DUST DANCE

 

Every year, on Ash Wednesday, many believers enter their church to take part in a ritual that has been performed for many centuries. The minister dips their thumb or finger into a bowl filled with black, powdery ashes and makes a sooty sign of the cross on each believer's forehead or hand. As they do so, they remind each person individually of their own mortality by saying the words God said to Adam in the Garden long ago—"remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return" (Gen. 2:7).  This ritual foretelling our ultimate future connects us with our ancient past. From the beginning of time all of humankind suffers the same inevitable end.

If you happen to live in a house with a basement that has windows, on some bright, sunny day descend into this underworld without turning on the light. (We're talking storage basement here, not family room.)  Look at the sunlight penetrating the semi-darkness through the windows. There, in the sunbeams. Can you see it? If you're in my basement you can't miss it. Dust. 

Within the beam of light, the dust floats, constantly moving, never ceasing. Dust that is visible only because of the illuminating light. And, amazingly, it is transformed by the light. It sparkles. It glitters. It dances and leaps. Though it may not compare to "The Nutcracker Ballet", I have sometimes stopped what I was doing simply to watch the dust dance.

I remember one time when my family and I sat in the balcony of a school auditorium waiting for a play to begin. My daughter, Abby, eight years old at the time, looked over at the spotlight beams shining from the projection booth just beside us.

"Look, Daddy, you can see the dust floating in the light," she said. Never stop looking for the simple joys in life, little girl, I thought, as I sat mesmerized by yet another performance of the dust dance.

 This time I noticed something I hadn't observed before: maybe it was the air currents in the auditorium but in its waltz through the light the dust mostly moved upward. I watched the dance for several minutes, tracking each particle's ascent until it reached the limit of the beam. Then, it disappeared into the darkness.

Without light dust is invisible, unless it accumulates on a table where I can write my name in it. But then it is dull, gray, still. There is no dance. There is no reason to stop and watch. It doesn't sparkle or glitter or leap. It certainly doesn't mesmerize. It is lifeless, good for nothing more than to be swept off the table, or at least pushed around from one spot to the next.

But look! As some dust falls, escaping the clutches of the dirty rag, it is caught by a sun beam and magically becomes a glittering, sparkling jewel, dancing and leaping as it is transformed by the light that transports it aloft.

Perhaps that explains why believers in Christ continue to line up at the altar rail on Ash Wednesday year after year. We don't mind being reminded that we are dust and to dust we shall return. 

We are not afraid of death, for we know that because we have the Light of Jesus within us, our dust in the end will be caught up in his Light, transformed by his Light, and we will ascend - glittering, sparkling, dancing, and leaping for joy - in the presence of the Light that created our dust and gives us life eternal.

LISTEN TO LOVE

 "The first duty of love is to listen"—Paul Tillich

If I love someone I will listen to them. If I love God, I will listen to God. If I love my spouse, I will listen to my spouse.

To listen—truly listen—I must pay attention to them. For that moment I must put aside myself, my own thoughts, my own worries. I must focus on their words and not the words jangling around in my head. 

If I listen closely enough, I might even hear God's whisper.

ABC PSALM

The parking lot was empty, and for that I was grateful. I had come to the neighborhood park for my lunch break. After a morning of chaos at work, I needed to renew my soul, and I couldn't think of a better way to do that than to surround myself with God's creation in solitude. A park bench situated on a hill overlooking a grassy area shaded by maples, pines, and dogwoods looked like a perfect spot.

I grabbed my lunch and Bible from the front seat of my car, got out, and walked over. The bench warmed my legs as I sat down. I closed my eyes and lifted my face to the sun. Taking a few deep breaths to calm my spirit, I thanked God for my food and asked him to open my heart and mind as I read his word.

I pulled my sandwich out of its bag and took a bite as I opened my Bible to the Psalms. The word "psalm" comes from the Greek word psalmos, meaning "a poem sung to the accompaniment of musical instruments."

Since the book of Psalms is essentially the prayer book of the Bible, it contains some of the most beloved writing in God's word. The emotions expressed in the Psalms run the gamut from joy to sorrow, exultation to despair, anger and disappointment to happiness and peace.

When most people think of the Psalms, however, what usually comes to mind is peaceful praise, making it the perfect book to calm one's soul and foster a reverent attitude.

I tried not to let crumbs fall onto the pages as I munched and began reading Psalm 119, the longest of the Psalms. A reference note in my Bible informed me that Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, and is the most elaborate of the nine acrostic Psalms. (The others are Psalms 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, and 145.)

