Light on the Darkest Day

    For many today is a dark day, especially in the wake of the tragedy that happened exactly one week ago (for as I write this, it is 9:30 AM) in Newtown, CT.  Darkness shrouds the nation and world for there are many unanswered questions, and the pain is great. 
    It is a dark day for many today because, despite Christmas being a time where Joy and Hope come, it is also a time of great grieving for those who have lost family members and friends.  This special time of gathering together and sharing life is transformed by death into a period of pain and loneliness that can become a pall over simply living.
    It is physically a dark day, as this is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  Starting tomorrow the shift of the earth’s rotation on it’s axis is such that, little by little, the nights grow shorter and days grow longer, but today there is more night than day.

    Darkness is fascinating, mysterious, and sometimes scary, for we are creatures who need to be able to see what is around us.  We desire to know, rather than sit with the unknown.  We want to see and believe rather than believe it what we can’t see.  We seek that which is visible, even though there are far more things in life which are invisible and in which we trust.
    Yet despite our fear of darkness and uncertainty, it is in the midst of the darkness and in living through the uncertainty that we are shaped and molded.  When we go through the pains of daily living or the extremities of death, divorce, addiction recovery, and/or physical dis-ease, we can emerge on the other side as ones who are stronger, more faithful, and even more hopeful.  And yet, not everyone does.
    There are many who cannot emerge from that darkness.  For some depression or mental illness is a factor, but for many the darkness remains because of inward focus or inability to perceive a greater reality. Some may call it low self-esteem, others learned identity, but the darkness can easily take up residence when one continues to listen to the messages of the world or internal messages that tell us that there is no hope, or this is just how the world is, or even I just can’t do it.  To emerge from the darkness, an invitation is given to turn toward the light.

    We are just days away from the coming of the Light of the World, and what often gets forgotten about the story of Christ’s birth is that the days into which God entered this world through the Christ, were dark days.  This was a period of Roman occupation.  It was a time where persecution was the norm and survival was a challenge for many.  It was into just such a time that Jesus came to bring light.
    As we read in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus came to Shepherds in fields, and in that day and age if there was ever a profession that was looked down upon and despised, it was shepherds.  They were dirty, rough, avoided people who lived dark lives, and yet it was to them that Jesus came.
    Matthew recounts how God’s messengers spoke to a young peasant girl and told her she would bear the Son of God, and how her betrothed, Joseph, was also spoken to and told that his fiancé was pregnant with God’s child.  Imagine being the recipient of such truth.  Dark days.
    And yet, the words of angels rang true, and the life that came was the life that grew to become the Light of Life.  Through Him the darkness was dispersed, and that same Light enters our world and enters our lives again.  Even more amazingly, the Light’s focus, those upon whom God aims His light, are those whose lives have been shattered by darkness.  Those who most need to see, because they are blind and the uncertainty is just too great.  To them, the Known One, the One who Knows, invades the unknowing and brings clarity and hope.

    It is the shortest day of the year.  It is a dark day for those who grieve.  It is even a day when the world perpetuates a Mayan myth that this is the last day, and yet despite the darkness, in the grief, and even in reflection upon the last day, the Truth of God’s love is that the Light of the World has come, is coming, and will come again.
    One of my favorite hymns is “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”.  I love this hymn because it speaks to the Truth of God’s coming Light, but is also calls us to live in that light and allow that light to live in us.  The first verse and chorus are:

I want to walk as a child of the light;
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world;
The star of my life is Jesus.

Refrain
In him there is no darkness at all;
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God;
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

    On this darkest day, in these last days before the Great Celebration, look for the Light.  Seek the Son.  Walk in the Light and walk as a child of the Light, for indeed, always, there is hope.  Indeed, always, the Light of the world comes.

Heat Rises...

