Wednesday, September 29, 2021

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13: 11, New Living Translation)

             Anybody know what a ‘dotage’ is?

As I turn 70 years old on Friday, if I am entering my dotage (all cash gifts gratefully accepted), I don’t like the sounds of it according to dictionary definitions, I found phrases like “the period of life in which a person is old and weak,” “senile decay,” “decline of mental poise and alertness,” “mental infirmity,” “foolish infatuations.” Let’s just call it a “second childhood” and leave it at that.

Dotage comes from the old English word to dote. Now that word I like – to love dearly, be devoted to, idolize, treasure, lavish affection on, think highly of…   Take note, O children of mine!

Senile decay – sheesh!

Now, where was I going with this? Oh, yeah…

Maturity is very much a part of growing up and getting older. It should mean gaining wisdom from constant practice, knowledge from experience, understanding from gained insights. With maturity comes a deeper appreciation for life, a deeper spirit of patience and grace and a sense of humour about the vagaries of life. Maturity is to celebrate the things we can do and not be overwhelmed by the things we can’t do.

Maturity isn’t being stubborn about the past nor being nostalgic for some mythical “good old days”. It is not complaining about the world and its ways. It is not about shooing people off our lawns, symbolically speaking. Maturity is not some cranky, grumpy, irritable view of the present nor the future.

Maturity should show in our spiritual affairs and living. A Sunday School faith was a very good beginning when we were children but as maturing adults we should be growing up in our Biblical knowledge, finding new depths in our spiritual awareness and broadening our spiritual horizons. “Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.” (1 Corinthians 14: 20, NLT)

Paul’s hope is “that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13, NLT) We don’t stop growing, processing, maturing just because we hit some certain age. Living up to the standard of Christ is a life-long journey.

 Paul notes in Philippians “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3: 12 – 14, NLT)

So, as I turn 70, I will press on to continue to grow up, to mature, to increase in wisdom and good character, to discover God in all aspects of life and show Christ in all that I say or do. It is a lofty and sometimes hard goal.

“Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11, NLT)

Senile decay – sheesh!

 Dale

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

“Jesus said, ‘For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.’” (John 12: 35 36, The Message Bible)

                Welcome, autumn!

                Today is the first day of the autumn season. The Fall has generally been my favourite season of the year. Crisp, cooler air after a hot summer. The dazzling colours of autumn leaves. The tart crunch of a fresh-picked apple. Thanksgiving weekend. Even my birthday. What’s not to like?

                But as I get older, as much as I still greatly enjoy this time of year, there is one thing about the Fall that bothers me. The days get shorter; the nights get longer. We are losing daylight faster and sooner each and every day. Of course, there is not anything you or I can do about this natural progression but the reduction of light can make me anxious. Not to mention, of course, that it is all a precursor to winter. But it is the persistent loss of light that makes me a little sad and regretful.

                I can remember times when we were at a cottage in the summer. I would wake up in the middle of the night and it was pitch dark, no light, no sound. It was as dark with my eyes open as it was when they were shut. It actually triggered a little of my claustrophobia. Am I too old for a night light?

                The Psalms often express the worry and fear of  being in the dark. “When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.” (Psalm 77:2, New Living Translation) Darkness can be filled with spiritual shadows, anxiety, pain, distress and more. The world might look more scary and life more treacherous in the dark. Threats seem larger. Problems seem more insurmountable. Difficulties seem unsolvable. “Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.” (Psalm 22: 2, NLT)

                But it also needs to be pointed that the Psalms express great hope and confidence when the darkness seems so strong. “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5, NLT) God has not abandoned us. “Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.” (Psalm 55:17, NLT) We are never alone no matter how dark, bleak, gloomy or shadowy it may seem. Even Psalm  77 (quoted above) which starts out full of anxiety and loneliness in the night turns his voice to words of confidence and assurance, “But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts.  I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?” (Psalm 77: 11 – 13, NLT)             

“Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.” (Psalm 91:5, NLT)

Jesus, who embodied Light, challenges us to walk in the Light, specifically his Light. The axiom that it is better to light a single candle than curse the darkness may not be in the Bible but it could be. And when that Light is the Love of Christ, the Mercy of his Forgiveness, the Compassion of his Comfort, the Hope of his Promises, the world is indeed a much brighter place. Moreover, we are no longer just stumbling about in the dark. We see where we are going. Best of all, we have a Companion to guide and lead us forward through the dark.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1: 5, NLT)

May you and I always shine because of his Light.

 

Dale

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

“Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.” (Matthew 5: 22, The Message Bible)

                 C’mon Jesus. You’re killing me here.

                How else am I to describe and deal with those folk who are protesting against masks and vaccines, especially outside hospitals, if I can’t use words like idiots, fools, jackasses, stupid, thoughtless, careless, selfish, etc.? You know that I don’t suffer fools gladly – these folk and their ignorance are driving me crazy.

                “The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.” (Proverbs 10:8, New Living Translation) Words to live by! “The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.” (Proverbs 10:21, NLT) Gotta love that book of Proverbs!

                Jesus, you called some of your opponents “snakes and vipers” so please cut me some slack if I call these bunch of dumb-dumbs for what they are: complete idiots.

                No, eh?

                Sticks and stones, I suppose.

                Jesus could be tough on some of his opponents but he also understood the power of thoughtless and careless words. The wrong sorts of words can become barriers instead of bridges. Hurtful words break down rather than build up. Mean-spirited words tear apart rather than mend. Cruel words leave scars rather than soothe.  I know this to be true even though I have always been too quick-tempered, sarcastic and impatient when dealing with those who resisted my leadership. Anger has always been just around the corner.

                Words are too often used in retaliation when they should be used in Love, Grace, Forgiveness and Compassion, some of the key traits of being a “fool for Christ.” Be gracious even if the face of opposition, name-calling, slander and the like. Turn the other cheek. Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Don’t become the persecutor!

                Jesus’ words are very clear. There is no ambiguity.

                Paul, of course echoes Jesus. “Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.” (Romans 14:13 – 14, The Message Bible)

                Our ill-conceived words can become a stumbling block, a toxic way to contaminate our relationships with family and friends or the Body of Crist, the church. Hold our tongues. You know the old saying, “Better to be thought a fool and then speak and remove all doubt.”

                “Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?’” (Romans 15: 2, The Message)

                Not “You fool!” but “How can I help?”

                I’ll do my best, Lord - give me strength.

 

Dale

 Wednesday, September 8, 2021

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118: 24, New Living Translation).

                "This is the best day ever!”

                Thus spoke my five-year-old grandson, Spencer, as he excitedly anticipated going back to school for Senior Kindergarten, yesterday.

                Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t recall ever thinking that going back to school was up there in the “best day ever” category, especially high school for me. But it’s cool that Spencer really enjoys it.

Last year’s school year was a ragged thing at best, fueled by the uncertainly of Covid. I expect that a lot of parents are more nervous than their children about the safety of sending their children back to school. But then again, maybe it is for some parents the “best day ever”, after several months of them always being in the house. I always enjoyed that commercial that used the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” as the parent shopped for school supplies.

“It’s the best day ever.”

This  is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118 is an all-out expression of utter confidence and assurance in experiencing the Love of God.  “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever.” (v.1, NLT) There are enough clues to suggest that he may not even be having a “good day”, as he thinks about the stresses, distresses, troublesome people, all of which for many of us might make us declare that today was a lousy day. But not this psalmist: “I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me.” (v.13, The Message Bible)

The Lord’s intervention in his life is so strong that he lifts his voice in praise, expressing his gratitude and joy that despite what life is throwing at him, the Lord is with him and the psalmist will not be overcome but rise victorious. “Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation!” v.21, The Message)

Best day ever!