An acrostic poem is one in which each line begins with successive letters of the alphabet in order. Psalm 119 is composed of 22 sections of eight lines each, with each line of a section beginning with the Hebrew letter corresponding to that section. For example, all eight verses of the first section begin with the letter aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. All eight verses of the second section begin with beth, the second letter; and so on, through all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

What a neat way to write a poem, I thought. Enjoying writing poetry myself, I thought I'd give it a try. I finished my sandwich and began chewing on carrots as I wrote in my notebook: All my days I will praise the Lord.

Well, that was easy. What about "B"? Because he is my refuge and strength, I will sing his praises forever.

Hey, not too bad. What will I do, though, when I get to letters like "Q" and "X" and "Z"? I guess I will just keep writing and see what comes out.

I got as far as the letter "F" and realized that "F" might stand for "fired" if I didn't get back to work. I gathered my things and headed back to my car.

Over the next few weeks, during lunch, I continued to work on my acrostic psalm. First, I read a couple of psalms for inspiration. Then, I meditated on my readings, and stilled my mind and heart enough to listen to God's whispers. Finally, I wrote down my feelings about God, letting his Spirit guide me in the process. I never failed to return to work refreshed and renewed for the rest of the day. My only regret was that I couldn't linger longer with my Lord.

After several weeks I completed my acrostic psalm. I encourage you to write your own psalm, in whatever manner you wish. Make it an acrostic psalm, or begin every line with the same letter, or with the last letter of the previous line. Or, stay away from the cute and fancy altogether, and just write what is in your heart.

However you decide to write it, know that quietness and solitude are most conducive to psalm writing. It is difficult to communicate with God when life's distractions surround you.

So, grab a pen and notebook (or your laptop), find a secluded spot outside your home or office, and spend some intimate moments with God, praising him for his blessings and for his goodness.

MY ACROSTIC PSALM
All my days I will praise the Lord;
Because he is my refuge and strength, I will sing his praises forever.
Come, all who trust in God, and join in praise to him.
Delight yourself in his law, for his word is sure.
Eternal and steadfast are the statutes of our God,
Forever leading his people in the direction they should go.
Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise.
He is our rock, our fortress, and our redeemer;
In him is our trust and our hope for all our days.
Just as all creation sings his praise, let us with our lips shout to God on high.
Knowledge and wisdom, blessing and honor, power and strength belong to you, O God.
Like a father loves his children, so the Lord blesses all those who love him.
Mercy is in your right hand, grace in your left—a double portion of love for your sons and daughters.
No temptation shall conquer us, not trouble overcome those whose trust is in the Lord.
Oh great God, with whom can we compare you?
Patiently you lead your children;
Quietly you speak to us in whispers of love,
Revealing to us your infinite compassion.
Softly and gently, as a mother hen gathers her chicks, you draw us close to your breast,
Tenderly holding our fragile lives in your everlasting arms of love.
Unto you, O Lord, our refuge and strength, we lift our hymns of praise;
Voices join with harp and lyre, trumpet and flute, to magnify your name.
Wondrous are your works and the gifts from your hands.
Xeroxing a thousand copies of every poem, every song, every word ever written to praise your name would never be enough to show our love for you.
Your name is above all names, for you are matchless in power, unparalleled in mercy, the height of love, the
Zenith of wisdom and grace, to whom be all glory and honor forever and ever.


This piece first appeared in Positive Thinking, November 2002, published by Peale Center for Christian Living

success

 

Seen on a greeting card:

What is success?

Setting goals, but not in concrete.

Staying focused, but turning aside to help someone.

Following a plan, but remaining flexible.

Moving ahead, but not too fast to smell the flowers.

Taking a bow, but applauding those who had a part in your success.

THAT is success.

GREAT START

One never knows when or where God may put a person in your path that could impact the lives of both of you. Or at least make your day a bit brighter.

I didn't want to start my day with a re-check on a patient's prescription, especially one who had just walked in five minutes after I arrived at the office. But what a great start to my day it turned out to be. Thank you, God, for bringing that patient into my life.

She was such a happy, charming, funny person I would never have guessed that she had 26 surgeries in the past 30 years or so, mostly for colitis and other GI issues. But in the course of talking to her she mentioned that her troubles are for the glory of God, because she uses them to talk to others about God and his faithfulness to her in spite of her trials. She mentioned that she's ready to be with God any time because she loves him so much.

I said, "I say the same thing to people, too. I know where I'm going so I'm ready any time. Like Paul says—"To live is Christ; to die is even better." If God has more for me to do here, great, but I'm ready to be with him any time."

Her expression changed as I was talking, and tears formed in her eyes. I'm sure she wasn't expecting her eye doctor to say such a thing. She said, "Oh, I'm so glad God brought us together today. I needed this so much. I needed to hear that. Who would have thought I would have found such hope from my eye appointment?"

