"Fine!"

James 5:16 (NIV)  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Some people grow up in homes/settings where there is an unwritten curriculum. It’s a short, simple curriculum about what to communicate to others. No matter what the situation… no matter what your experience… no matter what you are feeling… when asked how you are doing, always say, “Fine!” And the second part of the curriculum is… whenever possible – as much as possible – always smile when you say, “Fine!”

You see, you would never want anyone to know that there was anything wrong in your life or with your life, because everything is supposed to be fine. You would not want anyone to think less of you, or look down on you, or make you the object of gossip or some other inappropriate form of conversation. You wouldn’t want anyone to know that you are not strong all the time, not smart about everything, don’t always know what to do or say, aren’t in full control of your emotions or actions, You wouldn’t want anyone to know that you had failed (or were failing) at something, that you’ve made tons of mistakes in your relationships, parenting, and personal decisions. You wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea about you, so you show only certain things: the things you don’t mind people knowing/seeing. These are typically good things - in your mind - things that communicate that you really are doing just fine.

On Sunday morning in worship, six people very briefly communicated something to the rest of us that said, “I’m not fine.” That was a very powerful moment, even though it came and went very quickly. These folks were helping us become acquainted with a new ministry starting in our church that is designed to encourage people with hurts, hang-ups, and habits that contribute to their lives not being “fine”. The moment was powerful because it was a dose of reality. Though it is not the only time in the week, Sunday morning (at church) is one of the biggest smiling “I’m fine!” times in our lives. There either isn’t the time or the inclination to drop the masks that we wear. Because if we do, who knows what will happen? Someone might be shocked. Someone might be disappointed. Someone might be sad or hurt. Our reasons for feeling “fine” usually have more to do with us and our fear of embarrassment or rejection, but we certainly wouldn’t want to make someone else feel bad either.

Whatever our reasons for the limited “I’m fine” vocabulary, we hold back. I think that’s why those who shared on Sunday – and what they said - felt so powerful. It was fresh air in a stale room, life amidst death, reality in the midst of pretend, openness in a place where we tend to be comfortably closed. If I had to pick a word that described what happened and the difference I felt, it would be “vulnerability”. A few people for a brief time made themselves vulnerable, and my heart began to sing. I believe we are attracted to vulnerable people, ultimately because that’s what we would like to be. To be “vulnerable” is to be… “capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt”. So vulnerability communicates “I’m not fine!” It prefers the truth to being safe. It prefers honesty and transparency, even when it is accompanied by fear of being misunderstood or mistreated or undervalued.

One reason (of many) that Christ has given us the Church is that we might love one another. We do this by caring, by listening, by encouraging, by giving grace, by forgiving and accepting, and by praying for others who are vulnerable before us. I’m thankful for the examples on Sunday, and I pray for blessings on this ministry. But I also pray that the Holy Spirit will open up the floodgates of our hearts to one another, and for all the grace that the Lord will pour out to us in our brokenness, pain, weakness, foolishness, confusion, poor decisions, misbehaviors, and sheer stupidity. May we be givers and sharers of this same grace when our brothers and sisters let us know “I’m not fine”.

John 13:34 (NIV) ³⁴  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Matthew 9:12-13 (NIV) ¹²  On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³  But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV)  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

1 Timothy 1:15 (MSG)  Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—

Psalm 51:17 (NIV)  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for the way that even my brokenness can bring you glory. Thank you for your grace to me, and that your grace gives me something to share – a testimony of your power and goodness to me, a sinner. Your grace is more than enough for everything in my life that really isn’t “fine”. Thank you for that. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Someone to Devour

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Sunday was a beautiful day and Joanne and I decided to go out for a walk. We usually walk for about an hour and we usually walk in town. Now that the park is open, however, we decided to find a carriage path. We didn’t get started until about 3:45, but it was nice so we headed out around Eagle Lake and decided to walk toward Aunt Betty’s Pond. About half-way down the hill (behind Park Headquarters) I asked Joanne if she was in a hurry to get home. She said, “No,” so I suggested we do the whole loop. I’ve done it on my bike many times but have never walked it before. The distance wasn’t a problem, but as the afternoon waned we noticed that we were being joined on our walk by many friendly mosquitoes. As their numbers grew our pace quickened. There was virtually no breeze to keep them away and we hadn’t thought about putting anything on to repel bugs. So with a good 45-60 minutes left we fought the good fight – Joanne swatting with hands and me with my cap – sort of like a horse with his tail. It could have been much worse. They could have been joined by black flies. But it was just the mosquitoes who wanted our company so much. At one point we started jogging in order to escape their relentless, behind-the-head pursuit. They can be very persistent. It’s amazing how many phantom landings (on your body) you feel when they are around, not to mention the genuine ones. Though we did not get many “bites”, we were very glad to finally get back to the car and head home.

Mosquitoes are part of the creation that surrounds us. And, like all living creatures, they would rather survive than not. For them to do so, they need blood from a host. When I looked for synonyms for “mosquito” I found “leech, parasite, tick, vampire”… not a very pleasant group of words. I don’t know many people who would say they like mosquitoes. Such a small creature, but so annoying. And so determined! The high-pitched sound mosquitoes make pales in comparison to the roar of a lion, but it can still drive you crazy. As we made our way through them and got home I thought of Peter’s words “looking for someone to devour”. That felt certainly true with regard to these small creatures. They do not give up. They have no malice or emotion… just a desire to live.

For the most part, mosquitoes – while being annoying – are pretty much harmless, though the diseases they spread can be very serious. But compared to a lion, there is much less to fear. Peter compares the devil to a lion… a hungry lion who cleverly prowls for its victims. To “prowl” is to “move around restlessly and stealthily, especially in search of or as if in search of prey”. This is why Peter cautions alertness. Joanne and I just “walked into it” unthinking, and paid a very small price. To do so with a lion would be the height of foolishness. In a similar way, to ignore the existence and efforts of the enemy of our souls and those who serve him is a foolish thing to do. But it is also foolish to obsess over it in fear. C.S. Lewis’ well known quote from The Screwtape Letters is apropos:  “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” We have an enemy. But we have a Savior who is greater… a Savior who has defeated our enemy and delivers us daily. A great part of being “alert” is staying close to our Savior and being filled with the Holy Spirit and with the Word of God. Let us encourage one another with the Word of God and pray for each other faithfully.

1 John 4:4 (KJV)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Psalm 63:7-10 (NIV) ⁷  Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. ⁸  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. ⁹  They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. ¹⁰  They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.

Matthew 6:13 (NIV)  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

PRAYER:  Father, thank you for your gracious protection and your oversight of my soul. You have delivered me from the enemy of my soul through the riches of your grace. You protect me each day and you watch over me. Thank you for brothers and sisters in Christ who help me, for your Word which guides me, for your Spirit who fills me. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott