Extra Grace Required People (AKA EGR's)

    Why does it still surprise me when people behave badly?  I know that my thoughts and opinions aren't held by everyone.  I know that we all have moments that we don't act the way we'd like to.  And yet,  when others fail to play nicely with others (especially me), I'm genuinely surprised.  (At least for a moment.)
     Here's how I see it.  I don't have a corner on the market of seeing things right or interpreting truth.   I believe that God has ultimate truth and yet a simple reading of the four Gospels of the bible tell me about four different perspectives on a truth that I hold near and dear.  Further, those four perspectives are not right or wrong, just different.  In fact, I'm glad for all four because I'm richer for having the different viewpoints.
     Now a moment of candor.  It does tick me off when I try to be gracious and I am still met with anger, or stubbornness, or unkindness.   Maybe it's me?  But, I think the world works a little better when we take time to value the gifts others bring;  when we take time to listen to one another; and when we debate ideas without blaming, calling names, and demonizing others.
     While admitting my surprise and frustration,  I can also say there's a part of me that's not surprised.   I have been taught to love everyone.  It's a way of life that I believe is important.  Everyone is equally loved by God.  So I've come to realize that I will have some Extra Grace Required (EGR) people in my life.  I'm also willing to admit that I may be someone else's EGR person.  I just hope we can discuss the struggle over dinner...that we can act with respect and kindness...that we can live love (even if we don't like each other much), and find some way we're both richer for the experience.
     How do you handle people who behave badly?  I'd really like to know.

Learning New Skills

     Last night I published my first web site!  No applause please.  I did it because I live in an online, multimedia, in-the-moment world, and I want to stay fluent in the language.  I still value face to face relationships, live experiences, things that take time, and experiential living too.  But, I know that I can't freely share one meaningfully,  without understanding something about the other.
     The bible and history have taught me a lot about this adventure.  I remember how the apostle Paul said he was willing to become all things to all people so he could reach some.  I get that.  That's why I began a web site, I have a face book page, I text, and  I do many things that I never dreamed of, so I can be connected to other people's lives in meaningful ways.
     You see I'm on a mission to Live Love in real and meaningful ways.  Why?  Because I follow Jesus.  Why? Because it's the most comprehensive, meaningful, effective way to live that I've found.  And if I want to Live Love I'll have to use avenues that are important to others, as well as my own favorites.
     Well, next on my list is to check out the top of the music charts this week and maybe give a tweet!

FYI -- I'm currently sharing a series called "On A Mission."  (Feb 5,12,19)  If you'd like to listen to a little bit here's the podcast link.

Today Is The Day to Change The World

     Today is the day to change the world.  No waiting, no acceptable pacing, only full out loving everybody the same.  We talk about justice and equality, but I know that I worry, that if I work to hard at it, "Will I lose something?".  Well, by putting it off I've lost even more.
     This week two things have crossed my path, sharpened my conscience...raised my urgency.  They are Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail, (I read it today on this MLK holiday), and my encounter with the Circles Initiative to eradicate poverty. (Both are amazing stuff.  If you've never explored please take a minute.  They're far more important than the rest of what I have to say!) This co-incidence has quickened my pace and strengthened my resolve to speak, work and advocate for the poor and powerless of our society.
     My first mission is awareness: both my own and yours.  Yours through my sharing so that you and others  have the opportunity to become aware of needs and injustices. For instance, do you realize how hard it is to care for a family from a place of poverty?  I can only begin to imagine.  These two links give quick, informative snapshots: 1) The Wage Gap; 2)  Nickle and Dimed.  There is so much more to this conversation, but you (dear and valued blog reader) have to want that for yourself, so I'll leave it for you to ask questions, post challenges, and share insights.
     My second mission, and by far, the hardest, is self-reflection, as to what needs to change in me.  What are the lifestyle changes that I need to make,changes that will make a difference?  Is it no longer shopping at Walmart?  Is it moving into the poorer part of the community?  I am still exploring and learning.  I know it will be a bumpy and imperfect journey because the issues are complex at times (though morally straight-forward) and because I can be slow, blind and stubborn sometimes (but I hope not all together).  I am confident that Jesus, who offers me love, grace and a way of life, will guide, redirect, challenge and help me.

