shows them a new place to call home.  And he does all of this because he loves – deeper and wider and more vast than anything we can imagine.  His love is incredible.  

Jesus’ love seeks.  His love finds.  His love changes.  May we be found today.

There is a phrase, “before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.”  It is a great thought for how to treat other people and empathize. But we actually can’t ever walk in someone else’s shoes.  It’s impossible.  Even if we know the person well, we don’t actually know what they are thinking or feeling or experiencing.  We can grow up in the same household as someone else and still experience things very differently.  We really don’t know what someone else is struggling with or going through.

Despite all of this, we tend to make snap judgements about other people.  We put them in categories according to what we think of them.  Many of our judgements about others are actually based on our own feelings and experiences, and not as much on reality or the other person.  We project our own fears or hurts onto others because we don’t always know how to deal with our own.  

If we understand this, it hopefully helps us to be more aware of how we treat others.  We still naturally gravitate to people who make us feel comfortable.  It takes effort to spend time with people who are different in any way.  Yet, this is growth.  This is where we find out how very human “others” actually are.  It gives us a glimpse into the lives of those who are different.  If we do this, we might find we have more things in common than we thought.  We might even find we enjoy time with those who are not like us. 

Here’s the key for me:  Hatred is difficult when I’ve taken the time and effort to love.  I find it much more difficult to lump people into a group when I have taken the time to get to know folks in the “other” group.  I find I’m more compassionate and understanding.  I also find a lot of love from people who I would not normally spend time with.  

Our world is filled with plenty of hatred.  We can find hurt and meanness spewed everywhere.  We can make the difference when we choose to be different.  We can begin to see differently when we get to know others. We may not be able to walk in their shoes, but we can certainly walk with them on their journey.  We just might find humanity – in ourselves.  We just might meet Jesus there.  That’s where the Bible always said he was, on the other side.  We might find our true selves and him if we are willing to go.

Having studied church history and the Bible, I find it’s something that has occurred for a really long time. People have justified their actions using scripture.  “Christians” have felt good about their position based on their interpretation of scripture – of course, making sure the best scriptures for their position are selected. Hatred, slavery, hurt, fear, disgust, murder, gossip, and many other reactions have happened in the name of God.  And it’s always interesting how the scripture always defends how someone feels when they don’t like what someone else is doing or saying.  

Of course, this continues. The difference is now there is a platform for people to make sure they can get as much support as possible rallied for their position.  We all do it.  We look for people who think like us, believe like us and behave like us.  We seek our group.  And everyone outside the group is wrong (or at least not right like us).  

Here’s just one of the problems with all of this – using scripture to justify hatred or meanness or contempt. This isn’t the purpose or intent of God’s Word.  It isn’t how we are instructed to live.  It isn’t how Jesus lived or God created.  This is created by people.  And it’s not only harmful, but destructive.  

Jesus taught us to love our enemies.  We often think of enemies as those outside the faith.  I find some of the most harmful enemies call themselves Christians.  They disguise their hatred under the cover of the scripture.  

Maybe we consider flipping the script.  Maybe we justify our love rather than our hate with the Word of God.  I get a lot of things wrong, but maybe I’m found to be “too” loving of other people.  I’m okay with that. I will try to seek ways to love and include rather than exclude and shove away.  If I am accused of anything, my prayer is that I am accused of being too loving and too welcoming.  Maybe one of those people I loved and welcomed was Jesus (Matthew 25).  

When we are in trouble, we look for help.  If we have car trouble, we seek a mechanic.  If we are having health issues, we seek help with a physician.  If we are having trouble with our toilet or sink, we want help from a plumber.  If we are having mental health issues, we reach out to a therapist or psychiatrist.  If we are needing a boost, we get coffee.  If we are needing a dessert, we go to our favorite bakery, Grounded and Baked (see what I did there).  When we need help, we often have resources.  But what do we do when we don’t know what help we need, we just know we need help.

