Clothe the naked, the end?

Adam and Eve were the first. naked. humans.  (according to our mythological telling of all our beginnings).  They were the first; they were not the last.

For those who wish to think of Adam and Eve as the Father and Mother of all humankind, you need also to think of them as the Father and Mother of all the vulnerable ones we know today.  The homeless, the mentally ill, the addicted, the victims of violence, the chronically unemployed.

Perhaps we might hold Adam and Eve not just as the first vulnerable ones, but as the foretaste of the great vulnerability that befalls us all when we make our way in this world......which is clearly not the Garden of Eden.  We share their humanity; we share their frailty.  It is too easy for us to become naked as well.

Yet, to all who are being crushed by the grinding of the gears of this world, God says, "You are my beloved ones."

All are beloved by the God who first gifted us with creation and then gifted us with Jesus.  All.  So when we reach out to the naked ones, we reach out to Jesus who is standing with them, just as God stood near Adam and Eve.  When we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, protect the vulnerable ones we stand with Jesus, in the power of his compassion

At exactly the same time, Jesus stands with us as we reach out to shelter and protect the vulnerable ones.  In this transaction between us and us - Jesus stands with us both.  We are in that spot where God's power is made known; where God's light shines.  We reach out in the power of the Spirit with the power of life.

When God handed the beautiful creation into the hands of humans, God entrusted us with its care and stewardship in every possible way imaginable.  Clothing the naked ones of this world is but one example of how we are stewards of God's good gifts.  It is also one example of how God will change the world through us.  Amen and Amen.

Clothe the naked, part 3

There are legends about what happened to Adam and Eve when God expelled them from the Garden, according to Barbara Brown Taylor in her book The Preaching Life.

Legends about how Adam and Eve begged to be allowed to return to the garden.  God led them to a cave for shelter because return to the Garden wasn't an option. Eve offered to kill herself if Adam could return.  Adam wouldn't hear of it.  They refused to eat for months because they were frightened of sinning again.  They despaired.

There are days when I truly wish my relationship with God was such that my sinfulness would lead me to such despair.  Days when I don't brush off my failings as 'only human' nor skip over the dark places where I've chosen a wrong path.  Not because I believe God requires this of me, but rather because I believe it would give me a glimpse of the glory of God.  But that is a story for another day.

Adam and Eve were naked, hungry, lost, alone, and despairing.  You really can't be much more naked than that.  God stayed close, ready to provide the bare necessities to keep them going until they could catch their breath and begin to live into the future.

It was that or die.  They had to learn how to make do; how to grow a crop; how to raise animals for milk and food.  They had to learn to come in out of the rain and make a fire when the cold winds began to blow.  It was never even near the same as it was in the Garden, but they had to learn to make do.

So it might be for the one under the 690 bridge; those caught in the crossfire in a war torn country; those living a house filled with violence; those whose mind is torn with disease.  They have to learn how to make do, these naked, vulnerable one.

The question is:  do they have to make do all by themselves?

clothe the naked, part 2

Of course it was their fault, even though Adam and Eve did their best to blame it on each other, the snake and eventually God.  It was their fault.  They had heard God's commands, they had balanced the snake's arguments, they had eaten the forbidden fruit.  No question, it was their fault.

But does it make any difference?  When you encounter Adam and Eve, hiding behind the bushes does it really matter that they brought it all on themselves?  When you see the homeless person settled in under the 690 bridge, does it matter that they would be alright if they only took their meds?

Does it really help to heap guilt on top of the misery they are now experiencing?  Sure we speak the truth about how it all happened, but once that's done, now what?  Do we throw them a box of chicken nuggets wrapped with a bit of self-righteousness when we know that in just an instant we could be them?  A piece of our DNA that leaves us battling a disease; a company that embezzles and steals our retirement; the early addiction of smoking that now crushes our bodies.

If we were in the business of finding fault we would be well occupied by simply looking in the mirror.  If we were held to the judgment bar for the actions of our lives, big and small, would we stand?

Are we called to adjudicate the guilty or to show compassion to the neighbor?

When you are 'naked' and living on the street you don't need a stranger to tell you that somehow, somewhere something went horribly wrong and you probably had a hand in it.  Is our approbation the only gift we have to offer the vulnerable ones?

As we stand before God and confess that we are broken people who have helped to break others, we are simply acknowledging that no matter how bad it looks, the truth is a lot worse.  Our confession is God's invitation to lay down our frightening need to find someone else guilty so we can hide from our own guilt.  Confession is God's gift to us - so we can dredge up the realities of our lives in a place where we are conceived, nurtured and covered by God's eternal love.

If we are truly blessed, we will become the naked ones before God - shedding our pretenses, our protections, our lies.  Then we will know the joy of being clothed by our Lord, called into life, lifted into the light.

If we are truly blessed, we will become the naked ones.
Now that's something to consider.

Clothe the naked, part 1

"Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked..."  Gen3.7

If you want to get the attention of a room of middle school teens, just talk about nakedness.  The word garners giggles and blushes and averted eyes.

Adam and Eve however were hiding more than their eyes.  Ducking behind some bushes, they were hiding their guilty consciences when they heard the sound of God walking in the garden.  Having eaten from the forbidden fruit, they found themselves naked.....and we are not just talking about clothes here.

We are talking about the nakedness which is vulnerability, to be without protection, frail, weak.  For Adam and Eve it happened in that moment when they looked away from the God of promise ...for just a moment....and in a second the die was cast and the world had turned and there was no going back.  You know how that can be.....in a second a car runs a red light and you are crushed in your car; the job which seemed so secure disappears; the doctor's visit becomes a treatment plan with no guarantees.  In an instant.......the world turns and there is no going back.

You are left naked, and this world is no Garden of Eden.  It is dangerous and frightening and whatever stripped you of your protection has also stripped you of your confidence to face the winds and forces and responsibilities that come with this world.  There you are, sick or broken, in mind, or body or spirit.

Perhaps when we encounter the guilty naked ones hiding in the garden we could take a moment and remember that it only takes an instant.....and we are they.

Jesus says, "clothe the naked".

Humility....is it your goal in life?

What genuine humility is not
*Humility is not being insecure in who you are.
*Humility is not  belittling yourself in hopes of receiving little nuggets of hollow praise.
*Humility is not saying "I'm so humbled" after being recognized for achievement.

What genuine humility is
 *Humility is admitting one's own sins and flaws.
 *Humility is open to learning from others with different views.
 *Humility is communicating a sense of "we're all in this together."

"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited

but emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

and being found in human form, he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death - 

even death on the cross"   Philippians2.5-8

Following Jesus is to take on God's view of the world, a view of love that is cemented in forgiveness.  It is a view of shared humanity, to which we will sacrifice for the sake of the other.

Maybe you never thought about our faith as being an intentional emptying of ourselves.  Maybe you never gave God the chance to fill you with the power of love that rings life.

What do you think?  Is today the day you want try?

#goodnews #discipleship #salvation

This is so hard I can't even begin to describe it, but this I know: the places where I find it most difficult are the places that will prove the most rewarding.

I hold on to stuff that I am terrified of releasing and then - surprise of surprise - once I let it go 

I am set free to a new kind of life.

Fear is my greatest enemy, right after myself.

Yet Jesus calls us, "Nothing about this is easy.

Walking after me is always a combination of letting go and being blessed.

No matter how far you think you have traveled, there's a long and winding road ahead.

Every journey begins with the first step.

Come. Take the first step with me.
Love, your Savior."

  

Servants and Stewards of God's good news in Jesus

"Think on us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries."  1 Corinthians 4.1

Whoa!  Servants?  

Last thing Americans want to be called is 'servants'.   Downtown Abbey has lots of servants and we may not be as rich as the rich guys, but we are just as good.  Really, can't those folks manage to dress themselves?

So what do we do with this call to be servants........wait for it.... of Christ?   Who is way above us.  Who worked so hard it took his life to bring about the new world God wants for us.  Who promises to walk with us wherever we are called to go.

We are called to serve in Christ's name, bringing with us the same new life he brought, and we bring it to those most in need of new life, or any kind of life at all.

This is our primary task as servants of Christ:  to make known the mysteries of God. That is our stewardship: to be sure that Jesus' story is told in words and most importantly, in deed so that folks might get to know this God of love.  We don't claim to understand all the details, but here is the mystery:  God so loved this world and all who are in it, God sent us Jesus to show us what that looked like.  No death could hold this Jesus; God's life was greater than death.

Stewardship:  guarding, protecting, managing, sharing, working.  Making sure that the valuable treasure we have access to is used wisely in Christ's name.  Working to get God's good word out to the people.

Jesus invites us into discipleship, and when we take up that invitation we become servants and stewards for a lifetime.  For an eternity.  Thanks be to God.

#goodnews #discipleship #salvation

#discipleship.  Not for the faint of heart.  Never a path walked alone.

#goodnews #discipleship #salvation

The best one I know?  

 "Go and do likewise."

I don't need any more detail.  I have enough trouble with this simple one.

Stewards of life: cherish all children

Having become a grandmother I better understand the power of the next generation.  I have learned how wonderful it is to have new life revealed in this small person growing and exploring and discovering the world.  Laughter has a different sound when we are sharing it with our grandchildren.

So calling believers to take stewardship of  our children sounds like an enviable task.  We recognize the vulnerability of the young and even if it has been a bad day among the younger set, our love for them is deep and abiding.  We want safe environments and nutritious food.  We want good schools and reputable bus drivers.  We want activities that help them grow in body and mind.  We want help learning how to share our faith with them.  All these things seem so obvious, so easy.

But what about those children who aren't a part of our family, who don't live on our street, whose parents either don't have the skill or the will to create safe and healthy environments?  Are we to be stewards of them too?  Is it our concern if those children live in danger, eat occasionally, attend poor and failing schools? (and these children live within 20 miles of our homes).  What about the children far away who are growing up in much worse conditions?

Are we to be concerned about the domestic violence and targeted abuse that physically harms children every year?  Are we to advocate for a better school system that recognizes the challenges some of our children face and and with joy work to provide more for these children?  Is it only our children we are carry in our hearts?

When we follow Jesus, the one who gave his life so we might know that a greater, more abundant life is God's gift to us.........are we to parse out that life to some and not others?  Are we to love with blinders on? Is that how God loves us?

We are stewards of life - from birth to death.  It is probably the largest job we have and it goes far beyond our front door.