Month: July 2019

We’re in the middle of our summer family vacation. We visited family – brothers and sisters to me via marriage and cousins for our kids. We went to the zoo and the Jelly Belly jelly bean factory and a neighborhood pool. We played Toy Story yahtzee and t-ball and hide-and-seek. There was an epic Nerf gun fight and a water balloon war. It was a time to reconnect — to discover what beloved family is working on, regretting, dreaming. I’m grateful I enjoy my in-laws as much as I do. They are quick-witted, smart, creative and thoughtful. I wish I felt more connected to them. They have all had siblings since childhood – relationships built on love, experience, conflict and its sisters forgiveness and acceptance. With my late start, I must be contented our relationship grows despite, or perhaps, thanks to time and distance.

Now it is church camp. A week in the forest with our church family. I don’t even know where my son is right now. Time moves slowly here and lingers.

Three questions permeate our time. What do we hope God will do with this time we’ve set aside? For me, this time apart is a time to rest. Perhaps to sleep, but, more importantly to rest. A season to be still, to read, to sing, to chat, to laugh, to watch the trees sway in the wind and listen to the birds and insects. To breathe deeply.

The lure of the world to rest efficiently and “get a head start” on a new goal, a new problem, a new want tempts me. This time will end. Battles will come, ready or not. So right now, my goal is to get better at spending time resting in Jesus. To listen for His voice and enjoy His creation. To breathe in grace and breathe out gratitude. To accomplish nothing but savoring His great gifts.

We read Luke 13: 10-17. Jesus cures a woman who had been suffering for 18 years. In response, the synagogue leaders chastised the group, while the people “delighted in the wonderful things he was doing.” In prayer, I found my second question: what is God doing? How can I delight in the Lord if I don’t know what wonderful things the Lord is doing? It would be nice if questions came with answers, but answers, like healing, take time.

Our speaker is talking about the Kingdom of God, and living in the tension of being in Christ and in our local towns. If Christ reigns, then he rules in our hearts and the whole of our lives as well as the public sphere. Our third question: How do we live in the tension of being about Christ’s kingdom – justice, mercy, love, dependence on God, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, humility – in our town which values self-sufficiency, success, comfort and ease, striving, and money?

I ponder these questions in a time apart because they will need to be lived out in a time together.

The story of the healing of the bleeding woman and the synagogue leader’s daughter has been popping up a lot recently. I wonder why. I had forgotten the two healings were related in time. The bleeding woman touches Jesus while he is on his way to heal the leader’s daughter. Both healings came through touch and through faith. The bleeding woman thought, if I just touch his cloak then I’ll be well. The synagogue leader, Jairus, says, “come and lay your hand on her, and she will be well.”

Can you imagine touching him?

Some details vary, but in every retelling, Jesus is mocked for believing the daughter lives, for hoping when hope was lost.

Can you imagine mocking Jesus?

I’ve always marveled at the hemorrhaging woman’s healing. Jesus was in a crowd, clearly being touched and jostled and bumped by many, but he notices her touch. His power to heal was present the entire time, but was accessed by her faith. Not just her belief in her mind, but her bravery at coming to him and touching his cloak. Did this healing bolster Jairus’ faith? Was he worried by the delay or reassured that his faith in Jesus was well placed? The Gospel writers don’t say. They only cared to show Jesus willingness and ability to do what others could not – to heal and forgive, to cure and restore. New life.

Our summer trip begins tomorrow. Two weeks of driving, visiting family and friends, and church camp. Lots of time outside. Lots of togetherness. When we return, there will still be three weeks of summer break, but somehow it feels like it’ll all be over then.

I’ve been preparing for the two ministries I think will take up most of my volunteering time this year. As assistant coordinator for our MOPS group, I’ve been wading through the tonnage of resources. So many videos. I love planning. It feels like creating art – painting the broad strokes of vision and values, gluing each detail, knitting together themes and ideas, snipping loose ends, hammering each detail as if I really control life. The value of MOPS, though, is in the relationships and discussions. I see now the resources are meant to reduce the preparations so we spend more time supporting and encouraging one another. We have to model that as leaders.

I completed the training to become a Stephen Minister, but this weekend also did the training to be a facilitator of supervision groups. I’m now trained to facilitate small groups to provide peer supervision for those who are working with care receivers. I really like Stephen Ministry — the program, the resources, the values, the processes. I’m trying to take some of what they do well and incorporate it into how we do MOPS. Both ministries are about relationships, listening to those in need and walking with one another. I wish I had words to describe how much I love this work.