We talked more about her church experiences. She loves the Lord but has been essentially shut out of churches because of being gay. She was very involved in a church for four years, singing with their worship band. She mentioned that she is "an awesome musician and gifted songwriter", and she wanted to lead the worship band but the church leaders would not let her because of her lifestyle.

"I haven't dated in 10 years," she said, "but that didn't matter. Being gay goes against their teachings. So, I left the church. But I need to be part of a church. I need the support of others in my faith, and it helps me learn more about God."

I was able to tell her about the United Church of Christ, which welcomes all people, including gays. The slogan of the UCC is, "No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here." Some of the UCC congregations are Open and Affirming, meaning they have gone through a two-year process to talk about homosexuality and spirituality and have voted as a congregation to welcome gays without judgment, even agreeing to marry them in the church. She said, "I'll have to check it out. Going to Reading may be worth the drive."

She again expressed how happy she was about our encounter. "I'm so glad I met you," she said.

"Well, this was a wonderful way to start my day," I replied.

She started to cry and said,"You've given me such hope." I reached out and gave her a hug.

Both of us had our faith strengthened and our joy renewed from a "chance" encounter that God knew all along would happen.

Thank you, God, for the people you put in our path, some of whom are the least expected to be part of your kingdom.

LISTEN

When the rains of life beat upon you, when tragedies come, when trials get you down and you wonder where God is through it all, listen closely, and you may hear God's beating heart as he enfolds you in his arms and whispers to you, "I love you. And nothing will ever stop me from loving you."

"I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, NLT)

IN THE BEGINNING

William Self, in a book called Defining Moments, relates the story of a "Middle Eastern prince who fell in love with a beautiful peasant girl. Eventually he proposed marriage and she accepted. Such an event should be marked by a gift of rare beauty, so he searched the empire for the most beautiful diamond to give to her. Obviously, the most beautiful diamond demanded a specific box of rare beauty for the presentation of the precious gem. For this he commissioned the royal cabinetmakers to make the most beautiful box in the kingdom for the diamond.

"On the day the diamond was to be presented, appropriate servants, horsemen, and soldiers were summoned to march in the entourage to the peasant girl's cottage. The neighbors and family gathered as they approached. When the prince presented the kingdom's most beautiful diamond, nestled in the kingdom's most beautiful box, they were amazed and awed at the spectacle. The peasant girl studied the gift at length, and then startled the crowd by discarding the diamond and keeping the beautiful box."

William Self writes, "This is not unlike what we have done with the miraculous story of the creation given to us in our text [from Genesis]. We have spent our days debating the scientific inadequacies of the story. We have completely missed the beauty of the gift that God has given us in this great story." (William Self, Defining Moments: First Lesson Sermons for Advent/Christmas/Epiphany, cycle B, c 1999, CSS Publishing Co., Lima, OH, p. 61)

The Biblical story of creation is a great story. And I am not here to debate the scientific inadequacies of the story or try to prove how God created the world or how long it took. I don't care if it took God six literal days or six billion years. The Bible is not a scientific text; it is a book of faith.

The Bible is not answering how—how the earth was created or how long it took; it is answering who—God.

In the beginning God…

God was in the beginning.

And the Bible is answering what.

What did God create? In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Specifically, God created the universe.

But more generally, God created order out of chaos. The earth was formless and void. Peterson describes it this way in The Message: "Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss."

And then God took that nothingness, that emptiness, and created a world out of it. He dispelled the blackness by simply speaking, "Let there be light," and there was light.

I will put forth a little evidence, so to speak, in support of it being a creation and not just an accident.

Stephen Hawking, the eminent physicist, admits that if the rate of expansion one second after the big bang had varied by even one part in a hundred thousand million million, the universe would have recollapsed. If the nuclear force in certain atoms varied by only a few percentage points then the sun and stars would not exist.

Life on earth today depends on similarly delicate fine-tuning: a tiny change in gravity, a slight tilting of the earth's axis, or a small thickening in its crust would make conditions for life impossible.

Confronted with the staggering odds against random existence, Richard Dawkins, one of the world's most famous atheists, simply shrugs and says, "Well, we're here, aren't we?" (Philip Yancey, Vanishing Grace)

Yes, we are here. But why?

That is perhaps the most important question the Bible answers.  

Why? Why did God create?

Why did God go to all the trouble to create the world and everything, including us, in it?

Because of love.

Because God is love.  That is the whole reason for all of creation. Love cannot exist without somebody to receive it.

God needed somebody to love.

While I was writing this I kept thinking of that old Queen song, Somebody To Love. Some of you know that song and now that I mention it, it is probably going through your head, isn't it?

