Have you ever noticed how you try to balance the concerns in your life? It seems that I place the responsibilities of ministry on one side of a fulcrum, like a ruler, and the rest of my life on the other, attempting to form a balance or achieve harmony. Surprisingly, there are some times when I am successful, but, as you know, life is not static or stationary. It is dynamic, filled with changes, surprises and chaos. The result is that the ruler cannot stay balanced.
What do you do when life is out of balance? Lent is a time to ask yourself how are you still in order to know God. It is a journey to give something of yourself away in order to find a lesson or a blessing from God. It is a time to let the peace of God bring some sense of balance and harmony even if the challenges you face seem insurmountable.
The story has been told that when Napoleon marched the French army over the Alps to win a stunning victory in Italy that someone asked him, "How did you make the army march over the mountains?" Napoleon is reported to have answered, "One does not make the French army march over the Alps; one leads the army over them."
Leadership is important to almost every aspect of life. I love the story of the early church as it grows in the book of Acts. On those pages, it is easy to see God raising ordinary men and women to lead the church to touch and change the world in extraordinary ways. There is no greater joy in the Body of Christ than when someone discovers how God can use them to build the Kingdom wherever they live, work and have fun. Give God a chance to move and guide you to influence someone with the love of Christ. It may be as a parent, a friend, an official in the church or any area of influence that you can lead with the Spirit of Christ.
On our last trip to Greece and Turkey to tour the sites of the early churches of Paul and John, our group was on a medium sized cruise ship for the travel to Patmos and Ephesus, as well as other sites. The first day at sea was challenging with strong winds and high waves. The leaders of the various groups and families were all gathered in the ship's lounge to hear our instructions for the upcoming departures, and while we were gathered in this room without ventilation, with closed windows and with a tossing ship, I experienced a new sensation. The name of this new feeling is "motion sickness." I felt as if I was about to feed the fishes my lunch but could not reach the outside deck in time. Instead of panicking, I took a few deep breaths and slowly walked to the outside where the view and the air seemed to clear my head and settle my stomach almost instantly.
Some times our days produce a form of motion sickness. The hectic pace, the confusion and complexity of our responsibilities and obligations, the anxiety of the economic uncertainty of the country and the world and the worries about our loved ones will cause us to feel uneasy and unsure. Just as I needed space, a place of fresh air and a wide view, to reorient myself on that boat, so do we all need to create space to be alone with God. Draw away for even a few moments from the challenges of your day and seek the refreshment and renewal that God can provide and let the Lord bring a sense of calmness and peace to you.
There is nothing like a refreshing shower after a hard day's work or an afternoon of rigorous exercise. In the middle of the summer when the heat is unbearable, a dip in a swimming pool can offer a cool and fun break. Now, as the weeks have produced little rain here in our vicinity, the need to water our lawns and plants is critically necessary to keep our grass and landscaped beds alive and healthy.
It is no wonder that the prophet Isaiah compared God's word to water. The rains come and refresh the ground, nourishing the plants and crops. According to the scriptures, this is the purpose God has for the refreshing and renewing water. So it is to study the word of the Lord contained in the Bible. It is nourishment and refreshment for our souls. Each moment we spend reading and meditating on the scriptures will bring us closer to the grace of God that touches our lives and makes us whole.
A day to call sabbath is a true blessing from God. Our lives are filled with so much activity and the pace seems to increase daily. It is difficult not to fail prey to a sickness of hurry and impatience as we scurry about our packed schedules and full calendars.
Sundays should be a time to change the pace and direction of our lives. Worship in a community of faith should have priority, alongside time with family and meaningful relationships on Sundays. I find the cessation of any commercial activity is helpful, not just for me but also for clerks. Devoting time to appreciating the wonder of God's creation brings fulfillment on the Sabbath. Let me encourage you to make tomorrow a holy Sabbath and to be present in worship.
One saying people express often comes from the Psalms. It says, "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." It is easy to be glad and happy when the day offers opportunity to have fun and enjoy activities that are entertaining and fulfilling. Spending time with friends and loved ones is always a treat that can bring joy. In so many ways, a sense of gratitude to God for the blessings of a day can arise.
But how can you rejoice in times of pain, disappointment or fear? There are moments and places that we all face which are frightening and perplexing. Yet, God still is the creator and sovereign Lord of bad days as well as good ones. The blessing that God offers us for those challenging times is the sense of peace that comes through the Holy Spirit. Peace is not the removal of the problems or pains but the truth that God is with us through them.We can be assured that God loves us and watches over us. God's comfort and courage can be ours.
Take a chance and praise God when you are tired or bothered. Take a moment to give God thanks for loving you when you are in a tight spot. You may discover a deeper and richer understanding of the "joy of the Lord" that can be yours.
"The earth is the Lord's; and the fullness thereof," declares the psalmist. All around us, nature reveals God's glory and wonder. The providential love of our Heavenly Father has given us the grandeur and majesty of creation, the complexities and mysteries of life and the beauty and awe of relationships.
It is all a gift of God's grace, not to be abused or taken for granted but to be appreciated and maintained with respect for all life, with wisdom and justice and with love toward God. Creation itself can reveal that God is real, that God cares for you and that God provides for all His children. Are you looking?
