Blog

Kingdoms and Treasures > Blog

Internal growth for External change

Blog
October 26, 20200

Your Story Matters

Your Story Matters

“From his abundance, we have all received one gracious blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.”

John 1:16-18 NLT

You matter. John 1:1-18 tells us why. Everything was created through God from the very beginning. And through that creation, God reveals his heart. There is no part of creation he does not see. There is not a single person he does not hear. The light of the world was given to all of us, and that Light knows us. 

I wonder what your heart longs for? We all seem to be searching for the next thing that will make life better. Sometimes it feels like we are searching in vain. The things you desire may seem impossible to obtain, but the want of them consumes you. It reminds me of Thorin Oakenshield in Tolkien’s, The Hobbit. 

Wide-eyed, he frantically searches for his treasure. Nothing else matters. The Arkenstone holds value above anything and anyone. He trips over a jeweled chalice and cusses when his hand is cut on the edge of a diamond. In his frustration, he throws a handful of gold across the treasure chamber, once again scanning for his treasure. It is nowhere to be found. Darkness engulfs him amidst the glittering cavern. Light from numerous torches contagiously reflects throughout the room. Thorin Oakenshield does not see it. His obsession blinds him. 

The one thing you desire has power. It rules your thoughts, your emotions, and your actions. You muddle through the mundane and mindlessly fulfill your obligations. Yet your soul is longing for something that seems impossible to possess. Who has not felt like this at some point or the other? Especially during the pandemic! Suspicion tells me there is something important to notice about these desires. 

The Arkenstone reflected light, and its value was beyond comprehension. In the mind of Thorin, it was the treasure above all treasures. This was the jewel that would crown him King under the Mountain. In this story, I see a longing for worth and belonging. When I read John 1, my heart swells with joy. Perhaps it is because I enjoy poetic language, but I believe it is so much more. 

Jesus, the true light, or dare I say our greatest treasure, came into the world he created so we could share in this light. He brought us near to the Father’s heart and offered us the opportunity to become sons and daughters of Abba, our Lord. Created in his image and invited to share in his glory and riches, He offers us the Kingdom of Heaven. 

What glory? What riches? You may wonder, as you look at your current circumstances. The grief and uncertainty of the current season may be engulfing you. As you ponder the words of John, what may God be inviting you to consider? The invitation to be a child of God might feel exciting for some, but for some, it feels scary. We all need guides when we feel adrift, or as in Thorin’s case, a friendly hobbit. According to the Word, we are all brothers and sisters. The eternal family to which we belong is full of wisdom and compassion. They are often the ones that will be a light in the darkness. These persons could be a friend, pastor, counselor, spiritual director, or mentor. Only you know who you need. 

“You have received one gracious blessing after the other.”

John 1:16 par

God’s gifts surround us. Sometimes circumstances blind us, but as I have worked with people in the darkest places, I see light rise when they practice gratitude. You can be grateful for a roof over your head and food in your belly. You might be grateful for creation and natural beauty. It could be that someone big or small in your circle of influence produces a smile in you today. This morning I was thankful for a warm cup of coffee and the sweet silence of a waking world. These are the treasures that surround us every day, we only need to look a little closer. 

Jesus came not to condemn us through the law, but to offer his unfailing love and faithfulness.

John 1:17 par

As you draw near the light, the light will reflect through your life. You are the beloved daughter or son of the King of Kings. You belong to his Kingdom and his glory can be found in you. Every part of your life matters to God. You are his treasure and his delight. He invites each of you to engage every day with him. What does your invitation say today?

(For a guided meditation of John 1:1-18 please check out our new YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/channel/UCs09ki4BW2fFqEETisuTgwg)

Blog
April 22, 20200

Peace Be With You

It rests within him as he lies upon the boat, curled up among the ropes and nets. The ship’s mast cries out a like a hundred whips lashing the sky. Deep rest soothes his soul and permeates his being. No storm, no circumstance alters his path. He lives from the core of his being. This is the place in him that lives in us. Frantic voices cry out, “The storm! We are all going to die!” The presence of peace muffles out the furor of the rising tempest. It is a peace obtained through gentle surrender. Each day, not his own but given up to the will of his Father. He knows his path lies in the shadow of giant footprints. Will you follow him? 