    Now that the cold weather has returned, I am reminded again that heat rises, even though in this situation, it seems counter-intuitive.  Let me explain.                                                                                Our home is about two-thirds up the side of a 2300 foot tall mountain, which makes for some interesting dynamics and great science lessons for my kids.  I didn’t notice it too much the first winter, but the second winter I remember walking out on a cold morning and realizing there was no frost on the ground nor the cars.  I’d head down the mountain, and by the time I reached the houses below, the roofs, lawns, and cars would glisten with the frozen film.  I've never being a great scientist, so it took a little thought, but I realized that’s because heat rises and it is warmer at my house than below.
    Now that may sound like a no-brainer, but when I am talking temperature change, I mean a true shift in just a few hundred feet elevation change.  I can drive out in the morning when it is 39 degrees at the house, but when I get to the church below the thermometer on the car reads 30 or sometimes colder!  It’s amazing to me how with such short distance there can be so much change.

    Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the change.  As my children grow up, I realize I am aging, and with their maturing so increases the activity level after school and in the evenings.  Add one dance class a week, and everything has to shift.  Things change.
    Professionally I’m at a space where I am realizing that change is in order.  That the 18 years of learning is the foundation for what the next 18-20 will be, and in order to both make my work impactful and rewarding, as well as meaningful for myself, it’s time to begin to prayerfully take some risks for the Kingdom and in my own life so that I can live into the gifts God has given me and call for which God has prepared me.  In thinking about these things, it seems like just a little change has an impact exponentially.  Things change.
    Most especially, and maybe hardest to navigate, the Church is at a point where we need to change.  I use the term “Church” with a big “C” because indeed the institution of the Church can so easily become set in her ways, and in doing so get comfortable in it’s own skin.  When that happens, we forget that the Church is the one organization that exists almost solely for those outside the community.  We could discuss THE Church, your church, my church, whichever church, but church is church and often one small change can be perceived and received as seismic and threatening.  Things change.

    As I have been thinking about such changes, I’ve been reminded of how scary change is.  To enter into change is to risk being changed.  It opens the possibility of going into the unknown.  It means giving up control and trusting.  Ultimately, as I’m working through the changes of life I’ve found myself turning back toward faith and trusting in God.
    After all, the Bible is filled with story after story of folks who went through changes.  From Abraham to Moses to the Prophets, the Disciples, even Jesus revealing a whole new way of seeing the world, biblically we are reminded that change is inevitable, BUT that God is unchanging.  That the God who calls us to enter the change goes with us, and even guides us so that on the other side, we emerge blessed and a blessing.  And what is even more amazing is that God knows that sometimes it just takes a small shift for the Kingdom of God to break loose in the world.


    One other thing that I’ve been thinking about and realized is that at the higher elevations, it’s a little warmer but it can also give us a better perspective.  That is, from on top of the mountain we can look down and see the big picture, and when we see the bigger picture, we are better able to navigate the change because there is less that is unknown.
    Relating that allegory to life, it’s vital to go to that place of warmth and elevation when trying to navigate change, and the way we do that is to step back from acting, and instead reflect and pray for the right approach, rather than the next approach.  When one steps away, our eyes are opened, the voices of fear subside, and we can rationally and deliberately enter that knowing and feeling that, though it may be frightening, God is already there and will remain with us.


What changes are happening in your life?
Try this: For one week in every decision you make, stop before reacting, ask for God’s help, then listen, look at the bigger picture, and follow God’s lead.

Rejected...Restored...

    There are times when you and I head out to the grocery store.  Maybe we are in a rush, maybe not, but it's easy to get anxious or frustrated because of the slow moving customer or long-talking checkout attendant in front of us.  Don't they know we are in a hurry?  And yet, to respond in such ways borders of judging, even rejection -- rejection of the person maybe, but rejection of an opportunity to be a witness definitely.

   Yesterday I was rejected.  Well, I wasn't rejected, though it felt like it, my car was.  It was inspection time, and though I expected to pop in and out to go on my merry way, instead I was called into the workbay and told that the wear on my front tires was too low.  They'd have to reject my car for inspection, and after getting new tires bring it back so I could receive a passing grade.  

