Two christmases, why not?

Ever since I learned that Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on the evening of January 6th and the day of the 7th, I've thought, "Why not?" We Protestant and Catholic Christians call that day, Epiphany or the arrival of the wise men. We really don't know what day or even time of the year Jesus was born. The Emperor turned the worship of the Sun God into the day of celebrating Jesus' birth, primarily for political purposes. Perhaps the Orthodox are more correct. I say, what difference does it make as long as we celebrate the greatest of all miracles, which is the Incarnation. So, why not celebrate two Christmases.

Saying "Thanks"

As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm thankful for the ability to say, "Thanks." I've two friends with whom I've recently visited. One is suffering from a major stroke that has stolen his ability to speak. He can't say, "Thanks" even though his facial expressions seem to indicate that he wants to say "Thanks." Another friend has late stage dementia and is unable to recognize her visitors, even family. She is also not able to say "Thanks." This thanksgiving season, I'm grateful for the ability to say, "Thanks."

Words

Choose your words carefully. They are important. God spoke the world into existence. God spoke the first time and there was chaos and darkness so, God spoke again and began to separate and clarify the various elements: light and dark; land and water; animals and humans. God continued speaking until there was a created person, one with whom God could relate. One who could talk--use words and share in the on-going creation of the world and relationships. Words, they are the building blocks of creation. With words we can build or we can destroy. Choose words carefully because they are powerful gifts from the Creator.

A New Word

I've learned a new word. I've been reading Lori Gottlieb's book, Maybe You Should Talk To Someone. She is a therapist who gains interesting insights when she becomes another Therapist's patient. For many years, I've met regularly with a therapist or a spiritual director so there is someone who listens to my "stuff" and helps me sort out issues. I've learned a lot about myself from this discipline. I strongly recommend this as a spiritual discipline. The new word is ultracrepidarianism. It is even fun to pronounce and YouTube will give you pronunciation guidance. It means the habit of giving opinions and advice about matters outside of one's knowledge or competence. It is not a good habit to have an opinion about anything and everything. It is okay to say, "I don't know;" especially when it is the truth.

Hang in there

I talked with a young man the other days who confessed to being tired. He is trying faithfully to do what was right as he best understands his situation. However, he hasn't been getting a lot of affirmation and support for his efforts. In fact, some of his friends had ridiculed him for not looking the other way and allowing some things to just go by. I recognize that doing good isn't easy and friends don't always give us support and encouragement. It is easy to grow weary and wonder if it is worth the effort. The scripture (Galatians 6:9) encourages us to "not loose heart in doing good...." So, I say to my friend, "Hang in there even if the effort makes you tired."

Forgiven or Pacified

There is a major difference between being forgiven and being pacified. To be pacified, it seems to me, is to find some means that removes my guilt and shame. It is like being tranquilized. Forgiveness, on the other hand, has to do with repentance. Repentance means that I've stopped the behavior or at least I'm making a serious effort. Forgiveness is also a process. My commitment to work toward forgiveness is a clear decision to be made at a specific time and, probably, will need to be made again and again. It will take some time and effort to change my attitudes, behavior, spirit, etc. It will also take a desire on my part to make the necessary changes and it will require some work in me by God's Spirit to stay the course of forgiveness. Forgiveness has to do with learning from my past behaviors so that they are not continually re-occurring. Forgiveness is difficult, but it leads to genuine peace. To be pacified is to find a small break in a storm. Forgiveness iinvolves getting out of the storm.

Crucifying ourselves

I recently saw this quote from Fulton Oursler, the author of The Greatest Story Ever Told. In a short sentence he says a lot of truth. "Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves -- regret for the past and fear of the future."

How Much Is Enough?

I'm stunned with the news of the recent shootings in El Paso and Dayton. These shooting are coming too frequently and should not be coming at all. I think we need stronger mental health laws and resources. Too many of our mentally ill folks are among the homeless. We need stronger gun legislation. I do not believe that civilians need military type weapons. Military assault weapons are designed to kill a lot of people quickly. Let's have background checks before the purchase of any and all guns, no matter where they are purchased. I also think there is too much violence in movies, television and the Internet. Let's value peacemaking; not violence. I believe there is great racial prejudice among us. We are blind to our own prejudices. How much is enough before we do something? Whatever we are doing or not doing at the present time, isn't working.

