First Steps – March 2, 2020

rising sun

On a recent college visit with my daughter, we arrived, signed in, were gathered and ushered into a holding room, and sat down to wait for her audition.” As I took my seat, I looked around the room and saw the same thing: People were on their phones. As soon as new people entered the room and sat down, they immediately reached for their phones. Sadly, I have to admit, I did the same thing. Today’s culture has imprinted technology on our brains as something that we have to have to survive. It is the air we breathe. After a few minutes, I thought, “We have been conditioned to fear boredom.” I quickly turned to my daughter to test my theory, and she said, “Yes, it is true. It is like a security blanket.”

Lent began five days ago. Lent is the season of preparation before Easter. It is a time of inward reflection where one embraces a more simplistic lifestyle. It is a time of increased spiritual disciplines so that one focuses more on their relationship with God. Annie Dillard famously wrote, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” I wonder how our days are shaped, regardless if we know it, by our practices, different daily rituals, that make us who we are. Some of those rituals stem from our faith, others from the culture around us.

Therefore, with the remaining days of Lent, would you be willing to push against the culture that imprints the fear of boredom by grabbing your phone? Granted, it might be impossible to go off the grid for 40 days. But, I bet we could limit our access so that we can focus on something more basic, something foundation forming to our identity—who we are in Christ. Give it a try.


This week’s reading:
Monday – Ephesians 6
Tuesday – Philippians 1
Wednesday – Philippians 2
Thursday –Philippians 3
Friday – Philippians 4

 

Please Pray for:
Our ministers and their families.
Those who are unwillingly absent.
The United Methodist Church family.
Our nation and our leaders.
The World.
The Lost.

 

 

First Steps – February 24, 2020

rising sun
It must be remembered that life is not a series of grand illustrious actions or elegant enjoyments.  No, the greater part of our time is spent in compliance with little necessities, performing daily duties, handling small inconveniences, and the enjoyment of small pleasures.”

 

I can’t remember when I heard this, but I remember that when I heard it, a light bulb went off because I haven’t forgotten it.  Though Brother Lawrence lived about 400 years ago, he thought the same because he considered faith and daily life to be intricately woven together and inseparable.  He wrote, “That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. That we should not wonder if, in the beginning, we often failed in our endeavors, but that at last we should gain a habit, which will naturally produce its acts in us, without our care, and to our exceeding great delight.”

Often, we live with the thought that our faith must be grand.  Yet, Jesus referred to a mustard seed faith as effective enough to move mountains. However, we resist his words because there is something in us that values bigger is better.  We are drawn to the exotic, that piece that separates us from others.  It is no wonder we struggle with Jesus’ simple call for humility, service, and selflessness.  I’m convinced that until we find contentment in the basics, joy in living a simple life with God, and fulfillment in the faithfulness of the everyday life, we will always be chasing something that is fleeting and temporary.  

Mountain top ecstasies, even spiritual ones, are not the norm and aren’t meant to be.  The real issue for us is can the everyday event—your day-in-and-day-out-life—be the mountain top?  The New Testament describes a life in the Spirit with an everyday lens.  Christ is Lord of the mundane as much as he is Lord of the ecstasy.   Find the joy in living the everyday life.  

 

This week’s reading:

  • Monday – Ephesians 1
  • Tuesday – Ephesians 2
  • Wednesday – Ephesians 3
  • Thursday – Ephesians 4
  • Friday – Ephesians 5

Please Pray for:

  • Our ministers and their families.
  • Those who are unwillingly absent.
  • The United Methodist Church family.
  • Our nation and our leaders.
  • The World.
  • The Lost.