by Johanna Johnson
Two years ago, the day after a very difficult break-up with my boyfriend, Psalm 73 came up in my monthly Psalm cycle. In the midst of the fear, questioning, and sadness surrounding the break-up, I experienced more profoundly than ever before the sense that God truly was speaking to me specifically through these words.
21When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like a brute beast towards you.
23Nevertheless I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24You guide me with your counsel,
and afterwards you will receive me with honour.
25Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
26My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27Indeed, those who are far from you will perish;
you put an end to those who are false to you.
28But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
to tell of all your works.
This Psalm came up again in a recent Bible study. As we worked our way methodically through it, I had another profound experience where God seemed to speak to me, this time through my own mouth with God’s words; I began with the intention of saying one thing, and at the end I realized something else entirely had come out. I was explaining that my major hold up with the Psalms was this sense of “me vs. them.” The Psalms are always talking about “my enemies,” “those who hate me,” and how “they” will be punished. But what if “they” are not other people, but my own sinful nature? It’s not me against them, it’s me against me, my saint against my sinner. “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (Rom 7:15)
As I said this to the group gathered, I had another moment of pristine clarity, a moment that consisted primarily of, “Oh...” And my Lenten journey was laid out before me, with all its ominously dark corners and unknown curves and hills, but also the promise of joyous light at the end. It is a path on which we eagerly seek to distinguish sin from righteousness, to have our hearts cleansed, and to discover God’s will for our daily lives. Even as I look out upon that path with trepidation, I also feel my heart full of anticipation, hunger, longing, and satisfaction – all at once! As I (we!) traverse this scary road, I am comforted by the Psalmist’s words, “It is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge.”
Let us pray…. God of mercy, God of light: In our darkest moments, you are there. In our clearest moments, you are there. You are our compass, and our tent; you are our refuge. Lead us as down the path laid before us, helping us to know that wherever we are, there you are also. Amen.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Get Down!!
My father and I love to go canoeing. We have been down many rivers together. We were actually a great team and decided one year to take on one of the toughest rivers in Michigan, the Pike River. I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. The river was very fast and extremely small so there was not much maneuverability. Most surprisingly it had so many turns that I couldn’t see what we were about to encounter 50 feet in front of us.
We were on the river for three days. I’ll never forget rounding a corner and all the sudden I saw a tree that had fallen all the way across the river. It was so low that I wasn’t sure the boat could fit, the river was fast and we didn’t have much time to react. I yelled at my father… “GET DOWN!” We both hit our knees so fast that we had bruises the next day. We luckily made it under the tree! On that trip down the river I was “on my knees” more than in the seat. When canoeing the lower you are in the boat the more control you have of the boat.
This lent maybe we need to get down on our knees so we can give control to God.
We were on the river for three days. I’ll never forget rounding a corner and all the sudden I saw a tree that had fallen all the way across the river. It was so low that I wasn’t sure the boat could fit, the river was fast and we didn’t have much time to react. I yelled at my father… “GET DOWN!” We both hit our knees so fast that we had bruises the next day. We luckily made it under the tree! On that trip down the river I was “on my knees” more than in the seat. When canoeing the lower you are in the boat the more control you have of the boat.
This lent maybe we need to get down on our knees so we can give control to God.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Deep Water
by Johanna Johnson
“Jesus said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your
nets for a catch.’… When they had done this, they caught so many fish
that their nets were beginning to break.” (Luke 5:4, 6)
Deep water. Actually, and metaphorically, this translates to: danger.
Deep water is scary, unknown, and dangerous. You don’t know what you
might find there. It could hold something very beautiful and exciting,
or it could be hiding something we don’t want to see or don’t
understand. With so many unknowns, why does Jesus ask Simon to move
away from the safety of the land, even the relative safety of the
shallow water, into the Great, Deep, Unknown?
The fact is, faith is not unlike that deep water. It is at once
beautiful and exciting, and scary and unknown. It sometimes sparkles
on the surface, and gets more interesting and complex the deeper you
go. When Jesus asks Simon – and us – to “put out into the deep water,”
he is asking us to take that risk, that risk that puts us beyond the
simplicity of the sparkling surface, and into those parts that are
unknown and even scary. In the deep water – that is where we will also
deepen our faith.
