Liberation

Today is May 5, 2020. Don and I had plans to be in the Netherlands attending the 75 Anniversary of Liberation celebrations. Of course our plans were postponed, as were the celebrations. So here we are, at home, with our orange shirts on, Dutch music in the foreground (music is seldom in the background at our house) and our planned ethnic dishes for each meal today. If we can’t actually be there, we’ll just pretend. Even our neighbors got into the act, donning orange shirts and adding “Vander” to their last name. Cute.

            It’s inspiring to me that after 75 years, the Dutch are still so grateful to the Canadians for their part in liberating their nation from the occupation during World War II. Canadians are their heroes; Canadian tourists to the Netherlands are always warmly welcomed and treated royally. Each year on May 5, the country turns out in droves for lively celebrations commemorating this historical event.

            I think our parents’ decision to immigrate to Canada was in no small part due to their deep respect for the Canadians whose sacrificial action secured freedom for the Dutch people. Freedom is a big deal. It is a gift not easily forgotten, and worthy of celebration.

            How wonderful to be free! Canadians of our generation and younger have not experienced oppression, hunger and violence from internal conflict, or at the hands of another nation. Many new Canadians know the feelings of hopelessness in these circumstances. New Canadians, while missing their homeland, are so thankful for the peace experienced here. Those who have never experienced slavery are less able to appreciate the price of freedom.

            Anyone who has been enslaved by a destructive habit or substance knows the relief of true freedom. Milestone celebrations with Alcoholics Anonymous and similar organizations are significant. To be plucked from the gripping talons of an addiction – and to remain in that freedom – is certainly cause to remember and celebrate.

Perhaps this is why, we who have taken on the name of Christ know perhaps best of all just how wonderful freedom is. We, too, have been held hostage – by our sins, by our fears, by our selfishness. Sometimes we slip back into these, but not for long. We’ve been set free from slavery. We are recipients of the grace found in the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf and in the resurrection that gives us victory over slavery and ultimately, death. Freedom is life giving.

We celebrate our freedom in praise, in thankfulness, in worship, in discovering who God has made us to be, and then acting on that discovery. We celebrate our freedom in the work we are given, in the community we are part of, in the gifts and talents integral to our being, in the beauty and love we share with others.

When we experience true freedom, it is natural that we share our story of that freedom with others and celebrate!

Prayer, Glory and Trust

In the past six months or so, there have been circumstances in the lives of people around me and in my community of faith that have compelled me to deep, urgent praying. Although prayer is a regular part of my life, there are times when the Spirit leads me into what scriptures calls 'fervent prayer'. The kind that drives you to your knees, that is accompanied by tears and a wrung out heart. It's coming before my Father in desperation. I need to hear from Him; I need to be able to trust Him for something big. I believe this is when God is calling me back to Him, to show me how dependent I am on His grace and goodness.

This is when I look for promises in Scripture that I can hold up, reminding the Father of His faithfulness. It's when I look at history - both further back and recent, in biblical times and in my own life - to remind Him of what He's already done. It's when I look at His will for this world, and pray accordingly. Doing this resets my perspective and helps me pray in step with the Spirit. I am reminded that through Christ, any and every situation can be redeemed. And I pray that back to Him.

The one thing that stood out for me in these last months is the importance of praying for God's glory to be revealed in every request I make (it might even change/omit certain requests). Creation, including humankind, exist for His glory. And so, praying for answers that will reveal His character, His greatness, is what changes my heart but also gives me His ear.

With this in mind, I tested it on the Lord's prayer:

Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name,
       to display Your glory

Your kingdom come,
       to display Your glory

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,
       to display Your glory

Give us today our daily bread,
       to display Your glory

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors
       to display Your glory

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
        to display Your glory.

When we truly desire God's glory first of all, everything changes. Our agenda becomes aligned with the kingdom. Is this easy? Is it automatic? Of course not. There is still the struggle with what I want and how I want my petitions answered. But as I pray this way, I slowly grow into a deeper peace and trust.

