Relax, Little Children

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God . . . 

it is that very Spirit bearing witness of our spirit that we are children of God, 

and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ . . . 

~ Selected verses from Romans 8

God calls us Children of the Spirit, Children of the Light, Children of the One Most High, a lot.  It was counter-cultural to remind folks of Jesus’ era to love children, and that God loves us as his little children, his little flock, but oh, how it still resounds today!

I love the short story “Capital of the World”, where Ernest Hemingway tells about a Spanish father who wanted to be reconciled with his runaway son. The despairing father missed his son so much that he placed an advertisement in the local newspaper. The advertisement read simply, “Paco, meet me at the Hotel Montana at noon on Tuesday. All is forgiven! Love, Papa.” But Paco is a very common name in Spain—and when the father went to the hotel the next day, there were eight hundred young men named Paco waiting for their forgiving fathers!

You never know when a Paco is standing or sitting beside you.  Or maybe your name is Paco too, no matter what your gender, or what gender the parent is to their child with broken relationships between the two.  As a matter of fact, as a young friend said to me this past week, you never know when someone is going through a “freaking out” moment.  I suspect at any time, we all experience the brokenness—and it’s just a matter of when that will or has happened that makes the difference in all our lives.

The Good News is that whatever message we hear, or experience we have, God never withdraws God’s love.  God’s love is unconditional.  God doesn’t say, as humans often do, “If you are not a good person, Father won’t love you.”  God’s love for us is in no way lessened by our moral failures.  Even if we are angry with Godself or make ourselves God’s enemies, God’s love is steadfast. 

Leslie Weatherhead says “[God] will never do us an evil or let an evil which befalls us have the last word.  If [God] must not divert it or deliver us from it yet, [God] will make it serve us and serve [God’s] purpose in us and for us.  [God’s] omnipotence does not mean that everything that happens to us is [God’s] will, but it does mean that nothing can possibly defeat [God].”

That’s the kind of parent I want.  That’s the kind of parent I need.  God IS that kind of parent.  Wanting the very best for us, with pure Love.  Utterly loving, infinitely strong, resourceful and purposeful, not allowing us to be lost forever, coming to our rescue and protecting us from ultimate destruction.  

Breathe deep.  Be still.  Let God embrace you, even during the freak out.

That’s God’s promise to us, as children.  For God so loved the world, God gave himself to us in Jesus Christ, who in fully in human form, loved us to death.  Not to condemn us, but to rescue us from our fears, our angers, our “freak out” moments.  I trust that promise, because God doesn’t break promises.  Cross my heart.

Grace and joy,

Julie

Us Ragamuffins

The suggestion was made to me the other day that I might want to change my email address to something more professional-looking. First initial, last name, special server perhaps.  It definitely would be sharper, cleaner, less obnoxious to have to spell out for shop clerks, especially.  I’m pondering that thought, trying to determine if it’s worth giving up a tremendous conversation starter.

My email address, other than the official church one, is ragamuffinjulie@gmail.com.  “Ragamuffin” always raised a grin or an eyebrow.  It makes a connection first-off with those familiar with Brennan Manning’s classic Christian book, “The Ragamuffin Gospel.”  In it, Brennan talks about the human plight, being honest with ourselves and reminding us that as rough and tumble as we all are (and we ALL are), there is One who loves us most.  And that One is everything Who matters. 
 
The most fun, of course, is addressing the raised eyebrows, because I can talk all about the love God has for all God’s Beloveds especially when we aren’t feeling so beloved.  It’s an accessible, non-threatening (read non-Bible-thumping) way to expose someone to the Gospel of love from someone who’s been there and lives there, warts and all.