But Jesus says something else here, too: “let down your nets for a
catch.” This excerpt comes from Luke’s account of Jesus calling the
first disciples – where he tells them that they will be “catching
people.” In the deep water, Jesus says, is where they will be
catching people. When Simon and his companions put down their nets in
that deep water, there are so many fish their nets begin to break,
and the sheer number of fish starts to sink two boats. And this after
they had caught nothing all night! Here, that deep water becomes not
only a deeper understanding of faith personally, but also the ability
to share that faith with other people. Talking about faith is often
difficult for us. It is even more difficult with people who don’t
share our faith. Talking about our personal faith indeed puts us in
deep, scary, unknown waters. But, “when they had done this, they
caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.” It’s
possible. It’s scary, but as Jesus talks about moving into the deep
water, so also is he calling us, just as he called his first
disciples, to take such risks in our faith. “Put out into the deep
water and let down your nets for a catch… From now on, you will be
catching people.”
“Jesus said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your
nets for a catch.’… When they had done this, they caught so many fish
that their nets were beginning to break.” (Luke 5:4, 6)
Deep water. Actually, and metaphorically, this translates to: danger.
Deep water is scary, unknown, and dangerous. You don’t know what you
might find there. It could hold something very beautiful and exciting,
or it could be hiding something we don’t want to see or don’t
understand. With so many unknowns, why does Jesus ask Simon to move
away from the safety of the land, even the relative safety of the
shallow water, into the Great, Deep, Unknown?
The fact is, faith is not unlike that deep water. It is at once
beautiful and exciting, and scary and unknown. It sometimes sparkles
on the surface, and gets more interesting and complex the deeper you
go. When Jesus asks Simon – and us – to “put out into the deep water,”
he is asking us to take that risk, that risk that puts us beyond the
simplicity of the sparkling surface, and into those parts that are
unknown and even scary. In the deep water – that is where we will also
deepen our faith.
But Jesus says something else here, too: “let down your nets for a
catch.” This excerpt comes from Luke’s account of Jesus calling the
first disciples – where he tells them that they will be “catching
people.” In the deep water, Jesus says, is where they will be
catching people. When Simon and his companions put down their nets in
that deep water, there are so many fish their nets begin to break,
and the sheer number of fish starts to sink two boats. And this after
they had caught nothing all night! Here, that deep water becomes not
only a deeper understanding of faith personally, but also the ability
to share that faith with other people. Talking about faith is often
difficult for us. It is even more difficult with people who don’t
share our faith. Talking about our personal faith indeed puts us in
deep, scary, unknown waters. But, “when they had done this, they
caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.” It’s
possible. It’s scary, but as Jesus talks about moving into the deep
water, so also is he calling us, just as he called his first
disciples, to take such risks in our faith. “Put out into the deep
water and let down your nets for a catch… From now on, you will be
catching people.”
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Stand in the Rain
Honestly, a pastor does just about everything. I bet you could say the same about your profession. So, I'm sure you understand. I have done the obvious hospital and shut-in visits, preached, and led worship but beyond that I have been to the court house for an adoption, ran after trash down the road, learned how to use Microsoft Publisher, taken care of a dead bird the parking lot, visited the local jail, led services at nursing and funeral homes, sat with people in mourning, stripped and waxed the floors, put toliet paper in the church bathroom, facilitated fund-raisers, and many other opportunities that would take to long to list.
I almost feel I can say, “You name it, a pastor does it.”
All of this can be down-right tiring and overwhelming. One day I was driving to the hospital with no energy left. I knew that I needed to visit a few people, but had expended most of my energy to others earlier in the day. Then a tropical down pour started.
I really did not want to go into the hospital. I was thinking I can skip one day, would it really hurt?I pulled into the parking lot and sat in my car with the engine off debating if I really wanted to get that wet. Then I thought, “I need to be washed clean!” I opened the door, stood up and put my face to the sky and stood there. After a few moments I looked around as everyone was rushing to shelter. The rain felt so good (and I was drenched). I walked slowly to the hospital entrance as I felt the rain wash away every ounce of pain I was carrying from myself and others. In the craziness of life we need to remember and let God wash us clean daily, and God will renew our soul.