    Yes, I was frustrated by the fact that I'd have to spend $300 on two new tires, but what I found interesting was that on and off throughout the day, my mind kept turning to the rejection...the label.  In fact, I don't really want to be driving it to the tire shop today, lest someone see the sticker and think things about me...lest a cop stop me letting me know that I can only drive directly to the repair shop and back to the inspector's lair.
    It's odd really, because it isn't me that was rejected, but it was my car.  I was not conscious of the worn equipment, and yet for some reason there is this feeling inside that I messed up.  That there is something wrong with me, or that I have been irresponsible driving a car with tires that have worn beyond the acceptable level.  And yet, that's how I feel.
    As I've reflected upon my reaction to this "judgment" on behalf of the auto repair industry, my heart and mind have been moved to think beyond this trivial judging and reflect upon the many time I, and we, judge and even reject others.  It has given me a good reminder.
    As with most pastors, I deal with many folks calling or stopping by seeking assistance with food, shelter, and help with bills.  There are times when I can be quick to judge them or quick to take care of their needs and get back to my work, and when I do, I not only judge them but in a way reject their needs...even reject them.
    There are even times in church when folks get so used to seeing a certain kind of people there or doing certain things, that when someone different or something creative happens in worship, we reject it as being out of place.  To do so is to judge, and it may be a rejection of the very thing that might draw us closer to God than we ever had, had we not experienced those encounters.

   In the book of Deuteronomy, God shares the law with Moses, and in the first chapter, at the beginning of this whole process God say, "Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.”
   How often we find ourselves judging others, especially in this political environment?  How often do we reject others because of their political or religious affiliation, sexual orientation, race, class, sex, even vehicle they drive?  And maybe even harder, how often do we judge or even reject ourselves?
    The Good News is that God is the one who judges, and God proclaims from the beginning and revealed through the Son that God loves and invites us to embrace that love.  God points out where we need to be inspected and corrected, then God invites us to do what we need to do to be "upgraded" and changed so that we would be at optimal functionality.  Ultimately, God points out our need, even when we don't see it, and invites us, "Come with me, and let me make you new again.
 
    Are there places where you have been rejected?  Are there people that have judged you?  Are you overlooking some area where God desire for you to be changed?  God's inspection station is always open, we just have to go there and seek to know the truth, so we might be made whole again.


Where is God inviting you to be renewed as a follower of Christ?  

Following...

     Just about every morning I take a few moments to share in the online devotional, www.d365.org, and this morning’s devotional got me thinking about following.
    As a pastor, one of the things that I am expected to do is lead.  The congregation looks to me as the spiritual leader, those on the upper levels of the UMC at times invite me to be a part of the leadership.  The voice inside me which holds expectations of myself calls me to be a leader.
    At home I find myself being drawn to lead.  Yes, it’s an egalitarian type of leadership where my wife and I work together to lead our family through life and spiritual matters, but at the same time there are some aspects of family leadership into which we’ve agreed that I’ll take the lead, and there are other aspects through which my wife takes the reins.
    When I reflect upon who I am and who I perceive God has shaped me to be, I realize, and have for a long time, that God wants me to be a leader.  I am reminded of this every time I get into a “teambuilding/ropes course” type of activity, where despite telling myself that I will refuse to take control and be directive, after 10 minutes of no one being decisive, like having to itch a scratch, I step in and do the very thing I said I wouldn’t do.
    Leadership is important.  In fact, leadership is necessary, and no matter who we are, we influence others.  When I think about leadership I envision a continuum upon which each one of us can be placed.  Some are natural born leaders and others avoid leading all together, but each of us influence one way or another.  The key is to recognize and name what our influence is to whom we are leading.
    This is especially important in the context of living out the faith, for when we live into who God calls us to become, we, either deliberately or inadvertently, affect the lives of those around us.  We can lead others to Christ through our words and deeds, or we can turn folks off to the Lord by the same.  We reveal or don’t reveal God’s love, depending on how we live, and we lead others down paths, which can be good or bad depending on which path we choose.
    In this season of history in the United States, we are bombarded with messages about how one person is a better leader than another, and if this person is elected we’ll be a more powerful or prosperous nation.  Depending on what color our political stripes are, we engage the message and are easily sucked into the image of the powerful leader.  And yet, Jesus reveals a model of leadership which stands our world expectations on it’s head.

    In Mark’s Gospel, but it can be found in all the Gospels, in fact the concept is foundational to the message of God in the Old and New Testaments, Jesus says, “If you want to be my follower, you must be a servant.  In the Kingdom, the first will be last, and the last will be first.”  This is quite a juxtaposition of leadership expectations, and yet when we reflect upon those leaders that have been most influential on our lives, especially our spiritual lives, Jesus’ model is most likely what we experienced in them.
    I have a friend who served in the military, and as his career continued, they saw promise in him and put him on the officer track.  As a result he headed out for a week away in intense training.  He was a part of a covenant group that met weekly, and upon his return he shared with us that God had been at work in that week away.  Specifically he spoke about the whole concept of the first being last and last first as illustrated in his experience.
    He shared with us that before he left he decided that he was simply going to participate in the event.  He did not want to take a lead in anything, and decided that he would avoid such situations if they were to arise.  He went through the week, and as he shared with us, he thought he had done well to keep his promise to himself.  He had not been called to present anything to the body, he didn’t take the lead on any aspect, and he simply experienced the event.
    On the last day they gave out awards for the trainees who showed the greatest promise and who exhibited the best leadership skills.  There were quite a few categories, but as often happens in such things they saved the category of “best leader” until last.  His name was called.
    It floored and confused him when his name was read, and so he asked the leadership of the event why he had been chosen.  They named that it was because he led by serving.  He was empowering and encouraging others behind the scenes, while also creating a group dynamic where the body excelled rather than any one person being the focus.
    For him, and for the rest of us, we gained a deeper understanding of Christ’s call for the greatest to be the servant, because through servanthood, leadership is revealed and lived into.

    As I think about the role of a leader, especially the role of being a leader to a congregation, I realize that, if I am being a good leader, if we are being the leaders Christ needs us to be, then we will never be in the front, and I don’t take that word “never” lightly.  No, if we are to lead, or even if we do not lead, and we are striving to remain faithful to God’s call, there will always be one whom we will follow.  That one is the servant of all.  The one whom the world placed last, and yet ascended to become the greatest, the One above all, in all, and through all, Jesus Christ. 

    Are you a leader?  Are you following?

Words...

    My father was a preacher, I grew up with a brother who read the dictionary in his spare time, and I am told by my parents that before I started school I couldn’t wait to learn to read.  I grew up around words, was taught that words were important, and have used my fair share of them, but interesting enough, once I learned to read, the novelty wore off.  To put it bluntly, when I was in high school English classes “Cliff” was my best friend, and I lived by the mantra that “pleasure reading was an oxymoron.”
    Maybe it’s because I am on the cusp of a generation where video games, tv shows, and e-mails, the net, and computers became central to societal living, but I just didn’t like to read.  Did it have to do with the fact that I had to read so much in college?  Probably not.  Did it have to do with the many distractions that so easily permeate my mind and environment?  Probably more so.  Did it mean that I didn’t like to sit still, take the time, or even stop to reflect upon my own thoughts?  Probably a little of all of these. 
    The reality is that I didn’t appreciate reading until I was about to finish graduate school, and even then, and now, I still have to work at reading.  I read a lot at work, and so when I go home I usually want to simply veg out watching TV or catch up with the family, but that changed a few months ago when I bought a tablet.  It opened up the world of the Kindle app, and since then I often spend my spare time reading.
    I’m guessing it has to do with the fact that it’s electronic and I don’t focus on how much more I have to read before finishing, but for some reason I have picked up reading again, and it is a blessing.

