Ask, Just Ask

My father had a saying—“if you don’t ask, you only have one answer.” I try to take that to heart. Sometimes, it is hard to ask, and I have succumbed to that difficulty, having to live with a “no” simply because I would not ask. It’s amazing how many times asking leads to another answer, another way.

In one way, this past Sunday at Annual Conference, it would seem that asking did not lead to another answer. On behalf of the Resolutions committee, I made a motion to suspend the rules so that the body could approach a difficult issue another way, rather than the often rancorous, divisive exchanges that can pass for debate on the floor. The motion did not pass, so it would seem that asking did not lead to another answer, but I am not so sure.

I believe that by raising the prospect of another way, even though it was not chosen, we helped remind people to approach the debate differently—at least some of them. Also, because of the possibility of this other way, there were preparations made that I believe also made a difference.

As a part of the possibility for holy conferencing in small groups, we had prepared crosses made of cardstock. These crosses had been held during the prayers of the people by my congregation, and during our staff meeting. They were imbued with the spirit of prayer for all God’s people. Then on Saturday night, volunteers placed them around the arena to be ready to be used on Sunday morning. As they placed the crosses, they prayed. We walked around the meeting space praying—not for a particular outcome, but for a listening spirit for the Spirit’s presence.

So, Daddy, I followed your rule. I believe it helped. Though my plan did not proceed as intended, God’s Spirit was present. I felt it. I hope others were aware of it as well. The answer was not in the results, but the attitude with which we looked towards the other.

Matthew 7:8

For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

You Gave Me Room

In reading for a short term study on the Psalms this month, a note in Fr. Roland Murphy’s book The Gift of the Psalms caught me—not just my eye, but my heart. In a section on salvation in the psalms, he noted that salvation is many things--redemption, safety, healing, relief, release, and more. Then he cited from Psalm 4: “You gave me room when I was in distress.”

Room—not a room, but room. It is more than giving someone space; it is space that is defined, but not by boundaries that are to keep one penned in. The sense I get is having a safe place that allows me freedom from being pressed in.

Immediately, my thoughts went towards being a parent. I know there were, and even still are on occasions, times when I dealt with a son’s distress by hovering close, and by asking too many questions. I realize that I was trying to alleviate my distress over their distress. I have found it is more important for me to let them know I am here, close by, but not hovering, giving them room.

I think about how much room God gives me in my distress, not jumping in to resolve difficulties, and yet not leaving me without any moorings. What a gift of grace this is!

Checkups

I cannot say that I really enjoy having blood work done, but I go every six months to see my oncologist and have my blood drawn. It is worth the bother and the discomfort to see where I am three-and-a-half years after cancer surgery. Today, my oncologist and I chatted about several aspects of life, including each of our sons who graduate from high school next week. While she is interested in the numbers generated by my blood work and she does a physical exam as well, she also wants to be aware of what else is going on in my life. Thus far, all my draws and exams have shown that I am doing well post surgery and treatment. And today, I got a purple wrap around my arm as a reward.

I cannot say that I really enjoy doing statistical reports and entering numerical data on everything that the church does, but, like my oncology checkups, they do give a picture of how we are doing on some aspects. The numbers can tell us some things, but it is in those closer conversations with each other that we can get a deeper sense of our vitality and well-being.

This Sunday—June 14, we are going to have one of those conversations that give us a chance to know where we are, where we are going, and how we hope to get there. I hope that you plan to be in worship, and then stay over for lunch and our conversation. While you won’t get a purple wrap for your arm, you will have the chance to share in fellowship with each other.

[There will be childcare, supervised activities, and food for the kids while the adults and youth are in the sanctuary.]

Psalm 63:5-7

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.

Pick at the Nits, or Take Time for Gratitude

I recently spent time with a dear friend and fellow disciple who has to travel frequently and work with groups of people who have a tendency to gripe about their projects. While they need her ability to manage a significant aspect of details for them, she certainly does not need to endure their constant complaining. In fact, she told them so, saying if that is how they wanted to be, they could do the work themselves--without her. They went silent.

She asked why do we have to complain all the time? Why can't we be grateful and satisfied? One of the group called or emailed her the next day to thank her for her "sermon" which had been really needed. I was reminded of how Miss Jen talked last Sunday about the ten lepers who were all healed by Jesus, but only one came back to thank him.

Too often, I and so many of us get caught up in the details, picking at the nits along the way, so much so that we no longer see what it is we are working on, or involved in. Now, I am not talking about saying that shoddy work is acceptable. I mean that we seldom take time to enjoy the process, and the work together, and especially we are far too sparing with our gratitude.

Let's take time today to make note of a thing or two for which we can give thanks--to God, yes--but also to the persons with whom we live, work, and spend our lives.

Luke 17:15-16
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.