When Your Heart Hurts

Receiving the news of the death of someone is never easy. Whether you are close friends or merely acquaintances; whether the news comes at the end of a long illness or as a complete surprise; whether they lived an exemplary life or spent their years as a prodigal; there is a finality in the news that they have died that feels like a punch to the gut.

Unfortunately, such news has become commonplace. Widespread disease, recklessness and distraction on our highways, armed conflict and terroristic attacks, outbursts of violence, and even personal despair take their toll on great numbers of people each and every day. At times, it can seem overwhelming.

Indeed, you may be tempted to adopt a strategy of denial. If you don’t think about it at all, maybe you can move on as though nothing significant really happened. While that might serve as an effective short-term strategy, it rarely proves helpful to becoming the kind of person God has created us to be.

Grief is a natural response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone who has died. While it has an emotional component, it involves every part of who we are as persons created to be in relationship with others. The process of grief involves not only mourning, but also the acknowledgement (even the celebration) of all blessings we received because we were together (if only briefly) in this life.

When David received the news that King Saul and his son, Jonathan, had been killed in battle; one might think that it would have been easy for him to discount the loss. After all, he and Saul had been at odds for quite some time; and his relationship with Jonathan had been deeply stressed. Nevertheless, David acknowledged the greatness he had witnessed in both of them, and gave thanks for all they had done for him and for the nation of Israel.

Having a heart for God means more than having the faith to face great challenges; it also means allowing yourself to feel the hurt of significant loss. It is a sign that we are not only grateful for the ways God blesses our lives through others, but also that we trust God to continue to bring people into our lives who will show us the promise and potential of a life well-lived.

Into the Valley

Anointed, yet not acclaimed
No crown, no army, no domain.

Called from pastures feeding sheep
Sent by his anxious father
Bearing bread for his brothers
Carrying cheese for their captain
David reaches battle camp
Soldiers running for trenches
Commanders shouting for battle.

Across the valley
The enemy's champion
Bronze armor flashing
Shouts his well-practiced taunt
Insulting Israel
Distressing Saul
Terrifying Israel's army.

"Who is this who defies God's army?"
Such questions kindle a brother's anger
And a king's attention
"I'll go fight him!"
David volunteers
Recounting God's deliverance
Saving sheep from lion and bear.

Casting off the king's own armor
Grabbing staff and sling
David descends into the valley 
Pausing as he crosses the stream
Choosing five smooth stones
Ample ammunition for one
Trusting in the Lord's protection.

Goliath adds insults and curses
To the taunts he hurls
Still David knows and testifies
"The Lord owns this war.
I will strike you down."

The Philistine moves to attack
David moves more quickly
Stone in and out of sling
Soon sinking into the pagan's skull
Seizing sword from Goliath's sheath
David slays the blasphemer and proves
The Lord rescues those who trust in him. 

Looking for the Fruit

When God speaks to Moses at the burning bush, God has more than escape in mind. Not only is Moses called to set the people free from slavery in Egypt, he is also to lead them to the “promised land” – “a good and broad land, a land that’s full of milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). Pharaoh makes the release as difficult on the Israelites as he can, and the journey across the desert is marred by complaints and questions about Moses’ competence; but after a couple of years and a couple of months they are poised to enter the land of Canaan.

God speaks to Moses again. This time God tells Moses to select a man from each of the twelve tribes to explore the land and bring back a report. Moses gives them thorough instructions, concluding with an interesting request: “bring back the land’s fruit” (Numbers 13:20).

They explored the area for forty days. While they were there they cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes that was so big that two men carried it on a pole between them. When they got back they showed everyone the fruit and gave their report: “We entered the land to which you sent us. It’s actually full of milk and honey, and this is its fruit” (Numbers 13:27). This fruit of the vine was not only clear evidence of the fertility of the land, but also of God’s faithfulness to his promises. It should have been an occasion for celebration.

Years later the Psalmist imagines the people of Israel as a vine God brought out of Egypt and planted in a place especially prepared for it. Isaiah compares God to a man who planted a vine in a protected vineyard expecting it to produce fine grapes; plainly saying, “Indeed Israel is the vineyard of the LORD” (cf. 5:1-8). Jeremiah delivers this message from God to Judah: “I planted you in the land like a special vine of the very best stock” (2:21).

So when Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches;” he is connecting his ministry to the history of God’s covenant people. He is also warning them not to repeat the mistakes of those who had gone before. “My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples” (John 15:8).

May people be delighted and amazed by the fruit they find among us.

Loving Strangers

Forty years had passed since they had escaped from Egypt. That was not the original plan. A journey that should have been completed in a few weeks lasted for decades. Moses certainly imagined things would go differently. Still God had been faithful. Neither their clothes nor their sandals had worn out. They always had food to eat and water to drink. Their enemies had been defeated time after time. Now they were on the verge of entering “the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you” (Deuteronomy 27:3b).

On the banks of the Jordan River, Moses prepares the people for their triumphant entry. He urges them once again to be faithful “to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (10:12b). He calls them “to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees” (10:13a). He reminds them “the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations” (10:15).

In the midst of his parting message, Moses says something quite interesting: “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing” (10:17-18). Furthermore, “you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt” (10:19). The people of God are called to love the people God loves.

