Vigil

Tonight there are families holding vigil. They are watching the minutes pass as hours and cherishing the seconds as years.

When our #1 son was headed for boot camp two days after high school graduation I stayed awake the entire night. I wasn't about to waste one second while he was still home by sleeping. It was time that couldn't be recovered and I knew there was a finite period of time left. Other families would have the summer to buy sheets for dorm beds; create small pantries of popcorn, mac and cheese, and hot chocolate; and research the newest computer for high-tech papers and contact with home. The Marines only let them bring the clothes on their back, and I heard rumors that they mailed even those few reminders back to their homes. As an ironic plot of the twist, once the recruits arrive at their destination, usually late in the evening, they are not allowed to sleep; their new family not wasting any seconds to indoctrinate the new rules and new way of life.

I know of one family holding vigil because time is limited due to a disease meaner than any Marine drill sergeant ever was. No one could muster the imagination or the force that it would take to reduce an active body to a shadow in five months. The earnest vigil continues through another night where minutes pass as hours, and seconds ripped away as a stolen treasure.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We pray for those in vigil. We pray that they know of your comfort and love, and that a level of peace can be issued to their anxious minds. We pray that these restless days can be restored to days of connection, days of confirmation, and days of time well spent; that even these days can be seen as a witness of our faith and trust in you, O God, and also can serve as testimony of your deep and true engagement in our lives. We are reminded of the vigil Jesus spent alone while those he trusted slept. Dear God, let us be solid sentries for those who seek our presence and our help. We pray for those in vigil and for those whom vigil is kept. Amen.

Not Because No One Knew

Yesterday I mentioned the "Entertainment Weekly" expanded feature on the upcoming movie "Sex in the City." You can't go through the day without watching a commercial, driving past a billboard, flipping past a print ad, or channel surfing past an interview with one or more of the actresses promoting the movie opening. If this movie tanks, it won't be because no one heard of the movie or knew when it was opening. I know it's billed as more than just a film about four women and their counterparts: shoes, fashion, romance and THE City. The real victory of the movie is that it's about four women over the age of forty. Ground breaking! Revolutionary! A hallmark of filming history! Okay, I was raised with a cynic (oops, I mean a realist) who would be raising an eyebrow right about now wondering if all the glitz and drama promoting the film is a bit overkill. I start wondering if all of the energy that has been invested to promote the movie could be channeled into a different campaign, what could be accomplished. It's not that I'm virtuous and can brag that I've never seen an episode when it was on TV. I have. Several! It's not that I will take a stand and refuse to go to the movie - I don't go to any movies because I fall asleep (even through Independence Day). It's just a bit of sadness when I see so much energy and money devoted to any entertainment release, fragrance unveiling, soft drink additive or floor wax improvement! They eventually will succeed or fail by their own merit, but they won't fall short because no one knew, or did not hear of their product.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Let us be bold with our energy, with our words and with our actions to lobby for the advancement of your kingdom. Let us concentrate our efforts on issues that will enhance people's lives and replenish your creation. Let us be wise in the choices we make to expend our energies and to set our priorities. We pray that our nation's leaders follow the path to charity, and bypass the highway to greed. We pray that our congregation's leaders make choices that reflect fair trade and equality. Victory does not resolve using our terms, but is pronounced by you alone. Above all, O God, let us be bold in our declarations of your love and majesty, so that not one person can cry out in despair that they did not know of your grace and did not hear of your love. Amen.

Real Women

"Entertainment Weekly" published a special double issue; out of the 128 pages of the magazine, 63 pages are devoted to the movie, "Sex in the City." The magazine provides an episode guide of every show from the six seasons on HBO, a special pull-out map of New York highlighting all the landmarks from the show, a montage of the men the girls dated, and of course - their clothes and accessories. I know I would never pass for a fashion plate; I'm too practical in my choice of clothes, plus adding the klutz factor and stilettos are out of the question. I remember when gas stations started making the switch from full-service to self-service. There was a motto, "Real women don't pump gas," which I guess was supposed to demoralize those women who chose to stand in the cold or the heat getting their hands dirty so they could take advantage of the better prices. The motto never held any real weight with me. When I think of real women that I do admire, they don't show up on the cover of "Entertainment Weekly," they can be seen in the mission field building homes; in the free clinic supplying medical help; in the nursery changing diapers so mothers can attend worship; on scaffolding high above the ground painting the education center; outside digging in the flower beds to add color to the grounds; in the kitchen washing the line of dishes from a pot luck dinner, and standing at the gas pump filling their car to visit the shut-ins.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are thankful for the women who set aside comfort for labor, set aside fashion for dungarees, and set aside personal time for the community. We value their gifts and their willingness to share their talents and time generously. Let us draw inspiration from their actions and repay their contributions by offering our own talents; creating new opportunities and new missions. Let us be a real, genuine people, getting our hands dirty, reaching out to other real people who have needs, disappointments, and a desire to know of your love. Remind us to value the hearts of those we meet, not to consider the style they wear. Amen.

On the Seventh Day

My family has come to expect, and request, that I take a Sunday nap. By the time 1pm rolls around on Sunday my body starts reacting automatically in anticipation of the pillow much as a mouth starts salivating in anticipation of a favorite dish. Over the past months we've also slowed down as a family on Sunday nights; we like to stay home and grill our dinner meal. It's a nice resolution to the week, and a fresh start for the week ahead. Opportunities abound, and it would be easy enough to squeeze in another service, another visit, or another chore, but we try to rest. Not everyone needs an exaggerated nap as I take, but everyone needs to have a time set aside to rest and re-set, to rest and re-center, to rest and re-connect. To rest in trust and faith.

