By Sarah Teichmann
Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
The writer of Psalm 46 truly knew how to express God’s power—God is God and we are not. God is exalted among the nations and in the earth.
I hear this sentiment and I think of the words to a favorite hymn of mine Earth and All Stars. Some of the verses include phrases like “Earth and all stars! Loud rushing planets! Sing to the Lord a new song! Engines and steel! Loud pounding hammers! Sing to the Lord a new song! Classrooms and labs! Loud boiling test tubes! Sing to the Lord a new song!” I love this hymn because it absolutely captures the harmony of God’s creation and all that God has done in our world. What energy! What loudness! What joy! I can really appreciate the Psalmist’s words that God is exalted in the earth.
However, I must admit that I have a slight problem with the first part of Psalm 46:10—actually I have a problem with the first two words of that verse. Be still. Wow. Is that hard for anyone else?
Are you like me in that stillness can be very difficult? I often feel that my deadlines at work, my obligations at home, and my attempts to have fun or relaxation keep me from the ability to just be still—to not have 500,000 (more or less) stimuli coming at me in one day.
Sometimes I day dream about going off to some enchanted place where there are no deadlines, phones, email, text messages, televisions, movies, newspapers, computers, radios or internet access. Now I quickly realize that I would go stir crazy if I did not have some of these things, so perhaps I should not attempt to go live in some remote mythical island. Perhaps I should try taking baby steps. Baby steps toward stillness.
I realize that the Psalmist never wrote “O Lord, help me take baby steps to being still,” but it is a good prayer anyhow. Perhaps when you and I take these baby steps to being still we will have a growing appreciation to God’s power in our life. Perhaps we will hear the words “Be still, and know that I am God” more clearly as we press onward and outward in our lives.
I pray that your day is filled with the awareness of God’s goodness in your life—whether it is in moments of energy and loudness or in times of stillness and silence. This is the day that the Lord has made—let us truly rejoice and be glad in it!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Rainy Season
By Sarah Teichmann
The other day I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I wanted to get some exercise, get out the house, and get some fresh air. Great! I put on my sunscreen, grabbed my sunglasses, and put on my walking shoes—I was ready to go. The one element that I did not think about was the weather. I grew up in New England and am still getting acquainted with Floridian weather patterns and the particular season known as “the rainy season.”
Well, there I was—walking around the neighborhood when a low rumble could be heard from the east. I looked up and to my chagrin I saw a wall of cumulonimbus clouds (e.g. the really scary, dark, ominous clouds) coming westward. My walking pace quickened as I hightailed back to my house and I barely got inside before the wall of rain came pouring down on me. Oh, the rainy season! I feel as though this title effectively labels climatic trends, behavioral moods, and the overall periods of life when you feel that you are being perpetually dumped on.
What do you do when the rainy season comes? Sometimes these rainy seasons seem so bad that we fear being flooded by disappointment or being swept away by chaos. It’s during these times that I think of a text from Mark 4:35-41. Jesus and his disciples are in a boat crossing a body of water when a furious squall comes up and pounds the small boat with waves. The boat is nearly swamped. The disciples rush to Jesus and in panicked voices, they ask, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Perhaps you know how this story ends. Jesus calms the storm, the boat is not swamped, and the disciples stay afloat. The answer to the disciples’ question is this: Jesus cares.
Jesus cares for us. During our rainy seasons when we may feel as though we are going to drown or be swept away we may find assurance in God’s love. Jesus Christ is with you, and when all seems dire and lost, I pray that you may find God’s steadfast love keeping you afloat.
The other day I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I wanted to get some exercise, get out the house, and get some fresh air. Great! I put on my sunscreen, grabbed my sunglasses, and put on my walking shoes—I was ready to go. The one element that I did not think about was the weather. I grew up in New England and am still getting acquainted with Floridian weather patterns and the particular season known as “the rainy season.”
Well, there I was—walking around the neighborhood when a low rumble could be heard from the east. I looked up and to my chagrin I saw a wall of cumulonimbus clouds (e.g. the really scary, dark, ominous clouds) coming westward. My walking pace quickened as I hightailed back to my house and I barely got inside before the wall of rain came pouring down on me. Oh, the rainy season! I feel as though this title effectively labels climatic trends, behavioral moods, and the overall periods of life when you feel that you are being perpetually dumped on.
What do you do when the rainy season comes? Sometimes these rainy seasons seem so bad that we fear being flooded by disappointment or being swept away by chaos. It’s during these times that I think of a text from Mark 4:35-41. Jesus and his disciples are in a boat crossing a body of water when a furious squall comes up and pounds the small boat with waves. The boat is nearly swamped. The disciples rush to Jesus and in panicked voices, they ask, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Perhaps you know how this story ends. Jesus calms the storm, the boat is not swamped, and the disciples stay afloat. The answer to the disciples’ question is this: Jesus cares.
Jesus cares for us. During our rainy seasons when we may feel as though we are going to drown or be swept away we may find assurance in God’s love. Jesus Christ is with you, and when all seems dire and lost, I pray that you may find God’s steadfast love keeping you afloat.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Emotions are Powerful!
I was talking with a friend last night about relationships. We were noting the different expectations and ways in which we treat our friends, lovers, and family members. I have some friends who can hurt me and I immediately forgive; and friends that can hurt me the same way and I hold onto a harmful grudge. I treat my father different than my mother; and my sister different than both parents.
My reaction in these different relationships isn’t something I have control over. Actually, I often try to react with my head; “Don’t treat mom like that, she doesn’t deserve it.” “Why am I getting so mad over one word in an email when I don’t even know if they meant what I read?” “Don’t get upset that person isn’t ignoring me on purpose, they are busy with their own life.”
