by Johanna Johnson
Matthew 16.25: "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about salt. This started especially on a recent trip I took to the Florida Keys (my first!), on which my boyfriend and I went snorkeling. I was really looking forward to diving down deep and seeing this beautiful and mysterious world right up close. He instructed me how to do this: take a breath, and then keep some of the air for when I come back up, so I could get a good strong blow through the snorkel to get the water out. Gearing myself up, I took my breath and broke the surface. It was as beautiful as I’d hoped… for about 8 seconds, when I suddenly realized I had gone quite a few feet below and now feared I wouldn’t get back. In my surprise, I blew out all my air and scurried frantically to the surface, now with no more air to blow through the snorkel. I spit out my snorkel, coughing and gagging at the extremely salty taste now in my mouth. I floated there for a few moments, catching my breath, remembering the fear of thinking I would not make it back to the life-sustaining oxygen. But how glorious that first breath was!
It occurred to me that this isn’t unlike baptism. Some traditions, particularly in the historic Church, baptize in such a way that a person is held beneath the water until they really feel the fear of death, then are lifted up once again into life. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ own death and resurrection – in entering the watery tomb of baptism, then being lifted out once again, we are baptized into Jesus’ death and life. We are given the new life for which Jesus died.
Also in some baptismal rites, salt is placed on the lips or tongue of the one being baptized – salt in fact has significant spiritual implications. Salt, for example, preserves, purifies, cleanses, provides nourishment, and heals – all functions we find also in our baptism. Once one has come up from the watery tomb of baptism, one has been cleansed of sin and purified, preserved by the cross of Christ, nourished in faith, and healed of the work of the devil. And to feel that brief albeit very real fear of death under the water, then to take that first life-giving breath of air, and to taste the residual saltiness on my lips, preserving me in the safety I find only in Christ’s own resurrection… Quite a stunning transformation – not unlike baptism – that happened upon my terrifying but redemptive emergence from the salty waters off the Florida Keys.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Oh... to be a child again!
Mark 10:13-16
Sometimes we need permission, or at least reminders, to be like a child. Children have a different way of looking at the world. As adults, our minds become so complex it is healthy to step back and let the innocence and uninhibited passions of the child within us shine. When life changes in unexpected ways – that alter the reality we know – looking at things as a child can widen our perspective on life.
I wonder how does a child receive the kingdom of God?
People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Sometimes we need permission, or at least reminders, to be like a child. Children have a different way of looking at the world. As adults, our minds become so complex it is healthy to step back and let the innocence and uninhibited passions of the child within us shine. When life changes in unexpected ways – that alter the reality we know – looking at things as a child can widen our perspective on life.
I wonder how does a child receive the kingdom of God?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
God doesn't fit in a box!
Scripture tells us a story of a Canaanite woman, a woman on the outskirts, a woman who has no chance of finishing first (Matthew 15:22). She comes to Jesus and cries, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”
And what does Jesus do? Jesus doesn’t do a thing – he says nothing at all! This is not the Jesus we know. Jesus offers healing all the time. The disciples urge Jesus to send her away, to rid them of this Canaanite woman shouting at them. She’s loud, she’s annoying – please get rid of her. And then Jesus explains to her: “Listen – it is not fair to take the good food from the Israelites and give it to the dogs – to you, a Canaanite woman.” She stands up to Jesus and says, “Remember that even the dogs can eat the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table.” (vs. 27)
Jesus hears her cry and admires her faith. She is able to say to Jesus, “Even I am worthy your love.” Jesus heals her daughter.
This story is out of the norm. It can make us reread asking, “Did this woman just change Jesus mind?” “Is that REALLY possible?” I mean, throughout scripture there are numerous stories of people doubting God and saying, “Really, you are going to use me?” Moses, Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, the fisherman… but there are not as many stories of the outcast saying to Jesus, “But remember, even I am worthy your love.” This story provides a twist that can stop us in our tracks. It is a disruption that can make us think.
Disruption can be difficult for us in the church. I can’t think of the number of times I’ve heard comments on my blog description. If you haven’t noticed, I use the pronoun “her” for God. If you’ve questioned it – that’s the point. If it stopped you in your tracks and made you pause – that’s the point. Sometimes we need a little jolt out of our norms. Our God – The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is beyond gender. God’s love is for both the Israelites and the Canaanites. God’s love seeps outside of our ideas of worthiness.
I am thankful for the Canaanite woman’s story. It can be a reminder that the moment we have God figured out and in a perfect pretty box, God rips a hole in the box and gushes out, revealing a love even more powerful than we can imagine.
And what does Jesus do? Jesus doesn’t do a thing – he says nothing at all! This is not the Jesus we know. Jesus offers healing all the time. The disciples urge Jesus to send her away, to rid them of this Canaanite woman shouting at them. She’s loud, she’s annoying – please get rid of her. And then Jesus explains to her: “Listen – it is not fair to take the good food from the Israelites and give it to the dogs – to you, a Canaanite woman.” She stands up to Jesus and says, “Remember that even the dogs can eat the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table.” (vs. 27)
Jesus hears her cry and admires her faith. She is able to say to Jesus, “Even I am worthy your love.” Jesus heals her daughter.
This story is out of the norm. It can make us reread asking, “Did this woman just change Jesus mind?” “Is that REALLY possible?” I mean, throughout scripture there are numerous stories of people doubting God and saying, “Really, you are going to use me?” Moses, Jeremiah, Job, Jonah, the fisherman… but there are not as many stories of the outcast saying to Jesus, “But remember, even I am worthy your love.” This story provides a twist that can stop us in our tracks. It is a disruption that can make us think.