I don’t suspect I’ll be giving up my borrowed title any time soon.  But if you’re curious, you might want to read the intro to Brennan’s book, and even pick up a copy for yourself.  I’d let you borrow mine, but it apparently has grown legs and walked out of my office.  Time to order a new one, I reckon…  But here’s the introduction, if you’re interested:

“The Ragamuffin Gospel was written with a specific reading audience in mind: This book is not for the super-spiritual. It is not for muscular Christians who have made John Wayne and not Jesus their hero. It is not for academicians who would imprison Jesus in the ivory tower of exegesis. It is not for noisy, feel-good folks who manipulate Christianity into a naked appeal to emotion. It is not for hooded mystics who want magic in their religion. It is not for Alleluia Christians who live only on the mountaintop and have never visited the valley of desolation. It is not for the fearless and the tearless. It is not for red-hot zealots who boast with the rich young ruler of the gospels: ‘All these commandments I have kept from my youth.’ It is not for the complacent, hoisting over their shoulder a tote-bag of honors, diplomas, and good works actually believing they have it made. It is not for legalists who would rather surrender control of their souls to rules than run the risk of living in union with Jesus.

“If anyone is still reading along, The Ragamuffin Gospel was written for the bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out. It is for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other. It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don’t have it altogether and who are not too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace. It is for inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker. It is for poor, weak, sinful men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents. It is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay. It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God. It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags. The Ragamuffin Gospel is a book I wrote for myself and anyone who has grown weary along the Way.”

That’s my view today, and I’m sticking to it for life.

Grace and joy,
Julie

Fully Committed

I mentioned ‘communism’ in a discussion the other day, and was surprised when a young person in the group didn’t know what that was.  Communism?  I grew up in the Cold War era, practicing the under-the-desk scramble in elementary school to prepare for ‘the attack,’ and as my father served the country in military intelligence and the word having shaped our livelihood, I suppose I was as shocked as someone not understanding how to boil water!  The world has gone on to other threats, hasn't it?

I shan’t bore you with a definition today, but it reminded me of commitment, deep commitment to a cause one believes in.  Billy Graham once shared a letter written by a committed communist that had quite an effect on me.  If you don't get the 'communism' reference, substitute your own, but in any case, here it is as published back in the 1960s:

We communists have a high casualty rate.  We are the ones who get shot and hung and ridiculed and fired from our jobs and in every other way made as uncomfortable as possible.  A certain percentage of us get killed or imprisoned.  We live in virtual poverty.  We turn back to the party every penny we make above what is absolutely necessary to keep us alive.

We communists do not have the time or the money for many movies or concerts or T-bone steaks or decent homes or new cars.  We’ve been described as fanatics.  Our lives are dominated by one great, overshadowing factor:  the struggle for world communism.  We have a philosophy of life which no amount of money could buy.  We have a cause to fight for, a definite purpose in life.  We subordinator our petty personal selves into a great movement of humanity; and if our personal lives seem hard or our egos appear to suffer through subordination to the party, then we are adequately compensated by the thought that each of us, in [his/her] small way, is contributing to something new and true and better for [humankind].

There is one thing in which I am in dead earnest about, and that is the communist cause.  It is my life, my business, my religion, my hobby, my sweetheart, my wife, my mistress, my bread and meat.  I work at it in the daytime and dream of it at night.  Its hold grows on me grows, not lessens, as time goes on; therefore, I cannot carry on a friendship, a love affair, or even a conversation without relating it to this force which both drives and guides my life. . . .I’ve already been in jail because of my ideals, and if necessary, I’m ready to go before a firing squad.

That’s commitment.  I don’t know if this young fellow lived up to his high ideals in reality, but I do know that I was drawn to substitute the word ‘communism’ and ‘communist’ with ‘loving Jesus Christ and loving others.’  Can we be just as committed and convicted as we live out The Way, in all our relationships and our actions, day in and day out?  That’s my prayer.  And I needed to be reminded, even from a viewpoint on the other side of the aisle.

At least that’s the view from my desk, especially today!

Grace and joy,

Julie

Spiritually Growing

"We all want to be loved for who we are [but] we all want to become who we are not." 

 John Ortberg sums up spiritual growth that way. Does that hunger resonate with you?  God has wired us for yearning, to become more, or better, or stronger, or more adept with the skills we have--to go deeper.  That requires change.

And change is a scary thing. 

