2nd Chances: Pastoral Reflections

Peace

... is my parting gift to you, my own peace, such as the world cannot give. Set your troubled hearts at rest, and banish your fears. John 14:27

One of my roles in our community is to serve with the fire department as a chaplain. Usually if I am called to go, or it is expected that I respond automatically, it is because something tragic has occurred. My duties on scene are most often to take care of the needs of the family, whether they be burned out of a home or affected by an accident or death.  Sometimes later I hear the stories from the responders perspective and listen with awe and admiration. I hope that in their telling they experience healing as well.  Its grim work but rewarding and can be controlled chaos at times, occurring often in the early morning or late at night.

It would seem that the last place you would expect to find peace is at a structure fire or a fatality, but that’s just where it can be found; not because of the circumstances, but because of the depth of need and the openness to something beyond ourselves. In times of chaos we need peace…we cry out and God meets us where we are. After the initial shock and turmoil settles, there is usually a soothing calm.   Sometimes it takes hours, sometimes days, and often interrupted by waves of grief, but it comes.  In my follow up calls to those affected I regularly hear they have found this peace...and that they knew they were not alone in their suffering. The fears lessen, emotion flows easier and the family comes together. I truly believe this is a gift of God and a promise fulfilled. Emmanuel comes and God is with us. It is remarkable. This peace cannot undo what has happened, but it is the sustaining strength that gets us through.

In our lives there are times when no answer can be found. We feel pain, experience illness and even desperation. We rush around, leading busy and complicated days.  We bring some of this trouble on ourselves but often it is introduced by tragic circumstance that could not be foreseen or avoided. But aiming ourselves in the direction of God’s will, asking for comfort in times of need, empathizing with the experiences of those around us… then the peace of Christ can show through. This sets us in the direction of healing. and hope.

This free gift is ours for the asking. It cannot be explained except by faith, but is known when experienced. And it is real.  Believe it.

Ask for peace. Ask God for His presence. Open your mind, heart and soul to that which the world cannot give. When you are afraid, or worn out, let your troubled heart be at rest, and banish your fears.

Positive Culture Shift

Yesterday at the church on behalf of the Hanover Park Community Resource Center (HPCRC) we had a very successful lunch conference with businesses, school officials, churches and local leaders to talk about tutoring, mentoring and making a difference in the life of a child.  Allison Swade organized the event, Jimmy John's donated food, Starbucks coffee and almost 40 people attended.  It was such a good thing.  We connected around our community, we found our passions and concerns were the same.  We not only want this place to be a great hometown for us and our respective churches and businesses, but for the kids.  For everyone. We want Hanover Park's children, our children, all the children, to be successful.  To know they are loved.  To know that there are adults who care about them.  And we as a group affirmed our understanding that if these things are going to happen it is up to us to act.  We have to make that priority as important as our own.

Is that not what God says, what God tells us to do?  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with ll your soul and with all your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.

Dreams Visible

Its not at all uncommon at our church for the kids to lead the way.  They are honest and real, searching for truth like the rest of us, but uncomplicated in their assessments of people,the world and God.  Some of their stories make us cry, and others are real inspirations.  Here's one.

One of our 11 year olds came by the church tonight, about an hour early for church, just to talk to me.  This isn't unusual for the neighborhood kids, they see a few cars, or perhaps my van, and stop by.  It's their place too. They are always welcome.

After a long conversation about what it takes to pursue the dream of being a professional rapper, a great aspiration, I believe, we sat and talked about personal change and doing life differently because you know God.  You wouldn't think that at 11 years old it would be necessary for much personal transformation to occur. Growth and maturity perhaps, but to really become a new person? Well, for this kid it's very real.

He said he used to be a fighter (in his younger years!).  Showing off, being tough.  Saying and doing things to get in trouble, be cool and get other kids to like  him.  But since he's been coming to church he's learned how to set goals, to love God, to look forward to heaven.  He's learned that God has a plan for him and the people he loves even if he can't see it right now. He knows it's ok to be himself.  And now people look up to him (including me).  He has dreams.  He sees his life as something to offer back to help others.  He's an example for others.  He wants to help people who don't have so much as he's got.  Maybe someday his grandmother will come to church with him.

I don't know what all has happened in this little boy's heart this fall, but God is working on something big. He's an inspiration to me, to all of us each week as he comes to church alone, sings the songs, reads the lessons and listens to the sermons.  He prays for his friends.  He lives out what God's love really is.

He's thankful to God.  And I'm thankful for him.

