Snakes on a Plain

There’s a pretty bizarre story about snakes in the Bible. Not the one in the garden, these snakes are out in the desert. It’s part of the story of the Hebrews being led out of Egypt by Moses and cared for by God in the wilderness.

Goes something like this. Having been freed from Egypt and now out in the desert, the Hebrews had complained repeatedly about things, including food and water, and God had provided for them. Now, they’re impatient and unhappy and complain about the food they have. So God sends them poisonous snakes. Not to eat. The snakes bite and kill many and the people go to Moses, saying that they’ve sinned and ask him to ask God to save them. He goes to God, and God tells Moses to put a bronze snake on a pole and hold it up. When they’re bitten, the people who look at the snake will be healed. And they are.

On the surface, it might seem like this is a pretty straight forward “punishment for complaining followed by a demonstration of God’s power” kind of story. After all, they’ve complained a lot since leaving Egypt perhaps God’s tired of their lack of gratitude.

Or … perhaps God understands that the complaining isn’t dissatisfaction, it’s fear. It didn’t take long for the Hebrews to move from celebrating their freedom to being afraid of the new unknown in which they found themselves. They question Moses - and God - from the very beginning. They seem to let fear overwhelm their faith in God’s presence, despite the constant evidence to the contrary.

So here’s a symbol, a sign of God’s presence. See it and believe and together, we’ll overcome this. The snakes don’t go away, they don’t stop biting, but their fear of the snakes is met with a sign of God’s presence and their healing can begin. The object of their fear, itself, becomes a sign so that all could see it and choose healing over fear.

There will be hard work and many challenges and it may be a long journey, but healing can begin with this covenant with God: I am with you, here’s a sign to show you, have faith that you are loved and not alone. Take the next step and build the next moment.

Later, the writer of John’s gospel will tell how Jesus referenced this story as a way of understanding the cross. Just like Moses raised up the snake on a pole in the wilderness, he’ll say, I will be on the cross, so that those who believe will have life. And that’s just the thing about holding up a sign: it’s a sign of something greater. It’s not to be held up and worshipped as itself, but as a way of connecting to that greater thing. That, however we know God, we are loved by God and we are not alone because God - and all God is - is with us.

There are a lot of poisonous snakes. We may find much to fear, many ways in which we feel broken, hurting, grieving, many feelings which might hold us back. They’re not going to go away, but we can face them, acknowledge them, and find a way forward. We are loved, we are love, we can share that love.

Saying it again for the first time

It’s no secret that I like to re-engage Bible stories in ways that might make them speak more meaningfully to our lives today. I think we need to constantly be doing that, sometimes over and over and even over again. How else will we find what’s true in the story, the heart that still beats there, the life that still speaks - there’s any of a thousand metaphors we could use, and there will always be more, because we grow. Our context changes. This is a new time. Every day is a new day.

Among the stories I revisit regularly is what I’m going to call Ten Great Ideas for Living Together. I know that sounds like one of those things that shows up in your Facebook feed or on YouTube - that’s kinda the point - maybe from BuzzFeed or WatchMojo, they get your attention. These days, odds are that you’re more likely to keep reading if it says “Ten Great Ideas for Living Together” rather than “The Ten Commandments.”

Calling them “commandments” isn’t even original - we started using that term in the 16th century - and it reflected, I think, a particular perspective that we should let go. They’re not commands or laws, definitely not as we would understand those terms today. They’re a way to build and facilitate relationships. That’s the point of them being a covenant. Together with God and each other, we covenant to create community with these ways of living. We begin with the love that we are and we share that love with these sayings as a starting framework.

Remember, too, the context of the people who first heard them. Because the Ten Great Ideas for Living Together is part of their story, the story of the Hebrew people in Exodus, newly freed from Egypt, feeling alone, confused and wandering in the desert. They knew law and order, what they didn’t know was relationship.

These ten sayings are an attempt to say something much more fundamental about how we live, with God, with ourselves and with each other, something that needs to be taught new to every generation in a way that generation understands. They’re about how we should live because we should live. We should live with freedom, not fear. With love, not hate. With peace, not conflict. With joy, not hurt.

One way we could get started is to frame them as affirmations of that love that is in us. There’s a lot of “thou shalt not” in what’s been handed down to us. Perhaps “thou shall” is a better way to go. How about this.

There is one great life-giving energy that is God. We know God in different ways, by different names, but we’re all one with God.