This is not simply pious naivete.  The writer is quite aware of the world he lives in and its faults and its impact upon him personally. His declaration that nevertheless he is going to rejoice in the day’s creation is an act of courage, faithfulness, trust, defiance, hope and joy. Whatever else the day holds God is still at work in it; God’s Love will prevail. “I didn’t die. I lived! And now I’m telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn’t hand me over to Death.” (v.17, The Message)

I didn’t die. Best day ever!

We can look at the day’s events and experiences and feel discouraged, fearful, hopeless, stressed, angry or overwhelmed. But rather than wallowing in our despair, there is an alternative. We rise to our feet and claim God’s Love that it transcends and transforms  even the worst of days into New Creation, into delivery out of the chaos, into the rescue of God’s Salvation and Redemption.

“This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted - let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now!  Oh yes, God—a free and full life!” (Vss. 23 -24, The Message)

Best Day Ever!

 Dale

 

 Wednesday, September 1, 2021

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4, New Living Translation)

            Ah, my big, blue, comfy, recliner chair; how I love ye.

No matter the time of day, what has been going on during the day or what mood I am in, my big, blue, comfy recliner chair offers me a safe place. Here  is my comfort zone – that cozy place where I might settle in, freer from my anxieties and worries, feeling safer, less vulnerable, protected, less exposed to the world and its issues and more calm.

This chair is a hand-me-over from friends and all the better because of it. It fits me to a  tee. There is nothing better than to flop down in this inviting chair, take a deep breath and let the world go by.

We all need to have our comfort zones. Comfort is a necessity for healthy living. Comfort comes in many shapes and sizes. Many of us have comfort foods that help ease moods, tensions, anxiety, sadness and the like. Some folk have their favourite comfy clothing: sloppy, well-worn, familiar but cozy and reassuring like an old sweater, a hoodie, a pair of slippers, or track pants. Some have familiar haunts full of memories of happy times like a cottage, a park, a favourite restaurant. Sometimes just the memories alone offer comfort zones.

Comfort zones are those times, places and things that offer reassurance, ease of mind and spirit, a safe haven, a dependable  reliability that we can count on it to give us a measure of grace and peace.

Comfort zones have taken a big hit during the pandemic. The virus has radically redefined, challenged, changed and yet clarified in new ways our need for comfort zones. Many have bunkered down in whatever levels of comfort and safety they could muster. Others have struggled with the uncertainty of these times.  Others have cocooned themselves and wrapped themselves in bubbles.

We need our comfort zones. We need those moments in which we feel safe, protected, reassured, calm, more confident, more hopeful and more peaceful.

Now, my big, blue, comfy recliner chair cannot deliver those qualities by itself. Comfort zones are more a state of mind and spirit. Objectively speaking, my chair is just an inert, material, passive piece of furniture, incapable of any relationship with me other than being a place to sit.

But God is not inert, not impassive, not detached, not a piece of spiritual furniture. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4, NLT)

When we are the most uncomfortable, God wraps us in his ever-loving arms and holds us closely to his heart. “Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” (Psalm 119: 50, NLT)

When we find ourselves lost, confused, broken, deeply stressed, God reaches out to us and gathers us in. “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4, NLT)

Yes, there are times when God needs to send us out into the messy world with his Love and Grace, take action, be comforters to others ourselves, be pro-active and shape and carry the Good News. But God also knows our need to rest in his comfort  zones,  to regroup, to renew our strength, to reenergize, to draw in his Holy Spirit, to  revive and feel safe, secure, loved, embraced and known.

    “God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
      He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
     He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
        And he knows everything, inside and out.
    He energizes those who get tired,
        gives fresh strength to dropouts.
    For even young people tire and drop out,
        young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
    But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
   They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
   They run and don’t get tired,

        they walk and don’t lag behind.”  (Isaiah 40: 27 – 31, The Message Bible)

 Dale