October 30th, 2007
Pardon me if I sound sexist, but I believe there is something about a man that loves to smell gasoline and fire up gas combustion motors. Sometime ago my “wild man” sensibilities were awakened when a neighbor asked to borrow my wood chipper (this wood chipper, by the way, was purchased used from a church member. I have no idea why anyone would want to part from such a fine piece of mechanical testosterone). My heart was pounding at the opportunity to fire up the chipper. I had already chipped up all the stray limbs on our property and shredded every leaf that has fallen on our yard.
I told my neighbor that not only could he borrow the chipper, but I would be happy to help – who would want to miss out on a chance to reduce a fallen Bradford Pear tree to a pile of sawdust? After viewing the tree and her limbs I surmised that this job would be an hour or so. Four hours later our task was complete. Limb by limb we completely mulched the tree and sectioned the trunk for firewood.
The chipper did just fine, but the controller did not. I was deaf. Well, not deaf, but several days later I still had a persistent ringing in my ears. I found myself getting confused when more than one person was talking in a room and it sounded as if all the voices were under water. Perhaps the worst of it all was that I was overcompensating from my hearing loss by raising my voice. Now folks, you already know that I learned to whisper in a saw mill!
Okay, save your letters, I know that I had two choices: wear ear plugs or let my neighbors do their own work. But the second choice really isn’t a choice. Helping neighbors is what we are supposed to do, not only in a civil society, but also is a Biblical mandate. In my best Mister Rogers voice, let me ask you, “Are you a good neighbor?” I hope so. And of course our neighbors are not just the ones who live in our subdivision. They are the ones we see and meet in the course of a normal day: from the dry cleaning clerks, to the one who waits at our table. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25 that we see him in the faces of others.
‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind… ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37, 39)
Neighborliness is foundational to the faith. Just remember, helping your neighbor can be risky. It was for the one on the road to Jericho. My advice is to wear ear plugs and help anyway.
Grace be with you,
Greg
October 30th, 2007
Have you ever thought about how you describe your faith journey? Are you a believer or a follower? I would like to say I am both but somehow that response seems too easy. There are many things I believe to be true in life yet I am hesitant to follow. I will not sky dive, for example even though I believe a parachute will work to preserve me life. I also believe that if I sky dive, Amy will throttle me (but I digress!).
I have met many inside and outside the community of faith who either cannot reconcile beliefs with actions or are too tangled up in one in order to do the other much good. Alas, for me there are too many days when my beliefs are all I have going for me but I am too weak to follow and then there are those moments when all I can do is follow but I cannot get my head around what I ascent to believe. Two years ago I had tentative “beliefs” in coming to this church (let’s be honest, I really did not know you as a congregation) so I was left to simply trust and follow.
Perhaps the best we can do is to simply surrender over into a relationship that transcends both our beliefs and our actions.
I find it interesting that in many of the world religions there is that common thread of surrendering oneself before a higher power. The Buddhists call this emptying; the Hindus refer to this as abandonment; the Sufi mystics speak of releasing; in Judaism it is called submission; and the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh simply called it surrender. The first three steps among the 12 Steps in Alcoholics Anonymous begin with admitting powerlessness, believe in a power greater than oneself and to turn one’s life over to the care of God. It is amazing how the spirit of God has ebbed and flowed among dramatically different belief systems to lead us to the same conclusion uttered by Christ: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24).
Are you a believer or a follower? Marcus Borg writes, “The Christian life is as simple and challenging as this: to love God and to love that which God loves” (The Heart of Christianity, p. 41).
Grace to you,
Greg
October 30th, 2007
There was a time when I knew where the pot roast (or hamburger, or steak) came from: off the farm. Sometimes we named our beef, but most of the time we did not. Trust me, you really don’t want to make a pet out of your next meal. Now that I am twenty years-plus removed from DeLoach and Son Dairy Publix or Kroger, has been the name of our beef. Somehow this just did not seem responsible.
A couple of weeks ago, however, Amy and I met a farmer – Tinks (yes that is her real name) who has a beef farm in Washington. We are now buying our beef from her. I must tell you that it is not convenient and it is not cheaper. We do this for two reasons. First, because the beef is grass fed and therefore better for you. Secondly, we like the satisfaction in knowing that we are supporting a local farmer and by extension a local economy. For us it is a matter of stewardship; being responsible. It is a small step, but a good start.
Each of us must evaluate for ourselves how we are being responsible to the earth and people around us. Granted, we may not all go out and buy local beef, or poultry, or Emu (okay I just threw that one in), but we have a responsibility to taking care of all that has been entrusted to us. Stewardship includes what we eat, what we do, how we act, and how we relate.
We often hear the church speak of stewardship and too quickly assume it is a call for donations. Certainly stewardship does include how we handle and use our finances but it is more than just about money. It is about life and the call of God is to be faithful and trustworthy over all that that has been entrusted to us.
Yes, I fall miserably short, but thanks be to God for the grace extended: “With God all things are possible…” (Matthew 19:26).
It does matter where our pot roast comes from. And it matters how we treat the stranger/neighbor/friend. And, finally, it does matter how we live this one, unique, solitary life.
Grace to you,
Greg