     My third mission begins two-fold:

1. Working to establish a Circles Initiative right here in Lebanon County that can partner with the Caring Cupboard, the Phoenix Center, and many other services, ministries and resources of the area;
2. Inviting, modeling, cajoling, badgering, teaching, pestering, organizing, enlisting, dreaming, presenting, assisting, companioning, praying, serving, working and persisting until we all, you and me together, are Living Love ... everyone has what they need.  I believe that Living Love it is possible that all who experience that Love, find hope, joy, power and freedom in that Love.  And in receiving that gift, that Love then  flows through them and the world is changed.  It becomes contagious, generative, exponential...world-changing.

     That's my mission, eradicate poverty, live love and change the world.  Wanna help?  Tell me how!

Who's Right and Who's Wrong? A Quick Solution...

     How do we prove who's right in all those disagreements of our life?  I don't think right and wrong are the highest outcome from our differences.  My experience tells me that even though I believe there are deal-breakers, I'm seldom talking about that territory.  And even when I'm in that territory, my willingness to respect another, to learn from another and to engage another, doesn't compromise my values and it opens possibilities I would never see without risking such holy conversations.

      I believe we can hold a variety of beliefs and still be a gift to one another.   To me our many gifts, abilities and shapes make up a richer community that is only whole with all the pieces in place.  Your perspectives and passions are gifts to me that can sharpen my thinking, enrich my viewpoints and keep me honest.  This is the very nature of Love.  Yet I feel in a minority, in a world of shock jocks, divisive politics, positional faith, and black and white values.

     I was drawn to express my convictions this week after having a discussion on a "hot button" topic with a friend I respect. (I'd tell you what it was, but I don't want that to become the topic here and now.)   My friend expressed trouble understanding how I could hold  my point of view, opposite to their own, on the topic at hand, and still claim to be a person of faith.   I could hear in their voice a sadness at my "mistaken position."

     My goal has become to learn from another, learn more about another and to honestly be myself.  First, because I know that most times my mind isn't changed in a discussion.  I am, however, influenced, enriched and challenged by others in conversations. (When was the last time you changed someone's mind on a strongly held opinion in one conversation?)   So I am truly saddened when such diversity is seen as a problem, a limitation, a non-negotiable impasse, rather than a gift.

    As a Christian I value the teaching of Jesus and I think he had much to say about this.  For instance in Mark 12:13-17 I noticed that Jesus willingly offered respect to political leaders who worshiped gods that he would have considered off the mark.  I wonder if I can do any less with those who disagree with me,  that is to offer them respect.  This story reflects, for me, a pattern of Jesus'.  A pattern of love, respect, engagement, grace and trust that God is bigger than any situation.

    So, I am also saddened when those who share my perspectives and opinions make fun of sisters and brothers who hold different opinions.  I am poorer when others enter discussions with sarcasm rather than openness and candor.  I am robbed of learning and relationship when another refuses to converse because I have been dismissed as unequivocally wrong.

    And, I am energized in honest, thoughtful conversation that brings to the table passionate ideas and well founded facts.  I am strengthened when our encounter challenges me to express why I believe what I do.  I am affirmed when you care enough to engage me honestly with your beliefs and embrace me with opportunity to share mine.  I grow in such exchanges.

    We live in a time when this kind of discussion has been labeled as weak, as selling out, as ineffective, and as impossible.  I believe that we not only can have these discussions, but that when we dare to enter into these risky places we come a little closer to a world of peace built with love.

    What do you think?

Rats!

