Bringing Faith to Life
Archive for July, 2015
in so many words
1Where do the words come from?
the ones in the dark
not the ones from the darkness
but the writing on the page
that is mine
though I can’t see the hand writing
or the words as they shape.
A whole thought,
no, many,
scribbled on a page
because I must catch them.
Catch them somewhere.
Not to hold them hostage
but to hold them up.
To look at them glisten
in the light
of a new day.
Run to catch up
Speed thru
Change the world
keep pace
rule the worldyou go ahead
I’ll stay here.
Do you hear what I hear?
2The disciples asked Jesus, “Teach us to pray,” but was that what they really wanted? To learn how to pray? Or was their request really for Him to teach them to listen?
What if what we call the “Lord’s prayer” or the “Our Father” isn’t just an outline for how we “should pray” or the format for the “perfect theological prayer” but the kindness of God showing us how to reach Him? And a way to show others how to reach Him?
A while back, I read a Sports Illustrated piece about Lauren Holiday, one of the members of the World Cup winning US Women’s soccer team. It was called Going Out on Top. She surprised most everyone by announcing her retirement at the age of 27. Why? In a wonderful article by Jeff Kassouf, Holiday explains:
“I’ve been praying about it for a couple years now and really just this last year, it was so clear to me,” she said. “I had so much clarity about it. I knew that I wanted to give my all to the World Cup. I wanted to be able to say that I gave it my all to fulfill the final dream of winning the World Cup and I feel like I did that. Even if we wouldn’t have won, I felt very comfortable in my decision. I feel like God had led me to that decision, so I was ready either way.”
Can you imagine listening to God in the midst of the physical, mental and emotional grind of World Cup preparation? Amid all of the media, the teammates, the fans, and the coaches all yelling, to listen deeply? I imagine there were many voices, including the one tempting comfort, “You’re retiring soon, don’t worry about it. Just take it easy.”
Can you imagine listening for the Almighty in the midst of life these days, cacophony that it is? The shouting, the tugging, the posturing. The claims, the clamor, the clowns. Yeah, I needn’t go on. You know. The noise is deafening.
I love that Lauren was “ready either way” on the biggest stage of her life. To play was Glory, outcome optional.
Can I be so bold? Give it all up to God, not just in the BIG decisions, life-changing moments, and huge round-abouts, but also in the small stuff, the daily moments, the slight course-corrections? Do I offer the Lord, His prayer? Do I listen under the words?
How incredibly powerful is that on-going conversation we are engaged in about how to lead a life. God doesn’t insist that we trust and obey, only that we listen and pray. And there, perhaps, we hear not just the voice of reason but the Voice of Life itself.
Oh Loving God, how kind you are to give us more than we ask, by offering all that we need.
For more ways to connect with God through prayer and listening, I hope you’ll check out, Made to Move: Knowing and Loving God through Our Bodies.
US Women’s Soccer Team Has Inspired Us to Believe
0Who says the Bible is an outdated book that doesn’t speak to our current circumstances??
From Acts 2:42-47, we read, (with some modifications) …
The Fellowship of the Believers
They devoted themselves to the coaches’ teaching and to their teammates, to the breaking of carbs, proteins and fats in moderation and to petition, imploring and appeal for a World Cup win. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the players. The roster of 23 were together and had everything in common, when they were called into the camp. They relinquished property and possessions to compete for a starting spot and supported anyone who needed encouragement. Every day they continued to meet together on the fields and in the gym. They broke bread in their hotels and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God, friends, family and fans and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being inspired to #Believe. ~ Acts 2:42-47
May the Lord forgive my boldness, to read His word into our ways.
Congratulations to the 15ers, champions all.
Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Way More than a Game: We’re With You, Laura Bassett!
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No one could have seen it coming. The stoppage time own-goal scored by England’s Laura Bassett which sealed her team’s doom and ushered Japan into the final of the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
The images are heart-breaking. Yet, we watch them. Bassett, unbelieving. In tears. Embraced. Ushered off, face-covered by her jersey. Sobbing.
Some would say, “it’s just a game.” And it is. But moments like this are way more than the game. They are, at once, thrilling and sensational, heartbreaking and debilitating. And something compels us to watch and weep. This poor girl. Thank goodness her teammates and coach are there to rally around her, because I want to. I want to tell her it’s okay. You’ll play another day. Your team and your country will forgive you. They are proud of you. Nothing has changed.
I love that her mother says, “Laura will bounce back.” She has raised a girl who has experienced hardship and come through it. She will again.
As moved as I always am by images of thrilling victory, I’m not sure they compare with this. We may love a winner, but we feel with a loser. We feel with the one who gave her all and died trying. Because, while we haven’t all experienced the thrill of victory, we’ve all felt the agony of defeat. It draws us in a way that splays our hearts and lays us bare.
Death gone to willingly, not falling on our own sword as a coward, but arrived at suddenly in the heat of battle, boldly and confidently. Chosen, but not expected. This kind of death doesn’t kill, it inspires. In a way no victory could.
Imagine the ovation Laura Bassett will receive as she takes the field in the third place match, the ‘consolation’ round of the World Cup, and not just from England fans but from footballing fans around the world. Together, we celebrate the spirit of this young woman whose agony flashed in a moment on our screens, but in whose resilience we are invested. That’s who we want to be. One who dies and lives again.
The world may love winning, but there’s no arguing that victory divides us. Suffering and death, on the other hand, unites us in way that no victor can. Amazing.