Hero

I was a hero this week!

Well, at least that is what she said.

It poured rain for about 15 minutes and a section of our street was flooded with water moving up people’s driveways near their garage doors. I arrived at home at the same time the mother of my neighbor was arriving for a visit. She parked in the parking spot across the street and several doors down from her daughter’s townhouse because the flooding was deepest in front of her daughter’s home and up to her garage door.

Making casual conversation, I made some genius comment like, “Wow, it looks like we’re flooded.”

The woman said, “My daughter already called the city about it.”

“I think I know what’s wrong. I think I can fix it,” I said.

“You’ll be her hero,” she replied.

I went inside, put on some shorts and some sandals, grabbed a rake and waded into the water toward the street. I arrived at my destination and began moving the leaves away from the drain with my rake. Instantaneously the water rushed into the drain from both sides. Within minutes the street was free of water and all the driveways were clear as well. And, apparently, I was a hero!. Had I known it was so easy, I would have done this earlier in my life!

God’s heroes are a strange lot.

There is Rahab, the prostitute, who struck a deal with Israelite spies and hid them after they promised to spare her family when the Israelites took over Jericho.

There is the spoiled brat of a little brother, Joseph, who was sold into slavery, imprisoned on trumped up sexual assault charges, and eventually served as the Head of State in Egypt. He saved his brothers and the future nation of Israel from starvation by providing food and protection for them.

The prophetess and judge, Deborah, led Israel to triumph over enemies that threatened their extinction.

In the New Testament, the book of Acts is filled with heroes who stood valiantly for their faith in the midst of persecution and some lost their lives.

These are heroes. People who are so convinced of God’s love and purpose for life that they are willing to give up anything for God’s cause.

I am often too self-centered to give up my time, or an event I want to be a part of, or an opportunity that I have longed for, or an evening home, to represent God somewhere or with someone. Inconvenience and sacrifice are the paths to being a hero for God. Paths I don’t always want to travel.

If only being a hero for God was as easy as raking leaves away from a drain!

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Neighborhoods

Sometimes Chicago is referred to as the “city of neighborhoods.” Ethnic groups cluster together. We have Chinatown and Greektown. There is a section of Chicago where many of the store names and advertising copy is in Spanish. Another section is in Polish. In fact, Chicago has the largest number of Polish people of any city in the world outside of Warsaw, Poland. I once went to assist a church in the city where most of the people in the neighborhood were recent immigrants from Africa.

We tend to gather near people who are like us. It makes sense when you think about it. If you move here from a foreign country, wouldn’t you try to find people who looked like you, spoke your language, understood your customs and honored your culture?

Churches reflect the same human tendency. When people move to a new city they often try to find a church of the same denomination, or similar style as the one they attended in their previous home.

We like to hang out with people like us; people who share our interests, our values, our culture, our perspectives. It makes us comfortable, and we like being comfortable.

Interestingly, the founder of our faith, Jesus, did just the opposite. He sought out people who were unlike him. He befriended the friendless. He loved the unlovely. He embraced the outcast. He purposely engaged people He wasn’t supposed to engage.

John records a story in his 4th chapter of Jesus taking his disciples through Samaria and stopping for water at a well there. So? Well, Jews didn’t mix with Samaritans. In fact, even though going through Samaria could cut a day or two out of your travel, Jews refused to even walk through Samaria. Not Jesus.

He stopped at a watering hole and engaged a Samaritan woman in conversation. She had two strikes against her that were obvious. She was a Samaritan and a woman. Jewish religious leaders didn’t talk to Samaritans and men didn’t talk to strange women, or women at all for that matter.

It gets worse than that. German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way:

“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work.”

Jesus intentionally sought out people who were unlike Him and even befriended His enemies! This is not my natural tendency. We distance ourselves from people we perceive as enemies.  Evangelicals from “mainline”, conservative from liberals, Protestants from Catholics, Cubs fans from White Sox fans!

I want to be like Jesus. Which means that I have to fight my natural tendencies and intentionally embrace people who are unlike me.

That’s hard to do in the city of neighborhoods.

