Thursday, July 28, 2016

Young Adults Fledging

I have entered a new stage in life--an empty nest. What I learned from watching the eaglets grow this spring is that branching comes before fledging. Over the past few years, I have seen my eaglets begin to branch, first just at the edge of the nest, and then further up. They tested their wings, and took a few hopping flights until they swooped away, maybe without intending to, but they found that their wings would bear them even to the branch of another tree. 

I have also learned, though not so much from the eaglets, that after the first few flights off the nest, young adults are meant to fly off establishing their own life, staying in touch but not hovering like baby eagles who cannot provide for themselves. Step by step, they are to begin their hunt for their own life. My responsibility now is to help them remember that they are stronger than they think they are.

With joy, I celebrate their flight and pray that they will continue to grow to be the awesome young men they are. Now is my turn to practice a new flight pattern.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,

they walk and don't lag behind.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

All Shall Be Well, and yet...

“All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Julian of Norwich’s statement is so true, and yet so distant from so many people’s lives.

In the span of a few hours, I have witnessed that distance. I had a young man sit with me—eyes filled with tears—because a friend had overdosed, a young woman whom he had briefly dated in the past. He will go to see her body tomorrow. Currently he sees no hope.

A young woman is suffused with anxiety. Her parents neglected to take care of the financial forms needed for school. She might have to sit out a semester.

A friend on the way home from celebrating a wedding with his wife and friends were involved in an accident where he witnessed both graciousness from police of one jurisdiction and terrible racism and belligerence from officers of another jurisdiction. He stood as witness and called it out.

It is one thing to say that in the end God’s will of grace and love will be done, will be accomplished in this world and all creation, and quite another to sit with people in the midst of what seems hopeless.

I truly believe Julian’s affirmation of faith. It is mine as well. And yet it is not helpful to apply it in a slaphappy manner, like a band-aid on a boo-boo. There are times when we simply have to offer our presence—holding that solid affirmation silently within—speaking little.

I know in the end all shall be well, but that does not mean everything in everyone’s life will be well now. There are people who will die because of drugs, because of violence. There are people whose parents are neglectful.

So, Lord, tonight, I pray mercy. I have no more words. I cannot apply a simple salve and make everything okay. I cannot even protect the sons I loved from pain, heartache, or despair. Mercy, Lord, mercy.

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

The Lonely


I resonated when a friend wrote on Facebook yesterday that she was lonely, and a bit worried about an upcoming test. She knew it wasn’t the biggest thing in the world but saying it out loud makes it more manageable.

I resonated because I was a bit on the low side as well. As I sat in a funk, I tried to parse out what was making up my blue mood. Yes, I was tired. Yes, the candidate I really wanted to be elected as a bishop was not elected. I could limn it out but it was not helping me shake it off. I wanted to talk to someone, but as soon as I thought about talking to certain persons, I knew I would start to cry. I did not want to have to explain, or really I did not want them to feel that I was asking them to make it all better. I ended up asking Max to go out to dinner somewhere we could walk. He knew I was feeling down but that was not the subject of our conversation. It helped me to own what I felt, and not isolate myself.

Just now in writing this, I see the connection with my sermon from last Sunday, where loneliness can come from feeling like an outsider, or it can make me feel like one. After all, who would want to listen to me? I can see that what I outlined in my sermon is what Max did. It helped.  
Take time – Sit with – Listen to – Open your heart to

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.