Fear

I am not a person given to much worry. Admittedly, in these turbulent times, I do notice that fear sometimes creeps around the periphery of my vision. But generally, I am with Patel, Manager of The Best Marigold Hotel who says, "Everything will be all right in the end; if it's not all right, it's not yet the end." When I go through difficult times, I remind myself that "this, too, shall pass".

A big picture person, details tend to evade my attention at the best of times. Big picture thinking  leads me to agree with Patel, convinced that all will be well in the end. There is an infinite line of history that merges into eternity. A place where time-keeping is abolished, and there is no end of wellbeing in the presence of our Maker and Lover. No human mind can comprehend the glorious joy - the 'well' in the end.

It's not that I'm so very heavenly-minded. My feet are firmly planted; I have a calling that keeps me grounded. And I am not afraid. I don't experience anxiety, as a rule, so in a world where angst is prevalent, I've often wondered if I'm some kind of abnormal creature, or one whose head is deeply buried in the sand. As a small child, I panicked whenever I couldn't see one or other of my parents. Later, I suffered debilitating attacks of stomach pain for no apparent reason. As I grew older, something changed. How and when did that happen?

Walter Bruggeman says that the Spirit - who knows us and calls us by name, baptizes us with freedom - allowing us to be unafraid, to live differently, without a need to control, dominate, or accumulate.

The Spirit offers us the option of not being driven by anxiety (please know that I have great empathy for those with mental health issues; I believe this is not what Bruggeman is referring to here). The new believers in the resurrection of Christ - the church described in Acts 2 - were bold, unafraid. And they turned the world upside down. No; he concedes, "they turned the world right side up".

Bruggeman continues on: Frightened people will never turn the world, simply because they expend so much energy in self-protection, self-defence, accumulation, self-absorption, dissatisfaction and restlessness. By contrast, he says, the unafraid are open to their neighbours, unthreatened by those who are different; they are generous and live open-handedly; they act in compassion and mercy; they do justice for the weak and the poor; they pray at the beginning of the day, act in love through the day, and give thanks at the end of the day.

Really, this is about the one, true, unconditional Love. Only Love can turn the world right-side up. And Love conquers fear. God is Love.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.(1 John 4:18)

I've let things slide...or more specifically, I've let this blog site slide. Perhaps it's part of my Dutch heritage ... the work ethic. I know it's not a good excuse, but it's the only one I've got. I am trapped in a mindset of getting things done - things you can measure and see. Clean this. Cook that. Grow this. Store up freezer meals, and take some meals to someone who needs them.

There's always so much to do; to take time for something frivolous (i.e. writing), seems, well, frivolous! I know it's important to log my spiritual journey. It helps me look back to where I've been, and how far I've come, or how dry my life has become. It may validate some revelations in my life. It may confirm who I am, and who I'm called to be. It may even (by God's grace) give someone else something to ponder on their journey.

I recall going on a one-day sail on a tall ship. We were in the doldrums; that is, there was no wind. We couldn't go anywhere. There wasn't a breeze anywhere to help us along. I have not been sitting motionless in the doldrums lately. God's wind has been providing me with energy for movement. He's teaching me about fruit of the Spirit, and He's teaching me about prayer. The journey is delightful! I am, for the first time in years, thoroughly enjoying sitting at His feet and learning. I am content with being taught, and being in His presence. I will enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

I know that the journey here is fraught with potholes. I know that I will struggle. But for now, I will not feel guilty about this peaceful existence. My spirit grows as the Spirit holds me in sweet comfort.

I hope to be more disciplined in sharing my journey. I hope you join me.

God's Dreams

A few weeks ago, our pastor posed the question, “What are God’s dreams for you?”

What? God has dreams for me? If that’s true, they must be awesome, because God thinks big. And if He’s got dreams for me, he must have them for my kids, grandkids, friends and neighbors. And if that’s true, it’s time well spent asking Him what those dreams are.

