Evangelization

Be the spirit that is willing to be true…

To one side of the landscape there was mostly a wall of green, and then what seemed like a path of orange with some red extending upward and to the right, as if to say, come along this way.

In the second letter to Timothy, Paul writes, “I remind you, stir into flame the gift of God…” (2 Timothy 1:6). Paul is in prison, and Timothy, to whom he has been a mentor, must proceed in the work he has been called to do, namely evangelizing. However, rather than just telling Timothy what he needs to do, Paul first calls on him to remember the truth.

“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control…” – v. 7

This is a call to action that encourages Timothy, and encourages us, to carry on with integrity, and in a manner that is befitting one created in the image of God. If Timothy were to look around to see what others were doing, or to focus on the fact that Paul has been imprisoned for his Spirit driven efforts (which go against the grain of the majority and popular opinion) perhaps he would stop and turn the other way. In fact, it would be likely that he would move away from taking an approach that is first and foremost, faithful to God, and instead be lead toward fulfilling earthly ambitions or needs, thus compromising, or at the expense of, the fulfillment of his heavenly call.

This would be sad… tragic and a monumental loss. However, with God there is always more than one chance to do the right thing. More than one chance to make truly life giving choices and to live the life that God dreams for us. The life that we see as having ups and downs through trials and tribulations, but that becomes even keeled when we face them, inspired and moved into action by the Spirit of God, bringing a sense of peace in each and every thing.

For the vision is a witness for the appointed time,
a testimony to the end; it will not disappoint.
If it delays, wait for it,
it will surely come, it will not be late. – Habakkuk 2:3

With a willing spirit, and through the grace of God, each leaf turns in time, regardless of its surroundings.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. – Psalm 95

StirIntoFlame

Beloved:
I remind you, to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me,
in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit
that dwells within us. – 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14

Rock the Boat…

On a big lake, slouched down at one end of a small canoe-like boat, the joy of my childhood anticipation and enthusiasm at the opportunity for me and one of my sisters to accompany a relative who was going fishing had been rapidly replaced by shaky nerves almost immediately upon embarking from the shore. I was 9 or 10 years old at the time, and although it was so long ago, I vividly remember the experience.

It was early one muggy summer evening and, outside of bugs sporadically buzzing around, there seemed to be no movement in the air. The area around the lake was blanketed in the browns and greens of the many trees that encircled it. The sky seemed as if being slowing drained of its light as the day progressed toward an end. And the lake, when glancing across to the other side, seemed as still as the air.

I could not fathom why the boat was rocking and swaying the way it was when there seemed to be so much at rest around it. I remember feeling like I could not wait to get back to land. My relative was standing and fishing, and my sister was sitting more upright than I. She was searching for any signs of life on and in the water. As she described what she saw over the edge of the boat, I would periodically straighten up enough to get a brief glimpse of what she was talking about before sliding back down into what seemed a safer position.

Then, at one point my sister excitedly said, “Look at that!” To which I reacted, without thought. I sat upright and both of us looked and leaned in the same direction, shifting the weight inside the boat. Luckily the boat did not tip, but the incident did provide a heart racing moment for all of us in the boat, and undoubtedly for the inhabitants of the water in close proximity to it.

As much of a jolt as the experience of almost tipping the boat was, it was also life-altering for the better. The rock and sway of the boat, that had been almost unbearable from the time we had departed from the shore, somehow was not so bothersome any more. And it was as if the fear of being anything other than tucked in or sheltered inside the boat, was tossed out, during those uncertain moments of rapidly rocking back and forth from the sudden shift of weight.

From that point onward, my sister and I both sat upright, together. Taking in, talking, sharing, and discovering the wonder of all that was over the edge of the boat, and all around us.  The time passed and as it began to get darker outside, we returned to the shoreline, made our way back to the car, and eventually home.

My sister and I did not have our own nets, fishing line, rods, and bait, as we sat in the boat, on the lake, fishing that day. However, we had all we needed—we had each other, and we had God. In a time when there are great efforts being made to “Fish for people” (or to evangelize), sometimes, it’s a matter of rocking the boat, in order to wake up and find the fish.

RockTheBoat

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening
to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him. – Luke 5:1-11