Learning How To Stop

Many years ago when I was much younger and much more agile, I took up snow skiing. I took a lesson after falling down and needing help to get up. The first part of the lesson was learning how to stop. How to stop without breaking a leg or getting the skis all tangled up was important. In the spiritual life, it is important to learn how to stop. Jesus stopped often. He would go off to pray or at least he disappeared from the crowd who came searching for him. In Trevor Hudson's excellent book, Signposts to Spirituality,/> he quotes Donald Nicholl, "Unless we can stop the rush and noise of daily traffic in our lives we do not have the slightest chance of hearing the call to holiness." (Kindle location 1369-76) What keeps me from stopping my hurried life? If it is greed, envy, competition, need to please others, etc., then I need to learn that these energies are not from God's Spirit. Stopping gives me an opportunity to face these energies with repentance and bring them to the Lord for conversion.

Control Issues

Yesterday Judy had a test at the hospital which we rescheduled several times due to their schedule as well as mine. When we arrived at the reception room for the test, an elderly lady, sitting alone in a wheel chair, looked at me and said, "Who are you? You look familiar." When I gave her my name, she knew me from her support of the Seminary and her long time presence in a Georgetown church. The more we talked the more we "knew each other." I told her that I had preached at her Church about a year ago. With a puzzled look, she said that she didn't remember that. Then she added, "I guess I wasn't impressed with your preaching." I replied that she wasn't the only one. She had to drink a large amount of liquid before her test and she became frightened that she would choke. I helped her hold the container, she held her nose, took small sips and we talked between those sips. When she was finished, Judy came back into the room after her test. I don't know if the timing of Judy's test and meeting the elderly lady was fate, providence or just luck. I think there is no provable answer. What I do know is that it seems the less I try to control things such as plans, events, situations, etc., and accept the presence of God, who is somehow and very mysteriously always present, things like this seem to happen more often.

My Old Paper and Pencil Calendar

A friend recently asked if I would share with him my class calendar. He is also a Professor in the school where I teach. My friend is a tech wizard. He knows and can do more with a computer, I-Pad, phone, etc. than I could even imagine. I told him that I would be more than happy to let him see my At-A Glance calendar which reveals my entire week's appointments and responsibilities at a quick look. That's not what my friend had in mind. Perhaps someday I'll keep appointments in my phone, computer, etc. Maybe I haven't make the switch because of my age--I'm elderly. Us old folks don't like to change or so I'm told. Perhaps I continue to refuse to make the transition because I'm a rebel. I was about the last person to have a cell phone and, then, my wife and son purchased the cell phone as a Father's Day gift. I was quiet content to use it simply as a phone. I really didn't need, and still don't need, a small computer in my pocket. I had a supervisor describe me as a rebel or one who didn't always like to be in step with everyone else. Whatever the reason for not keeping a computer-type calendar, I'm very content with my paper and pencil calendar. Contentment--maybe that's the reason.

Life Must Have Meaning

This morning I watched a 1959 interview with Carl Jung entitled "Face to Face." Technology is amazing. I have read and studied Jung for many years. He continues to be a significant influence in my thoughts and my practice as a Therapist. Because of Jung's writings, I'm interested in a person's dreams. Dreams give a hint as what may be happening in the unconscious. In the YouTube interview, I heard Jung say that a person can't tolerate a meaningless life. I agree with that. We must have meaning. Meaning can be vastly different for different persons. Meaning may be in the family for one person; whereas it is located in one's work, for another. It is crucial that our life has some sense of meaning. A significant source of meaning for me is the call of God on my life's energies and time.

A Transformed Disciple

Sometimes I'm asked what the Christian life is all about or what is the Church's purpose? My answer is pretty simple. I believe that the Church (I mean the universal Church as well as the local church) is to be about making disciples (Matthew 28:19). A disciple is a Jesus-follower which is not the same as having sinless behavior or believing proper doctrine. How does a person become a disciple? I believe that a disciple or Jesus-follower is one whose mind (and life) has been transformed by the indwelling presence of God's Spirit (Romans 12:2). There are folks who call themselves "Red-letter Christians." By this they mean that they pay great attention to what Jesus said (many Bibles print Jesus' words in red-letters.) This may be an over-simplification but, nevertheless, I could be called a red-letter Christian. Being transformed implies that it isn't all about me and my efforts. There is a mutual relationship in which I make the effort to be available to God's Spirit and trusting that God's Spirit will accomplish what is beyond my own capabilities. The Christian life is about becoming a transformed disciple of Jesus.

Forgiveness

I often ask clients what has to be in place for them to know that they've practiced forgiveness. As can be imagined, I get a variety of responses. Whatever else may be in place, I think to give up the right to vengeance. continuing anger and reminders to the offender are some of the characteristics of forgiveness.