Devotional 9-28-12

Win Place or Show

 I certainly will not be in the running for the award given to the band parent who has attended the most high school band competitions, but I have certainly been to several.  Mobilizing a marching band is not unlike putting a military force in motion; neat fitting uniforms, equipment vehicles, tools for the mission and loads of preparation. At these competitions, I have been witness to bands that were indeed of collegiate quality, bands that absolutely delivered a stellar performance and ‘also rans’. Some came from far away, some from right in the same county. Some bands have large numbers, some not so much. Some bands have members who have all memorized their music, some carry small folders containing the sheets of music required to get through the show. I would be a terrible band competition judge; I would give everyone top marks due to their effort, their enthusiasm, their devotion to the group and well, because they showed up.  It would be hard to select a winner that way.  Kind of like church. Come from near or far, memorize Bible verses or not, all are winners.

This past Saturday I saw maybe the coolest thing I have ever seen at one of these competitions. The band had taken the field, the music began and the marching started. All at once I noticed what seemed to be two people standing in one location. As I followed this image, low and behold it was two people – in the same spot. The trumpet player, in full uniform, was blind.  The young lady behind him, also in full uniform, was grasping his uniform near the shoulder blades and was ‘guiding’ him throughout the formation.  They moved as one.  He didn’t trip on her, and she did not push or tug him in a direction that he was not already ready to move. They marched, walked and crabbed sideways in step. It was incredible to watch. He had clearly put forth the effort to learn the music and to learn the sets. (I learned that word from my band student.)  She had also taken the time and commitment to learn the movements of the show. She believed in him, and he trusted her. Kind of like church. We study and learn but still may not have a complete picture of what is unfolding. A more experienced Christian ‘takes us by the shoulders’  and guides us along, interpreting scripture, offering a valued opinion or giving advise so that we don’t trip or bump into things. They believe in us and we trust them.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 9-22-12

Ode to a Virtuous Woman

Please read Proverbs 31:10-31

There are two kinds of people in the world:  those who love the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, and those who don’t.

Some people hear the description of the virtuous woman and think of a virtuous woman who has had an impact on their lives.  Others complain that the description of the virtuous woman (ostensibly written by a man) sets up a standard that is unattainable and unrealistic.

Count me among those who like it.  Consider my re-write, in honor of another virtuous woman, Jerry Taylor:

A capable mom who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

The hearts of her children trust in her, and they will have no lack of gain because of her.

She does them good, and not harm, all the days of her life.  There were a few times when she may have threatened harm, but she never followed through with it.

She seeks cotton and polyester blends and, with the help of McCall patterns, works with willing hands to make formal dresses.  With wool yarn and needles she knits sweaters and even ascots like Mike Nesmith from the Monkees used to wear.

She shops on Thursdays, bringing her food from the A&P, dividing the candy into four equal portions.

She rises while it is still night and provides food for the bake sale her youngest son forgot to tell her about.

She considers a field and decides to play golf on it.

She girds herself with a 3-wood, and makes her arms strong.

She puts her hands to the grip, and knocks it straight down the middle.

She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Although she hates snow days, she is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are wrapped in hand-made Afghans. 

Her husband is known all over town, taking a leadership role in the community.

Strength and compassion are her clothing, but she loves to laugh.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness, but loves a good board game.

Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Mom is not made virtuous by what she does; her actions are the fruit of her virtue.  Thanks, Mom.  And my apologies to Solomon.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 9-16-12

You are my child
When you were a child,
I loved you.
I called you to join me
Even before you could hear me
Even before you knew I existed.
I called you
I loved you.

The more I called,
The more you were deaf to me
The farther you moved away from me.
You revered that which did not love you.
You sought after those gods that would bring you pain.

I taught you how to walk,
I taught you how to love each other,
I held you when you were broken,
I healed your pain.

I led you with ties of kindness.
Out of love for you
I lifted your burdens away.
You were nurtured and fed by me.
I can still feel the softness of your hair
As I held you close
Kept you safe
Tried to protect you from yourself.

And yet you turn away.
You worship money, possessions, yourself
You rebel against my love
You will not follow my guidance.
You are determined to turn your back on me.

How can I give you up?
How can I leave you to your sin?
How can I watch as you destroy your lives?
As you hurt each other?
As you forget me?

My heart breaks.

There are times when you deserve my anger
When you have earned the consequences
Of your sin.

But I am your God.
I am not man.
I am the Holy One among you.
I will not come in anger.
I can only come in love.

The time will come when
You will follow me.
You will hear my voice
See my vision.
And you will come to me

Like the birds of the air
That I set into flight.
Like the fish in the ocean
That swim because I taught them how,
You will come to me,
And I will take you in,
Settling you into my arms
Like the child you are.
Kim Matthews

Devotional 9-7-12

A reflection written by Oswald W.S. McCall. I think it makes for a nice lead-in to a time of quiet prayer. I hope it blesses you…

“Not once in a life but again and again, and every day, and perhaps many times a day, it must be encouraged to come…the restoring sacrament of pause. It comes not easily at first without encouragement. Later it seeks one out.

It is the moment that corrects and counteracts our many moments that become destructive to us, snatching us away from and breaking the divine accord.

 
For the sake of all things good and beautiful and true in him, for the guarding of them in all of his life, one must seek again and again that lifting instant in which he rouses his soul to repair the impaired harmony. Back to God he must call his thought, lift his conscience to God for correction, bid his heart express again its chosen loyalty to God. His whole self must make an effort to re-set and re-establish and reconfirm itself in the life and love of God.”

I invite and encourage you today to accept the gift of pause, of stillness. Grant your heart a Sabbath moment to turn from all the demands that compete for our allegiance, to fix your eyes and heart firmly on the God who loves you, who redeems you, and saves you. Enjoy the presence of your God today!

Rev. Joe Hill