Truth

Back to the Garden…

Sometimes when you dream
Your dreams come true.
In extraordinary ways
Suddenly, a day can be so amazing.
And sometimes when you yearn, you burn the air.
And then you are not the same.
And the world is. – Mindi Dickstein

Many dreams begin from broad aspirations. They may also include visions of idyllic outcomes along the way. Yet life seldom works that way.

In the beginning, there was the Garden of Eden. It was sheer perfection, beauty beyond comparison. Then it was lost. However, it was not irretrievably lost. While it would never be the same again, the Spirit behind it would always be reachable, always waiting to inspire, embolden, and strengthen those who might seek to live in it.

Though I thought I had toiled in vain,
and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength,
yet my reward is with the LORD,
my recompense is with my God. – Isaiah 49:4

As we go through life, it is hard to go after one’s dreams and to work at being the best version of you, you can be. Many things may warrant our attention. Sometimes they can pull us in directions that are unexpected or unwanted. However, even within these tangents, the Garden of Eden often lies. The key is to remember, it is up to us, in each situation, even in the ugliest of ones, to search for the truth, beauty and knowledge that it may hold within, and to do all we can to let it grow.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott

 

Draped in Green…

Surveying the area, an array of green could be seen across the land and against the backdrop of blue provided by the sky. It can seem so easy, almost effortless, to appreciate and recognize that which is pleasing or good to the eye. That which is good for the soul, though, can sometimes be elusive or require more time, patience, and insight.

In the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel according to John, in verse 17, Jesus says, “Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.” These sentiments are part of a prayer to God prior to Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion. Jesus knows the ugliness that lies ahead for himself and the disciples, both those in front of him and those to come. However, he also knows it is temporary and that the sacred beauty that exists within all creation, the seeds that have been planted, and the fruit that will be born is eternal.

Imagine Jesus’ prayer as an ongoing prayer for the well-being of humanity. “Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.”

God’s word is truth. It is found in Scripture, discovered through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and revealed by the Holy Spirit, prompting, sometimes prodding, and often quietly guiding us to truth, both the kind that is pleasant, and the kind that is not.

So whether draped in green, saddled in mud, or somewhere in between, Truth will always find you, and gently bring you home.

ShadesOfGreen

 

The Good Shepherd…

On one side of the pond, it was overcast and drops of rain were falling to the ground. Yet, across the pond, in between the water and the darkness of the trees, and the dense clouds above them, was the sun. Light in darkness, peacefully, quietly reaching out and waiting to be received, both amid the clouds and within body, mind, and soul… an open invitation to all.

One calling out in both the rain and the dry: Seek refuge in the Lord who is Love… God whose tenderness fills all needs; comforts all sorrows; heals all wounds; carries, lifts up, and strengthens all who desire.

The Good Shepherd sheds tears alongside us. Also, shares in our laughter and joy.

The Good Shepherd is always breathing life… always present.

Sunset1

Love Never Fails 

Love is not proud
Love does not boast
Love after all Matters the most

Love does not run
Love does not hide
Love does not keep
Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through
Love never fails you

Love will sustain
Love will provide
Love will not cease
At the end of time

Love will protect
Love always hopes
Love still believes
When you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you
Love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound
When I can’t turn back around
When the sky is falling down
Nothing is greater than this
Greater than this

Love is right here
Love is alive
Love is the way
The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through
Love is the arms that are holding you
Love is the place you will fly to
Love never fails you

Songwriters: Brandon Heath / Chad Robert Cates
Love Never Fails lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol Christian Music Group

The Greatest Show…

Last night I had the opportunity to see a musical movie that portrayed the rise of P.T. Barnum and showed how his circus came to be. It was both interesting and remarkable to step into the life and times of the main character and those previously hidden, shut out, and silenced, but who came to be at the forefront and an important part of the show. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the movie was how beautifully the uniqueness of each individual came to be celebrated and the spirit that was born out of it.

While it may seem odd to pair a variation of the word “beauty” with the word “circus,” it also seems so relevant. We live in times that can feel like a non-stop circus with all the happenings in today’s world. However, in it all, there is still so much beauty to be found, and to be celebrated.

