Guess who came to supper?

A month ago I sent out a formal handwritten, invitation to a dinner party at my house. I do this once or twice a month because I love getting to know people better and I love introducing people to each other. I'm as busy as most other people, but setting a lovely table, planning a special meal, selecting music, and choosing people I think will have something in common are all preparations I delight in making. It always surprises me when people respond with a "RSVP" to let me know they are saving the date. Because all too often, I need to follow up a week or so out by email to check. Tonight I was planning a Spanish paella, a Mediterranean salad, fresh rustic loaf, lemon meringue pie or lemon sorbet. I usually set the table the night before-had the centerpiece, fresh lilies and roses---and then, one by one, people started backing out. One had a birthday party for an in law to attend; another had a fiancee who was coming into town with a special festival in mind; one had a conflicting meeting. Even last minute calls couldn't raise another substitute guest, and sorry I couldn't entertain one married gentleman without the company of chaperons (I am old fashioned), I found myself having to cancel him. Now I have a refrigerator full of food and no one to cook for. And I had so looked forward to the kinds of conversations that usually rise around the table.

Then, I remembered that one of the gospels has a parable about a great supper. Many were invited by this man. When the feast was all prepared, he sent his servants around to say to those who were invited, "Come for all things are now ready." By they all began to make excuses: real estate deal; test drive some oxen; newly wed. When the servants returned without any guests, the master is angry..."Go out into the streets and bring in the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind." The servant says, "Master, we have done that already, and still there are empty tables." "Go, then and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."

I guess I know now how God feels when He has invited so many to His table, to enjoy His fellowship and company, and we all start to make excuses. And He has made provision for us to have a magnificent time--and we miss the boat! I know I have chosen to do other less rewarding things than "sup with Him".

In another of looking at the story, I am also the servant, inviting people to join the celebration of the Good news of the Kingdom. I wonder if I have given the invitees sufficient enough reason, compelling enough witness of the glories of the great supper, to make them change their minds and come?

live for nothing or die for something

John Rambo makes that challenge, "Live for nothing or die for something!" in the recent film. It was a film awash in blood, as usual for a Stallone film, but I was taken by the story line. Maybe because that could be me--the female aid worker. And because it could be many of my friends who put their lives on the line for something they DO believe in. I've never been to Burma. But I have been to other "limited access" places. The reason we go to places like that is because we want to come along side our suffering brothers and sisters in places where Christians are persecuted. If we can encourage them and bless them with medical supplies or food, or material provisions that is good. Most often they offer us spiritual strength...they radiate a confidence in the love of God that comes through their suffering and our faith is increased.

Sometimes we go just to be the arms and hands of Jesus who healed and touched and loved all maner of hurting people. In places like Darfur or Kenya, Christians come and feed refugees or treat those wounded in the genocide taking place there. It would be easier and safer to stay home and watch the Super Bowl. In the earliest scene, John Rambo tells the aid worker to "Stay home". But if everyone stays home, no one stands up to evil. The African Union just sends "Observers". The UN mission is nearly non-existant. and the rest of the world cares little--"Not significant national interest". And by the way, where are the atheists? They have no reason to stand up for the poor or risk anything for the least. But it is precisely because Jesus values every life that we feel called to go and to try to stop this, or help those endangered by it.

John Rambo thinks "the only thing that will change things there, are more guns". Clearly that only seems to increase the spilling of blood. Only one thing can transform a person or a place--and that is the presence of Jesus as savior. And that good news of forgiveness and that breaking of the bondage to hate and evil, is the power to change a heart. and in turn to change a place, and then a nation, and then the world. So when evil people take an aid worker, like the ones who took an aid worker and her driver at gun-point from her aid work in a dangerous place two weeks ago, they may not know that they have taken a powerful-brand of fire into their bosom. Because she brings with her the very presence of Christ Himself. And He has the power to change things--to make men brand new--and that is a dangerous thing.

If you read the New Yorker the overwhelming attitude is "anomie" --people living empty meaningless lives; desparate for some relationship that will last longer than a drink; trying to invent an ethos to live by, seeking to discover some pleasure or reason for living even one more day.

Post-modernist angst is what you get when you choose to "live for nothing." Our brothers and sisters whose faces radiate joy, and peace, may suffer inprisonment, torture, or worse, for their faith. They have decided " to die for something."

a green leaf

Hold up a leaf to the sunlight and you see the chartruese yellow-green of Spring. It's the color of life. Inside the cells chlorophyll performs its alchemy--light into food; food into growth. The process is free and ubiquitous--except for these grey climes where we survive during the cold months on the memory of leaves, --on the hope of them.

I aspire to be the person who is "Like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaves do not wither..." The key seems to be in the rootedness. If the roots snake into the cool ever life-bringing streams, a tree can grow strong and true for over a hundred years in some species.

Fruit is the final measure of a life. What do we leave behind that we have produced; but more importantly, how have we modeled a human life for those who watch us? The recent film, "Bucket List" shows the different fruits from a life consumed with materialism and ego-centric achievement, on one hand, contrasted with the fruit of a life that has faith, commitment and love for others, and is communal in outlook. The greatest answer to Dawkins' argument is a life, fully human--a life energized by God's spirit, unfolding in fruit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

"Always having a green leaf", speaks to the way the tree, or the person, thrives, nurtured by thehidden springs of living water. The world is thirsty for such people. They bring us shelter in stormy times and unexpected shade in the everyday journey.

Be such a person.

This is the first of who knows how many blogs about loving God, loving His world, and loving people. 2/3/2008

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receiving criticism

After a few minutes, working together on reading and responding to some poems, our writers' group exploded into laughter at a humerous gem-like haiku. A new member remarked about how much more fun it is to "Edit in a group." She's right! So many working on the same piece can come up with a variety of approaches. Many times we solve problems on the spot with grammar checks, reversing the order of lines, or suggesting a better word coide. But the fun comes from seeing a polished piece emerge. The poet or writer is ultimatley the one to deicde which suggestions to take, but we all have the fun of playing with the words. I feel that I learn something every time we meet and I hope my work shows the growth I feel. I am often struck by how similar the process of critque is for visual artists as well. For both writers and painters putting your stuff out there for others to see is pretty scary at first,so it always takes courage. Gradually, with safe people, we learn to make distinctions between ourselves and our works. Then we have the distance we need to make changes to the work without feeling personally rejected. Once in awhile a student artist or writer is not able to receive the feedback. The result is that an artist has to work twice as hard to learn and grow independent of that feedback. Of course, there are people whose criticism is way too personal and too hard to bear. This kind of critique destroys the heart of the artist; takes away their joy; leads to dispair or to dryness. The right kind of encouragement and feedback concentrates on what is good, or excellent; and speaks to what can be done to reach that standard, or that points to a good model for the student to emmulate. "Whatever is true, nobel, right, pure, lovely, admirable,.." Ultimately, having a teachable spirit, accepting input humbly, allows us to grow as artists and as people...stretching our souls. Strange how hard it is to have that learning spirit. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the very nature of God,... humbled Himself.." Philippians 2: 5-8