Praise the King

This post is about a month too soon for the Thanksgiving holidays, but it's never too soon to be thankful. Especially as the weather gets colder and the days get drearier, I need as many rays of sunshine in my life as possible. One of my favorite "thankful" songs to listen to is "Praise the King" by Cindy Morgan. It's a good reminder to praise God for the big things and the little things, a great song for all those with a sentimental side like me. :)

Praise Him in the morning for tall and lofty trees
And praise Him in the evening for children on their knees
Oh and praise Him in the noon day for gentle birds that sing
Oh praise Him all ye people
Praise the King
And praise Him for a peaceful porch and rocking chairs that sway
Praise Him for the rolling hills where children laugh and play
Oh and praise Him for the wandering soul that never lost their way
Oh praise Him all ye people
Praise the King
And praise Him for the blood that fell and bloomed a rose that day
And praise Him that He suffered through the guilt, the grief, the shame
Oh and praise Him that His tender love will still forgive today Oh praise Him all ye people Praise the King

So anyway, here's my list.

Praise Him for the sound of leaves crunching underfoot and the sound of raindrops on the roof, for warm quilts sewn by grandmothers, curling up on a quiet evening to read a good book, for simple pleasures like milk and oreos or a warm cup of tea, for laughing with roommates and listening to songs from our childhood, for hugs from friends, for reminders to just slow down and be, for cards from my brother "just in case you were feeling sad", for two-hour phone calls with friends far away, for knitting, for imagining, for naps, for living with questions and finding the possibilities, for the stories and traditions of our lives, for family, for prayers. Praise Him that He is more than we could ever imagine. Praise Him that He is big enough to know our highest joys, our inmost sorrows, and our deepest longings. Praise Him that He is Creator of all, Lord of all, and Lover of all. Praise the King.

Martha

I can't believe this. She's just sitting there! Mary, my sister, is just sitting there, while I try to get everything ready. There's so much to do! I mean, Jesus is staying at our house. He's one of our closest friends! And not only is he our friend, but a prophet. He's been traveling all over Judea teaching, and healing. You should have seen some the things he's done! And some the things he says.... I may never understand. It's like he's trying to turn our whole world upside down. I heard that on the way here he told a story of a Samaritan helping a Jew. A Samaritan helping a Jew! But there's something about him... something that just grabs you and won't let go. Or maybe it's that you want to grab hold of him and never let go. Whatever it is, people are noticing. People come from miles around just to hear him speak, or to have him touch them and be healed. Wherever he goes there's always dozens following.

So of course I opened my home to them when they came to Bethany. What a privilege to have him teaching in my house. Jesus and all his disciples are here, in my house! Of course, everything has to be just perfect for them. What would Jesus think of me if it wasn't? He was willing to risk enough to come into a woman's home. How could I shame him more by not serving him well? But there's so much to do! Everyone should have a place to sit, or at least stand, where they can hear him teach. Oh, and the ones who need to be healed should be in the front. God forbid they tear my roof apart like they did at another house! And I'm making the best meal! Jesus will love it! No one will go away hungry tonight. He and the disciples have been traveling around for days now. Their clothes are filthy and I've already noticed patches that need mending. Of course they are tired and dirty and hungry. They deserve to be taken care of.

That's why I can't understand how Mary can just sit there listening, while I obviously could use some help here. Look at her! What does she think she's doing? Can she not see that there is yet to be food on the table? Or that Jesus' cup needs filled again? She ought to be helping me. She ought to know better. I'm surprised Jesus is even allowing her to sit there, listening like one of the disciples. We're not here to listen! We're supposed to be serving Jesus. She's supposed to be helping me. She's my sister! Jesus is probably just waiting for her to come to her senses and get to work. Well, I've had enough of this.

Master, don't you care that Mary has left me to do all the work by myself? Can't you see how much needs to be done? Tell her to come and help me!

What? Mary is doing the right thing? You don't want me to make dinner for you and the disciples, or mend your clothes, or even find seats for all these people? You don't want me to do any of those things? You just want me to sit? You want me to listen? I only need to sit here, at your feet, and listen? You really are turning me upside down.