Psalm 103
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits-- who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
I almost feel I can say, “You name it, a pastor does it.”
All of this can be down-right tiring and overwhelming. One day I was driving to the hospital with no energy left. I knew that I needed to visit a few people, but had expended most of my energy to others earlier in the day. Then a tropical down pour started.
I really did not want to go into the hospital. I was thinking I can skip one day, would it really hurt?I pulled into the parking lot and sat in my car with the engine off debating if I really wanted to get that wet. Then I thought, “I need to be washed clean!” I opened the door, stood up and put my face to the sky and stood there. After a few moments I looked around as everyone was rushing to shelter. The rain felt so good (and I was drenched). I walked slowly to the hospital entrance as I felt the rain wash away every ounce of pain I was carrying from myself and others. In the craziness of life we need to remember and let God wash us clean daily, and God will renew our soul.
Psalm 103
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits-- who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Laying in the Sand
As I was out to dinner with two friends one says, “I need to go lay in the sand.” The next thing we knew we were paying our bill and off to the beach. This was not in our plans for the day so we were not prepared. Luckily I was wearing my sandals – but one of my friends had his shoes and socks on. We all had long pants with dress shirts and walked onto the beach with blankets from the trunk.
The beach was full of well prepared beach goers. They had their swimsuits, aqua shoes, coolers with water, sun umbrellas, beach chairs, and towels. We looked around at all the well prepared beach goers as we walked to find a good place to lay down our blankets and rest in the sand. We may have not been well prepared that day – but our lack of preparedness didn’t take away from our soulful conversation on the sand that day.
We are always preparing for something in our personal life, work, or home. We worry, fret, and wonder if we have done everything. Yet to no avail we are caught off guard.
The disciples were caught off guard when Jesus rose from the dead. In Luke – they think Jesus a ghost; in John – Jesus has to speak Mary’s name before she recognizes him; in Matthew – there is an earthquake and angels descend from heaven; and in Mark – the disciples left the tomb so full of terror and amazement they couldn’t talk about what had happened.
The disciples were not prepared for what Jesus did on that day – even if they thought they were. The disciple’s lack of preparedness didn’t take away from the reality of what God did for us. Prepared or not, Jesus changed death into life.
The beach was full of well prepared beach goers. They had their swimsuits, aqua shoes, coolers with water, sun umbrellas, beach chairs, and towels. We looked around at all the well prepared beach goers as we walked to find a good place to lay down our blankets and rest in the sand. We may have not been well prepared that day – but our lack of preparedness didn’t take away from our soulful conversation on the sand that day.
We are always preparing for something in our personal life, work, or home. We worry, fret, and wonder if we have done everything. Yet to no avail we are caught off guard.
The disciples were caught off guard when Jesus rose from the dead. In Luke – they think Jesus a ghost; in John – Jesus has to speak Mary’s name before she recognizes him; in Matthew – there is an earthquake and angels descend from heaven; and in Mark – the disciples left the tomb so full of terror and amazement they couldn’t talk about what had happened.
The disciples were not prepared for what Jesus did on that day – even if they thought they were. The disciple’s lack of preparedness didn’t take away from the reality of what God did for us. Prepared or not, Jesus changed death into life.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Who Baptized You?
Who baptized you? Is your first thought of the Pastor? No! It’s bigger than that… it was God!
It is the God of our baptism who in Genesis created the heavens and the earth, separated the light and the dark, made the waters and dry land, made night and day, gave life to the vegetation, the creatures of the water, the birds of the air, and the animals of the dry land. It is the God of our baptism who formed humankind from the dust of the earth and breathed into its nostrils the breath of life.
It is the God of our baptism who comes to Elijah in the silence. The silence of when all hope is lost and God feeds his child so he can once again be “zealous for the Lord.”
It is the God of our baptism who reveals his love even in the depths of suffering found throughout the book of Job.
It is the God of our baptism who the psalmist praised and cried out to in lament. Ps. 40, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
Ps. 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.”
