In the Loop; In the Spirit

Each and every person has their own little battles that fight day to day, month to month or beyond. In the midst of battling things like cancer etc., one sometimes becomes embroiled in a second battle. In his struggle with cancer, treatments, hospitalization, dialysis and more, his rent was raised. Now, a veteran, on fixed income, had to figure out how to survive housing in the midst of surviving cancer. Last month, he made the move to his new place. Today, I will be doing his funeral. Today, he moves on to another place. He resides no longer in the midst of battles. Yet, for how many will there be a battle today?

Israel and Palestine arranged for a prisoner swap. It wasn’t completely satisfying to everyone. How can one love when there are those who solely wreak havoc on the lives of others? Are we fooling ourselves to think it is possible? Christ saw people as they were but he also saw them as they could be. Read Matthew 8 and then try to discover how Christ would look at those we find it hard to love. Our attitude can change not on our own but through Christ’s understanding. This may enable us to love one another.

All around the world people are picketing on the streets for change. Much of our life shows no radical changes. Mostly life is a matter of improvement and adjustment. But sometimes there are big changes. We fall in love and our life is altered. A child comes into our lives and it requires changes. A person figures out what they want to do in life. These changes give rebirth and renewal to ordinary life. But most change is not our doing. It simply happens. Then we celebrate. In this same way God comes to us and changes us maybe through adjustments, maybe in the huge impact, but in either course it brings new life. In this we should definitely celebrate.

Washington continues to wrestle with options rather than implement them. It seems their world isn’t simply black or white. It is complicated with many things in it. Yet, they seem so sure to hold on to their political opinions as a hard core liberal or conservative, if those terms even exist anymore. It would be better to have a questioning mind rather than a closed one. But there is one who asks for a simple yes or no. Christ doesn’t say he is truthful, he says he is the truth. This requires us not to look at both sides of the issues but at the truth. We look at Christ and then examine the claims of Washington’s best, if that term even exists anymore.

Casey Anthony and Amanda Knox, the jury is out on both of them. The situations are certainly perplexing. But then does anyone really understand their own actions? Sometimes we are an example of patience, the next we are screaming banshees. There also is life itself when we realize that illusions have been shattered and goals achieved seem empty. Life can be perplexing and we all find ourselves sometimes as a mystery. But God does understand the perplexity of life and enters into it full throttle. Jesus comes to help unravel the mystery that is we ourselves. What have you discovered through Christ?

People in America have taken to the streets. For some it is a clear sign of divisionism in America. Just like the multitudes that clamored after Jesus for healing, Americans are seeking the same for their lives. For once religion seems to have the answer in Jesus’s statement of love your neighbor as yourself. Luther goes even further in his explanation of the commandments: we are to look out for our neighbor. Looking to Jesus’ teachings there is hope for those seeking physical and spiritual well-being. It may have been less needed if it was first heeded earlier on in leadership.

Today’s front page article in the Star Tribune finds a woman jailed in contempt of court for her “beliefs”. It is against her custom, but the judge isn’t buying it. Customs and styles vary and change. Yet, we find the same basic drives and desires of those in the Bible years before us. Is it possible that in pursuing something we think is worth our effort, that we are missing the real joy life can bring? We can pursue our causes or we can determine to use our life for moments of love, compassion and understanding so others may know joy. By putting aside our pursuits on behalf of others, we discover the true happiness and meaning that comes to the human heart. Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me?” What evidence will the judge find in our lives?

The presidential race is on. Iowa had its straw vote and the candidates are being shuffled as I write. Rather than a candidate, I wish for real representatives. There is a tremendous disconnect between what is preached and what is lived by our representatives. Jesus asks us to do what he has done for us. Doing for others what we would have them do for us helps us represent. It is more than a slogan of fair play. It should be the central act of each and every representative that takes office. I for one am waiting for this change.

There has been much anxiety lately. Some feel it is because of all the things that are going on in the world. There are fears and anxieties abiding everywhere. But these fears and anxieties abide here in our everyday lives. We often are adrift in a huge sea within a small boat. In the text where the disciples are adrift and in the midst of great anxiety, Jesus comes to them. This same Jesus offers to come to us in the midst of our struggles.
How might life change for us if we let Jesus come to us and we put our faith into God’s hands?

When hardships fall on us they aren’t always a joy. They create stress and sometimes increase our hardship. It is one thing when it is inflicted upon us. But are there times when we invite hardship into our lives? Do we sometimes bear those things that we needn’t bear? It’s easy to wallow in the trifles of our own lives. It’s harder to wallow in the lives of others bearing burdens alongside them. But we do have a choice. Christianity at its best asks this of us. What will our choice be?