Somebody…somebody…Can anybody find me somebody to love?

Maybe that's what God was thinking when God was all alone in the beginning. God was thinking, "What am I going to do with all this love that I have? I need somebody to love. But there is nobody. So I will create somebody to love."

But God also knew that the somebody that God created would need a world to live in, so God had to first create the world for the objects of his love to live in.

All of creation came about because God needed somebody to love, and God wanted somebody to love God in return. We are not only part of the story of creation, we are the whole point of the story of creation.

Eugene Peterson, in The Message, paraphrases Ephesians 1: 4 this way: "Long before [God] laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love."

Long before God created the world, God was already thinking of us and loving us. We are, and always have been, the main reason for God's creation.

I took a look at the lyrics for that song, because I really know only the chorus part that has been buzzing in my head for the past three days as I was writing this. And I was surprised to find that it is really a prayer, or a conversation with God. But it is really a depressing song. They dress it up in a catchy, infectious, upbeat tempo, and the great harmonies that Queen is known for, but the words are sad.

Each mornin' I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord what you're doing to me
I have spent all my years believin' you
But I just can't get no relief, Lord

Somebody, somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

I work hard every day of my life
I work till I ache my bones
At the end I take home my hard earned pay all on my own
I get down on my knees
And I start to pray
Till the tears run down from my eyes

Lord, somebody, ooh, somebody
Can anybody find me, somebody to love?

I thought, if you're looking for somebody to love, how about the One you are praying to, who loves you more than anything, and is also the One who wants your love in return more than anything?

Look around at this world. Look at the beauty, the artistry, the grandeur. It is all for you. God created all of this for you. God loved us so much that he literally gave us the world.

It always amazes me that the God who created this vast universe would love me.

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Psalm 8, which includes these verses: When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. (NRSV)

I have read that there are over 350 billion—BILLION—galaxies. A God that powerful loves me and loves you.

And think of the other end of the spectrum, the tiny, intricate workings of our bodies, with everything going along like clockwork. The atoms and molecules that we can't see but that are always there. Incredible!

"Did you know that a caterpillar has 228 separate and distinct muscles in its head? That's quite a few, for a bug. The average elm tree has approximately 6 million leaves on it. And your own heart generates enough pressure as it pumps blood throughout your body that it could squirt blood up to 30 feet. (I've never tried this, and I don't recommend it.)" (Francis Chan, Crazy Love)

And the God that designed all that loves us. Amazing. Amazing love.

If God loves you so much that he thought of you before he even created anything, and if the main reason God created was to have somebody to love, do you think maybe God wants to be a part of your life?

And if God can create order out of chaos, what do you think God can do with your life?  

 If God can fill the bottomless emptiness at creation, don't you think God can create new life within you?

The Spirit that brooded over the waters at creation is the same Spirit that came down on Jesus at his baptism, and it's the same Spirit that comes to us at our baptism, and dwells within us throughout our lives.

That voice that spoke everything into being is the same voice that said to Jesus, "You are my beloved son."

And it's that same voice that says to us, "You are my beloved." God says to every one of us, "You are my beloved child."

That is amazing love. Don't ever think that you can't find somebody to love because there is one who loves you so much that he created the world for you. God loves you so much that he would give you the sun, the moon, the stars, and everything in between.

May you know the amazing, incredible, incomprehensible love of God. And may it create new life within you.

Head or Heart?

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 13-35, two disciples are on the road to Emmaus. From the context of the passage we can infer that they are not in the inner circle of Jesus but they are devout followers. They can’t understand why the man they meet on the road does not know what happened in Jerusalem.

They tell this man (Jesus), "We were hoping that he was the one who was going to rescue Israel. And some women of our number astonished us because they went to the tomb and did not find his body, and they had a vision of angels who said that he was alive."

And so when these two men later realized it was Jesus they had been talking with and walking with, they hurried back to Jerusalem and found the eleven gathered and those with them and found that those gathered were saying “it is a fact that the Lord has risen, and he has appeared to Simon." And they told them all that had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The disciples said, "It was a fact that the Lord has risen. And he has appeared to Simon." Yet in the very next passage, when Jesus stands in the midst of them and says, “Peace to you” they are terrified because they thought they were seeing a ghost or a spirit.

See, intellectually they knew it--it is a fact that he is risen. They knew it in their head. But because they had not experienced the presence of Jesus for themselves they could not wrap their heads around the fact that Jesus was alive. They had seen him die. They had seen him be beaten and tortured. They had seen the centurion thrust his spear into the side of Jesus. They had seen him be put into a tomb and a stone rolled across the opening. How could Jesus be alive after all of that?

