“You are trying to hurry the process.”

“You are trying to hurry the process.” Those words were spoken to me a couple of days ago by my Physical Therapist. She said that she could tell by my efforts that I was trying to hurry my healing process. She said that tendons take a while to heal and it wasn’t helpful for me to try and hurry the healing process. I have frequently said something similar to students in my Spiritual Formation classes at the Seminary. Just because you have prayed fervently for a couple of days, doesn’t mean that you have a prayer practice. Developing a prayer practice takes time. In many things about my life, we get in a hurry and expect results too quickly. Waiting is difficult work. Waiting means doing or staying with the task until it is completed. Waiting is not sitting down and expecting someone else to do the task. That’s laziness, denial and avoidance.

"Thanks," Bill Simmons

Bill Simmons died April 9, 2020. He was not only a personal friend but, also, the Interfaith Counseling Center’s steadfast supporter and encourager. Since 1995 I’ve been part of the Center. The Center’s Assistance Fund, “The Debbie Simmons Stull and Barbie Simmons Assistance Fund” is named after his daughter, Debbie, and his wife, Barbie. There is a large seacoast picture in our receptionist’s office in memory of Debbie. In the early days of the Center, Bill was always concerned about the Center’s financial viability. In those early days there were significant reasons to be concerned about the Center’s finances and genuinely serious concerns about our ability to stay open. Bill’s support never wavered. When it became clear that the Center’s Operating Fund finances were sufficient, Bill shifted his concern to the Assistance Fund. He wanted to make certain the Center had funds available so that no one was ever turned away due to their inability to afford the cost of professional Christian counseling at the Interfaith Counseling Center. With the death of Bill Simmons, the Center has lost a significant supporter and my heart is heavy. “Thanks, Bill.”

First Fruits, the Biblical name for Easter

God’s people are instructed to take the first fruits of the land to the Priest on the day after the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:9-11.) This is known as the first fruits offering. This offering is showing gratefulness to God that the planting and harvesting “system” are working and there will be continual harvests. The Jewish Sabbath began on Friday at sundown and ended Saturday at sunrise. Paul taught that Jesus’ resurrection was a “first fruit” (I Corinthians 15: 20-23). Jesus’ resurrection happened on the Jewish celebration of First Fruits. Jesus’ resurrection by God meant that God’s resurrection plan was working and reliable. Jesus, the first fruits of resurrection and, then, in proper order those who follow Jesus will also be resurrected. Thanks be to God. May you have a blessed First Fruits (aka Easter) celebration.

Signs of Inner peace

I'm grateful to a friend, a Buddhist monk, who introduced me to these "signs of inner peace." An increasing ability to enjoy each moment. A tendency to act spontaneously rather than react to fear. A decreasing interest in judging others. A decreasing interest in judging oneself. An increasing preference to allow things to happen rather than make things happen. A lessening inclination to interpret the actions of others. A decreasing involvement in conflict. An increasing ability to give and receive love. Less motivation to worry. Frequent, overwhelming periods of gratitude. Feelings of contentment and oneness with humanity and nature. Frequent attacks of smiling. Feelings of effervescent joy.

My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me

There are times when I feel that he has withdrawn from me, and I have often given him cause, but Easter is always the answer to "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!" Madeleine L'Engle

To "Let Go" Takes Love

To "Let Go" Takes Love (Robert Paul Gilles, Thoughts of the Dream Poet: 1997, vol. 1) To "let go" does not mean to stop caring; it means I can't do for someone else. To "let go" is not to cut myself off; it is the realization that I can't control another. To "let go" is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands. To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another; it is to make the most of myself. To "let go" is not to care for, but to care about. To "let go" is not to "fix", but to be supportive. To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. To "let go" is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies. To "let go" is not to be protective; it is to permit another to face reality. To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept. To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them. To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes, and to cherish myself in it. To "let go" is not to criticize and regulate anybody, but to try to become what I can be. To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and to live for the future. To "let go" is to fear less and to love more.

The Lesson from the Flowers and Flowering Trees

The flowers and flowering trees in our yard are showing their buds. Those buds will soon unfold into flowers. I check the trees each day to see how they are doing. I can’t hurry them. They have their own timetable. They will know when it is time to bloom. So it seems with God’s creating something new. God’s creating has its own timetable and I can’t hurry it along. My task is to be patient and wait. I also learn that I’m not in control of when the trees and flowers coming into bloom. Seem s like each spring, I learn again the lessons of patience.

Coronavirus, who did this to us?

She reported that her Pastor said this Coronavirus was from God as punishment for sins. I told her that wasn’t how I think. I recalled that God said creation was good (Genesis 1:12.) Unfortunately, I think we continue to mess up God’s good creation in many ways over many generations and, therefore, we suffer the consequences of decisions and behaviors. I suspect we, not God, have somehow created this virus and pandemic. My image is of God shaking God’s head in the same manner a parent shakes her head as she lovingly watches her child do something that isn’t very wise. I do, however, believe that somehow God will be about creating something for our wellbeing from this crisis. I do not believe this virus is either good or of God. It seems to be accomplishing only what evil does, which is to destroy. I believe God has the wisdom to take our messes and, then, working with us, create for our wellbeing.

What Might Hae Been

If it weren’t for my left leg being held stiff by a sophisticated metal brace due to a slip on the ice and surgery, I might have been on my way to Slovakia today. If it weren’t for a virus, strangely named after a pale Mexican beer-- Corona, I might have been on my way to Slovakia. Delta and I were scheduled to fly via Detroit, Amsterdam and Krakow on April 1st (“Yes,” I get the irony—April’s Fool Day) where I was to be picked up and taken to a retreat center in somewhere in Slovakia near the Poland boundary. I was to be among some of the most wonderful folks who are Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missionaries working in Europe. Among other things, I had planned to talk with them about “Toward a Less Anxious Presence.” (“Yes,” I posted my thoughts on this blog). However, things don’t always work out the way they were planned. Instead of that wonderful journey, my task now has to do with leg exercises, physical distancing and shelter-in-place at home. Things don’t always work out the way they were planned. Paul wrote, “he was content in whatever state he was in” (Philippians 4:11). I’m working on that.