Questions of a Seminarian

Who is God, anyway? How do I put words to my theology? How do I put words to God? How does God reveal himself to us? Who is the God revealed in Scripture? How is God one but three? Who is Christ? Who is the Holy Spirit? If God is so big, how can he be close enough to care about all the little details of my life? What do I believe, really? What is the Church? What is the purpose of the Church? What does the Church mean for the world? How does the Church relate to the world? Why are the things we do in church important? Are they important? Who are all these theologians I'm supposed to be learning about, and what exactly are they trying to say? What exactly is the "emergent church" and the "new monasticism movement"? What do they believe? Why is it different? Is it good? Is it true? How is the Church changing with our culture? How is the Church being called to change? Is the Bible really true? If it isn't, what does that mean for me? What does that mean for the Church? What does that mean for my theology? What does that mean for my image of Jesus? How do I teach children stories that I don't think are really true? If the story of Creation isn't true, how were we created? If I don't believe the Bible is historically true, how do I bring that to the church without getting thrown out? If I don't know that what I base my faith on is actually true, what does that mean for other religions? What do I believe, really? How do I relate to others who don't believe the same as me? How am I being called to live in this world? How am I being called to live in my community? How do I enter into this community when I've only been here two months? Has it really only been two months? How do I be a friend for people who I'm just learning to know and probably will only be here a year or two or three before we all go off to different places again? How are Mennonites supposed to respond to government? What do I think about politics? Who would I vote for? Should I vote? What should be done for our economy? What should I do to promote social justice? How should I pray? How do I listen? How do I live simply and quietly and openly in such a busy world that demands so much of me? Who were the mystics? How did they do it? Who am I? How am I being changed? What am I being called to do? How can I return home having been so changed? How do I share what I'm learning with my church? How do I answer these questions? Do I need answers? When will I ever have time to find answers?

I find it ironic that I leave my home and my job, pay (or go in debt) large amounts of money, spend all of my time listening to lectures, reading textbooks and writing papers, and end up having more questions and feeling more confused than I was before I came here. If anyone else also has questions, or is fortunate enough to have a few answers, please share! I'd love to talk about some of these things further. :)

Don't Be Afraid

Through the past few weeks our news, our conversations, our thoughts have been filled with fear and anxiety. We have anxiety for our nation and for our world, for our political leaders and our economy. We carry fear for our futures and our security. We fear change. We fear that the lives we have known may not be tomorrow. Mothers and fathers fear for the safety of their children. Children fear for the safety of their futures.

Here at AMBS, as we are entering the throes of a new school year, I have heard other fears and anxieties. We fear that we are not able to succeed. We fear that we will fail. We fear that the work will be too much. New students are anxious as we enter this new community and build new relationships. Soon-to-be graduates are anxious as they prepare to leave this familiar community and look to the many uncertainties of their futures.

There are many fears and uncertainties: fears that have been spoken, fears that have been hidden, deep fears that cannot be spoken with words but only tears, fear that plagues us and bears down on us. As I have listened to these fears, and carried some of my own, a song has been echoing through my mind. It is a hymn, sung as a lullaby, inviting us to rest in the arms of God and find peace in His promise.

Don't Be Afraid

(Sing the Journey, 105)

Don't be afraid. My love is stronger,

My love is stronger than your fear.

Don't be afraid. My love is stronger.

And I have promised,

Promised to be always near.

Bread of Life

     This morning I drove to church feeling very overwhelmed, having major assignments due every day this week and no hope for rest until the middle of next week, just before another week of the same. This morning was one of those many times in the past months when I have felt alone, given a general direction by God and then left to manage all the details on my own. It makes me mad. I could have cried. This was how I began this morning.

     I arrived at church just as the service was about to start and had to rush to find a seat. I had only been to this church once before, so I was sitting beside people I had never met. Yet I was immediately reminded why we had gathered this morning. Today is World Communion Sunday, a day when Christians all over the world gather to celebrate the body of Christ. This morning as I struggled with my own worries, I listened to stories of others on this journey. Jesus invites us to notice his presence along the way. I listened to stories of others who have faced stormy times, or carried heavy burdens, or were challenged to "step out of the boat". And I heard how each found life in the midst of it all. Jesus is Life.

     As I gathered with this congregation this morning I was reminded of the image of the bread. The flour and water and yeast are mixed to make one loaf, and then the loaf is broken and dispersed to produce more fruit. Just so is the body of Christ. As I prepared to join this congregation at the Lord's table I looked around me at all who were gathered. This congregation truly lives up to its name, Assembly, as people of all walks of life gather to worship and fellowship. In this church I see the body of Christ. But we were not the only ones who were present in that place. Today I heard or sang songs in Bangladeshi, Swahili, Spanish and English. I raised my hands in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world. And as I worshiped in a strange place, I remembered my home congregation and my family there. And I thought of friends worshiping with other congregations. At the Lord's table we were given the choice of rye bread for North America and Europe, tortillas for Central & South America, pita bread for the Middle East, or sticky rice for Asia, remembering that all are part of the body of Christ. Today Christians of all races and nations, all ages and genders, all histories, all classes, all sexual orientations, and all traditions gathered at the table to celebrate their unity in the Body of Christ. Jesus is the Bread.

     Later, after the service, I joined other friends in celebrating the first birthday of a beautiful little girl. I was again reminded of the Body as these friends from Canada, Paraguay, Asia, and the US came together. I hummed as others sang Happy Birthday in German and listened to conversations and stories in German, English and Spanish. And we all sat in the living room drinking matte together as friends. It is only in Christ that this can happen.

     I am not alone on this journey. All around me are others who are also walking. Some have gone before me to light the way, some are behind me whom I may lead. And some are beside me, walking with me, encouraging me and supporting me. For this I am deeply thankful. In remembering this Body I found strength and peace. I could have cried. In this Body I find life. Jesus is the Bread of Life.