Thursday, January 12, 2012

new shoes

I have two pair of black shoes; one pair is casual, everyday work shoes. The other pair are dress shoes.  I wear them on Sundays.  I have two pair of brown shoes. I have a pair of sneakers, a pair of hiking shoes, two pairs of boots, and two pairs of sandals.  
My one pair of black shoes that I wear almost everyday is becoming worn.  I don;t buy shoes often.  I buy shoes that will last for a few years, at least.  I can justify owning all these shoes.  They all serve a different function, depending on the season, the dress, the occasion.  I could probably get by with four pairs.  Boots, sneakers, black dress shoes, and sandals.  I say all of this knowing that there are children in this world that have no shoes.  I am blessed with more than I need.  I am well aware.  I have shoes and clothes, a secure home, more than enough to eat, clean water, health care, sanitation, and gadgets to entertain me.  But I am deeply aware that I am in the wealthy global minority in this regard. I am aware of the presence of poverty and need.  I am so because I see people in circumstances different from mine all the time.  I don't travel to Africa or Haiti to see them.  I notice my neighbors.    
  
There is a family in my church. There are two adults and four children under age 9 in the house.  They worship here every week.  The children were all baptized here by me.  They are being evicted from their apartment.  Seven months of unemployment has meant that income has been too low to sustain the household.    When they found the eviction note they called me.  I went to visit with them, make a plan, suggest some resources, and pray for God's help.  That was Monday.  

Monday, January 09, 2012

Epiphany and the presence of God

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it."     ... Brother Lawrence


To dwell in the presence of God is a sort of experience that both frightens and excites me. As a person of faith, I can say that I have experienced God's presence; felt the nearness of God, received God's love and peace, encountered God's judgment and mercy.  I have heard and seen some things that cause me to believe what I believe.  I'm not sure that I have been as faithful a practitioner to it though.  Mostly, God has made Himself known.  Practicing the presence of God can also be described as communion with God or union with God.  For centuries, faithful people have sought God's presence through meditation and prayer, dwelling in God's Word, being with other believers, worshiping God in liturgy, sitting in silence, and/or serving others.  I suspect that most of us experience something like the absence or hidden-ness of God. The reality of God is something that is questioned, doubted, and rejected by many people.  I cannot say that they are wrong. They have experienced life and have interpreted what they have experienced.  They have been taught and shaped by people and things outside of themselves.  So have I.  So why do I believe in God and someone else does not?  By choice?  By misinformation?  When it comes to faith in God are the categories "right" or "wrong" sufficient or proper?  If they are then who gets the blame?  The messenger or the recipient?  There are no non-believers.  Everyone believes in something.  
The bible itself revels in revelation...God appears to some people and not to others.  Some people see God, others cannot. Some men have visions.  Others do not.  Some women see the Lord.  Others don't.   Even Jesus himself, crying out the words of the 22nd Psalm, declares that God has forsaken him in crucifixion.  The bible tells us that God's presence is revealed, uncovered, encountered. Where, when, and to whom is biblical mystery.  
Sometimes we say we believe in God but we have no evidence, by reason or faith, to say it. We say it because to not believe in God is worse than to say we believe it and yet to doubt. 
I believe God hides from us. I believe we hide from God.  I believe God is near us and we can come closer to God.  I believe movement toward each other is what life is about. To practice the presence of God is something like looking in the mirror in a dark room and hoping that the light comes on while you're looking in the right direction.