Poem to Ponder

As a former kid and current parent with kids--this poem struck a nerve. Culled this from the Writer's Almanac.

Sins of the Father

by W.D. Ehrhart

Today my child came home from school in tears.
A classmate taunted her about her clothes,
and the other kids joined in, enough of them
to make her feel as if the fault was hers,
as if she can't fit in no matter what.
A decent child, lovely, bright, considerate.
It breaks my heart. It makes me want someone
to pay. It makes me think—O Christ, it makes
me think of things I haven't thought about
in years. How we nicknamed Barbara Hoffman
"Barn," walked behind her through the halls and mooed
like cows. We kept this up for years, and not
for any reason I could tell you now
or even then except that it was fun.
Or seemed like fun. The nights that Barbara
must have cried herself to sleep, the days
she must have dreaded getting up for school.
Or Suzanne Heider. We called her "Spider."
And we were certain Gareth Schultz was queer
and let him know it. Now there's nothing I
can do but stand outside my daughter's door
listening to her cry herself to sleep.

Worry....

James Bryan Smith says in his book, The Good and the Beautiful Life, that the definition of worry is a “disproportionate level of concern based on an inappropriate measure of fear.”

I am preparing to write a sermon on Matthew 6:25-34, I read Jesus words in the concluding verse.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

“Do not worry...” I admit, I worry sometimes about how much I have in me to continue the work I do. My deficiencies are glaring to me, and I assume, to others. To name those weaknesses, well, none of us likes to do that. It is not my intent to write a confessional. I am simply being honest in saying that I feel a little empty right now. Out of gas. Tapped out. Malaise is the word of the day.

Perhaps you can help me think about the worries you experience in your life. I am not asking you to write a personal confessional, either. Instead, think about what keeps you from worry, or at least, from worrying more than you do.

How do you understand Jesus when he says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ?

I promise not to worry about tomorrow if you won’t.

Rest.

The fear of the Lord leads to life. Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

--Proverbs 19:21

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

--Psalm 27:14

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

--Matthew 11:28-30

It’s the month of May. That should be explanation enough for why I have included the scripture and prayer I’ve included in this article. Life is busy and doesn’t show any signs of letting up any time soon. In speaking with many of you and observing my own family and my life, I know that all of us need to reminded of these words.

As you read this, take a moment and ask yourselves the following questions: Am I at peace? If I am, what do I attribute this peace to? Am I restless? What about? Should I be restless? Where can I find rest? Where will I find rest?

In faith, be at peace. Receive it from Jesus Christ.

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

--John 14:27

Expectations for God

Did some reflection Psalm 91 today with some fellow pastors. We are using the Psalms as Lenten texts for this season using a series put together by Prof. Carl Bosma of Calvin Seminary.

For the preachers among us, our group generally uses the "Four Pages" method suggested by Paul Scott Wilson's Book, "The Four Pages of a Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching" as a rubric to help get the discussion started.

One of the "problems" that one of the pastors suggested is that when we encounter the text is that we sometimes have "unrealistic expectations of God" in regards to the potential troubles of life.

I wonder,is it unrealistic to have high expectations of God?

Personally, I don't want to have low expectations of God. I expect healing, safety, and protection. Yet, there are times I do realize that I won't receive it. When this happens, I don't automatically think God has failed me or my expectations. Instead, I am confronted with a new issue--God's will. The question isn't whether God has the power to heal, protect, or save. The question is how does my experience or life fit within his greater will and plan?

Where then is the comfort or grace in this text? I have some more study to do, but unless I find some more surprises, I think the answer is found that our lives have meaning beyond the grave. We are protected from eternal death. We are spared and saved from eternal injury. We are rescued by Jesus Christ. We are, as the Psalm says, "shown salvation."

Eternal comfort. Sounds good to me. However, today I am healthy and well. I don't want "health and wealth" bullarkey (my new word for the day), but I want Psalm 91 to mean something when I have a checkup at the doctor or when I prepare to leave on a long trip. I don't want to have low expectations for God's protection today.

Still wrestling with that.