Through many heated disagreements and debates, especially of recent times, silence is being shattered and a spirit that celebrates the unique and diverse, but more importantly, the authentic, is growing. While the events around us can be upsetting and trying, they can also lead to becoming more in touch with values and beliefs, feeling compelled and moved, and living more deeply, or intentionally. In the chaotic and unexpected (as well as in the humdrum and typical, and everything in between), it is remarkable how present God, the author of creation… the author of diversity, is.

“No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.” – P.T. Barnum

If God intended for all to be the same, or to be uniform, the ark would not have been a zoo, rainbows would be bland instead of full of color—life, and Jesus would have added to the over 600 Mosaic laws instead of simplifying them and being an example of love, mercy, compassion, acceptance and integrity.

Celebrate individuality; it is part of how the human race was created and it honors God. Encourage truth; it is important to keep it real. Embrace all that is humane and always carry hope, remembering that the heart of God is in each of us.

TheGreatestShow

For example…

As I looked around, I saw so many faces. Some were familiar and some were new, but all were listening with great interest and intrigue. I felt overwhelmed with a sense of joy and gratitude. How good it was to be in a place that seemed to be filled with openness and a deep desire for good.

As we all listened, we were reminded of ways in which God is ever-present. Not only is God always with us, but also constantly emanating a love for all creation… a love that is boundless, alongside mercy and compassion that is endless.

We sat and listened to experiences that were shared and our hearts were touched as we marveled at the manner in which God brings people together for more than the good of just a select few or a particular group. Again, reminded of a Love that is not only beyond limit, but also beyond compare… a Love in which we share.

It was good to listen and to remember, but perhaps most important, it was liberating.

It is amazing what the power of example can do when there is openness to receiving it. Sometimes it helps to ask, “What am I holding onto? And how is it affecting me, and those around me?”

Let go and let God. Oftentimes, that is all that is needed.

HeartLeave2

If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”

If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.

— Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9.

More Than Words…

Oftentimes there is so much more to any story or situation than what one may initially see, perceive, or be told by others. While sometimes, we not get a chance to see beyond the surface for ourselves that is not an excuse to avoid trying. In any situation, both divinity and humanity call us to dive deeper, seeking truth and compassion rather than assuming.

When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus for presentation in the temple, as was customary according to the law of Moses, they encountered Simeon and Anna, two older people who seemed to have more than knowledge, who professed understanding of who this infant before them was and what the future would hold for him and the family. One can only imagine what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph to hear the words of Simeon and Anna, especially, Simeon’s words. He blessed Jesus as Savior and “a light for revelation” and “glory” for God’s people (Luke 2:32). Not only that, but he said to Mary, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted” (Luke 2:34).  If that was not confounding enough, he told Mary, “and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed” (Luke 2:35).

As we go through life we all experience times of being told information by others. The challenge is figuring out what to believe. How we decide what to listen to and what to dismiss is key. How did Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Anna decide?

Perhaps even more significant, is determining what, of that which is spoken, is one’s business, or what is truly worth one’s time?

Mary and Joseph had already been told by Angels, messengers sent from God, that their Son would be God incarnate. They did not know exactly what that was going to mean or specifically what it would entail. Simeon and Anna both had been waiting for the birth of the Savior. Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. Surely, Anna, a prophetess, who worshipped day and night, also had been told comparable news along the way.

Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna, were individuals, and unique as such. While they pursued the same goal, to live in faithfulness to God, the way they went about being faithful was likely similar, but not identical. They were four people who experienced and had come to know what many people would consider unbelievable, or fantasy. However, with what they shared, as many before them, as well as after them… with great faith in and devotion to God, and through continued prayer, they were able to know which Voice to listen to and which ones to tune out—examples worth emulating.

Trees

Peace and Good Will to All…

This year, a winter holiday gift that seems to be highly advertised is an ancestry kit. These kits promise to provide test results from one’s saliva. The information that is sent back about a month after submitting a sample shows, among other genetic data, from where in the world one’s DNA is. In other words, it verifies from where you come and the ethnic populations to whom you are related.      

Having some understanding of where you come from and who you are is important. To think that things that are so very small, molecules, and the manner in which they are bound together, can determine so much, both in the present and into the future, can be rather fascinating. Not just from a hereditary standpoint, but also from a spiritual one.

Even more amazing than the data one can obtain from DNA, is the Author… the One who created all that binds us together; all from the physical traits to the capacity to think, feel, learn, grow, love, and much more. Of all that occurs in the world, how much greater is the One who throughout the ages and through many people using diverse means, orchestrates Salvation for all!