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Trust Issues

I had a conversation the other day with a young man whose girlfriend had dumped him after 18 months. He was understandably saddened and distraught over this development. He told me the story through his tears and sobs and at one point concluded, “I don’t know what I am going to do. I’ll never meet anyone I care about as much as her.”

 

There was a response I wanted to give, and there was an appropriate response. The appropriate response was to listen, empathize and care for him without offering any advice that I thought would “fix” his problem. He wasn’t looking for a fix at the time, just caring.

He also wasn’t looking, at the moment, for any philosophical advice that I could have offered based on my advanced age and experience. But that was the response I wanted to give. In 35 years of ministry I have heard this story, or a version of it, many times. My prediction would be that he would be sad and distraught for a period of time, but before long he would be introducing me to the new “love of his life.” His sadness would dissipate and would be replaced with joy and a sense that he was very glad he didn’t stay with his former girlfriend.

We all have “trust issues.” We profess faith in God’s goodness and His desire to give us good things. We profess that we look to God to direct and guide our lives and to take care of us when things get difficult. We trust God to be involved in our lives and to reveal his plan for us. However, too often God’s plan looks a lot like the plan we have for our lives; and when things don’t go according to our plan, we are disappointed, discouraged, saddened and distraught. We wonder why God failed us, or how we failed.

Well, we can’t have it both ways. We can’t say that God has a plan for our lives and that we trust him, and then wonder what happened when things don’t go the way we thought had been planned.

Now, I am not saying that we are not going to feel disappointed, or sad, or even distraught when plans fail. I am saddened and distraught periodically. That is only natural and normal. However, I keep this question of the Apostle Paul nearby:

“Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

(Romans 11:34)

No one has understood God, and no one has ever helped him out with advice.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,

declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

Oftentimes the journey to embracing God’s plan is filled with sadness, disappointment and pain. Isn’t that the story of Jesus’ last week of life? Suffering, pain, and difficulty, all of which He expressed very openly, on His way to embracing God’s plan of our salvation through the cross and the power of Hope which comes through the resurrection.

It is difficult to trust God in the midst of difficulty and pain, but at the same time we know we can trust Him for our future regardless of the present.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?”

But I will trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:1,5)

We’re all working through our “trust issues.”

 

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Shaking our Head

At first glance I shook my head in disbelief.

In 2007 an 18 year girl had turned her SUV into the path of a motorcycle and the cyclist had died. She had been drinking prior to the accident and had pleaded guilty to DUI. The case was just settled in court. That’s right, five years later. With a plea bargain. Her punishment was probation.

Are you shaking your head?

So many things made me shake my head; an underage drinker; driving under the influence; the tragedy of those two factors leading to the death of an innocent motorcyclist; the fact that it took five years to reach any kind of conclusion; and the punishment....probation. Really? Probation?

Are you shaking your head?

Well, the rest of the story will really make you shake your head.

The mother of the deceased motorcyclist was in the courtroom for the conclusion of this long, difficulty saga. Following the verdict and announcement of the punishment, the mother of the victim waited for the young woman outside the courtroom. When the woman who had caused her son’s death appeared, she walked up to her and gave her a big hug.

Are you shaking your head?

For the mother, it was the culmination of a journey that began in anger at the young woman whom she blamed for her son’s death. It ended in sympathy.

“You can never forget. But you can forgive,” she said.

The mother originally wanted the young woman to be harshly punished. But in court she sensed her remorse. Forgiving her and embracing her were the right things to do. “My son was the type who would forgive,” she said.

Are you shaking your head?

For most of us forgiveness is an intellectual concept. Or something that we have practiced in relationships where the price has not been the taking of an innocent life. To read about this kind of forgiveness makes us shake our heads. It is hard to imagine.

Of all the things Jesus taught, forgiveness may be the most powerful and at the same time most difficult for us. It was a revolutionary concept in Jesus’ day. German political theorist Hannah Arendt, the first woman appointed to a full professorship at Princeton University, claimed that forgiveness and love of enemies is a distinctively Christian contribution to the human race: “the discoverer of the role of forgiveness in the realm of human affairs was Jesus of Nazareth.”