Writer Anne Lamont notes, “Here are the two best prayers I know: ‘Help me, help me, help me’ and ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.”  When we are struggling, sometimes we don’t know where to turn.  We don’t know what to do.  We feel at a loss.  And we can feel helpless.  I am reminded of the Psalm which reads, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”  There are many Psalms and verses in scripture which remind us our help comes from the Lord.  He hears our cries and knows our pain. 

My goal is to constantly seek help from the Lord, not just when I am in distress.  My daily prayer includes a plea for help.  I don’t want to turn to God only when I am desperate.  I want to turn to God for life.  I want him to be my help always.  I want to be reminded he hears me and loves me and is with me, even when things are great.  I don’t want him to be just my emergency contact but rather, my constant friend.

Today, maybe we make a commitment to simply call on God – no reason except we want to know him better. Maybe we just take time with him, to grow closer.  Maybe we simply work on our relationship because we are loved beyond belief by our Creator.  “Help me” seems to be a good place to start.

I love trees.  They are one of my favorite of God’s creation.  Many of them stand tall and strong despite the environment.  They provide for cleaner air.  They do work without anyone even noticing.  They do not need much attention and yet provide grandeur.  They provide landmarks and help to navigate difficult places.  Trees remind us of the need to shed sometimes while still growing.   Many trees have leaves which change colors and fall off, only to return in even more beauty the next season.  

One of the most important aspects of a tree is its ability to send its roots down deep into the ground to find the needed water for growth.  This not only provides a source of water but also stability for the remainder of the growth.  Trees are stable when they are rooted and grounded.  They are amazing creations.  They come in all different types.  Some grow tall, some not.  Some provide flowers or fruit, some not.  Some are late bloomers during the season and some are green all year long.  But no matter what, they are all an important part of our world.

They also provide me with the reminder that I have to be more like a tree.  I have to be rooted and grounded in the right thing.  My stability has to be found in a place which can uphold me when life is difficult and overwhelming.  I have to dig my roots to the real source of life.  For me, that’s found in God.  When I put my trust in him, dig deep into his faithfulness, and steady myself in his love, I can withstand what comes.  

Where are you rooted?  It makes all the difference.

Today is a special day.  Haven’t you heard?  It’s national…(you fill in the blank)…day. It seems we have created a day for nearly everything.  And the days for something special just continue to grow.  You really don’t know what you are missing until you celebrate national doughnut day, right?  And as a bakery owner, I think this could be celebrated every day.

It has become quite funny how days have been created for nearly anything and people pick up on it and make it a big deal.  It is always interesting to see what social media clings to.  But what if today really is a special day?  All of the national named days aside, what if today is special just because it is today?  What if this is just a special day because it exists?

So much of our lives are lived according to routine and rote.  We just continue to do the same things day in and day out.  We may have some slight variations but for the most part, not much changes.  Until it does and we realize we have missed so much.  There won’t be another today.  It won’t happen this way again.  Some days, that is a complete relief.  But so many other times, we missed it.  It was special and we wasted it.  We didn’t see it.  And it was here.  

Today, see it for what it is – a special day to enjoy.  Not all days are good.  Not all days we want to celebrate.  But all days are special because we have been gifted with this day.  There are many who wished they would experience this day and didn’t.  So look around…it is national… (just kidding).  It is really a special day.

Time seems to go by quickly for a majority of life.  We wonder where the time has gone.  We look back at years past and think about how it seems like yesterday.  Time continues to move forward even when we don’t want it to.  There are also situations which make time almost stop.  Those are days when we are working on a project we don’t enjoy, waiting at a stoplight, sitting at a doctor’s office, anticipating test results which never seem to come, or waiting for water to boil.  Time seems to slow way down when we just want it to pass.

The seconds, minutes, hours and days always move at the same pace.  The speed at which they appear seems to correlate with our enjoyment of a moment or when we get so occupied we forget to check our watch.  For those occasions, we aren’t watching the clock and don’t even care what time it is.  We are just enjoying or engrossed in the moment.

