Character 8: Scary Comfort

Pausing to reflect on the relative comfort and ease of my life, a deathly chill comes over me.

Members of the early church and her Apostles certainly didn't have it so easy. Walk with them through the book of Acts and you're likely to find yourself in danger half the time, peril the other half.

I suppose the disciples could have stayed home and played it safe. They could have used their Christian values and wisdom to carve out a cozy little niche: worldly comfort and salvation to boot -- now that's a great setup.

In my defense, it's not like I play it safe all the time! I don't. I'm not a risk-averse person. But I have to admit, even my supposed risky behavior is calculated to remain within certain parameters.

My Spiritual Director, Wayne Thyren, has challenged me to assume more genuine risks.

"Like, sparring with atheists more?" I asked hopefully.

"No. I mean entering places of true vulnerability where you're not in control of the situation. And learning to trust God there."

"Darn. Why do I visit you?"

"I mean showing your true self, giving away power to others, not grabbing the reins. I mean walking patiently with ordinary people in their pain."

"You know me too well. You're fired," I teased.

******

What's a genuine risk for you?

According to my "former" Spiritual Director, that's precisely the place you'll meet God in a fresh way.


photo credit: http://goo.gl/6d9Qa4

Character 7: Losing People

As an introvert who enjoys people, I tend to collect them.

Not all are close friends. That would be impossible.

Yet, scores of casual acquaintances and activity-centered relationships are meaningful to me. Perhaps you count yourself among these.

The tough part is when people leave. They enter by the front door, stay for awhile, slip out the back -- occasionally without saying goodbye.

Here yesterday, gone today.

With some it's inevitable. College students graduate. Other folks move away or change life-stations. Some depart this earth permanently.

True Value

We're taught in the church -- rightly, in my view -- to hold lightly our worldly possessions. Cars, TV's, gadgets: these have no lasting value, and most veteran Christians could, if necessary, ditch them for a greater good.

But people are a sacred attachment. As divine image-bearers they represent God to us in some sense. They embody true, objective value. Thus their departure from our lives, in whatever form it takes, can leave us gasping for air.

As for myself, the terror of middle-age (and enjoying people) is the astonishing number of opportunities I'm given to say goodbye. To release people to their destinies and "move on." This I find difficult.

Character 6: Unholy Thoughts

Four ideas for cleansing the mind:

1. Don't feed the beast. My former pastor, Brian Myers, once included a cartoon in a sermon on purity which showed a sign next to some wild animals that read, "Don't feed the beasts."

The lesson was about cutting off nourishment to the sin nature (the beast) in each of us.

Turn off the TV and other media; avoid certain subject matter with certain people. Learn to say, "Don't go there."

2. Flee. Related to #1, Scripture tells us to run from temptation, avoiding situations that spur sinful impulses.*

In Daring to Draw Near, author John White pointed out that if King David had been leading his armies in battle rather than lounging about the royal palace, he'd have avoided a forbidden tryst with his neighbor's wife.**

Thus, one way to "flee" is to engage in productive activity.

3. Meditate. With the Psalmist who "meditates on his law day and night," memorize and recite favorite scriptures.

A good habit both for bedtime and "first thoughts" in the morning.***

4. Share. Two of my pals, Bill and Mark, share with me from the gut and bear my burdens (and I their's). Created in God's image, we are meant for community. Isolation breaks down discipline.


* Flee: I Corinthians 6:18, 10:14, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22

** Daring to Draw Near, chapter 4

*** Mine include all or parts of Psalm 1, 23, 63, 130, John 15

photo credit:  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Mammuthus_primigenius_fraasi.JPG 

Character 5: Four Acts of Prayer

Here is a simple way to bring balance and structure to your prayer life: the ACTS method. Maybe you've heard of it.


Adoration. Worshipping God for who he is. "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his holy name" (Psalm 29:2).

Confession. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9).

Thanksgiving. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Supplication (petitions). "In every situation, by prayer and petition . . . present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).

I find this simple liturgy to be a helpful corrective to merely asking God for things -- or failing to ask.

I wouldn't want the ACTS method to become a new law to obey. Rather, my hope is that you'll find freedom and grace inside a simple structure.

***

Which parts of prayer do you focus on most?

Which parts, if any, do you tend to neglect?


Quite a few years ago my friend Paul Manson taught me the ACTS method, which I've revived of late.

Character 4: Resting

I have trouble with Sabbath rest.

Due to the privilege of enjoying my work, it's often hard to stop.

When I do stop, I gravitate toward entertainment: movies, outings, golf -- each a definite change of pace from work.

The "Ping-Pong ball" doesn't stop, but bounces back and forth between work and play. That's me.

Sabbath rest just seems slippery. I'm a naturally motivated person. I like to achieve, attain, acquire, conquer, develop -- these are active verbs. Not exactly the ingredients of rest.

I like reading. But theology? Philosophy? That's my job. Spy novels? That's entertainment.

There goes the Ping-Pong ball again, back and forth, never at rest.

***

OK, maybe I'm not completely helpless. Here are three ideas:

1. Devotional reading. Reading that feeds the soul. Two authors I enjoy are Henri Nouwen and Eugene Peterson.

2. Prayer and a nap, followed by yard work.

3. A leisurely hike. Maybe with golf clubs in hand . . .  uhh, I'm conflicted about this.

***

This past year I memorized Psalm 1. Here the wise person meditates on God's law day and night and becomes like a tree planted by streams of water. That sounds restful.

How do you take Sabbath rest?


photo credit: http://www.northeastern.edu/seattle/ping-pong-table-unveiling/ping-pong-paddle-1934841/