    Being a preacher I am inundated with words.  Each week I read, interpret, and process words in preparation for the creation of something which might convey the story of God’s grace and truth to those hungry for hope, and as that process takes places a world is created which can be powerful and important.
    I’ve been thinking about words a lot this week for many reasons.  This society and time in which we live (November can’t get here too quickly) is one filled with words, and much of the message that is intended to dissuade and divide, rather than persuade and unite.  As the words roll off the tongue, spin is shared, and even untruths told without means of accountability, I’ve been amazed at how they create worlds, build walls, and even destroy lives.  As a Christ follower, it’s disheartening.
    If you want to hear a great commentary on this topic, listen to Barbara Brown Taylor’s sermon, preached at Duke Chapel this past Sunday.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwFxmsWAiyI ) She addresses it well and puts it in perspective.
    The other reason I’ve been reflecting on the use of words is that a good friend of mine, former pastor and former parishioner of mine, now turned Life and Business Coach, uses words every week.  Bob sends out what he calls “Provisions,” (his company is “Lifetrek Coaching”) which he rightly names as his sermon for the week.  The provisions are coaching tips for life, business, and leadership, and they are sent out via e-mail to every corner of the globe.  In contrast to the news and politics, his words too create a world, only that world is intended for unity, love, and hope.
    Bob’s words have been placed on hiatus, because this past weekend his body began battling with itself.  Because of an auto-immune response he has had multiple seizures, and his heart stopped multiple times, which required the installation of a pacemaker (an interesting addition to one who has run multiple marathons and coaches marathon runners).  I, and many, are praying for his quick restoration, but one of the things that is grievous is the loss of his words right now.  This time, more than most, his word of hope is that which I need to hear.  They are words that the world needs to hear, for indeed words shape lives and create worlds.

    The writer, James, writes about the use of words in the first chapter of his writing.  He says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires... Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”    James understood the power of words, and through his advice gives us the opportunity to understand and live by the same.  It’s so easy to let words fly without remembering their power.  It’s so easy to forget that words shape lives and create worlds.  It’s so easy to neglect to ask ourselves the question, “What worlds am I creating through the words I use?”

    One of my favorite times to observe a child is when they first begin to speak.  Yes, crawling and walking are cool, but when one thinks about all that that child’s brain has to put together for the seemingly simple act of speaking, it is baffling.  And yet we know how easily that miracle can turn into that which can destroy or maim. 
    Though some today would downplay that words are important, and despite the old phrase about “sticks and stones not hurting,” words are important and can and do hurt folks everyday.  The blessing and the challenge to we who call ourselves Christ followers is, that we are called to use words well.  We are called create worlds of hope.  We are called to use Kingdom building words, for through them Christ is revealed.
    The way to do that, at least for me, is to try to remember that God knew all of this from the beginning, and because of this gave us the help we need.  The invitation is constantly given, turn to THE Word, let Him in, and let Him guide our hearts, feet, actions, and tongues.  When we do, the Word becomes flesh and dwells among and within us.

What worlds am I creating through the words I use?   
Is THE Word the guiding force in my life?

Will You Play with Me?

     I believe the gifts that God shares with us through children are innumerable.  Yes, they can be a challenge, but it is sometimes in the most challenging times of my life as a parent, that I receive some of the most powerful lessons from God.
    With summer now over and we are “back to the grind,” meetings have picked up at church, and that means that I am away a bit more in the evenings.  Add this to the fact that my wife is back to work, kids are at school, and we are carting kids to and fro between band practices, lessons, and sports, and face time has diminished considerably, all in the short span of just a couple of weeks.  I’ve noticed that the stress level has risen a bit more and time together has become an even more precious commodity.
    I have teenage and pre-teen sons, so their desires for time with their father, though certainly not less important, is a bit less urgent, as compared to their soon to be 8 year old sister.  Much of the male interaction takes place in conversation or responses to the latest Youtube video, Minecraft mod, or factoid learned from the History channel, beside the interactions that take place around the dinner and homework table, however my daughter just can’t settle for conversation.  She’s more hands on, and most nights needs time with her dad.
    She used to wait until I got home and watch what I did to find out if I had a meeting, because if I have to return to work I simply sit, talk, eat, and go, but if I put my things up then head upstairs and change into my comfy clothes, I’m in for the night.  Recently however, I walk in the door and she is the first one to speak.  “Hi dad. Do you have a meeting tonight?” 
    Depending on the answer depends on how excited she will be at dinner, because if I do not have a meeting she will say to me, “Dad, can you play with me outside?”  There are times when I am exhausted and don’t take her up on the invitation, but many nights I’m jumping on the trampoline, swinging on the swing, or sitting on the deck admiring the view, listening while she talks...and talks...and talks.
    Multiple factors and layers are associated with this nightly response, but the most obvious is that she needs time with one she loves.  She seeks to be close to her father, and because of that, she is assertive enough to ask the question, “Are you home?  Will you play tonight?”  She does this because she wants time to be in relationship.  Actually, she needs time to be in relationship, and without that time, the relationship can become stagnant or even sour.
    Growing up as a Preacher’s Kid, I understand her all too well, and one of my greatest fears is that my kids will feel like they did not connect with me as deeply because of night meetings and sharing myself with the church.  I remember asking the same question to my father.  I remember when he had to go back to work and the disappointment I felt, and I remember the times he smiled and said, “I’m home tonight.”  And it was in the midst of that relationship that I was shaped and molded to become who I am today.  Those times were, and are, important.