We are very happy to receive God’s forgiveness for all our bungling, but we tend to not be so good at distributing it to others; especially those we consider our “enemies”.           

I am reminded of this when I hear how we talk about people who represent political parties and stances we oppose. Or when I listen to people talk about ex-spouses. Or when I hear followers of Jesus talk about other followers of Jesus who have a different view of His love, grace and mercy. Certainly they are the enemy and are not to be affiliated with, let alone embraced.

I hear it in the way we talk about people, or churches in our same denomination who are viewed as the enemy; too liberal or conservative, not holding true to “our teachings,” seemingly compromising standards.  

It is most painful when I hear myself, or others, talk about people in our own congregation as if they are the enemy.

That’s when God is shaking His head.

“Forgive us our (debts, trespasses, sins),

As we forgive those who are our (debtors, trespassers, sinners).”

Those words are easy to pray, but when we try to put them into practice it will make us shake our heads.

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No Immunity

They were “high-fliers”, “on the fast track.” By all appearances they were very successful. Nice cars, big homes, and country club memberships were all a part of their lives. By all appearances they had healthy marriages, great kids, and a solid family foundation. They were all Christians, dedicated to Jesus and active in their churches. The husbands and wives often spent time together socially and in other contexts.

This is not to say that everything was perfect. None of them would have said that. The husbands all worked very hard, putting in long hours in their various businesses. They had to deal with the some of the same challenges that other families had to deal with--aging parents, serious illnesses, challenges with their children, and living with the pressure of maintaining the lifestyles to which they had grown accustomed.

For the most part, they were living lives that many would admire and covet. However nothing, absolutely nothing, can make you bullet proof.

When the economy began its downward descent in 2008 and didn’t recover immediately, they all took a hit: a big hit. Two of them lost their businesses. One is still hanging on by his fingernails. One of them had to declare bankruptcy. Their lives were, and still are, under unbelievable pressure. Two of them had marriages disintegrate. Sometimes even solid foundations can crumble under pressure.

There are a lot of lessons here, not the least of which is that “our times are in your hands.” None of us can control everything. Being a “victim of circumstances” is never the whole truth. By their own admission they each had made some mistakes. Perhaps the biggest was that they believed they were on a constant, unwavering upward ascent; that there would never be a dip, let alone a plunge, in their economic well being. They had gotten their head out over their skis too far and were tumbling.

Another lesson that deserves a constant reminder is that being a faithful follower of Jesus doesn’t make us immune from difficulty. Prosperity, well being, success, and good health are not guaranteed to us because we are one with Jesus.

Certainly that isn’t the case in the Bible. God’s people suffer. And, not unlike us, they suffer because of circumstances, situations, and others, as well as their own missteps.

As I look back on my own life, I made many of the same mistakes my friends had made, but dodged a bullet on paying such a high price. Too often my family came in second to my profession. I was not always aware that part of my drive to succeed was fueled by ego needs disguised as ministry. I have had moments when I have questioned difficulty in my life when I have pledged to serve God professionally, as if my service was to make me immune from life itself. The whole time God has been patient with me. God has confronted me with my shortcomings and has walked alongside of me when I have been paying the price for my own failings.

My friends continue on. Because they are talented and hard working, they are all in various degrees of recovery. They have learned lessons, changed habits, and refocused their lives and try to pass that on to others. They have a deeper appreciation for God’s grace, mercy and love than ever before.   

Embarrassing

This is the season when I am mildly embarrassed by my college major.

Well, actually my college major was a little complicated. I wanted to be a teacher which back in ancient history meant you had to have a major and a minor as well as all of your education classes and student teaching. My parents made it clear that this was a four year deal, so there was some cramming involved, along with some summer school credits that helped things along.

         

My major was kinesiology (physical education) and my minor was political science. However, I had more than enough credits in political science for a major, so technically I was a double major.

         

I love political science: the history, the development, the nuances. I took a class on the politics of third world nations and another on the politics of Latin America. My first teaching job assigned me to teach five sessions of U.S. Government to High School Seniors every day! I loved it.

         

Chicago is a great place to live if you like politics. The recent teacher’s strike was a lot more about politics and power than it was about education. (O.K., so that’s my opinion.)