Even if we have good control over our emotions we cannot ignore them. I have heard many times throughout life, “I wish I had an on/off switch for my emotions. It would make life so much easier.” All of us spend a great deal of energy trying to control our emotional reactions.
In the Gospel of Mark we read a lot about the humanity of Jesus. Jesus’ emotions are weaved throughout the gospel: pity 1:41, anger 3:5, wonder 6:6, compassion 6:34, indignation 10:14, cranky 8:17, love 10:21, distressed and agitated 14:33, grieved 14:34… these emotions help us identify more with Jesus. They also, show us the power of God to identify with us.
Emotions are what make us react to injustice so we can reach out with love. They help us empathize with one another so we can share in joy and sadness. We may want to turn off our emotions but they have the power to move us forward. They have the power to help us reach out to be in relationship with others. In a sense our emotions keep us connected with God and with one another.
Our challenge is to make love our driving emotion. Jesus is asked, “Which commandment is first of all?” He responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)
My reaction in these different relationships isn’t something I have control over. Actually, I often try to react with my head; “Don’t treat mom like that, she doesn’t deserve it.” “Why am I getting so mad over one word in an email when I don’t even know if they meant what I read?” “Don’t get upset that person isn’t ignoring me on purpose, they are busy with their own life.”
Even if we have good control over our emotions we cannot ignore them. I have heard many times throughout life, “I wish I had an on/off switch for my emotions. It would make life so much easier.” All of us spend a great deal of energy trying to control our emotional reactions.
In the Gospel of Mark we read a lot about the humanity of Jesus. Jesus’ emotions are weaved throughout the gospel: pity 1:41, anger 3:5, wonder 6:6, compassion 6:34, indignation 10:14, cranky 8:17, love 10:21, distressed and agitated 14:33, grieved 14:34… these emotions help us identify more with Jesus. They also, show us the power of God to identify with us.
Emotions are what make us react to injustice so we can reach out with love. They help us empathize with one another so we can share in joy and sadness. We may want to turn off our emotions but they have the power to move us forward. They have the power to help us reach out to be in relationship with others. In a sense our emotions keep us connected with God and with one another.
Our challenge is to make love our driving emotion. Jesus is asked, “Which commandment is first of all?” He responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
We Can Make a Difference!
This past week our congregation took a trip to Immokalee. We spent our time listening to a typical day of a tomato picker. We heard the story of the sweat, muscles, and time it takes for these children of God to do something we take for granted – as we sit back and enjoy the tomato on our burger or BLT.
We heard the cry of how it is a thankless job. They pray daily to find work – it is not guaranteed. There is no medical, dental, or retirement. They receive .42 cents per bucket that holds 32 pounds of tomatoes. This means to make $50.00 a day they need to pick over 2 tons of tomatoes a day. I write these statistics as I sit in a comfy desk chair making over $50 a day with benefits. I worry every year if I’ll get my cost of living – or if I’m lucky a raise – and the farm workers pay rate hasn’t changed since the 1970’s.
Sometimes we don’t know about an injustice, but when we hear about one it is easy for us to recognize. We can identify injustice. Injustice angers us. Yet, we feel like there is nothing we can do. We say, “Sadly, that’s how the world works and I don’t have the power to change it. I can’t change the mind of the growers. I can’t change the way people are treated. I am a Christian who worships – I care – I pray – but other than that these things are out of my control.” And when things seem too large or impossible or out of our control – power changes into doubt. This is when we need to look to the witness of others who didn’t let the “impossible” stop them from making a difference.
It was Mother Theresa who one day felt it on her heart to build an orphanage. She shared the dream with her superiors and they asked the expected question, "Where will you get the money to build an orphanage?" "Well," Mother Theresa responded, "I have three dollars." "Sister Theresa," her superiors disapproved, "you cannot build an orphanage with three dollars." "I know," she said, smiling, "I can’t build an orphanage with three dollars, but with God and three dollars. I can do anything. Don’t let us imagine that we are too poor or too stupid or too ignorant or too obscure to do any real good in the world God has placed us. If you bring no gift how can God use it?"
To make a difference in the life of a farm worker check out:
http://www.ciw-online.org/
We heard the cry of how it is a thankless job. They pray daily to find work – it is not guaranteed. There is no medical, dental, or retirement. They receive .42 cents per bucket that holds 32 pounds of tomatoes. This means to make $50.00 a day they need to pick over 2 tons of tomatoes a day. I write these statistics as I sit in a comfy desk chair making over $50 a day with benefits. I worry every year if I’ll get my cost of living – or if I’m lucky a raise – and the farm workers pay rate hasn’t changed since the 1970’s.
Sometimes we don’t know about an injustice, but when we hear about one it is easy for us to recognize. We can identify injustice. Injustice angers us. Yet, we feel like there is nothing we can do. We say, “Sadly, that’s how the world works and I don’t have the power to change it. I can’t change the mind of the growers. I can’t change the way people are treated. I am a Christian who worships – I care – I pray – but other than that these things are out of my control.” And when things seem too large or impossible or out of our control – power changes into doubt. This is when we need to look to the witness of others who didn’t let the “impossible” stop them from making a difference.
It was Mother Theresa who one day felt it on her heart to build an orphanage. She shared the dream with her superiors and they asked the expected question, "Where will you get the money to build an orphanage?" "Well," Mother Theresa responded, "I have three dollars." "Sister Theresa," her superiors disapproved, "you cannot build an orphanage with three dollars." "I know," she said, smiling, "I can’t build an orphanage with three dollars, but with God and three dollars. I can do anything. Don’t let us imagine that we are too poor or too stupid or too ignorant or too obscure to do any real good in the world God has placed us. If you bring no gift how can God use it?"
To make a difference in the life of a farm worker check out:
http://www.ciw-online.org/
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