    In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus comes across some men and invites them to follow Him.  He says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”  When I think about what God’s greatest passion and the reason Jesus was sent to the earth, it is that God wanted/wants to reconcile everyone to be in relationship with God.  God calls out time and time again to everyone, “Follow me, and I want to show you the coolest, most amazing and fulfilling thing, my way of life, and the very intention of my creating you.”
    I think about this, and it’s as if Jesus said to those disciples, “Will you play with me?”  Will you share the joy?  Will you walk on the journey?  Will you be in relationship with me, because if you will, it will be a blast, but to be in relationship means investment of time, love, and life.

    Every day I hear my daughter ask questions that invite me to be in closer relationship with her, but every day God asks the same question to us inviting us to be in closer relationship with God.  And quite honestly, it’s a question that we need to be asking each other whenever we can, “Will you play with me?”  Because when we ask that question, it’s not just us asking it and building relationship with one another, but undergirding it all is God asking the question and building our relationships, and even transforming us through relationship, to be the people God dreams and hopes we will be.

Challenge: This week ask someone, “Will you play with me?” More importantly, ask God, “Will you play with ME?”

Letting Go and Letting Josh

    At the beginning of the grass cutting season my wife began what she knew would be a difficult discussion.  She opened up the door to our sons taking over the responsibilities of cutting the grass.  Now that may not sound like a big thing to you, but for me it was a big deal.  I’m not one to dig in the dirt and plant plants and I put off trimming hedges and trees as long as possible, but when it comes to cutting the grass, it is one of my favorite things to do.
    Once Spring comes I look forward to Mondays, because not only is it my day off when I can get a good long run in, but they are also the days when I fire up the lawnmower and spend an hour and

