One of my favorite scripture verses is found in the Book of Psalms. I have to admit that it became one of my favorites after I first heard/read it through the lens of Eugene Peterson’s redeemed imagination in The Message. Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! Psalm 90:12 MSG. Thus, this kind of begs the question, “How wisely and well have I lived these precious days of life – so far – O God?”
Well, as it is for me in my 16 years of ministry and almost 58 years of life, there have been, and still are, many moments of mountain-top joys. Just as, on occasion, there have been some experiences I would describe as valley-of-the-shadow-of-death, with a sprinkle of pain and grief. But as I reflect on the gift of these years of life and ministry, I am stunned at the richness of the relationships and experiences that have been mine. I know these have come my way only by the grace of God. In fact, Henri Nouwen reminds us of the necessity of “being versus doing”. Being often begins in waiting and listening – (just like this time of Advent.) Nouwen wrote:
There is a beautiful story in the Old Testament where the prophet stands at the mouth of a cave, and the Lord is passing. There is thunder, and the Lord is not in the thunder. There is an earthquake, and the Lord is not in the earthquake. There is fire, and the Lord is not in the fire. Then there is the still, small voice, and the Lord is in that voice. (I Kings 19: 11-13)The voice is very sensitive. It can be very quiet. It is sometimes hard to hear. But the voice of love is already in you. You may have already heard it. Start trying to hear that voice. Get quiet and spend some time trying to hear it. Listen. It says, “I love you,” and calls you by name. It says, “Come, come. Follow me.”
As we close this calendar year together with Jesus, I invite you (again) to join me in following Jesus’ example … what Henri Nouwen pointed to as the three essential disciplines/practices we see in Jesus’ life (see Luke 6:12-19); practices which still hold the promise of being used by God in shaping us as Jesus’ disciples. Luke reminds us how Jesus “practiced” or “made space for God” regularly through solitude, community, and compassionate service. Jesus certainly lived wisely and well. Bishop Will Willimon reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we are constantly being shaped as his disciples. This shaping work was named by John Wesley as he moved from this life into the next chapter. He marked that transition with the words, “The best of all is GOD is with us.” Some might say these were his last words, “The End,” but as Willimon notes:
We use “the end” in at least two ways. End means “final”—the last chapter of the story, when the game is over, the last breath, finis. End can also mean telos, “purpose”—the result of our work, the meaning of the story, the goal of our efforts, the point of it all, our ultimate destination.
The hymn-writer, Richard Gillard, offers us a precious reminder as our journey with Jesus continues. I share his gift words with you as a blessing.
We are pilgrims on a journey
We’re together on this road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load
I will hold the Christ light for you
In the night time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear
I will weep when you are weeping
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we’ve seen this journey through……..
Blessings and Peace!
Pastor Eric
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