This morning, as I practiced an Ignatian exercise, I meditated on the phrase, “I rest in your peace.”[1] My brain transported me to an ancient ship fighting the mighty gales of an unpredictable storm. I was curled up next to Jesus resting in his presence. It was as if we were sleeping within a bubble of light protecting us from the storm. It was bliss. 

Shortly after my time with Jesus I was reading the latest news about the COVID-19 epidemic. Anxiety swelled up within me. Like the disciples, I wondered when God would do something to calm the raging seas. It is human nature to fear death. We were created for life.

“The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us abundant life.”

John 10:10 par

Human instinct will always lead us to survival. This makes the idea of dying to one’s self challenging to understand.

Dallas Willard writes in Renovation of the Heart, “This total yielding of every part of our body to God, until the very tissues and muscles that make it up are inclined toward God and godliness and are vitalized in action by the powers of heaven, breaks all conformity with worldly life in this age and transforms us into conformity with the age to come, by completing the renewal of our minds- our powers of thought and imaginations and judgment deeply rooted in our bodies.”[2] Our human inclination around the current pandemic is to panic, express anger, confusion, hopelessness, and a myriad of other emotions. It is only by the renewing of our minds and daily surrender that we can make the pilgrimage towards abundant life. 

“To be a pilgrim is to let ourselves be led by the Lord. Pilgrims are people on a way.”[3] This way leads us towards peace. There are many obstacles all of us will face as we journey towards the heart of God. Blocked by losses, sickness, poverty, and hopelessness, the way is no longer clear. Serenity becomes a poetic word that does not translate to real life. How can you find peace in a time like this? Gary Moon says, “Our only hope is to have Jesus on our insides, alive, powerful, loving and acting through our mouths and limbs.”[4] This happens through discipleship, surrender, and prayer. 

In Philippians 4:4-9 Paul exhorts us to: 

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (ESV).

Philippians 4:4-9 Paul exhorts

This is a rich passage full of many treasures. It gives us a road map for peace. When I think about the internal pilgrimage I am trekking; I can notice what triggers moments of peace vs. moments of anxiety or sadness. I know Jesus is calling me to be thankful daily, to engage in regular worship, to seek opportunities to love others, and to rest in his presence. I am also being called to put down negative news articles, the desire to debate with others, or to retreat from the present moment. Life is difficult right now. For many of us, the oceans are roaring high above our tiny vessels. 

We were wired for peace, but sometimes self-preservation intervenes. I wonder about the statement, “God is in control.” While he could take control over me, that is not how he rolls. By his mercy, we are given a choice. We can live this life by the power we possess. We can also trade in our power for the power of God. Who doesn’t want that type of upgrade? In Life Without Lack, Willard says, “…we were made to run on God.” [5] What an encouraging thought. Through trust and surrender, peace may be possible. I pray that today you will be blessed with God’s peace. 

[1] Michael Hansen, My First Spiritual Exercises: Four Guided Retreats (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press).

[2] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress), 170.

[3] David Fleming, SJ, What is Ignatian Spirituality? (Chicago, IL: Loyola Press, 2008), 34. 

[4] Gary Moon, Apprenticeship with Jesus: Learning to Live Like the Master (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books),131.

[5] Dallas Willard, Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23 (Nashville, TN: Nelson Books),134.

Blog
April 9, 20200

The Way of Jesus

The beating of my heart drowns out my anxious thoughts. I remember a day last August when I asked Jesus to replace my heart with his. “Can I have your heart in exchange for mine?” was his gentle reply. In humility, I agreed. His heart is a treasure that fills my soul and with this exchange, it reminded me that I am treasured by him.

Movement is emerging out of the rhythmic strokes of his heart. I am trying to learn the steps to our dance. Desire is calling me to surrender, so Jesus can lead. Letting go of the things that hinder my ability to keep in step, is a challenge. But there is a fire growing within that compels me towards his love.