While we may not all share the same backgrounds, whether genetic, cultural or religious, and we may not all share the same beliefs, we are still all connected… all made of mind, body and soul. The more we can remember this, and the more we choose to live in a manner that celebrates our common bond, the more our better qualities shine.

From my heart to yours, peace and good will to ALL.  

Origin

A Tale, Tried and True…

Recently I attended a local theatre production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Near the beginning of this Classic story, the ghost of Jacob Marley visits his friend and business partner in his earthly life, Ebenezer Scrooge. He carries with him, wrapped around him and weighing him down, chains. As Jacob is explaining to Ebenezer the reason for his bondage… how each link in the chain was the result of the choices he had made throughout his life, Ebenezer refutes what his friend is trying to tell him and begins speaking of Jacob’s great business sense and financial success. To this, Jacob replies,

“Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

In essence, to be at our best, to be truly successful, is to be human and to act humane, as one faces the circumstances that life presents. While this can be more than just a little hard at times, especially when there is so much beyond our control, it is what we were created for… we were built for the greater good. That is the Christmas Spirit. The same Spirit we witness when people pull together, reach out and connect to one another in the face of tragedy or disaster or in the course of the every day.

Everything we need to resist and overcome evil, all that is good, the Spirit, resides within each of us, all the time. The choice is whether to uncover, seek and embrace it, to become one with it, allowing it to be palpable and visible to others. The task is to open, and to keep opening ourselves to it, each, and every day, trusting that we are not alone in this effort. Trusting… believing that in each moment, the grace of God is waiting to set us free and to help us rise up to all that we can be.

Jacob Marley visited Ebenezer Scrooge to testify to the Light so that his friend might believe, and in and through believing be changed for the better. We can do all that too.

ATaleTriedTrue

At the Center…

While two out of the three servants made something of the talents (ancient monetary units) given to them by their master, “the man who received one (talent) went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money” (Matthew 25:18).  In the verses that follow in this Gospel passage, we learn the reason behind the servant’s choice. It was fear that essentially paralyzed him. It prevented him from putting to use the talent he was given, leading him to make what ended up being a poor choice… one that did not bear any fruit.

Isn’t that fear in a nutshell? It seeks to restrict or incapacitate one’s ability to see the broader picture and to make the better choice. It seeks to pull us away and distract us from the action that is true and honorable… the action that is best. Not only that, but fear has a way of trying to creep back into the picture, trying to make us lose focus, become discouraged or question what has already been decided.

So what is one to do to guard against any fear that seeks to unravel us? Perhaps the greatest thing we can do is to stop in our tracks and remember. We have been given many powerful gifts with which to walk the path that is ours from beginning to end. God is not only on our side, but also with us, every step of the way. Fear, on the other hand, is the thief in the night seeking to knock us off kilter and to make us forget the truth.

Like the servants in “The Parable of the Talents,” in life we get to choose what we hold on to and what we do with the lot that is ours at any given time. When we allow fear to grab hold of us, we are sure to fall, but when we cling to God, and allow God to be at the center, then not even death can bring us down.

SunRiseAtTheCenter

Light Through Darkness…

At first glance, the landscape seemed to offer little in the way of premium Fall New England colors. With a little time and upon further examination, brighter spots in between the deep, dark green became illumined. With the help of the rising sun, as it began to reach over the tops of the trees across the opposite side of the park, red, orange, and yellow, once dull and hidden, could now be seen.

It is interesting, what natural, or true and pure light can do. No matter how bleak or gloomy a situation may seem, under the light of Truth, there is hope… and, where there is hope there is certainly faith and love. These together provide strength for the journey, comfort in moments of heartache and heartbreak, and peace to be open to the wisdom and guidance patiently waiting on the other side of unrest.

In the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, it is written, “Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life” (Philippians 2:15d, 16a). St. Paul wrote this advice to the people of Philippi, the first Christian community in Europe that he had helped to form. Not only that, but he wrote it while imprisoned, essentially for doing the very thing he is asking the Philippians to do; the very thing we are asked to do. Despite circumstances, through the grace of God, and throughout the ages, we are all called to shine like a light, both bright and true, and with a heart and mind focused… not only fixed on God, but also fixed on placing the desire to do God’s will above all else. When we do this, we shine through the darkness that tries to quell and quiet us. When we do this, we break free.

SparksOfLight