         

It doesn’t hurt to know about political systems when you work in churches!

         

But this is the season of the year when being a political science major can be embarrassing. Presidential politicking has become mostly “trashing” the other candidate and their personal and political histories. An embarrassing video of a Romney speech is made public. An embarrassing video of Obama needs to be found and distributed. A sound bite of one candidate can be made to look controversial and the other candidate’s camp needs to find one with which to counter-punch.

         

We have to look past the newspaper headlines and the television coverage to find out what each candidate wants to accomplish. In fact, you really have to dig to find out what one party or the other would actually do because so much is focused on how bad the other is.

         

Facebook doesn’t help. One posting after another “trashes” either candidate. It makes me cringe a little when devout Christians engage in this. The bible gives these instructions:

         

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:1,7)

         

Much of what is written and said is disrespectful and doesn’t honor anyone. We need to find ways that we can differentiate our political beliefs without demonizing those who hold different beliefs. What qualifies as respectful disagreement?

         

I do know this from history.

         

No party, or candidate, has been perfect.

         

Both political parties have contributed to the betterment of our nation throughout history.

         

Neither party can claim to be more “christian” than the other. There are thoughtful, evangelical believers who are members of both parties.

         

Jesus was “apolitical”. He was only concerned about one Kingdom, the Kingdom of God, which was spiritual and not material.

         

Personal attacks, in the long run, are counter-productive. When we keep focusing on how bad another person is, rather than on what they will contribute that will result in positive change, it often has the opposite impact we hope for.

         

Ultimately, Christians are not even citizens of this world. We are aliens, here only for a short visit to share God’s love, grace and mercy before we go to our true Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.

         

That’s not embarrassing.

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The Rest of the Story

My first reaction was to identify her as a spoiled rich kid who had gone sideways and was so desperate for a high she resorted to “huffing” (inhaling ingredients of an aerosol). It ended tragically. She lost control of her car (a Lexus sport coupe) and ran into a family who was walking down the sidewalk injuring several of them and killing a five year old girl.

 

Senseless. Tragic. Horrible.

The late Paul Harvey was famous for his story telling. One of his techniques was to tell a story and then move on to something else, or a commercial break and then come back with his signature line: “And now, the rest of the story”.

As the days progressed “the rest of the story” came out piece by piece. Three years ago the teenage driver had been attacked by a dog and her face had been torn apart. She has suffered from nightmares and trauma ever since. She has been under psychological care. Kids in her high school teased her because of the scars on her face. She changed schools to avoid their cruelty. She had turned to drugs and alcohol to ease her pain and then later had been part of a 12 step rehabilitation program. She still suffered greatly and apparently the huffing was another way of coping.

The “rest of the story” made me more sympathetic. I could only imagine how painful and difficult this must be for her. I felt badly for her parents who, no doubt, were scrambling to figure out how to help their daughter, had done all they knew how, and were feeling at a loss of what to do next.

The “rest of the story” didn’t excuse her from what she had done. Her means of coping with her own pain had tragically impacted another family. An innocent life had been lost. A domino that was tipped over three years earlier was still tipping over others in even more tragic ways. My heart broke for everyone.

Jesus said, “Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

The book of Proverbs says:

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” (Proverbs 1:5)

Every person we meet has a back story. Everything we do or say is a product of our past. Some of it good, and some of it bad. I have learned that behind every smiling face and seemingly perfect person, marriage or family, there is probably some pain and difficulty because none of us is perfect. I have discovered that many people that I have admired had flaws that I didn’t know existed when I heard “the rest of the story.” Troubled teens or young adults have a story: dysfunction at home, some tragic event, perhaps a well hidden disability, or some kind of pain they are trying to mask.

I know that is true of me.

Jesus took the time to listen to people’s stories. He didn’t necessarily let their stories excuse their moral or ethical failures, but He did understand the road they traveled to get there. He was empathetic, which is how He communicated His love and acceptance of the person without finding everything they did acceptable.

I am praying I will remember to do the same. 

I am also praying for the family of the five year old girl who was killed and for the driver and her family, who now have one more tragedy in their lives heaped on others.

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