      There have been times in my life when God has brought specific individuals or circumstances into my heart for prayer. Not just a simple request, but what the Bible refers to as 'fervent prayer' - the kind that drives you to your knees and is often accompanied by tears. Those strong nudges from within are the Spirit's urges calling us to the work of prayer.

      Sad to say, I'm not always as in tune with the Spirit's leading as I'd like to be. But when I've paid attention, it didn't take long to notice that God was up to something - and allowing me to be part of it. What could be more faith building than that? To see someone's life change or see the kingdom flourish in some way gives us a glimpse of God's dreams for us and our world.

       It's one a thing to realize that God has plans for us. But dreams ... that seems so much more integral to a Father/child relationship. It seems bigger somehow. Anything is within the realm of dreams. Just look at the immensity and variety within creation. That, too was God's dream. Wow!

      I wonder what the world would look like if all God's children considered His dreams for the world and paid close attention to the Spirit's stirrings in our prayer lives.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Eph 6:18)

Meditating Together

Last week I didn't do well in terms of quantity of meditation, although quality was good. Is there merit in being 'religious' about our quiet times? Perhaps. But on the other hand, if it becomes rote...

But that's something to be debated either way. (Maybe the point about it becoming rote is another excuse for someone less disciplined, as I am, to justify a habit that occurs less than daily). As I say, last week I didn't get into my quiet space very often. But a few days ago, my 'spiritual sisters' and I (three of us) spent the day together, meditating on a poem one of them brought along.

Which brings up another point. It's wonderful to meditate on scripture. But sometimes we encounter poetry or writings of Christian leaders (spiritual classics) that merit a look, turning over, peering inside. Such was the case with this poem. And to be honest, the first time I heard it, nothing happened. I had to hear it three times for some of its meaning to sink in. I heard it first as written - third person, male. The second time, the next sister read it in third person female. And finally, I read it in first person singular. Each rendering, each different voice yielding distinctive insights.

Most of the time, we consider meditation to be personal; but there's value in sharing our time of meditation now and again. Being quiet together, reading, praying, journaling, then sharing what the Spirit brings to our attention. When my SS's came, we lit my Trinity candle, settled into some comfy chairs with our coffee/tea, lit the fireplace and enjoyed deep (and sometimes light) conversation together as we gained some new insights into a poem (Having Confessed by Patrick Kavanagh) on a difficult topic. (When is confession easy?) We continued our fellowship over lunch, catching up with how God is working in the centre and periphery of each of our lives. I'm also involved in a group where we meet together to meditate and share over 90 minutes in an evening every few weeks.

So time alone with God is good, but I'm also reminded that just as I am refreshed by the Divine (Trinitarian) community, refreshment also comes in the richness of God's human community. Even in something as personal as meditation.

Different Strokes

Lest we think that our time of meditation should be modelled after someone else's, it's freeing to know that experimentation will help us find what's best in our own situation, for our own personality.

In his book, God in My Everything https://www.amazon.ca/God-My-Everything-Ancient-Rhythm/dp/0310499259, Ken Shigematsu describes his personal time with God first thing in the morning, after preparing a light breakfast. Sitting at the kitchen table, "after several minutes of silence, I put on my headphones and begin listening to a Psalm, a passage in the Gospels, or another Scripture while reading along in my Bible. I YouTube a worship song, usually one from our previous Sunday's worship service, then enter into a time of prayer in response to something that has resonated with me from that passage or song. I almost always follow this routine by jogging or swimming; after quiet contemplation, physical activity feels like an extension of my time with God."

I've used my phone for meditation now and then, but not as a rule. Just goes to show there's all kinds of ways/places/tools to try out. And ways to think about what will help us carry our light with us into our day.

There's something refreshing about how Shigematsu extends his time with God through exercise. There is no 'period' at the end of his mediation time. It's an ellipsis . . .

Isn't this how it should be? Feels like the foreshadowing of movement from this life into the next. Nothing final. Just a natural progression.