Many of us feel the weight of extra baggage right now. Threats have abounded during the COVID-19 crisis. Human instinct tells us to take more, just in case.  Anger and fear have grown like unruly ivy around generosity and gratitude. It sucks the air right out of our lungs. So many are tired and losing hope. 

As a pilgrim in training, I wonder about the things each of us needs to let go of to lighten our loads. What am I carrying that is bruising my shoulders while I trudge uphill? I have talked with a lot of different people in the past few weeks and a common burden we carry is control. There is so much we don’t have control of. We are trying to exert our power over emotions, thoughts, schedules, people, health, and a host of other things. This is exhausting work.

When I was training for the Camino, I filled up my backpack to the recommended limit. By the end of a twelve-mile walk, my shoulders ached and my bones felt bruised. A couple of days later I removed four pounds from my pack, and I hiked another 12 miles. This time without pain. The things I took out were not necessities, they were comforts. A pillow, a solar phone charger, a book, pajamas, and a few other random things. 

Today I challenged myself to let go of getting my way. I am asking myself if I can create a practice of simplicity during an exceedingly complicated space in time. Emerging out of these questions is a desire to live well. To thrive in the present moment. A spiritual guide encouraged me to find a question to ponder during my trek on the Camino. Now I ask myself, “what is the way of Jesus in my life?” 

For the moment I am abandoning my trip to Spain, but I will not abandon this question. In the movie Four Feathers, Heath Ledger’s character, Harry asks his new friend Abue, “Why are you helping me?” Abu answers, “Because God has put you in my way.” Abue lived in the desert. Each day was likely spent attending to basic human needs. When it was time for Abue and Harry to part ways, Harry asks Abue, “What will you do now?” Abue replies, “Whatever God has chosen for me.” So simple. So hard. Or perhaps, easy.

What is the way of Jesus in my life today? We must add today because tomorrow is a luxury, or perhaps a burden we cannot afford to carry. There is simplicity when we focus on this moment. I can find hope for today. 

There is a person in your path today that maybe there tomorrow, but there are others that won’t be. When you lock eyes with a stranger on a walk or at the grocery store, what is the way of Jesus at that moment? Those people are neighbors. Sometimes all I can do is offer a smile and a silent prayer. Part of finding the way of Jesus is to attune to his heart. Relinquishing our fears of not having enough and attending to the humanity that lives all around us. 

For some of you, the only humans physically in your path are in your home. What does the way of Jesus look like surrounded by a bunch of stir-crazy kids and grown-ups? What does it look like when you are the only human in your physical path? Or perhaps it is just you and a spouse or a roommate. Thankfully, there is no one answer. Every one of you is living a unique life on an exceptional path. Jesus’ heart has a different rhythm in your soul than he does in others. I imagine our dance as a slow waltz. You may see your dance with him as a tango, a swing dance, hip-hop, or salsa. Dropping the weight of unnecessary things helps us to move in step with Jesus. 

In Luke 10:38-42, Martha is frustrated that her sister Mary is not helping. She tells Jesus about it and he replies by saying, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (NLT) We worry about so many things. Holding on to anxiety is akin to putting large rocks in your backpack. I like to look at rocks when I hike, but unless it is small and beautiful, I do not enjoy carrying rocks while I hike. It is important to recognize our anxieties, but after you have paid attention to that rock, the next step is to keep moving on your path, setting down anything that is unnecessary.

It is Holy Week. This is the week Christians remember that Jesus was arrested, beaten, tried, and crucified. This is the week we recall that the way of Jesus led him to death on a cross so we could all have life. This is the week we celebrate the miracle of resurrection and the hope of a new life. Jesus is alive. He has risen! The way of Jesus calls us to die so we may live. We relinquish our personal kingdoms and exchange them for the power of God’s Kingdom. In this, we rise with him. 

The richness of life is bubbling up in me as I compose these words. I love to write. Putting words to paper is a part of God’s way in my story. To create space for writing I surrender time relaxing, reading, watching movies, serving, and even time with friends and family. Those are not bad things. God calls me into all of those moments frequently, but I cannot carry all of them at one time. At this precise moment, I write. Soon I will grade papers and provide therapy to others. After that? “Whatever God has chosen for me.” What would God have for you?

