A Personal Note to the New Year

(Note: I wrote this as last year's calendar fizzled. It popped up as a memory and kick-started by hamster-wheel brain. I plan to follow it up in the next few days with a couple corresponding posts dealing with "IFs". Finally, I think it will come full circle. I have some thought percolations on the dry erase board of 2019.)

A Personal Note to 2017 & 2018

Dear 2017,

Thanks and it was good to know you. You were good to me for the most part.

You certainly brought highs and lows; but overall, the highs were higher than the lows were low. Once in a while I will look back upon you with fondness; and hopefully, very little regret.

Honestly though, it will not be often. I'd rather keep my eyes forward - and in a bit, you will be behind.

You'll have to see yourself out. I plan to sleep through your retirement. So I'll say goodnight old friend. I hope the brotherhood of past years welcomes you to their fraternity and treats you kindly. (Though I'd keep an eye out for 1350 and 1918 (both anno domini), the Dark Ages, and most of the BC years - they can be a bit grumpy and old fashioned.)


Dear 2018,

Welcome. I'm excited to meet you. Forgive me that I'm not up when you arrive. I'd rather have coffee with you after sunrise, than shots with you tonight. Besides, you are going to be meeting a lot of new faces in the next few hours and if you're anything like me with names... well...

I look forward to exploring all you have in store. There will be joys as well as pains, but I have a good feeling about you. I think we will be friends. As a matter of fact, I might make it my resolution.


You know, I just realized something: 2017, like age, you are just a number. You were what I made of you.

And 2018, you are the same; a perfectly clean whiteboard awaiting my squeaky marker. I won't write neatly. There will be misspellings. But I hope to fill you to the borders with love, joy, purpose, family, friends... and a host of passionate pursuits.

It's kind of funny; I wrap up this note in a limbo time between the two of you. And yet here I am. One of you is on the way out, the other coming. And yet I have now. Maybe that is the lesson from all the years past and for those upcoming... I have now. Now is all I have. So now is what I will make the most of.
(And 2018, I promise to try to stop ending sentences with prepositions. Another resolution? Nah.)

So, goodbye and hello.
Your friend,
D

A Stumbler's Walk | WHAT IS TRUTH?

Pilate said to him (Jesus), "What is truth?" - John 18:38

Pilate looked into the face of The Way, the Truth, and the Life and asked him, "what is truth?" With a conflicted mixture of arrogance, ignorance and longing, Pilate stared into the eyes of the Life-Giver, and wondered aloud about the meaning of life.

We may not voice the questions. But they are there. We believe in a God we cannot see. We trust the guidance of a Spirit we cannot hear. We rely on the goodness of an all-powerful Creator, and yet see the devastation that takes place daily in our world; sometimes personally, and close to home.

Paul wrote: "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed," (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

"What is Truth?"

Jesus knew Pilate. In the moment that Pilate asked the question, Jesus saw beyond the power and the pomp. Jesus knew Pilate's heart; and the pain and fear that resided there. A few moments later Pilate washed his hands of Jesus (both literally and figuratively). But Jesus went to the cross for Pilate; for all the Pilates. He went to the cross for the Pilate in you and in me.

Our fear, our arrogance, our questions of Why?… Jesus took them with him to the cross. And there he proved the truth of love. And ultimately, if we will allow, his love overwhelms our questions.

"What is Truth?"

The answer is not a philosophical one. It is not a religious one. Nor is it merely theological.

"What is Truth?"

The Answer is a person. Look to the cross. There Truth demonstrated himself in love. And he is the same for us today.

God, overwhelm me with the truth of your love.

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | IS CHRISTMAS OVER ?

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1 

A friend and I played what's your favorite Christmas song? yesterday. The list was too long, and we couldn't agree on some: I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas almost had us parting ways.

We did, however agree on most; and near the top of both lists, O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The song comes out of the Dark Ages and is rich in depth, meaning and emotion.

From the seldom sung third stanza:

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

It is Christmas night as I write this. It strikes me that this night is the most silent of the season - presents opened, meals eaten, hugs given, family parted. Now quietness, silence. And a time to reflect.

As a child I used to be very sad at this time. Christmas was over. The magic ended for another year. But that is not the case. Christmas is not really over, because Christmas is actually about beginnings.

Christ came for a reason. He did not step into this earth to give us nativity scenes (or plays). He did not come to be reminisced in song or story. The incarnation is not the story of what was. Christmas is about what is.

Christ came to set us free! He came to put death's dark shadows to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel - God is with us!

And you are free. 
I am free. 
The gloomy clouds of night dispersed. 
Because the story does not end in a manger.

God, thank you for beginnings. 

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | EMMANUEL

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father! 

- Galatians 4:4-6

I still look forward to Christmas, just as I did growing up. I love the season, the vibe - with the lights, the decorations, the music, even the busyness. I like the crescendo of Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. It was mysterious and wonderful as a child. And the wonder hasn't worn off.

Human history also has crescendos. The greatest occurred - maybe I should say, began - when God stepped into time and space in a far off land, and, of all things, as a baby in a humble stable.

"When the fullness of time had come," Paul writes. Mary's pregnancy and the pregnancy of time coincided. Then the crescendo: Emmanuel - God with us!

He split time in two. 

We may now say BCE (Before Common Era) instead of BC (Before Christ), and CE (Common Era) rather than AD ("Anno Domini" - Year of our Lord). But politically-correct terms cannot dull the crescendo.

The cymbals of eternity roared… 

Voices of angel choirs bounced off the stars...

Shepherds gasped...

Heaven thundered

Hell shuddered

Wise men journeyed

A baby cried.

Emmanuel - God with us!

With us to redeem us…

With us to free us…

With us to call us his children… (In Aramaic, "Abba" is a term of endearment meaning "Daddy.")

Yes, I still love Christmas. 

O come, O come, Emmanuel.

God, be my Emmanuel.

Have a Blessed Christmas! For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 

- John 1:9

I love Christmas Eve. I always have.

At one time it was the anticipation of sleigh bells, red noses in the night sky and clandestine visits that left the remnants of strategically placed cookies. Later, Christmas Eve became about stressed late night assembly and construction projects, and overeating (or careful disposal of) said cookies.

Christmas Eve has taken on a more reflective tone in later years. Perhaps more on that later... all this really has little to do with the thought precipitating this quick post.

What about Christmas Eve Eve.... The day before the day before Christmas?

Thinking back a score of millennia, the day before the day before Christmas wasn't so festive. It was a stressful day of dusty journey for a pregnant couple. (We men like to say it that way, but we really do know differently!) It lead to a night of little and restless sleep, either along the side of the road  - with another travel day ahead - or in a cave housing smelly, flatulating animals.

The day before the day before Christmas was difficult. It was a day with not much hope. It was a day that seemed darkness and dankness would be the forever norms.

The difficulties of life-journey can bring a heavy fog to hope and expectation. Especially on the day before the day before Christmas.

But light is coming. He is coming.

Wise men are mobilizing in the East. Stars are about to burst through the velvet of night where stars have never burst before. Angel choirs are putting the last touches on heavenly choruses and shining up halos for a shepherd audience.

It is dark on the day before the day before Christmas. But light is coming. He is coming.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world... 

In him is life, and life is the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness cannot overcome it. 

- John 1:9,4-5

Light of the world, shine on me this day before the day before.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | PRAYING FOR YOU

John 17 - Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

If you could choose anyone to pray for you, with you, about the most important thing you are praying for, who would it be? Whom would you choose? 

How would it make you feel to know Billy Graham had been praying for you? One better; how would it make you feel to know Jesus is praying for you?

He is. Now.

In John 17 Jesus prays for his followers - both those present (in that upper room) and those to come. In other words, us. The writer of the book of Hebrews further states that Jesus, "…lives to make intercession (prays) for us," (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus whispers your name and mine into the ear of the Father on a daily basis. And what does Jesus pray for us? I'm guessing the list is endless, but from John 17 we see…

He is praying for our protection (vv.12-15). Are you facing circumstances that produce fear? Jesus prays specifically for our protection from evil. Additionally, he promises his presence with us. Where he is, fear cannot survive.

He is praying for our sanctification (vv.16-19). Transformation has a beginning point - when we say yes to Jesus. However, ongoing transformation - what the Bible calls sanctification - is a lifetime process. Christ prays for the changing of our character to more reflect his love and goodness.

He is praying for our unity (vv.21-23). Jesus said in John 14 that his followers would be known by their love for one another. Christians are known for a lot of things in our culture today. If love is not first on the list, we have a skewed understanding of Christ's message.

He is praying for our perseverance (vv.24-26). Hang on… hang in… don't let go. James writes, "…you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything, (James 1:3-4, NIV). The hallmark of spiritual maturity is not giftedness. Many immature Christians are incredibly gifted, and sadly, often see their lives derail. Perseverance, also translated "Steadfastness," is a better indicator of maturity in Christ. As the old hymn states: 

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness…

On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…"

God, it both encourages and humbles me to know that Christ intercedes for me.

For now...
D

A Stumbler's Walk | GUIDE

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth... - John 16:13

Years ago I heard a sermon based on a concept called The Principle of the Path. The primary theme was that our direction determines our destination. Wrong direction is not a big deal two steps down the path. It becomes more of an ordeal 20 steps out… 200 steps… 2,000… and on.

Most of us would like to examine the path God has laid out for us. Frankly, we want to know God's will (for us) beforehand, but often just to see if it is something really desire. We would like to peer through time-enhanced binoculars down a straight, clean, obstacle free and neatly paved road that leads us to our hopes and dreams.

That is probably not going to happen.

God reveals his unique will for us as we take steps of commitment down the path. God doesn't reveal his plan for us as an option to be chosen. Instead we choose life in him and he leads from there. Commitment precedes clarity. And often the clarity is for just the next step. (At least I need to read that last sentence a few times. You?)

What Jesus does promise is that the Holy Spirit, whom he calls The Helper, will guide us in truth. In other words, he will give light to the path. Maybe more accurately, The Helper gives light to us, so we can walk the path. As Jesus said, he guides us in truth. The Psalmist writes, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," (Psalm 119:105). So the Spirit of Truth - another name for this Helper - illuminates the Truth of God's word, always leading us to the TRUTH, who is Jesus.

Your direction determines your destination. It is never too late to ask The Guide to direct you. Maybe you left the path many steps ago. It is OK. He knows the way.

The ancient Chinese proverb states the journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. In the same way, the destination of your life is determined by the direction of your steps. And the journey is not so much about your last step - whether it be a good one or bad. Nor is it about the next step. Your journey and mine is about this step. Take it! God promises to guide.

God, may your Holy Spirit be my guide.

For now...

D