Only devote yourself to God. Stuff is just stuff, people are just people, God is love.

God respects you. Respect God.

Have a day of rest to reconnect with God.

Love and honour your parents. They gave you life.

Honour all life and keep it safe.

Build relationships and honour them.

respect what belongs to others.

Be honest and true.

Be happy with what you have, share with others, and love.

Faith, Trust and Imagination

One of the ways that I’m observing Lent is with an “Ash Wednesday to Easter in a Photo a Day” calendar. The idea is to visualize a word-a-day: one takes time to reflect on a word for the day and then take a photo that captures your thoughts about it. A pretty cool idea, I think, and one that provides a helpful daily practice for Lent as each of the words provides an opportunity for wondering about how we know ourselves, God, each other and the world around us. Each day has a different focus, but all connect back to who and how we are. And you have to visualize it.

It might seem odd to say it, but I was a little surprised to find “faith” on the calendar. Although, it’s the word for the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter, so I can definitely make a connection there. I was surprised because it stood alone without its companions in what, for me, is a trinity of living love into the world. Faith can be hard to see without the verbs that make it action. I might have trouble with a photo that day.

For me, faith is belief. Not the blind acceptance of whatever you may be told, but the thoughtful, discerning belief that asks questions and pursues the knowing of what is true and divine. I have faith in God, but also in people and in creation because people are created in the image of God and from the earth, and creation is made from the divine spark of love that, well, creates life. That spark is of God. We are all of God.

But faith needs to be put into action and we need a couple of things to get that started.

We need trust. Trusting that God is with us, in us and around us, means we can step forward without fear. Believe me, I know how hard that is. So does Jesus. Remember the words most frequently said by Jesus: don’t be afraid.  Not that you shouldn’t be scared, but, acknowledging that, know that God is with you, whatever happens. Wherever you go, however you go, God is with you. Physically, spiritually, emotionally - you don’t go alone.

And think for a minute about how you know God. I say “God,” but God is love. God is the energy of life that creates and inspires. God is the oneness that we all come from and return to. God is the good that is in us from the beginning. You can trust in that.

Faith needs trust, but trust needs something, too: imagination. You are loved by God and God goes with you, wherever you go, believe that and trust in that. Now imagine what you might do with that. Imagine what you can do with the love that is in you. In Jesus’ life, he shows us how he lives that out in ways that we can too. But Jesus doesn’t expect you to be perfectly Jesus. God doesn’t either. Because you can only be perfectly who you are. And that’s the point. Jesus is the example that calls us to imagine what we can do with that love, that creativity, that skill for living that’s in each us. Doing good Jesusing isn’t about being the same as Jesus, it’s about imagining how we can live all the love, grace and compassion that is truly our divine and earthly nature into the world.

There are so many Jesuses, in the bible and in history, that lived lives of faith, trust and imagination. We all share these three gifts, but imagination is what brings our own uniqueness into the practice, the action of faith and trust.

All the Colours of Lent

How’s your Lent going? I know, we’re just getting started. But it’s good to check in - when stepping out into the wilderness, the first step can be a pretty big one.

The gospel story of Jesus going into the wilderness is the inspiration for the season of Lent. I think it’s important to remember that, for Mark in particular, the wilderness is where Jesus goes - with the Holy Spirit - after his baptism and before his ministry. In other words, it’s the place he goes to wonder about how to live out who he is before he goes and does it. Jesus appears, Jesus is baptized (remember, that’s when he sees the dove as a sign of the Spirit and hears the heavenly voice “you are my beloved child, I’m pleased with you”), Jesus goes to the wilderness, Jesus begins his ministry.

I like that because we could all use some wilderness time for the same reason. We need to set aside some time to wonder, about how we are loved by God, about how we could live that love into the world, and about how that love is lived in relationship - before we go and do it.

This year, each of the Sundays in Lent offers an opportunity to look at how we live those relationship in covenants.  Each week includes a story from Hebrew scripture about our covenant relationship with God and each other.

Biblical covenants aren’t contracts or investments expecting a personal return, they’re about much more. In a covenant, each of the participants give something of themselves that, together, creates a new thing which isn’t just of benefit to them, but has a much wider and bigger impact. A covenant creates relationships and community.

It’s important to remember that covenants aren’t perfect and neither are we. Our understanding of covenant doesn’t seek perfection, it doesn’t involve making an impossible promise that you’ll never break. We can expect that in covenant with one another we might fall short of what we intended. We might break our promises to ourselves, to each other and to God. Our divine side understands that our human side needs work - that’s why we’re doing this. What matters is that we continue to work toward being back in covenant, even if we fail at times to uphold it.

