I have a friend who has taken up a hobby that she has found life changing: improv. Improv is an abbreviated form of improvisation. Most people who engage in improv are part of a group. But Robin has taught me that improv is not simply a theatrical exercise; it is a different way of responding to life. “It’s simple,” she assures me. “The primary rule of improv is that instead of saying yes, but… you always say yes, and…”
Whenever we say yes, but… we diminish the strength of the yes to the extent that it can disappear altogether: Did I hear that you celebrated Christmas with your mother-in-law in New York City? Yes, but it was not New York City, it was Buffalo, and it wasn’t Christmas, it was New Years, and it wasn’t really my mother-in-law, it was her college roommate and it wasn’t exactly a celebration, it was more like an extended hospital visit.
Now think of the Christmas story and this question posed to Mary: Is it true that you and Joseph gave birth to a son in Bethlehem and angels said he would bring peace to the world? Yes, but it was not in Bethlehem, it was actually in a barn outside the town, and the angels didn’t really tell us he would bring peace to the world, the angels told some shepherds who told us, and he is not actually Joseph’s son, but we’re not talking about who really is. You can see how the Christmas story told with a yes, but… would hardly have merited the joyful celebration that causes grown men to dawn striped bath robes and pretend to be shepherds before hundreds of people.
It is easy to tell the story of your life with a yes, but... That’s because no experience measures up to its supposed ideal. Straw-filled feeding troughs can’t compete with soft-mattressed cradles. An empty barn is heartbreakingly lonely compared to the ideal of family all around. There is always the mood-souring inconvenience, the no vacancy sign on the place you might rather be, the good reasons to be anxious, frustrated, or guilty about yourself. String enough of these considerations after a but and eventually the but becomes so big that the joy of the yes disappears beneath it.
The obstacles we encounter always come as potential threats to a vital spiritual life because they diminish how deeply we engage the moment and reinforce the perception that we are trapped. By diluting our zest for living, they weaken our immune systems, make us more prone to illnesses of body and mind, and push our relationships into the shallows of pleasantries and obligations.
God brings the improvised miracles of his working into our real lives, not some imagined perfection. The story of God entering the cosmos, the world, the town, the person, the manger reveals that the path to spiritual vitality is yes, and... And implies a pattern of working that is unfolding if I am willing to look through the lens of that little word. Yes, God is working in my life and here are the ways I see God working and here are all the possibilities that are opening up and here are the options I have for responding and these are the steps I am going to take toward God.
Becoming a yes, and… person doesn’t happen through guilt or inspiration or prayer. It happens as we practice telling the story of our lives in a way that opens us up to the pattern of God’s working. For each of our lives is a kind of Christmas story, an account of how God has entered into our lives. While every story is a unique miracle, the structure of the telling is the same: it is full of and’s.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
And laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
So it is Christmas. And you have read these thoughts. And you are pondering your story. And…
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
I remember a talk given by a physical trainer. She was explaining how important it is to know your own particular make-up in developing a workout routine.
“As a trainer, I am often asked, ‘What is the best exercise?’ My answer is always the same: ‘The best exercise is the one you will do.’”
The best way of connecting with God is the one that actually connects. I have always found it unhelpful to be given a spiritual formula that would, supposedly, keep me close to God. But while I found it to be unhelpful, I continued in it any, too afraid to say that the spiritual emperor had no clothes. Only as I have grown older have I found the honesty to say: that just doesn’t connect me to God.
For example, I am wired to connect with God through deep meditation, through the study of the physical world, and through the experience of travel. These are the connections that are “live” for me. In the words of my blue collar father, they have the “juice.” On the other hand, I find the use of devotional materials to be a dead outlet. Simply reading the Bible, with no other circuit built around it is dead as well. (There I said it.)
I no longer believe that God speaks only to a few lucky souls. But to hear God requires understanding how you as a unique person are wired to hear, letting go of someone else’s expectations of how you “should” hear, and celebrating your own distinctive, miraculous spiritual circuitry.
You may be wired as a heaven-gazing Magi, or a action-oriented Joseph, or a contemplative shepherd. Advent is a time for discovering what kind of ears God has given you so that when Christ comes and speaks to you, as the truckers used to say, you will “have your ears on.” Or as Jesus put it, “Let him who has ears, hear…”
Christ comes to us…at all speeds.
“As a trainer, I am often asked, ‘What is the best exercise?’ My answer is always the same: ‘The best exercise is the one you will do.’”
The best way of connecting with God is the one that actually connects. I have always found it unhelpful to be given a spiritual formula that would, supposedly, keep me close to God. But while I found it to be unhelpful, I continued in it any, too afraid to say that the spiritual emperor had no clothes. Only as I have grown older have I found the honesty to say: that just doesn’t connect me to God.
For example, I am wired to connect with God through deep meditation, through the study of the physical world, and through the experience of travel. These are the connections that are “live” for me. In the words of my blue collar father, they have the “juice.” On the other hand, I find the use of devotional materials to be a dead outlet. Simply reading the Bible, with no other circuit built around it is dead as well. (There I said it.)