The best news is, there's nothing about change that God hasn't prepared us to handle, precisely because God wants us to be the very best version of us that we can be.  It's up to us not to block God's redemptive power.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says
Each time he (Christ) said, "My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness."  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. [NLT]

Can you set aside your weaknesses to take the steps you need to grow?  Especially if your weaknesses are rooted in fear?  Let me share some hope with you.  The constant in life is change.  Life has to change in order to keep living--seeds to plants, autumn leaves to spring blossoms, rebirth in many forms and fashions.  If God promises life--and abundant life at that--the change you may be faced with at this moment (or feeling nudged toward), places you in the perfect spot to see needs, and to allow God to work through you in meeting those needs (yours or your neighbors').

It's time to celebrate, believe it or not, and check out the opportunities God is nudging toward you.  It may be involvement in a class, a group, a mission project, a new spiritual discipline, but it's a good thing, a GREAT thing, in God's eyes.

And so I wish grace and joy to all my beloveds on this journey today!

Julie

Just Pedal!

It’s good to be back in the saddle here at West End UMC, although my saddle side is rather sore from riding in the Rockies for a 23 mile stretch!  I hadn’t ridden a bicycle for 20+ years, and while it is true that you never forget, I was still rusty.

Which is why after the first few feet I pedaled right into the back of a parked pickup truck, and fell off.  Kerpluck! And that was just during the “fit the woman with a bike” portion.

The whole ride up in the van to the top of Trail Ridge Road was spent psyching myself up for the adventure.  “Come on, Halstead.  You can do this.  Don’t let Cousin Jane down on her birthday.  Don’t think about the 12,000 foot drop off….(right, like don’t visualize a pink elephant. Oops, there it is!)”  quickly turned into “What were you thinking?  Is this any way for a 57-year-old woman to spend a Monday morning?  And what’s the real meaning of ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?’” Was Paul including soaring down a mountainside at 25 mph in that verse?  Probably not.

Pride, more than courage, got me to strap on that helmet and swing my legs over the bar of the bike, if truth be told.  Fortunately, God uses our weaknesses to a benefit, sometimes.  Had I given into my fear, I would have missed breathing in the fresh pine, whizzing past a mama deer and her fawn just three feet from the roadside, smiling wide even with bugs in my teeth at the breathtaking beauty of creation at its grandest.  And smile I did.  All the way down, all the way up the incline (walking my bike for those yards), and gliding into the alluvial fan picnic area.  Crackers and cheese never tasted so good in the victory of conquering that fear, even if my knees were wobbly.

I may not have been courageous, but I am grateful for the amazing up close and personal experience into the web of life, the vision of our forebears to protect the lands of the RMNP, and especially the imagination of The Creator for including us in the mix.  It was a great day of communion and companionship.

It reminds me of a poem whose author is unknown, but is entitled The Road of Life:

At first, I saw God as my observer,

my judge,

keeping track of the things I did wrong,

so as to know whether I merited heaven

or hell when I die.

He was out there sort of like a president.

I recognized His picture when I saw it,

but I really didn't know Him.

But later on

when I met Christ,

it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,

but it was a tandem bike,

and I noticed that Christ

was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was

that He suggested we change places,

but life has not been the same since.

When I had control,

I knew the way.

It was rather boring,

but predictable . . .

It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,

he knew delightful long cuts,

up mountains,

and through rocky places

at breakneck speeds,

it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness,

He said, "Pedal."

I worried and was anxious

and asked,

"Where are you taking me?"

He laughed and didn't answer,

and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life

and entered into the adventure.

And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"

He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed,

gifts of healing,

acceptance,

and joy.

They gave me gifts to take on my journey,

my Lord's and mine.

And we were off again.

He said, "Give the gifts away,

they're extra baggage, too much weight."

So I did,

to the people we met,

and I found that in giving I received,

and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him,

at first,

in control of my life.

I thought He'd wreck it;

but He knows bike secrets,

knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,

knows how to jump to clear high rocks,

knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up

and pedal

in the strangest places,

and I'm beginning to enjoy the view

with the cool breeze on my face

with my delightful, constant companion,

Jesus Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do any more,

He just smiles and says . . . "Pedal."

 

The smile, sans bugs, remains in the view from my desk here in Nashville, today, even if Colorado is in my rear view mirror.  And we keep pedaling!

Grace and joy,

Julie