My prayer for the congregation?

This is a prayer by Frank Topping that I printed and keep in my Bible. May it also inspire you to rest in the Lord. Amen.

Lord,
teach me to rest in you.
Teach me to see the sky
and to think of nothing else
but the joy of it.
Teach me to look
at field and flower
and be soothed
by colours and seasons.
Teach me to close my eyes
and to rest
in the Love that has supported me
all my days.
Teach me, Lord,
to rest in you.
"Resting" by Frank Topping

Five Part Harmony

Until about five years ago I had not been in any kind of choir since elementary school, so imagine my bewilderment that I am singing as part of a quartet. It started off as a friendly pledge between two non-choir members to start going to choir. I needed a lot of coaching both technically and emotionally since I have the rhythmic timing of a lumbering walrus on land. Then, as part of a friendly heave into faith, four of us came together to sing during an offertory. We've been singing together ever since. When the four of us sing together, one plays the guitar and after a quick look at sheet music it's relegated to the back of the notebook for reference. From then on we play and sing from the heart of the words, from harmonies that come as dreams, and from the connection that happens when you look in each other's eyes instead of the page. Even though I am slow to admit when I'm part of something good, I'm truly amazed every time we sing together; the voices fuse with each other tightly and sweetly. We feel free to experiment, to improvise, and to adapt a song until it has our signature. It's evident to us that there is a fifth partner in our harmonies. There is no other way that I can explain how this walrus is transformed into a replica of one of the flock of swans, gliding across the smooth lake - unless the fifth partner is the Spirit.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, How can we know what we are capable of reaching unless we include you in the planning and the execution of our dreams and our actions. We would halt at our limitations and suspend any further growth thinking we had reached our summit when in fact it was just a foot hold to the next zenith. Forgive our lumbering steps of faith; even the walrus becomes agile when placed in the right environment. We welcome the Spirit as partner and guide towards the many steps and levels of envisioning the mission of this congregation. May we be truly amazed by what is revealed in our faith and by your Grace, Amen.

Prayer Team

This week I've seen different types of prayer teams. As I was standing in a cashier's checkout lane, two people ahead of me started talking and the fact came out that the man had just been laid off. The first response of the woman was that she would say a prayer for him that night. He said he would appreciate it since he had a lead on an interview the next day. I was impressed, but I also distanced from the situation a little because she just came off as a bit odd. She was probably very sincere but she chatted so much that you couldn't tell if offering a prayer was just something else to say. Then yesterday I was in a group of four people waiting for an event to start and one girl asked us to include a prayer when we said our nightly prayers for her grandmother who was about to undergo heart surgery within the hour. One second later one of the men held out his hands and there was no question but that we were also supposed to offer our hands to make a circle. The prayer was short and simple, but its immediacy spoke of earnestness and sincerity.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, Help us to remain in prayer at all times and not limit ourselves by hours or protocol. Hear our prayers which request attention for the care of the earth, reflect concern for citizens beyond our borders, pursue peace with neighbors, seek wisdom for our nation's leaders, petition discernment and energy for our congregation, beseech healthy bodies for our families, implore guidance for our children, and heed our desire to be in your presence all the days of our lives. Tune our ears towards the anxious needs of those around us. Let us be bold and generous in our prayers. We are blessed that our prayers and concerns are ever in your vigilance. Let us remain on watch for opportunities to pray and to offer the hand of fellowship, in Christ's name we pray, Amen.

Camping in the Suburbs

It's been a lovely spring in Dallas. Due to allergies in the household, sleeping with the windows open is not an option, but nights like this (especially when you know how fleeting and rare these nights will be, possibly as soon as next week) make me seek out options for soaking it in. We have a porch that faces west and for much of the year is not a place you care to spend much time. But tonight is different, and since I have the lucky family genes that permit opening windows, I will open them wide to get a cross-breeze and I'll probably end up sleeping there for what I call "pretend camping." I get the benefits of camping, the cool air, the croaking frogs, and the silky feel of the sleeping bag, but I also have the advantage of household amenities such as an alarm clock, screens to keep away bugs and critters, and a nearby bathroom. I can also go "camping" any night of the week; I don't have to wait for the weekend or take off from work and I don't have to pitch a tent! It's camping in the suburbs! To me it's a win-win situation!

We have a friend that is camping for REAL in the hill country of Texas this week. There will be so many stars that it will be hard to find the constellations within the magnitude of the night sky. He will experience wild life scurrying through his campsite and marvel at the flowers that are native to that area. In the past he has befriended the camp rangers who seek out his company and as a partner in dominoes. He'll sit in silence so powerful that stones will be heard.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We try to simulate your world in our world. We try to duplicate the experience without living the experience. We try to contain your miracles and make them fit our comforts and our pleasures. Help us to discern the difference between authenticity and plagiarism. Do not let us settle for make-shift relationships, provisional evangelism, and crude spirituality. None of these are native to your kingdom. You offered a model of righteous living in human form through Jesus. If we must try to duplicate your creations, then let us encounter a phenomenon in our lives that sets down our own comforts to hold up another's needs. Let us strive to acknowledge your dominion and yield to a practice of living in full acceptance of your authority. O God, it may take a miracle. Amen.