I no longer believe that God speaks only to a few lucky souls. But to hear God requires understanding how you as a unique person are wired to hear, letting go of someone else’s expectations of how you “should” hear, and celebrating your own distinctive, miraculous spiritual circuitry.
You may be wired as a heaven-gazing Magi, or a action-oriented Joseph, or a contemplative shepherd. Advent is a time for discovering what kind of ears God has given you so that when Christ comes and speaks to you, as the truckers used to say, you will “have your ears on.” Or as Jesus put it, “Let him who has ears, hear…”
Christ comes to us…at all speeds.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” (NIV) Luke 2:8
Friedrick Kekule was not the most brilliant of chemists but he was dedicated. Nevertheless the problem that occupied his mind would not yield to dedication. He could not figure out the structure of the benzene molecule. Another futile day had slipped away and the setting sun dragged another several hours over the horizon. Kekule fell asleep. In that misty state between sleep and wakefulness, something amazing happened: Kekule had a dream.
He called it a waking dream. In his waking dream Kekule saw a snake swallowing its tail and forming a ring. Upon waking, the meaning of the dream bolted through the door of his consciousness. Benzene, he realized, was shaped like a ring. This discovery-revelation marked the beginning of modern organic chemistry.
It is no accident that the Christmas story overflows with discovery-revelations that occur during the night. Joseph realizes through a dream that he should not divorce his pregnant wife. The Magi discern through a dream that they are not to make the return trip home via Herod. Joseph flees the anger of Herod under the inspiration of a dream and when he returns, the guidance of another dream leads him to settle in a different region with his vulnerable child. It was a nocturnal vision of angels penetrating the minds of drowsy shepherds that caused one to say to the others, “Let’s go to town!” The night renders the external world invisible and turns on the inner stars of discovery-revelation within our own souls.
People often talk about the need to slow down during Advent. The truth is that the sun goes down every evening and our bodies slow down soon afterward. During that time the stars of discovery-revelation shine within our own souls. During those starlit hours, we can often discern the pattern of God’s working in our lives. We gain insight. We find a way home to our better selves. We get clarity about the next great thing we must do.
Perhaps we would benefit by ceasing our endless mantra about the need to slow down and then steadfastly ignore. Listen for the voice that is already sounding. Tend to the stars in your own waking dreams and join the Magi in their journey toward something Magi-cal.
Have you every had a discovery-revelation occur to you in the night? Are you willing to share it?
Friedrick Kekule was not the most brilliant of chemists but he was dedicated. Nevertheless the problem that occupied his mind would not yield to dedication. He could not figure out the structure of the benzene molecule. Another futile day had slipped away and the setting sun dragged another several hours over the horizon. Kekule fell asleep. In that misty state between sleep and wakefulness, something amazing happened: Kekule had a dream.
He called it a waking dream. In his waking dream Kekule saw a snake swallowing its tail and forming a ring. Upon waking, the meaning of the dream bolted through the door of his consciousness. Benzene, he realized, was shaped like a ring. This discovery-revelation marked the beginning of modern organic chemistry.
It is no accident that the Christmas story overflows with discovery-revelations that occur during the night. Joseph realizes through a dream that he should not divorce his pregnant wife. The Magi discern through a dream that they are not to make the return trip home via Herod. Joseph flees the anger of Herod under the inspiration of a dream and when he returns, the guidance of another dream leads him to settle in a different region with his vulnerable child. It was a nocturnal vision of angels penetrating the minds of drowsy shepherds that caused one to say to the others, “Let’s go to town!” The night renders the external world invisible and turns on the inner stars of discovery-revelation within our own souls.
People often talk about the need to slow down during Advent. The truth is that the sun goes down every evening and our bodies slow down soon afterward. During that time the stars of discovery-revelation shine within our own souls. During those starlit hours, we can often discern the pattern of God’s working in our lives. We gain insight. We find a way home to our better selves. We get clarity about the next great thing we must do.
Perhaps we would benefit by ceasing our endless mantra about the need to slow down and then steadfastly ignore. Listen for the voice that is already sounding. Tend to the stars in your own waking dreams and join the Magi in their journey toward something Magi-cal.
Have you every had a discovery-revelation occur to you in the night? Are you willing to share it?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt. (NIV) Matthew 2:13-14
One sunny winter day I was driving along a snow bermed road in Western New York. This was back when I was a pastor observing my custom of Sunday afternoon hospital visits. I knew the road well and the scenery whizzed by the edge of my consciousness, fogged by familiarity. But I was brought to full attention by a mental impression that shouted, “Turn in this driveway.” Too late for a turn signal, I slammed on the brakes and bullied my car into a left turn.
I knew the person who lived in the house and with nary a clue regarding what I would say, I knocked on the door. A very disheveled and distressed face appeared at the door.
“Mildred,” I said. “What are you doing?”
“I was just about to kill myself,” Mildred blurted out.
“You can't do that,” I blurted back.
“Why not?” she questioned, hoping for a good reason.