Yet, they were told that he was, and he even appeared to Simon.

I think sometimes that is the way it is for many Christians, and for me. I know the facts. I know the Bible very well because I have read it for most of my life. The stories are in my head and many of them I know by heart. Intellectually I know the Bible and I know Jesus. I know God exists…in my head. I know Jesus is alive…in my head.

Sometimes, because I haven’t experienced the physical presence of Jesus for myself, I still find it hard to grasp. I still find it hard to be passionate about my faith.

Sometimes I still think of God as someone I do not want to disappoint. I haven’t experienced his grace for myself.

But I still have to rely on that grace. As much as I accept it intellectually I have to rely on the grace of God for salvation. There is no other way.

And even if I doubt, as long as I accept the grace of God, then God will accept that and accept me, and will welcome me in to his kingdom.

Life and Death

I visited the grave of a dear departed friend today. As I stood by his burial plot, I said to him, "You were a good friend. It was such a joy to know you. I will always remember your smile, and your laugh."

I said a prayer, thanking God for my friend's life and for his presence in my life. My life is so much richer because of our friendship. And I also gave thanks that my friend is now in God's eternal care.

Sometimes we strive so much in this life for fame, or just recognition that we have accomplished something important. But when you're gone, the ones that will remember you and still care that you lived, are the ones with whom you have formed relationships.

I looked at all the tombstones in the cemetery and I thought, the only ones who care about all the people buried here are their family and dear friends, the people who loved them in life and took time to form relationships with them in life. Nobody else knows who they are or what they accomplished in life.

The whole point of life is not recognition, but love.

Jesus said it best: Love God, love neighbor.

That is all that matters.

Simple Pleasures

"Be still, and know that I am God"  - Psalm 46:10

The little things in life always have a way of bringing me joy far out

of proportion to their size. Of course, in order to find these treasures I

must slow down, be observant, and forget about life's complexities. Not always

a simple task in today's hectic lifestyle, but the rewards are worth

it.

Below are some simple pleasures that warm my heart and calm my soul.

They bring peace and stillness to life's chaos, and help keep me close to God.

If you don't have your own list, begin today. Take time to slow down; look and

listen for the simple things in life. You'll find it makes a world of

difference, and you just might see a different world.

* The soothing pulse of a gentle rainfall

* A rainbow's arc of soft color after the rain

* A golden sunset's awesome splendor splashed across the sky

* The graceful, carefree flight of a butterfly

* Bright, shiny stars on a clear summer night

* Songs sung by a chorus of birds

* Curling up in a comfy chair with a good book

* Putting worshipful music on the stereo, slapping headphones on, and    

        shutting out the rest of the world while listening to glorious music praising God

* Taking a walk      

* Taking a walk with my spouse, hand-in-hand

* Taking a walk with a child, rediscovering the joy and wonder of God's

  creation through their eyes

Lord, open our eyes to the simple things in life.

Be Still

Quick—what is the biggest environmental nuisance facing Europe? Air pollution? Global warming? Contaminated rivers and streams? Acid rain?

The World Health Organization, in 2009, declared noise “the biggest environmental nuisance facing Europe, and issued night noise guidelines calling on officials to limit exposure to below 40 decibels.”

According to an article from the McClatchy-Tribune, noise is becoming not only a nuisance but a health threat as well. Of course, there is the obvious risk of hearing loss, and estimates are that 15% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have some kind of hearing loss due to noise exposure. Hearing loss begins at continuous decibel levels above 85. Rock concerts reach levels of 110-140. (Pain threshold is about 125.)

But people bombarded by noise also have higher risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, sleeplessness, irritability, and poor work and school performance. Noise pollution is even forcing residents to pack up and move to quieter places to live.

All of this shows the enduring wisdom of God’s Word.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”—Psalm 46:10

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”—Jesus (Matthew 6:31)

Noise is not just a threat to our physical health, but also to our spiritual health. How can we commune with God when we are surrounded by distractions? How can we hear God’s voice amidst the noise of the world?

           

If you live in a quiet neighborhood, or in a peaceful rural area, give thanks. If you reside next to a highway, or train tracks, or in a busy metropolitan area, take time each day to close yourself from the noise. You owe it to your spiritual—and physical—health to turn down the noise.

Do Not Fear

Anyone who has endured trials knows that we don't wish for them in our lives but we also know that adversity is what draws us closer to God. It is through suffering that we learn great truths about God and about ourselves. It is through hardship that we learn God is in control. It is through trials that we learn God will supply all our needs. It is when we hit bottom that we find God waiting there for us, for God knows we will not truly search for Him until we have nowhere else to go.