Memories

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Growing up I was always a tomboy.  (those who know me are likely not surprised by this)  I had a favorite toy dump truck as a kid; a yellow, metal one with the Tonka brand.  It was quite special to me and I cared for it well.  My backyard was often turned into a construction zone with 'projects' of dirt, hammers, nails and old wood.  My parents were either too busy to notice or ever grateful that I had found something positive to occupy my energy with.  The only rule was that I couldn't attach anything to the house or garage.  That being said, the trees were often the victims of my creations and imagination games.  My best friends dad's were cops and firemen (as was almost everyone on our block in Chicago's southwest side) and as such after school days in the front yards were consumed with pretend rescues and emergencies.  On more than one occasion you could find the smaller kids handcuffed to a light pole, waiting for their merciful release. This and a few other memories of playing '500' in the alley with the local boys, skateboarding in the park and whole afternoons of 'cops and robbers' makes me less surprised of the types of excitement I seek as a grown up. I owned only one or two Barbies, and they lived a difficult life.

But playtime is one thing, real life another.  I struggle now some days to make sense of the real situations I see; not only in the FD but in our community, my church ministry and among those whom I call my friends.  I look not to the local gang of kids for support but a new group of advisers whose training and experience both pastorally and professionally far exceed my own.  Most rewarding and renewing is that I daily have the opportunity to do some good.  And it is by the power of my faith and the love of the God whom I know so intimately that compels me to continue, moving ever forward into a new realm of opportunity and possibility. 

I am privileged to lead a courageous congregation into a service to others. I am blessed with a family who is willing to share me, often at their own  loss...and this is something I increasingly must guard against.  But there are many joys too...wedding coming up at church, new families joining and lives being healed and calmed.  Smiles come with the faces of our children each time I see them and friendships are strengthened around simple pleasures of coffee and treats.  These things keep me on track, looking forward with anticipation and hopefulness to each new day.

While some days I wish I could go back to the games and scenarios of my childhood, the safety of calling time out when it got too real or a distraction came into play, I know that help is available now too, through the support of friends, members and  colleagues and the ever present peace that God gives to carry out whatever task he calls us to.

Connected

Like a web, God has woven us together in families and communities for a reason.  We need each other.  Going life alone is too hard, and unnecessary. Actually, like a web, we are stronger together.

Sometimes I forget that and feel badly about leaning on a friend for support. I'm one of those strong people, that thinks I can handle anything.  But even strong people need comfort, need guidance and need love.  I wish I understood that 15 or 20 years ago.  How different my choices may have been.  I've always tried to be there for others, but pridefully denying self care can and often has been destructive.  With years comes wisdom, I guess.

I've got a lot of great friends, and I have a wonderful family at home, and am learning to appreciate that I also have a family at the fire department.  I've learned that strength comes in honoring those relationships, both as someone who gives and also receives.  I hope these lessons and gifts will be something I can share for a long time to come.

All starts as a seed

A seed
Planted in shallow soil
Swept by wind, rain warmed by Son
Remains steady, struggles and grows

Small sprouts, pruned lightly
Surviving by strong roots
When winter comes again and again

And someday blossoms
Into beauty
A journey made new
Transformed

And here we are
Our lives and those of others
Seeds planted by God
Surviving and sometimes thriving
Becoming what God made us
Showing our color and ability
To share ourselves

Where has God planted seeds?
We may never know
But they are everywhere
and sometimes
we are blessed to see them grow.

Trust

I believe that trust is mostly based on experience in a relationship...that someone did something for you or you for them and then trust developed.  And while that is true, I learned today that trust sometimes has to start cold...on an order or in a silent moment....without really knowing what to expect. Then and only then, do we act.

In serving as the Chaplain for the Hanover Park Fire Department, I am both learning to trust others and to be trusted by them.  I am priviledged to have the opportunity to spend time learning at the the fire station and via a radio know where our department is and what's going on in the community.  I have taken on the responsibility to help whenever and however I am needed.  There will be times that I am called to go places with them, minister to people in situations that I have never been in before myself.   At this point in my new post, I don't know quite what to expect. I'm still learning the basics of the fire service and almost everything is new.  I look to the other officers when I am unsure, and I trust the Chief to to teach me what I need to learn in order to do my job.  Most of the time I need to just be still, watch, listen and trust them.  This is true in little things like how to wear a uniform correctly and bigger things as well.  I'm learning not to assume I know anything by my own reasoning, but to trust that they do.  When I get called to a fire or other dangerous situation, that trust will mean everything for us both.  When we go out there, I put my life in their hands. 

It strikes me that God expects us to trust him in much the same way.  We can't wait until we feel like it or are comfortable enough to give up some control, not if we want him to direct us safely through.  There's too much that we don't know about this world still, too much for us to take it all on ourselves.  We should - by faith, knowing who God is and who we are called to be, learn to put our lives in his hands in every moment.   We can trust God with the little things in life, the daily decisions and requests for guidance that end up as our prayers...and we can trust...we need to trust God...with the bigger things.  The questions of life or death, right or wrong, good and evil. And God knows how to guide us through it all.