The Sunday before Passover Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem like a triumphant king. The people shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13). Many expect to Jesus to ride right into the palace, to run the Romans out of the country, and to restore Israel to its former glory; but Jesus is not there to serve himself, orchestrate a coup, or engage in wish fulfillment. Jesus has come to show God’s love to the world.

Paul explains it to the Ephesians like this: “Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us…. In his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us…. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us” (2:13-14, 18). And so it continues; the people of God are called to love the people God loves—particularly strangers and foreigners. 

Scandalous Love

“There was a man who had two sons.” That’s the way Jesus begins one of the most familiar of all his parables. Indeed, it is so familiar that most people fail to appreciate how shocking it must have sounded to those people who heard him tell it for the first time.

It is true that most people still place a high value on family relationships; but in first century Palestine, family identity was at the core of your personal identity. It provided your connection to the rest of the community. It conferred your role in the history of God’s people. Being part of a household insured your life, especially in a country occupied by a foreign military force. In this culture it was essential that everyone in the household be fully devoted to each other’s wellbeing.

For a child (particularly, a son) to approach his father and ask for his share of the inheritance would have been not only an insult; but a threat to the family’s very existence. In an era when our children live all over the world, it is hard to imagine how scandalous it would be to hear that this same child chose to pack up and move off just a few days later.

As Jesus continues the story it becomes more clear that this rebellious son did recognize his father’s loving and generous spirit. As he recalls the evidence of his father’s gracious generosity, he’s convinced that even being one of his father’s hired workers would be an improvement over his current condition. As the story unfolds and his recollections prove true, his initial rebellion seems even more mysterious and perplexing, if not incomprehensible.

Then just as the story seems to be reaching a happy conclusion, Jesus shocks his audience again. Now the other son—the elder son—the “good” son—refuses to participate in the celebration of his younger brother’s return. Without apology, he expresses his contempt for both his brother and his father. This is a different form of rebellion; nevertheless, it is a clear expression of his failure to appreciate the depth of his father’s love for him.

Jesus leaves the story unresolved. The party is in full swing. The father has explained the situation to his older son; but there is no indication how he will respond. Immediately Jesus begins the next story.

I imagine the crowd shaking their heads as they puzzle over what they have just heard.  “How could…why would anyone respond like that to such a loving and gracious father?” Perhaps that is just the question Jesus hopes we will ask ourselves as we consider the ways we have rebelled against God’s love.

A Question of Authority

     You’ve heard it before, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Nevertheless, publishing companies invest lots of time and talent into the design of book covers that will, at least, increase the likelihood that you will not only pull their text of the shelf, but will actually consider paying the price to carry it home.

     Of course, the art department has a role to play in making one work stand out among the rest, but you may have noticed a marked increase in the number of review excerpts included on book jackets. They want you to know that other people have read and enjoyed this particular tome.

     Particularly with works of non-fiction, you may find the first few pages dedicated to short testimonials from “experts” (or if not “experts,” at least, celebrities) in the field. They routinely mention the significance and importance of this particular contribution to the field; or the author’s advance of the conversation; or something like that.

     If there are enough positive comments, and they are made by people you admire or respect; you must admit it increases your consideration of a purchase. While the bold title and interesting art work may have prompted you to pick up the book, the combined testimony of critics and colleagues goes a long way toward convincing you to seriously consider what this writer has to say.

     With more and more people filling pages, web sites, and air waves with their own particular (and quite often, peculiar) messages, it makes sense to take the time to consider the source. Do they have a vested interest in promoting their particular narrative? What are the likely results of their suggested course of action? Who are their allies and what are their goals? Are their values aligned with what you know to be true?

     The more challenging question, though, is could you respond confidently to someone who questioned you about the declarations you make, the decisions you take, the actions that define your life. Who gave you the authority to do the things you do?

Joy to the World

Joy can seem astonishingly elusive—even during these days leading up to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The announcement of the angel—“Behold, I bring you good news of great joy…”—echoes in your ears; but you struggle to force a smile when anyone wishes you, “Merry Christmas.” If there is any word that comes close to describing your state of mind, it is “anxious.”

The flood of catalogs filling your mailbox and sales inserts spilling from your newspaper, remind you of all the things you don’t have (but wish you did). Still you know you won’t get much sympathy as you sort through all the letters asking you to respond to the great need of the “less fortunate” in the community and around the world.

Bombings and beheadings overseas, riots and demonstrations across the country, and shootings in the streets you drive every day, leave you feeling hopeless when the carolers sing of “peace on earth.” Even the relationships with the people you’ve shared your life with for years seem strained and unsettled.

You move slowly as you start your day—going though an inventory of your aches and pains. You listen carefully to the ads that punctuate the morning news with the promise of some new drug that will alleviate your ailments. As the announcer continues to list all the possible side effects and contraindications of the cure he is promoting, doubt that there is any possibility of healing adds to your distress.

Nevertheless, as a community of faith, we gather excitedly, stand expectantly, and wait patiently for the one who proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

May you discover indescribable joy as you affirm the great gift God has given you—the gift of life through faith in Jesus who was born in Bethlehem and is coming again.