You can see why Lent would be such a valuable opportunity to wonder about this.

And we begin, not in the cold, sombre shadows we so often associate with Lent, but in the bright light of a new day and the brilliant colours of the rainbow. At the end of the story of the Great Flood in Genesis, God offers the rainbow as a sign of promise, that together with us and all of creation, we will be co-creators of a better world. Together.

The rainbow means so many things to so many people. However we see it, it’s the hallmark of inclusivity. A sign of more than just welcome, it says that we are all part of the same family of creation and we should care for each other and the earth as family. And, to God, all means all. We all belong, not because we’re the same, but because we bring our own uniqueness, we can share our gifts as well as our needs and we can do that with love, respect and appreciation. We can love as we are loved, we can change as we bring change, we can need as we are needed, we can be a living part of creation. Will we?

Part of the Story

The season of Epiphany ends this week with Transfiguration Sunday. We entered it with a shining star and we leave it with a shining star.

The season of revealing is now followed by the season of introspection, of self-examination. Now that we’ve had a time of learning about how God is revealed in Jesus and can be revealed in each of us, we have a season to look into ourselves and wonder how that might best be accomplished. And the hinge between those two is the story of Jesus’ being transfigured on the mountaintop. And Valentine’s Day. Okay, mostly the first, but love has a lot to do with it.

The Gospel of Mark says Peter, James and John went up a mountain with Jesus where they see him transfigured, shining with a bright light. They see him talking to Moses and Elijah and then a cloud envelopes the mountain and a voice says to them “this is my son, my beloved, listen to him.” Understandably, the disciples are scared, by Jesus calms them. “Don’t be afraid,” he says. And then, on the way down the mountain, he tells them not to tell anyone of this until after the resurrection.

Cool story. Why not tell it?

I’ll get there, but first, let’s consider a couple of things. Jesus is transfigured. That’s not the same as transformed, is it? Transformation implies change within and without, but I think transfiguration simply shows out more of what’s in. In other words, the season of revealing ends with a big reveal: here’s the whole Jesus, shining light, companion of prophets, child of God. But is it the biggest reveal?

I can’t imagine that the disciples, Jesus’ closest and most intimate companions, didn’t want to run back down the mountain and tell everyone of this shining moment of divinity, but Jesus tells them not to say anything yet. It’s as if Jesus was okay with sharing it with them but not everyone else. But why?

What if Jesus felt that showing his divinity this way was a side he wasn’t ready to show yet? What if he felt vulnerable and was okay with that with his best friends he knew he could trust, but not everyone else. What if Jesus felt afraid that people would hear the story and either dismiss him as a fraud or worship him as a god? And that would disrupt his message: I’m just like everyone else, human and divine, and here’s how you, too, can find that in yourself and live it out. What if Jesus knew that the best time to reveal this story was after he did the one thing no one expected, the one thing no one else could do?

That’s why this is such a great story between the stories of Epiphany - that show us how God is revealed, not just in Jesus, but in us - and the stories of Lent which invite us to look inwards, into our hearts and minds, to see that Jesus was right: love is there. Grace and good are there. Here we are now, on our way to Easter, with a time to consider our humanity and our divinity, and how we might live into it and share it. To do that, we’ll need to be vulnerable. It’s okay. Jesus started with his closest friends. Maybe that’s a place for us to start, too. Maybe that’s something for Lent. Remember, too, that Jesus didn’t ever go alone and neither do we: God is with us, always. We are loved, we are love, we can love.

Here's a Good Reminder

You deserve a break today.

And if you can read that without thinking of the rest of the McDonald’s jingle, you’re probably really young. McDonald’s ran that as their tag line from 1970 to 2014, finally retiring it after forty-four years.

Of course, it’s more than just a slogan, it’s something we should all keep in mind. And be sure to follow through on when it’s timely, not desperate. I’ll get to that in a minute, but you can see why this was a real gem of an advertising campaign when it first came out. It hits on three key things that you want to hear: you’re deserving; it’s an opportunity to step away from whatever you’re busy at, whether that’s work, play or some other activity; and it’s not just space you’re getting, it’s something of value that’s enjoyable, satisfying and fulfilling (even though you have to pay for it and there may be some question as to whether McDonald’s actually fulfilled that part … ). The assumption is that the end result will be you being refreshed, renewed and happy. That’s a good thing. (I think that one’s Martha Stewart’s slogan.)

