Going Ahead

One of the images that I have found most helpful in recent days is that of God going ahead of the Israelites in their escape from Egypt. The cloud led them by day and the fire led them by night. There was no question that God was with them in the plagues and Passover, but seeing God moving ahead of them might have seemed a new revelation. My recent trip to ancient Asia Minor reminded that God did this in the New Testament as well. I saw some of the 57,000 miles of road that the Romans built before Paul took his missionary journeys down those roads. God had used the pagan Romans to pave the way for the Gospel! In my recent family trials I can see how God has made a way for me ahead of time. My parents became ill in a month when my sermons were almost completely researched and I was even scheduled to be off a Sunday. There were almost no church crises and no funerals--very unusual for January. As I drove down I-37 I realized that not only were the roads paved --so was my schedule. God had given me extra time to spend with my parents. In those times I may not have always noticed God's presence but now I can see God was indeed there--way before I got there!
DMac

Mythbusters II

Another myth exploded in my recent family crisis was the myth of the "prayerful person". I have always thought of myself as a prayerful person who is often in conversation with God. What I discovered in this crisis was that I was, in actuality, a person who prays when he thinks of it. I was surprised to find that prayer had not become second nature to me. Often in these days I found myself going to physicians and siblings before I went to God in prayer. I realize that God often speaks to us through the voice of others: I was just surprised that I made more room for the voice of others than I did for the voice of God. This is surely a result of the upheaval in my life yet it is a danger signal. Pastors and other Christians should be aware of the mistake which Adam and Eve made in the garden (according to Walter Brueggemann): they talked about God (to the snake) rather than WITH God. That being the case it is no wonder that I found myself so disoriented in the crisis. The good news is that God continues to want to be in conversation with me and that I am learning to make space for that conversation even in difficult and busy days.
DMac

Mythbusters I

On New Year's weekend, both of my parents became ill and one was hospitalized. Over the last ten days my brothers and sisters have rotated responsibilities trying to help manage the situation. During this trying time I have learned a few things about myself including the dicovery of myths that I have been living by. The first myth I discovered while trying to assist one parent in the hospital while watching over the other one at home. I found that I could not be two places at once nor could I do things in a way that pleased me and the others involved. Surprisingly, I was surprised by this. Apparently I live in the myth of the "limitless self"-- the sense that I can do any and everything and keep everyone happy. The reality is that we were all created with limitations; even Jesus had to eat, drink, and sleep. Paul told the Philippians that he could do "all things" in Christ, but he did not say we should or even that he did. I believe he was pointing out that Christ's presence helped him cope in the midst of many trials. I am finding that to be the reality that keeps me going as my other myths fall apart.
DMac