Blog
March 23, 20202

The Calling of a Pilgrim

I developed this blog intending to write about God’s Kingdom and the treasures we see around us. With a trip to France and Spain planned, I imagined sharing those adventures from this platform. Plans change. The coronavirus outbreak is reminding me you cannot rely on plans. All you can count on is today, and even that can change with lightning speed. I still want to write about kingdoms and treasures. You and I have the individual Kingdoms that we rule and within each kingdom are things we treasure. Your kingdom may be experiencing a shakedown right now. Mine is. The material world is rapidly changing, but the Kingdom of Heaven has not been altered by our current chaos.

Two weeks ago, I was preparing for a trip of a lifetime. I was preparing to be a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago. Within twenty-four hours, I was planning to cancel my trip. Out of stubbornness and in the spirit of the Camino, I have decided to embrace the calling of a pilgrim. A wise counselor recently said that my pilgrimage began the moment I made the decision to go. “The Pilgrim is one who ventures into a foreign land, who makes himself an alien, who loses contact with the familiar props of his ordinary life, and who deprives himself of all help other than the charity that people show to those whom they do not know, but who have the indications of being poor”[1] All of us are living in a foreign land today. 

The world is not running on what is ordinary right now. Many of you will need the charity of others to sustain you in the coming weeks and months. Many of you will offer charity to others. I am leaning on the charity of my community to stay connected during a time of isolation. I am asking God to show me how I can offer charity to others. I am exploring my identity as a pilgrim. A true pilgrimage leads us towards God and his Kingdom. 

Victor and Edith Turner wrote, “Pilgrimage may be thought of as an extroverted mysticism, just as mysticism is an introverted pilgrimage.”[2] Confounded or mystified, all of us are living in unchartered territory. How you respond to this extraordinary time will define your experience. A pilgrim is typically on the move. This may be an external movement or an internal one. If you are confined to your home, as many of us are, movement may feel limited. Internal movement is one of the things you can control. Meaningful movement is birthed out of reflection.

Too many of us react to our circumstances. As a therapist, I often teach clients the difference between reacting and responding. Life-giving responses are preceded by moments of reflection. The media are shoveling opinions and directives about COVID-19 at mind swelling speeds. You are being told what to think and how to behave. Fear has become palpable. Yet, as I hiked yesterday, I saw the spirit of the pilgrim lighting the way. Most people smiled, and some offered kind words as we passed each other. Out of respect, everyone moved far enough away to maintain “social distance.” But as I looked at the eyes of these individuals, I saw hope in a time of darkness.

 “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and everything else will follow.”[3]  In the eyes of each person I passed, I saw the essence of the Father’s Kingdom. I saw a treasure. You were created in the image of God. Nothing in this world can change that. All the emotions swirling around your circumstances do not define the essence of who you are. They are a normal reaction to a world of uncertainty. However, I wonder where there may be treasures to be found in your current circumstance? Where can you find hope, consolation, compassion, or courage?  I am finding hope in gratitude. I am finding consolation as I move towards love. I am finding compassion as I listen to other’s heartaches. Courage is rising as I keep my eyes on today. Tomorrow is too heavy a burden to bear. 

To be a pilgrim is to travel light. If you only carry what you need today, you will see the world with different eyes. What I see today is that you are a treasure. Your life and your presence in this world matters. The Kingdom Jesus spoke of in the gospels is our greatest treasure. We are facing a time of uncertainty, and I do not have an answer that will fix anyone’s circumstances. But as you reflect, I hope the Imago Dei in you will rise up. I pray that you will be blessed with kindness and hope. I pray that you will begin to see treasures all around you!

[1] Brian Grogan, Alone and on Foot: Ignatius of Loyola (Dublin, Ireland: Veritas Publications), 58.

[2] Brian O’ Leary, SJ, God Ever Greater: Exploring Ignatian Spirituality (Dublin: Messenger Publications), 38.

[3] Matthew 6:33 (par)