God never promised that we would have no problems. But God promised that He would be with us through the problems that come our way.

When your life is falling apart around you God listens for your cry. God knows your voice and God says to you, "Do not be afraid. I have called you by name. I know you. You are mine. And I am with you."

God does not promise to take away our trials, or even rescue us from the midst of them. Our faith does not shield us from the harsh realities of life. But God has promised that we will not be alone.

When all hell breaks loose around you, God will be there with you, holding your hand, listening to your cries. God will never forget you, will never leave you alone, and will be with you every step of the way.

But now thus says the Lord: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned; and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3a (NRSV)

Luke's Investigation

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Lucas, though most people call me Luke. I am a physician by training, but I have taken a leave from my medical practice to write a book about a man named Jesus. I have heard much about this man—fascinating stories and accounts of amazing feats. I was so intrigued that I had to investigate these tales for myself.

So I set about to wander the countryside to find out all I could about Jesus. What fascinates me most is that almost everybody I talk to mentions the same thing about him: the way he welcomed outsiders—the poor, lepers, women, children, even Gentiles like me.

            Last week I stopped in a little village near Jerusalem called Bethany. I had heard that in this village there lived a family that was very good friends with Jesus. Two sisters named Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus.

In fact, I had heard an unbelievable thing about Lazarus. People were saying that Jesus had brought him back to life after he had been dead for four days. Well, this I had to check out for myself.

            Unfortunately, when I arrived Lazarus was not at home. He was away on a trip to Jericho, and would be gone for several days. But Mary and Martha consented to talk with me and answer any questions I had about Jesus.

Of course, the first thing I asked about was Lazarus being raised from the dead. They verified that Jesus had indeed restored their brother to life. They had never seen anything like it. It confirmed for them how powerful yet how loving God is.

I asked them how well they knew Jesus.

Martha said, “Oh, we knew him quite well. In fact we loved him very much, and he loved us. Whenever his travels brought him to this area he made certain to stop and visit us.”

“What do you remember most about Jesus?” I asked.

            Mary replied, “Well, he was quite a man. The thing I remember most about him is his unlimited love and compassion, and his patience.”

I asked them if they remembered any specific incident when he visited; anything they could tell me that might help me understand him better.

Mary said, “Remember that one time, Martha, when you cooked a big feast for Jesus?”

Mary turned to me and said, “Martha is one of the best cooks around. The things she can do in the kitchen amaze me sometimes. I’m not one to do much cooking and housework, but Martha is a dynamo when it comes to those things.”

Martha lowered her head a little and said, “Now, Mary, let’s not bring up that visit. You know that’s a sore subject with me.”

“But Martha,” said Mary, “I think it tells a lot about the character of Jesus, and it is something that will help Luke to know Jesus better. Besides, you learned a lesson from it, didn’t you?”

This sounded intriguing to me so I pressed the matter further. I told them I was planning to write a book about Jesus, and maybe this incident should be included in it.

Mary said, “Oh, I think it would be wonderful if you wrote a book about Jesus. And I hope that everyone in the world will read your book so they can know Jesus, too, and know the way Jesus lived. You know, the way Jesus lived is the way all of us should live. But people won’t know how to live like Jesus if they don’t read your book.”

 “Well,” I said, “it sure would be nice if a copy of my book were in everybody’s home. I just hope it doesn’t end up like other classics—you know, the kind of book everybody owns but nobody reads.

“But tell me more about this dinner you were planning for Jesus.”

Martha said, “Well, when Jesus knocked on the door I was the one to open it. As soon as I saw that it was Jesus I got excited because I so enjoyed having Jesus visit. Then I saw the weariness on Jesus’ face, and the way he hugged me told me he was very tired. He traveled so much talking to people about God and the way God wants us to live. He walked from one end of the countryside to the other and it tired him so.

“He got emotionally exhausted as well. People were always asking him questions and seeking advice from him because he always gave such wise answers.

“Some people, of course, didn’t like the answers he gave because it meant they had to drastically change their lives. Those that believed him, though, and had faith that he knew what he was talking about discovered that his way of living really is the best.

“He was a natural storyteller, too, so the crowds always wanted to hear his stories. Sometimes he kept them enthralled for hours, even days, with his stories.

“And, he was an amazing healer as well. People always begged him to heal them or someone they loved. He loved everybody so much that he never turned anyone away. But all of that wore him out. He was human, after all. He got tired. He got hungry and thirsty. He needed food and rest like anyone else.”

I cut in, “That is very enlightening. It tells me a lot about what Jesus was like, and he sounds like an amazing man. But what about this dinner?”

 “Oh, I’m sorry.” said Martha, “I get so excited telling people about Jesus. Um…you’re sure you still want to hear about that dinner?”