It is the God of our baptism who can come to us through a virgin womb.
It is the God of our baptism who gave his only Son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send this Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Jesus revealed to us the God of our baptism. God’s self-giving, self-humbling, unending love for humankind.
This is a God who plunged us down into the waters of baptism and brought us up out of death's grip---like God did for Jesus.
It is the God of our baptism that keeps – the Church and the people of God living today.
It is the God of our baptism who in Genesis created the heavens and the earth, separated the light and the dark, made the waters and dry land, made night and day, gave life to the vegetation, the creatures of the water, the birds of the air, and the animals of the dry land. It is the God of our baptism who formed humankind from the dust of the earth and breathed into its nostrils the breath of life.
It is the God of our baptism who comes to Elijah in the silence. The silence of when all hope is lost and God feeds his child so he can once again be “zealous for the Lord.”
It is the God of our baptism who reveals his love even in the depths of suffering found throughout the book of Job.
It is the God of our baptism who the psalmist praised and cried out to in lament. Ps. 40, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.”
Ps. 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.”
It is the God of our baptism who can come to us through a virgin womb.
It is the God of our baptism who gave his only Son. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send this Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Jesus revealed to us the God of our baptism. God’s self-giving, self-humbling, unending love for humankind.
This is a God who plunged us down into the waters of baptism and brought us up out of death's grip---like God did for Jesus.
It is the God of our baptism that keeps – the Church and the people of God living today.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Flying Emotions
Have you been on a car ride that is perfect? The wind blowing in your hair, the radio playing a favorite tune, you’re excited about the destination, and the company in the car brings you joy. You are making the final left hand turn and someone rear ends your car. Your experience of life can change in a flash.
Another day you’re going about your normal business with nothing too exciting ahead of you. In the mundane world in which you exist, you realize it’s time for an eye appointment. You walk into a new place to make an appointment and suddenly you are thrust into what you thought only existed in the movies. A person walks up to you and you lose your breath, all you can think is, "Oh my goodness. I've seen a lot of beautiful people in my life but you ... those eyes ... that hair... your hands... your energy.... Wow I can't think!" They say something like, "How can I help you?" After numerous stuttering attempts they finally ask, "You want to make an eye appointment?" Your experience of life can change in a flash.
There are also experiences in life that we wait for like a trip to visit friends or a far away country. It could be preparation for a wedding or a newborn child. It could be results from a resent test. Whether your experience of life changes quickly or over a long period of time, we cannot deny change is part of life. Change brings about our emotions. Our emotions bring about a physical response. Our physical response determines how others experience us.
Most of us want to be experienced as love, but we often have little to no control of the things that change in our life. So, what can we do with all of our unpredictable emotions that flow through us every day? Where do we turn? Isn’t there something we can always count on that won’t change? Oh, yes, our creator, solid rock, Emmanuel!
Among the chaos of emotions and change we can be still and know God.
Another day you’re going about your normal business with nothing too exciting ahead of you. In the mundane world in which you exist, you realize it’s time for an eye appointment. You walk into a new place to make an appointment and suddenly you are thrust into what you thought only existed in the movies. A person walks up to you and you lose your breath, all you can think is, "Oh my goodness. I've seen a lot of beautiful people in my life but you ... those eyes ... that hair... your hands... your energy.... Wow I can't think!" They say something like, "How can I help you?" After numerous stuttering attempts they finally ask, "You want to make an eye appointment?" Your experience of life can change in a flash.
There are also experiences in life that we wait for like a trip to visit friends or a far away country. It could be preparation for a wedding or a newborn child. It could be results from a resent test. Whether your experience of life changes quickly or over a long period of time, we cannot deny change is part of life. Change brings about our emotions. Our emotions bring about a physical response. Our physical response determines how others experience us.
Most of us want to be experienced as love, but we often have little to no control of the things that change in our life. So, what can we do with all of our unpredictable emotions that flow through us every day? Where do we turn? Isn’t there something we can always count on that won’t change? Oh, yes, our creator, solid rock, Emmanuel!
Psalm 46:2-3 & 10 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. 10"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."
Among the chaos of emotions and change we can be still and know God.
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