“Because Jesus loves you.” And with full conviction I followed with, “And he sent me here to tell you.” It was a life-altering event for both of us.
Sometimes it is important to respond to God at full speed. Joseph knew this. When the message came to him from the angel that the child’s life was at stake, he sped into action and left town in the middle of the night. To prepare for the coming of Christ requires that we prepare to respond to the next great thing that God calls us to do. Sometimes that requires that we move fast.
Advent, I believe, is a time to prepare ourselves to move quickly if we must, to engage in a spiritual swerve if we must. The question is not whether we are moving too fast. The question is whether we are aware enough of the Presence that if the wheel needs to turn, we can make the mental, physical, or emotional shift that will put us in sync with Christ. Life and health can hang on it.
It’s about being with Christ at all speeds.
One sunny winter day I was driving along a snow bermed road in Western New York. This was back when I was a pastor observing my custom of Sunday afternoon hospital visits. I knew the road well and the scenery whizzed by the edge of my consciousness, fogged by familiarity. But I was brought to full attention by a mental impression that shouted, “Turn in this driveway.” Too late for a turn signal, I slammed on the brakes and bullied my car into a left turn.
I knew the person who lived in the house and with nary a clue regarding what I would say, I knocked on the door. A very disheveled and distressed face appeared at the door.
“Mildred,” I said. “What are you doing?”
“I was just about to kill myself,” Mildred blurted out.
“You can't do that,” I blurted back.
“Why not?” she questioned, hoping for a good reason.
“Because Jesus loves you.” And with full conviction I followed with, “And he sent me here to tell you.” It was a life-altering event for both of us.
Sometimes it is important to respond to God at full speed. Joseph knew this. When the message came to him from the angel that the child’s life was at stake, he sped into action and left town in the middle of the night. To prepare for the coming of Christ requires that we prepare to respond to the next great thing that God calls us to do. Sometimes that requires that we move fast.
Advent, I believe, is a time to prepare ourselves to move quickly if we must, to engage in a spiritual swerve if we must. The question is not whether we are moving too fast. The question is whether we are aware enough of the Presence that if the wheel needs to turn, we can make the mental, physical, or emotional shift that will put us in sync with Christ. Life and health can hang on it.
It’s about being with Christ at all speeds.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Susan goes to church on the second Sunday of Advent. Predictably she hears a sermon from Pastor Pete about the need to slow down during Advent in preparation for the coming of Christ. We need to wait, be still, and wring all the hurry out of our lives. Susan takes every point to heart. Yes, she agrees, she is too busy. Yes, she is moving too fast. When Pastor Pete drives home the point that the world has taken hold of Christmas and taken Christ out of it, she nods in agreement. “Will I ever learn?” she wonders . Yes, it is going to be another Guiltmas.
Then come the announcements. An extra service on Wednesday evenings. Cookies needed for the Christmas bazaar, three dozen per family. Don’t forget to make your Chrismon for the church Christmas tree. Christmas caroling at the nursing home on Saturday. And is your pledge card in?
What’s wrong with this picture? What is wrong with this picture is that we do not have a spiritually of motion. A spirituality of motion suggests that God can be discovered in different ways at all speeds. In contrast to a spirituality of idle which implies that God can only be found by stopping, a spirituality of motion presents the possibility of experiencing different aspects of God at the various paces of life. The key is having a spiritual life that can move at all speeds.
Think of a car. A car with a stuck accelerator that can only run 70 miles an hour is dangerous. Think of trying to drive a car at 70 miles per hour on a busy city street! On the other hand, a car that can only idle is useless. There are times when God needs us to get somewhere fast. The shepherds knew this. After the angels spoke to them, they “hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
Rather than accepting the contradictory messages you may be hearing this season that turn Christmas into Guiltmas, try thinking with me about a spirituality of motion, God with us at all speeds. I will be writing more about this over the next several days of Advent. Let me know how you have experienced God at different speeds in your life.
Then come the announcements. An extra service on Wednesday evenings. Cookies needed for the Christmas bazaar, three dozen per family. Don’t forget to make your Chrismon for the church Christmas tree. Christmas caroling at the nursing home on Saturday. And is your pledge card in?
What’s wrong with this picture? What is wrong with this picture is that we do not have a spiritually of motion. A spirituality of motion suggests that God can be discovered in different ways at all speeds. In contrast to a spirituality of idle which implies that God can only be found by stopping, a spirituality of motion presents the possibility of experiencing different aspects of God at the various paces of life. The key is having a spiritual life that can move at all speeds.
Think of a car. A car with a stuck accelerator that can only run 70 miles an hour is dangerous. Think of trying to drive a car at 70 miles per hour on a busy city street! On the other hand, a car that can only idle is useless. There are times when God needs us to get somewhere fast. The shepherds knew this. After the angels spoke to them, they “hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
Rather than accepting the contradictory messages you may be hearing this season that turn Christmas into Guiltmas, try thinking with me about a spirituality of motion, God with us at all speeds. I will be writing more about this over the next several days of Advent. Let me know how you have experienced God at different speeds in your life.
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