“Yes, I do,” I said.

“Well, all right. Being a wandering rabbi,” Martha continued, “Jesus couldn’t go home whenever he wanted to. He relied on friends like us, or strangers sometimes, to feed him and give him a place to stay. Many times he simply slept in a field or by the side of the road.

“So whenever he was near our home he stopped in to visit and eat with us. When he came this particular time, as I said, I was the first one to welcome him in. Lazarus was away on one of his business trips so I called for Mary to come and join us. Then I started to straighten up the house a little as it was in a bit of disarray.”

At this point Mary chimed in—“Well, as much disarray as it ever gets. Martha is forever cleaning and straightening and doing housework. Whenever something needs to be done around here Martha is the one that rolls up her sleeves and does it.”

“Well,” said Martha, “that’s the way I show my love for other people, by doing things for them. And I wanted to show my love for Jesus by making him comfortable. I could tell he was tired, and I thought he must be famished from walking the hot dusty roads, so I began to prepare a meal for him. I didn’t want to make just a little snack, either. This was Jesus, our best friend, someone we loved. Only the best would do for Jesus, so that’s what I planned to do.

“I got out a bowl of fresh fruit. I got the flour and oil to make bread. I went out back and slaughtered a chicken to roast for the three of us. I planned on making a feast fit for a king.

“I was working very hard, preparing the chicken, baking the bread, and the whole time I’m in the kitchen slaving away Mary is in the other room.”

I interrupted, “You mean Mary wasn’t helping you make dinner?”

“Oh, no,” Martha said, “leave it to Mary to shun her duties as a woman. She was acting more like a man than a woman, sitting at the feet of a rabbi and learning from him. Only men are supposed to do that, according to the rabbinic law. She was neglecting her duties to assist in preparing the meal and Jesus was letting her get away with it.

“But, you know, that’s the way Jesus was. He never did care much about the rules and regulations the religious leaders enforced. He was always breaking down social boundaries. He associated with lepers, for heaven’s sake, and prostitutes and tax collectors. He even talked with women like he cared about them. And that’s what we loved about Jesus. He treated everyone equally, with love.”

“What exactly was Mary doing in the other room?” I asked.

Martha replied, “She was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to him. I would have enjoyed listening to him, too, but somebody had to get the food ready. Somebody had to do some work, but she left me to do it all by myself. She sat in there listening to Jesus, totally focused on him, unconcerned about anything else. Right then, nothing else in life mattered to her, only Jesus.”

“It’s important to me to listen to Jesus,” Mary said, “because the words of Jesus are more important than anything else in life, even more important to me than food. The words of Jesus give us life. How can I listen to his words, how can I hear what he has to tell me, if I am distracted by other things?”

I asked Mary, “What was Jesus talking about that kept you so interested?”

“He was relating an incident that happened on his way here. A lawyer asked him a question to test him, to see how well Jesus knew the law. Jesus told him a story about a man that was robbed and left for dead. A priest and a Levite just passed him by without even helping. But a Samaritan stopped to help the man. Can you imagine that? A Samaritan helped the man. And Jesus said the point of the story was that everyone is a neighbor and needs our help. When God says to love our neighbor as ourself he means we should love everybody.

I asked Martha, “So, how did you feel about Mary sitting there with Jesus while you were doing all this work?”

“Oh,” Martha said, “I was fuming. I’m sure Mary and Jesus heard me banging pots around and slamming cupboard doors. Finally I couldn’t take it any more. I stormed in there and I said ‘Jesus, don’t you care that I am doing all this work myself? Tell my sister to help me out.’

“As I turned to walk away Jesus called after me ‘Martha’. When I turned around to face him, I almost melted from his gaze because I saw such a look of compassion and pity in his eyes.

“And I still remember his words. He said, ‘Martha, you are worried and distracted by so many things. Only one thing is necessary. Mary knows what it is, and I won’t discourage her from it.’”

“Whoa,” I said, “how did that make you feel?”

“Well, at the time, at that moment, it made me feel a bit ashamed and guilty… and even a little angry. But I realized Jesus was right. I was so concerned about doing what was expected of me that I wasn’t giving my undivided attention to Jesus. That is why Mary is right when she says that I learned a lesson from this encounter.

“I tried to tell Jesus what to do, while Mary let Jesus tell her what to do. Too many times I want to tell God what to do instead of listening for what God wants me to do.

“I learned that all these other things that distract me are not important in the eternal scheme of things. The most important thing in life is to listen to the words of Jesus so I can try to live like he lived.