How different would our lives be if we trusted God more.  How different would our actions be if we watched, waited and listened to him before we acted. How different would our world be if we really put our lives and our decisions in God's hands before we took matters into our own.   

Peace

I'm preaching this advent on Peace.  The text this week is from Luke 21:25-36 and talks of 'end times'.  Each year I see more and more contemporary meaning in these verses.  War, terror, famine, AIDS, poverty, hunger, injustice, violence and fear are infront of us every day. It seems that CNN has a clearer understanding of end times than we sometimes do. The images are that real and inescapable. 

In a world where there seems at every turn to be turmoil and desperation, we proclaim in this season that God sent his Son to bring peace.  In the humbleness of an infant, in a quiet village, born to parents who had little, the prince of peace was born.  But since his birth there has been little peace.  His own life collided with that nation and resulted in his death.  But of course then....

A basic need for all people, we search for peace in our world, in our homes, in our relationships and within ourselves. It is a part of our imago Dei. Our being created in the image of God.

Jesus did not come to bring peace to the world, in that all wars might cease and all our troubles leave (for they come from our sins and ungodly decisions and not God's will), but Jesus did come to be peace in the midst of a world that is anything but peaceful.  Our lives have times of want and times of need.  Each generation experiences hardship, fear and times when it seems all is coming to an end.  Jesus challenges believers to hold up our heads and see that hope exists in the midst of fear. We live in that hope, not liveout of the hopelessness of the world.  Grace abides in the midst of injustice, we can choose to be fair.  Life goes on when it seems all is lost, we can choose to try again.  Claiming Jesus, claiming God in these times is our only strength. It is our peace and our hope. And, ultimatley, it is our responsibility to live out God's peace. 

This can change the world.

"I AM"
by Hellen Mallicoat


I was regretting the past
And fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:

My name is “I AM”.
He paused. I waited. He continued.

When you live in the past
With its mistakes and regrets,
It is hard. I am not there.
My name is not “I was”.

When you live in future
With its problems and fears,
It is hard. I am not there.
My name is not “I will be”.

When you live in this moment,
It is not hard.
I am here.
My name is “I AM.”

Seeing God

Working at a church I do God for a living.  I'm here pretty much every day and every evening.  I love it, but  It's easy to lose track and forget that all my books and studies, powerpoints, sermons, phone calls and letters don't so much good unless God becomes real for the people who walk in here.  I want them to see God.  Not just a cross and a pretty building, but a reality that there is a presence and power beyond us that raises the dead to life and changes the world for everybody.  We need to 'be Jesus to people'.  Does this church do that?  I think so.  I hope so.

Hopefully the 37 people who attended last nights 2nd Chances worship  and the 60 on Sunday saw God here, through the words, through the music, through the prayers and the people.  Every week God sends more people.  We have to do our best. 

Buiding a church is hard work.  Good thing God's here to help us.

a 2nd Chance given

Last spring on a Wednesday evening I sat on the floor in front of the altar next to a 9 year old girl as the Easter story was being told for the group. This kid is very engaging and loves this program. She has been coming faithfully for four years and we have seen her and her siblings grow up. I had never met her before because I was so new. She constantly asked me questions while the leader read and I constantly hushed her. I wanted her to hear the lesson so she would understand it. I wanted to teach her to listen. That’s what I wanted because I was the pastor. Where does God live? she asked. Here, I said. This is God’s house. Listen to the story. Where does he sleep? He doesn’t sleep, he’s awake all the time, taking care of us. God doesn’t need sleep. Shhh. Listen to the story. Where does he eat? God doesn’t eat, he’s God. Listen to the story. (Teacher looks are now coming from the leader directed right at me) At that point the story talked about Jesus dying on the cross. “…and he hung his head and died….” Is God dead? No, I said…listen to the story. “…and Jesus appeared to the disciples…he is risen!” The story read on to talk about how when we die we go to heaven because God saves us. Death is not the end. God loves us forever. Another question was coming. I could feel it. Shhh…… Is God here now? I paused and turned. My ears opened. Yes…this is important, listen to her story, the Spirit told me. My friend is dead. She drowned. I tried to save her, but I couldn’t. It’s her sister. (She points to a younger girl in front of her.) Is she with God? I didn’t hear the rest of the story because I was now telling it. I was actually living it. The story of mercy and salvation and the experience of God’s incredible close love to a 9 year old girl who got it that night. That’s salvation. She now knows this story and can tell it to change the eternal lives of others.