While not every moment is enjoyable (some are just miserable), we can have more moments where we simply enjoy.  It takes practice.  We could be grateful for the opportunities to slow down.  This can help us gain perspective about what we enjoy and if we really appreciated the good times.  It can give us time to breathe.  And most of all, the moments when life stands still, it gives us the opportunity to pray.  These are the moments to tell God where we are struggling, why we are so worried, or simply how grateful we are.  These times are not to be wasted.  These are perfect opportunities to be reminded in whom we trust.  

So the next opportunity you have where time seems to almost stop, instead of checking your watch every five seconds, pray.  Just give God all you’ve got.  He’s here to listen.  You might find these are some of the most important moments of your life.  And he’s preparing a way.

This morning’s conditions to run outside were less than ideal.  It was wet and cold, I was tired, and the bed was warm. Why would I get out of a warm bed to exercise in the freezing cold?  On the surface, it doesn’t make sense, I admit.  Except, I had made a promise to myself.  I promised that I would exercise this morning regardless.  It is something which helps me physically, mentally and spiritually.  

I would like to wait for the ideal circumstances. Can’t it just be 50 degrees when I run, no wind, and no traffic?  How about no wild animals or crazy folks driving?  Since I’m asking, could I get a path which takes me by beautiful scenery close to my house so I don’t have to drive?  I’m sure I would get up with excitement every morning if that happened, right?

I wouldn’t.  It isn’t the circumstances that needs changing. We live in a temperature controlled world (homes, cars, work, etc).  We have access to food.  We have so many of the things which would make it ideal to take care of ourselves.  Except we don’t always do it.  We don’t because we are always looking for a reason not to.  We are looking for opportunities to take the easy road.  And we have a host of excuses to stay on the easy road.  

But nothing changes on the easy road.  And if we continue to wait for the ideal circumstances, they will never come.  So if it is time for a change, now is the time.  If not now, then when?  The present is all we have.  Maybe we start now.

If someone just starts following us, it is awkward.  It even begins to feel uncomfortable.  If someone follows us for a long time, it is stalking.  So to think about following Jesus in the context of today, it feels out of place.  But this wasn’t the case for the first disciples of Jesus.  They had this curiosity which led them to just simply follow. They didn’t know what they were signing up for.  They didn’t understand who Jesus was completely.  They didn’t follow because they knew there would be adventures ahead.  The first disciples followed out of curiosity.

I draw this conclusion because in the Gospel of John, when two men just start following Jesus, literally following, he turns around and asks them what they are looking for.  They don’t proclaim wonderment or some amazing ideas of what they may see.  They want to know where he is staying.  They want to spend time with him.  They want to get to know him.  They are curious and willing to follow to find out more.

Jesus invitation is one which allows for exploration.  He doesn’t tell them they need to have it together first.  He doesn’t tell them to go home and learn the scriptures.  He doesn’t give them orders to go home and change and look a certain way, talk a certain way, or even believe a certain way.  He simply asks them to come and see.  Come and see for yourself.  Come and experience time with Jesus.  When they do this, everything changes.  And it isn’t how they might have thought or dreamed.  It was better.

I can’t help but think in our culture filled with Christian thoughts, ideas, or standards if we have squelched the idea of exploration.  Have we given up curiosity in seeking Jesus?  Have we narrowed down what it means to be a Christian in such a way that we have to fit a mold, do a certain thing, live a certain way, and accomplish a list of to-do items to be a follower?  Have we made Christianity so rule based and so defined that we have set the parameters for being a follower?  

Maybe the call for each of us is one to simply follow Jesus.  What are we looking for?  Maybe we are challenged to hear him in a different way.  Maybe we are challenged to see him with fresh eyes.  Maybe we are pushed to love like him or hope like him.  Maybe we are just curious and we just see.  It could make all the difference.