“All the things in life that we chase after, all the things that we think we need, all the things we worry about, none of them matter as much as Jesus. We think we need a good home, a pool in the yard, two camels in the shed, and we’re always trying to keep up with the Jonah’s next door.

“But it is not the things we possess that makes life worth living. No matter how rich we are we’ll always want more because wealth and possessions never satisfy us. Only Jesus gives us true contentment. Jesus is what makes life worth living.

“Now, of course, I am still Martha. I will always be one of those people that likes to do things. That’s just the way I am. I find it difficult sometimes to simply sit and think about what Jesus said.”

Mary said, “Service is important, too, Martha. We need people that serve God by helping others, just like Jesus said with his story of the Samaritan. If everybody just thought about Jesus' words and didn’t act on what he said, nobody would know about his love."

“Yes, I know,” said Martha, “but we can’t only work for God, either. It’s easy for people like me to love God with all our strength. We’ll do all kinds of physical things for Jesus. And we’ll even love God with all our heart. But too often we let our mind go to waste. We don’t take time to listen to God, to pray to God, to sit in silence. Following Jesus requires both doing and listening. And Jesus said the better part is listening. If we don’t listen to Jesus we’ll lose our perspective and forget the reason why we’re serving others.

“So I’ve learned that sometimes I have to come out of the kitchen and get away from the things that distract me and just think about the words of Jesus, because when the words of Jesus enter my heart and mind that is when I truly learn the right way to live.

“In the presence of Jesus I learn to listen, and the more I listen to him the more I love him. While we’re going about our busy lives, Jesus patiently waits for us to come and sit with him. I was so busy doing things for him when what he really wanted was for me to simply be with him.

“So you write that book,” Martha said, “and you make sure it gets to as many people as possible. Because I know there are many people out there, just like me, that are worried and distracted by life. They need to know that only one thing is necessary: to sit at Jesus’ feet listening to him.”

I thanked Mary and Martha for talking with me. They certainly helped me understand Jesus much better.

My book is almost finished. The publisher wants to print it very soon. It would be great if all of you had a copy. I sincerely hope all of you take the advice of Mary and Martha.

Read The Book.

Listen to Jesus.

Created For A Purpose

In The Year of Living Biblically A.J. Jacobs comments that when he thinks about the Earth being 6000 years old it makes him feel more significant than if it were 10 billion years old because he’s been alive for a much larger percentage of the Earth’s existence. And when he thinks about all humanity descending from two people then we are really, literally, one big family.

As much as he doesn’t believe in the whole Creationism ideology, he feels it does give humans a certain “pride” because if we are created by God then we are not inconsequential.

I especially like his quote from Mark Looy, the publicist for the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY, who says, “Evolution says that we are the product of random processes. That we evolved via pond scum. When we say that, we’re not applying much value to humanity. If we say we’re a product of accidents and random processes, how much purpose and hope does that give to our youth?”

Whether we believe evolution is true or not (and I believe it is true in some respects, though not that we have evolved from pond scum or lower forms of life) I believe Mark is right to say that it devalues human life, which gives people less reason to live because it seems we are not here for any reason.

If we are here only by accident then we are of no more consequence than anything else on this planet. Life has no purpose, no meaning, no real value. And we see this devaluing of human life more and more in our society. Abortion. Euthanasia. Violent video games and movies that desensitize us to death.

Life has lost its sacredness.

Now, in one sense the Bible does state how inconsequential we are when it says, “You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely everyone stands as a mere breath.” (Ps. 39:5, NRSV)

And in another Psalm, the Psalmist pens the inconsequential feelings we all feel when he writes, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” (Ps. 8: 3-4, NRSV)

Yet, the Psalmist also swells with pride in affirming that God has “made [mortals] a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.” (Ps. 8:5, NRSV)

As Christians we believe that we are created by God. When we believe that, then we must also believe that we have been created for a purpose. All things are designed with a specific purpose in mind. Chairs are made to sit on. Watches are made to keep time. Cars are made to transport us places.

Everything is created for a reason. And that belief gives us hope that we, too, are here for a reason. God would not have created us if God didn’t think it was worthwhile. Life is not an accident. We have a purpose in life.  

What is my purpose? What is my reason for existence? Why am I here?

Finding those answers is often the challenge. God does not stamp our bellies with “Writer” or “Pastor” or “Athlete” or “Farmer” when we are born so that all the world can know what we are called to be and steer us in that direction. We must pay attention to the way God has created us, the unique combination of our gifts, interests, and personality. Some know from a very young age what God created them to be. For others, it takes much wisdom and discerning, sometimes over many years, before their specific calling is discovered.

In a broad sense, however, God calls everyone to love God and to love each other so we can make a difference in the world as we live out the sacred life God has given us.