In the In-Between

Right now in my life, in many ways, I seem to be "in-between." And it amazes me how many people I talk to who feel the same way.

Experiencing the in-between is uncomfortable. Knowing you can't go back to where you've been....and not knowing where, exactly you are going. It's kind-of like growing out of a pair of shoes. The old ones don't fit. So the search goes on for new ones, trying to find the ones that are just right.

Whether it's in the area of our careers, our love relationships, our geographical location, our living situation, our financial situation, etc. Whatever the in-between is, we hold out hope that somewhere out there, is exactly that for which we have been looking.

It's almost like Moses wandering with the people in the wilderness, hoping to be led to the land of milk and honey. Or, perhaps it is like Jesus' trek through the wilderness, after being baptised. In scripture there are many cases of God's followers traveling a way unknown to them...and having to trust God for the outcome. And one thing was certain...it was never easy!

However, scripture does tell us that God met the people's needs in in the wilderness so they could finally find the promised land. And God gave Jesus the wisdom and strength he needed to persevere through all of his trials.

In the uncomfortability of the in-between I try to rest on the text from Jer. 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans for good and not for evil, plans for a future with hope."

What helps you in the in-between?

Breathe'n Grace

At the gym today, I heard Anna Nalick's song, "Breathe/2am" and the lyrics struck me.

"2am and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake,
'can you help me unravel my latest mistake?
I don't love him. Winter just wasn't my season'
Yeah we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize,
Hypocrites. You're all here for the very same reason."

I was struck by the human commonality of the need to "unravel the latest mistake" and the feeling that others stand in judgement. I wonder if it might be that there are these two types of people: those who make mistakes...and those who hold it against them. And wondered too if both those types of people might be in each of us?

Ealier tonight, at a local restaurant, as I walked into the Ladies room, I heard little-girl giggling from behind the door. Peeking behind it, I observed, two 7 or 8 year old girls, holding their breath, stiffened flat against the wall, eyes wide, but avoiding my gaze. And, then, as our eyes met, like a flash, they scrambled, huffing and puffing, underneath my arm and out of sight, almost before I could blink. I smiled at their joyful mischieviousness and at the fact that I'd "caught them." Contemplating their reaction, I smiled again at the familiarity of such human behavior, which Anna's song attempts to describe:

"'cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
and life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl.
So cradle your head in your hands."

Just like those little girls...when "caught" we either hold our breath, wishing to "push rewind" or we suck in as much air as possible, trying to "jump the track" and put distance between our consciousness and our wrong actions. It is a typical response when humans blow it to either try to hide...or to run.

But what if we do as the song suggests in the next few lines?

"Breathe
just breathe
oh breathe,
just breathe."

What a restful thought...a gracious thought. In the panic of "being caught" instead of hiding...or running....just stop...and breathe. Wouldn't it be amazing if in the middle of guilt, or shame, or condemnation, or regret...if we could just take our time...slow down...and breathe? And in regard to others, whom we might be tempted to judge, instead of judging, what if we gave them room to just breathe?

Room to breathe is grace. When we've done wrong...we hold our breath...or let our breathing get out of control....feeling dis-ease with ourselves.

It has been almost shocking to me, what I have experienced of God in those moments of dis-ease or disease. In powerful ways, I have felt God call me to come and be healed, when I'd rather run or hide. But I have experienced that God really is our Great Physician and does actually long for our healing.

God meets us in the place of our brokeness. Meets us with grace....meets us with rest....meets us with Holy breath. And it is God's breath...God's Holy Spirit that restores us and renews us and gives us new life. As God breathes on us...we are invited to rest in mercy and grace and forgiveness.

God invites us to just breathe.

Charity...Loud and Clear

I Corinthians 13 begins: "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angles but have not charity, I become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."

It's such an interesting image...one I've not thought of much. The author of Corinthians says that whether our words are the best our world has to offer, or the best the heavens could offer, that if we do not have charity...our words are like a blast of meaningless sound or an annoying clamor.

Yesterday, I returned from a "roadtrip" back from Salt Lake City with my girlfriend who was dropping off her youngest daughter at college. We talked the entire trip, laughing, sharing, crying, cracking jokes. We call ourselves the Ya Ya's....sisters of the heart. My friend is Mormon...and I am Protestant.

Protestant Christians don't often look to Mormons for lessons of faith...but this roadtrip broke that prejudice.

Interwoven throughout our conversation, completely unintentionally, my friend shared much about her faith...and her faith community...and their practice of charity. As she moved about with her military husband, she often found herself in need. Whether it was carrying a heavy dresser up the front porch steps, or setting up her computer once she'd moved again, or needing a comforting word about her single-parenting skills.

And so I heard one story...and then another....and then another, all expressing some kind of need....often unspoken, but perceived by a "brother" or "sister"...and then met with uncanny charity. The computer she couldn't afford when her daughter went away to school. An air-conditioning unit installed in her living room window in the stifling summer heat, a visit with a plate of cookies at a difficult time. All and more taken on by members of her congregation, overwhelming charity poured out through her brethren's sense of personal faith committment in answering her and her family's needs.

This fascinates me! Not only the charity given with such care and precision, but the "ownership" each congregation member felt for a member of their faith "family."

In Christian-Protestant circles I wonder if we have such a true sense of "family" in our churches. We are called "children of God" and are all members of the same "body" -- Christ's body. However, I have often noticed that when such needs arise, these needs go unmet and opportunities to BE God's amazing grace pass with no regard.

Maybe we keep a distance in order to be polite. Perhaps we don't want to meddle or appear nosy or intrusive. Or it could be that we have different expectations...expecting people's biological families to care for them; or our community services or government agencies. For whatever reason, though, there seems to be a gap in Christian-Protestant charity...and it just doesn't seem to fit neatly into what Jesus' expectation of the Kingdom of God.

Charity is another word for love...but I think we miss the meaning of love because we commonly define it as a feeling. In looking at I Corinthians 13, we don't read about "feelings" we see that LOVE is an ACTION. Thus, the idea of charity invites a new perspective on love and on Christian behavior. With charity in mind, looking anew at scripture, concepts of love take on fresh meaning.

I John 4:7 says "beloved, let us show charity to one another, for charity is of God and those who show charity are born of God and know God."

Romans 12:10 says "show charity to one another with brotherly affection and out do one another in showing kindness."

John 14:12 says "show charity to one another as I have shown charity to you!"

God does not love us just by giving us a warm and fuzzy feeling...rather, God's charity was shown to us by God's actions of sending Christ, who lived, suffered, died and resurrected....all to convey God's great charity toward us!

How is God moving you to show charity to those who cross your path? Let's look together for those opportunities to BE amazing grace!