a half listening to sermons and music, processing the stressors of the week, and allowing myself to get lost in the mindless activity of cutting away the overgrowth.  It is time for me, and it is therapeutic, especially in those times when things at work are overwhelming.  I do my best thinking, planning, sorting, ranting, and raving guiding the simple yet effective machine over every inch of the lawn.
    Now I am not one of those guys who keeps a perfect and beautiful lawn, that would mean investing in chemicals and dealing with the science of lawn care, but I am one that likes to see what is growing, weeds or grass, well manicured in straight lines.  There is a beauty in seeing striped lawn, for when I see one, I know that that person takes some pride in their home. Bottom line, I love cutting the lawn and have at times been portrayed as “possessive” of the task.
    Knowing this it should come as no surprise that when my wife first broached the subject I felt a touch of anxiety and aversion.  After all, could the boys carry out the task to my satisfaction?  What would take the place of this cathartic activity that has saved my soul many a week in the past?  How could I give it up?
    My wife knew this would be my response, so she actually threw it out there as a suggestion last year.  I wasn’t ready, and like a master chess player she realized the cost and simply let it lie.  However, as the year progressed the idea percolated in my mind, so that when she mentioned it at the beginning of this season, I was at least open to the possibility.  And so, I instructed my 14 and 12 year old sons on the ways of the world...well, the ways of the grass anyway.
    We pulled out the weed eater and the mower, and with each I explained how they worked, after all, though I hated physics, knowing physics helps to explain how and why things work.   I turned toward maintenance of the tools, explaining that there are two gas cans, and neither the twain shall be mixed!  The one with the black top is a special mix of oil and gas, specifically set forth for the weed eater, and the one with the yellow top is for the mower because the mower feeds itself oil.  Having referenced oil, I then turned to the mower and showed them where the dipstick was and how VITAL it was for them to check the oil EVERY TIME.  Finally, I shared the need for closed toe shoes and the dangers of the spinning blades.
    Having explained the mechanics, I then turned toward the actual starting and turning off of the engines, each uniquely described for the specific machines.  I started each of them, then gave them a shot.  Though they didn’t get it the first day, they have since gotten the hang of it, but it took a few Mondays of my help to get going.
    Then, however, we turned toward the most important part of the job, which is the actual cutting of the lawn.  Now, I’d have thought that it’s a pretty straight forward concept that one would simply start a line then come back, watching the path that one just cut and creating another line back down the row, but somehow either the eyes of adolescent males or their disinterest had an affect that resulted in patchy tufts and curved lines across the lawn.  Very frustrating.
    When I began this process I was a part of a men’s book study, and as we were gathering I began to share the woes of releasing this task to my sons.  The fathers of younger children looked a bit quizzical and didn’t really get it, but those whose boys were of age all just smiled and shook their heads.  It was as if this is some kind of universal rite of passage, not for the boys learning to cut the lawn, but for the fathers who have to endure their learning!  It was good to be around those who had suffered in the same ways, and all they could say was, “You have to let it go.  They will learn.”  Though skeptical, I trusted them and did my best to follow their sage advice.
    At this point I’m guessing that they’ve cut the lawn almost a dozen times, and though the start was rocky, I must say that they are now pretty good at the task.  They have worked it out so that my oldest, Caleb, does all the trim work and the younger, Joshua, does the cutting, both of which were challenged at first.  My oldest either figured that if he cut it short enough he could wait longer before repeating the task, or he wanted to create gullies along the edge of the lawn, not with a shovel but with the weed eater.  I worked with my youngest, and after every cut I would show him where he’d missed spots or how he might more effectively and efficiently cut the next time. (Note, I did not make him get the mower out again but let the patched grow until the next cut.  Aren’t you proud?)
    Today, however, I have to say that I’m a proud father, because they’ve learned, and they do a good job.  I come home after their task has been completed, and I walk in praising them for their efforts and prideful of their presentation.  And though I haven’t found quite the same cathartic activity, I’m able to devote time to other things that need to be done around the house.

    In the tenth chapter of Luke’s Gospel Jesus sends out 72 of his followers into the world to reveal the Kingdom.  He tells them to go from house to house, and if the home owners accept them, then live among them and share his teachings.  If they don’t then knock the dust off their sandals and move on.  In doing this, he empowers them to take what he knew and learn to share it in their own way and by their own witness.  When they returned they proclaimed, “We saw demons fall from the sky and were blessed to see the Kingdom of God revealed on the trip.”
    When Jesus sent out his 72 children, He empowered them with the authority to do what He needed them to do...to do what was needed.  He laid the groundwork for their work in his own witness, but then he gave it over.  He let go of the reigns and said, “You can do this now, so I can move on to other things.”  They did, and He did.

    There’s a life lesson in this story for me as a pastor, because I think all too often pastors and church staff and leadership take control of things, rationalizing by saying, “It’s just easier if I do it myself.”  And yet, when we do this, we don’t do anybody any favors, including ourselves.  We don’t give others the opportunity to experience the joy and pride of completing a Kingdom job well done, and we stifle ministry because we create a bottle neck of action that must pass through us.
    In reflecting upon the yard work of my sons, I learned a life lesson as well, for there are many times that I, as a parent, have done for them rather than empowered them.  I had to “let go and let Josh,” and I was taught that I have taken care of things, rather than encourage and empower them to take care of things themselves, and in the end, if I continue to do this, I do them a disservice.  And yet, God can find a way to teach me lessons, even in the most unlikely of ways...taking away something I love, so that others might experience the joy that that something can give.

What does God need you to give up so someone else can grow?  How might you empower another to receive joy and self-worth through the doing of God’s work through them?