Disruption can be difficult for us in the church. I can’t think of the number of times I’ve heard comments on my blog description. If you haven’t noticed, I use the pronoun “her” for God. If you’ve questioned it – that’s the point. If it stopped you in your tracks and made you pause – that’s the point. Sometimes we need a little jolt out of our norms. Our God – The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is beyond gender. God’s love is for both the Israelites and the Canaanites. God’s love seeps outside of our ideas of worthiness.
I am thankful for the Canaanite woman’s story. It can be a reminder that the moment we have God figured out and in a perfect pretty box, God rips a hole in the box and gushes out, revealing a love even more powerful than we can imagine.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
el Verbo
I used to babysit an 8 year old, Miles. He was one of those kids with endless amounts of energy. I’ll never forget one day when I showed up to the house. I wasn’t halfway up the stairs to the door when I noticed Miles getting off this bike and running up the stairs ahead of me.
He turned around and with excitement and joy and yelled, “Dana, I was playing baseball in the park.”
I said well, when I talked to your mother she said you were playing soccer.
“I did that too.”
I pointed at the bike, “And now you’re bike riding what else did you do today.”
He smiled and said, “I went swimming.” All I could do was laugh.
Then he asked me to go play. I was overwhelmed by his energy and the fact that he was in action all day and could have kept going all night (and trust me he did). If I become overwhelmed with the amount of action a child has… how can I even begin to grasp the amount of action that God has in our lives.
Do we realize how active God is? John writes, “And the Word became Flesh.” The Greek, logos in English is translated as Word. The logos made Flesh. The Word made Flesh. What is interesting is that the Spanish Bible translates logos as el Verbo, which in English translates to Verb. The Verb made Flesh. The Spanish translation gives a much more active interpretation of God in our lives.
May we become more aware of how el Verbo, the Word, God is taking action in our lives. So, that God’s love may be shared, borrowed, given, and reminded of, to one another and the world!
He turned around and with excitement and joy and yelled, “Dana, I was playing baseball in the park.”
I said well, when I talked to your mother she said you were playing soccer.
“I did that too.”
I pointed at the bike, “And now you’re bike riding what else did you do today.”
He smiled and said, “I went swimming.” All I could do was laugh.
Then he asked me to go play. I was overwhelmed by his energy and the fact that he was in action all day and could have kept going all night (and trust me he did). If I become overwhelmed with the amount of action a child has… how can I even begin to grasp the amount of action that God has in our lives.
Do we realize how active God is? John writes, “And the Word became Flesh.” The Greek, logos in English is translated as Word. The logos made Flesh. The Word made Flesh. What is interesting is that the Spanish Bible translates logos as el Verbo, which in English translates to Verb. The Verb made Flesh. The Spanish translation gives a much more active interpretation of God in our lives.
May we become more aware of how el Verbo, the Word, God is taking action in our lives. So, that God’s love may be shared, borrowed, given, and reminded of, to one another and the world!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
God in the Unexpected
I remember my drive to Florida a year ago: as James and I drove through the mountains, we experienced both day and night. James pointed out that neither day nor night was more beautiful. At night, the sky was full of stars and the moon was bright. As the car climbed the mountain our imaginations were at work, thinking of the beauty surrounding us hidden by the darkness. During the day we were able to see off into the distance. We stared in awe at the rock formations and the vegetation admiring God’s creation. Both the light and the dark provided a different view of the same landscape.
I think we often like to compare things. Do you prefer night or day? Do you like the ocean or a lake? Do you prefer the mountains or flatland? Do you like pews or chairs? Do you prefer common cup or individual cup?
God is in both the night and the day. God created the ocean and the lake, the mountain and flatland. God does not prefer one over the other! God knows our praise if it’s from a pew or a chair. God's forgiveness is experienced in common cup and individual cup. Sometimes we’re so sure that God is only in the “best” things – yet God is in the most unexpected places.
God is in the Israelite slave. God is in the unnamed woman. God is in our hymns of praise. God is in Amnon who raped his sister Tamar. God is in the immigrant, widow, and orphan. God is in Judas who betrays Jesus. God is in the faith of Abraham. God is in the stranger and the alien. God is in Jonah when he is swallowed by the whale. God is in the children at Jesus feet. God is in Peter when he denies Jesus.
God does not live by the same limits we do. God’s forgiveness is much different than human forgiveness. God finds beauty in the potential of the darkness and beauty in the clearness of the light. God finds beauty in what we are scared the light will reveal, and beauty in the imagination that the darkness provides.
I think we often like to compare things. Do you prefer night or day? Do you like the ocean or a lake? Do you prefer the mountains or flatland? Do you like pews or chairs? Do you prefer common cup or individual cup?
God is in both the night and the day. God created the ocean and the lake, the mountain and flatland. God does not prefer one over the other! God knows our praise if it’s from a pew or a chair. God's forgiveness is experienced in common cup and individual cup. Sometimes we’re so sure that God is only in the “best” things – yet God is in the most unexpected places.
God is in the Israelite slave. God is in the unnamed woman. God is in our hymns of praise. God is in Amnon who raped his sister Tamar. God is in the immigrant, widow, and orphan. God is in Judas who betrays Jesus. God is in the faith of Abraham. God is in the stranger and the alien. God is in Jonah when he is swallowed by the whale. God is in the children at Jesus feet. God is in Peter when he denies Jesus.
God does not live by the same limits we do. God’s forgiveness is much different than human forgiveness. God finds beauty in the potential of the darkness and beauty in the clearness of the light. God finds beauty in what we are scared the light will reveal, and beauty in the imagination that the darkness provides.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