    Rats have compassion!  Who knew?  This cool fact is brought to you by the  University of Chicago who did a Study.  Now rats are not my typical Christmas prep topic.  I might be more apt to celebrate a letter like Rev. Jim Luck who writes in the voice of Jesus at Christmas time.  Either way I'm talking about living in a way that makes a difference,  a way of love.
    Love, now that makes Christmas.  At my church we're challenging one another to give as much money to get rid of Malaria and end hunger in our area, as we spend on our friends and family.  Now that's love in action.
  So will your Christmas outdistance the rats and the rat-race of gift-giving, self-focused, consumerism?  Will it truly reflect the reason Christmas began, following the Master of Love?  Why not share some ways you are sharing Christmas love this year?

When Trust Fails

   This week anyone touched by Penn State ached.  My prayers go to the children and to many others who are hurt and even those who have inflicted pain.  God never fails, but often we do.
    I have to confess my first reaction to the scandal was first anger that anyone would hurt kids and then something hard to put my finger on.  It was a puzzlement that Penn State is held so high. It was a frustration that a school or a football team could be so important to some that feel almost idolotrous to me.  But, that's not where I ended.
    Reflecting on the reality and praying for those involved, brought me to a new place...a better place, I think.  I began to ponder all the things that I value and that I would grieve for if my trust in them were broken.  ( I wish I could say the list was short but it wasn't.)  I depend on many things from my car to people.  Some of those things, many really, have grown to hold too high a priority in my life for the lasting joy, results, or power that they can deliver.  Too high a place to match what I want to believe, what I say I believe.
    That point of growing, confession and reality admitted, there are all kinds of levels of trust.  Each one with a place in our lives.  Each one, when broken, brings a bit of grieving and sadness. Each one gives me the opportunity to see the gifts in that relationship and to see the things that I hold out of proportion, that I idolized, even if only a little bit.  Each one gives me the opportunity to Live Love more fully, making life adjustments as I go.
    So through the gifts of time and grace, my prayers and heart goes out to those grieving about Penn State, about losses, about the things that capture attention.  My prayer is that God would heal the hurts and hold more of your attention.  In that posture nothing can conquer us, only detour us a bit.
    What has your attention?  How may I pray for you?

Journey at Home

     I've shared many miles and places in my blog.  For my travels I've depended on my GPS to get me from place to place.  Today it's time for the more challenging journey.  Driving miles and exploring cities has challenges, but none so delicate and dangerous as that of our own heart...my own heart.
     My bible reading this morning was not encouraging me.  A little prophetic bluster from Isaiah, left me pondering my own brokenness; a little psalmatic (if that's a word) despair--not so cheery on it's face; and then the words of Jesus in Matthew 7.  Here I thought would be the upswing and instead I got caught in the underbrush of my heart.
     I don't know about you, but it's easy for me to be hard on myself...harder than I ever am on others.  So I read "Don't judge so that you won't be judged" and got tangled in my moments of discontent with others rather than the intent of the passage of a gracious balanced look at all (self included).
     I read "For everyone who asks, receives.  Whoever seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door is opened." and went to that ludicrous place of wondering why a wish-granting God wasn't doing that for me, when I know the passage is about the power of an honest, open, interactive relationship with the Holy, with Love, with Jesus, with God.
    I read "You will know them by their fruit" and I whinned to myself about not being fruitfull enough from a western, Type A personality, things productivity, kind of place, when I know the passage has more to do with character than with profits of people, dollars or things.
    Here's the big point.  I needed to make the journey.  It took me about 75 minutes this morning, to read, reflect, pray, grab a few commentaries on line, reflect, digest, pray, process and come out on the other side.  Now, no longer discouraged, rather strengthened from my morning devotional time.  Now, a little less wandering and a little more on a focused inward adventure.  And the
     The kicker is this.  Tomorrow I may need to do it all over again.   Perhaps in the same way, or maybe sitting quietly in prayer and reflection for the same time, or possibly singing songs or serving or something else.  I don't always know how it will unfold, but I know I need...I do better with...my adventure is safer, more productive, more satisfying when...to spend that time with God.  Each day is part of an adventure for which I need my GPS (Grow, Pray, Study  or, if you like, God Positioning System) of the scriptures, prayer, companions on the journey.
    The reward is this.  It works.
    What inward adventures of the Spirit have you had lately?