It is a good thing. And it’s important to ensure that we all make time for a break that renews and refreshes us, that energizes - or re-energizes us - for the fulfilling life we want. Easy to say, Robin, but not always easy to do.

Right. Because, first of all, we’re all unique individuals in unique situations. Of course, so only you will know when you should make space for yourself. The important part is to remember to do it before it’s absolutely necessary. Or too late. The other thing is to ensure that your “break” is filled with what will re-energize you, inspire you, refresh you and bring you back to what you were doing with the enthusiasm and energy to give your best “you” to it. Maybe you do just need some sleep, but maybe you need a walk, a book, a game, a craft or an activity. Maybe you need people, that’s especially tricky right now.

Both those things require some discernment. And maybe a little help and encouragement from others. The point is, it’s more than physical. It’s mental and spiritual, too. We need something that refreshes, re-energizes and inspires to balance what wears us down, drains and dulls us.

Don’t take my word for it. Or McDonald’s. How about Jesus?

Many times, the gospels have stories of Jesus going “off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark’s gospel has Jesus so busy right from the start of his ministry healing people and bringing them wellbeing that he first does that a mere 35 verses into the first chapter. His own wellbeing is important and he just needs to get away from everyone and pray.

And I don’t for a minute think he’s just “checking in with the boss.” I think Jesus’ prayer might begin “dear God, I’m so tired” and continue on with wonder. He might wonder about many things, but the point is, he talks to God, he wonders, maybe even ponders, things that will refresh his spirit. Maybe he needed the walk, too. Or did some yoga or went for a swim. Maybe he read a book or watched Netflix. The point is, he tried to find time for his own wellbeing, for his own wholeness.

Later, Jesus will teach people to “love your neighbour as yourself.” But he began early with care for your neighbour as yourself.

Time for Tears

I cry.

Some who know me might find that hard to believe, but most likely not, I think. Probably too many moments noticing that I paused just a little too long while trying to share something emotional.

There’s been a lot of crying lately. That there was cause, I wish were different. We can debate the whole “balance of grief and joy” thing some other time, this isn’t the time for that. This is the time for tears and that’s what it should be.

I firmly believe that “Jesus wept” at the tomb of his friend Lazarus isn’t an isolated incident. I also don’t think Jesus’ tears were just for Lazarus. They were also for those he saw around him in such grief and pain.

I think Jesus wept frequently. I think that every time we hear a story about Jesus healing someone who’s broken, there were tears when they shared their story with him. And Jesus shared in that. It makes me sad that sharing isn’t included in the story we read. I can’t imagine why the author didn’t think we needed to hear the story which led to the miracle of healing. As it is, we might be inclined to think it was simply the magical power of Jesus that did it, not the power of love, compassion and grace, a power that’s in all of us. It is.

I think that every time we hear about Jesus going off by himself to pray, I think there were tears then, too, for all that he’d seen and shared. There was surely joy, also, the balance of those two things is life. So I think there were tears of joy as well as grief. Not just happiness, but joy, the deep, trusting, empowering joy that is in each of us.

But in the moments the tears came, I don’t think Jesus tried to stop them until they were done. And we each will know that time differently. Tears flow more readily for some than others. We’re all different. But, understand: it’s not weakness. It’s strength. It’s a physical sign of our love.

Too many people have said this to attribute it to one person, but you might have heard “grief is the price we pay for love.” Is it, though? That feels like a way to quantify and exchange something for another. And it’s not that. Grief is love.

True love goes on. It changes its shape, perhaps its feeling. But love is. That’s why sharing our tears, sharing our presence, our thoughts, our prayers - sharing our love - is so deeply important.

Love, in its many forms, connects us, and love, like tears, is ready to flow when we need to share it. When our love turns to grief, it’s the love of others that holds us and gives us strength. We are each on our own journey, but we are built to travel together.

I believe that God is that very love that is in us and connects us. However you know God, please know that God doesn’t control or manipulate us. God is love, the energy of life and creation, the light that is in all things and holds all thing together. The light is with us always, even in the moments that seem darkest. We can see it in each other. We can see it in our loss: the light changes, but it never goes out. Never.

That’s why we share tears. And share stories and experiences and laughter, too. It’s how we remember and heal and grow and live. Tears come when they do. So does laughter. Let them come. Let the love flow.