Breath

Today I’d like to share with you something I read recently that transformed my idea of God. Again.

Meaning… every time I think I can grasp a bit of who God is I learn something that changes my understanding. I realize that most say God is never-changing… but I can tell you that my understanding of God is ever-changing.

An excerpt from Father Richard Rohr, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See (pp. 25 & 26)

I cannot emphasize enough the momentous importance of the Jewish revelation of the name of God. It puts the entire nature of our spirituality in correct context and, if it had been followed, could have freed us from much idolatry and arrogance… formally the word [Yahweh, YHVH, God] was not spoken at all, but breathed! Many are convinced that its correct pronunciation is an attempt to replicate and imitate the very sound of inhalation and exhalation. The one thing we do every moment of our lives is therefore to speak the name of God. This makes it our first and our last word as we enter and leave the world.

For some years now, I have taught this to contemplative groups in many countries, and it changes peoples’ faith and prayer lives in substantial ways. I remind people that there is no Islamic, Christian, or Jewish way of breathing. There is no rich or poor way of breathing. The playing field is utterly leveled. The air of the earth is one and the same air, and this divine wind “blows where it will” (John 3:8) – which appears to be everywhere. No one and no religion can control this spirit.

Busyness

I was at a celebration this past weekend. We were housed in a multi-million dollar (more than 4 mil) home on Sanibel Island with a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico. Some people have never stepped foot in a home quite this size and beauty. Let’s just say on the top floor alone had five bathrooms. There were only seven of us and between both floors we could all have our own restroom. There was a beautiful spiral staircase and of course a view that is breathtaking (or as I would say breath-giving).

I am sure you’re asking what one does in a multi-million dollar home for the evening. Play sardines of course. If you have never experienced sardines it’s a version of hide-and-go-seek where one player hides – everyone seeks – as you find the hider you hide with them until everyone is hiding together.

When it was time to move onto other games, it was drop a Kleenex from the top of the spiral staircase and see if you can get to the bottom and catch it before it lands on the floor. Next, use the cool doors that have a glaze, turn the music up, and dance oddly or move bodies as such to create cool shadows for the amusement of those on the other side of the door. Each room had its own unique way to become play. It was a group of 30-somethings turned into childlike-imaginative-play.

I have a friend who owns a nerf dartboard that uses it regularly and another who will gladly walk on his hands when asked. There is something in us that when we connect with our childlike-imaginative-play we feel free and a little more whole. The world is easier to deal with and a smile develops easily. Being connected with our Creator can have a similar and even more powerful effect.

When we attend a moving worship service, look at the beautiful creation of God, sit in prayerful meditation, or experience a “God moment” we feel free and a little more whole. The world is easier to deal with and a smile develops easily. It took a multi-million dollar home to remind me to play. Imagine what it takes for us to remember to connect with God.

Just as I don’t naturally say during my day, “Hey can we take a break for a game of Hide-and-go-Seek?” We don’t naturally say during our day, “I’m going to sit under a tree in prayer.” We’re busy. Sadly, busyness is something we make up. I met with a pastor this week who said, “I wish we could get together more often. I guess we’re too busy pretending to be busy.”

God didn’t create me to be busy. He created me to love. So I choose love. You?

Grace

An Anxious Heart

By Jessica Maske

I remember walking into the church two weeks ago with an excited yet anxious heart. Being my first Sunday at Christus Victor my head was racing with all the possibilities and responsibilities that would come with being an intern.

Anxiety seems to be a problem for many in today’s fast paced world and it seems to become all consuming in many cases with the tasks and responsibilities that we find ourselves in. But the thing with anxiety is that it is always pointed to the future and what might happen. We seem to get ourselves worked up about the future and what might occur that we never take the time to stare at what is right in front of our face in the present.

Jesus begins in Matthew 6:25-34 stating “Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life.” He goes on to describe how God provides for all that we need just like God provides for the lilies of the field and birds of the air. He ends this section giving such great wisdom and yet stating it so simply, “so do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Jesus is saying something very profound to us here. I had a mentor who explained it to me very well once when I was full of hopelessness about the future. She said, "sometimes we are just called to leave our worry, our anxiety at the foot of the cross and walk away from it. We have to leave our load and give the anxiety over to Jesus and just live for today."

I will admit that this sounds a lot easier than it is. I have struggled with the over-consuming power of anxiety and worry to the point of great despair, but what has always kept me going was the fact that God is present now. God is right there walking along side you and me, ready to bear those thoughts because we can’t do it alone and thanks be to God that we don’t have to!

The Little Things

A man without a home walked through our church doors. We greeted Jim (which is not his real name) and he said, “I am not looking for money or a handout I just need to talk with someone.” I guided Jim into my office and for the next hour listened to a story. His life story was full of hurt and instability. He explained that as someone without a home has to stay on the move. Shelters only welcome you for so many days or weeks then you have to move onto another shelter. He talked about nights in the woods on the ground being covered with red ants and how a shower was a blessing when the circumstances gifted him with facilities.

As we continued to talk he shared that he has many broken relationships because of addiction, and he was proud to share that he is now 2 years sober. Yet, many of the relationships are so broken his apology goes unanswered. He was getting to a point where he wanted to drink again and that is why he walked in the doors of the church. He walked in wanting to continue on the path of sobriety and in the midst of this he wanted to know where God was.

I was blessed to recap his story. Remember when you stole the chicken from the grocery store and the manger said, “We can’t put a man in jail for needing to eat?” Remember when you were in the woods covered with ants and something in your head said go to the Homeless Veterans Home? They greeted you with kindness and you found out that there is actually a pension in your name and they guided you on how to start receiving it. Remember when the bank said you couldn’t open an account to receive the pension payments and suddenly someone stepped in on your behalf and they waived the rule? You didn’t have the $10 to open the account, but there was a grocery store across the street and you were able to pan handle the $10 you needed to open your account. Remember when you walked in the doors of the church instead of picking up another drink?

He responded, “Yes, but why do I have to suffer?”

I responded, “I think Jesus would look at you and me and say to me, ‘Pastor Dana, Jim gets it. He knows why I had to suffer on the cross. Listen to his story.’”