One Sunday morning a couple of weeks I was about to leave for the church. It was my normal Sunday morning. Up to dress, drink some coffee, go over the sermon, get ready to go. Sometimes things become so normal to me I forget how precious the moment is, or could be if I just recognized it, but I suppose we all do that occasionally. I kissed my wife and son goodbye knowing that I would see them soon. Took the same way out I always do and thought nothing of the little footsteps following me.
I opened the door to go outside and closed just the storm door as I left. Langston stood at the door looking at me smiling, it still melts my heart to see that little smile directed at me. As I got into my car and started to pull out of the driveway I looked forward and there was my boy waving his little hands, and I could tell he was shouting out, “Daddy, daddy, daddy,” over and over again. I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me, it has already been my fuel for joy in moments of despair.
God offers a world so full of beauty, a life filled with surprise, and moments of inspiration to each of us with the express intent that we in turn offer the world what God has given us, joy! The Fuel for Joy Project is an offer to each of us to look for joy in the world and share it with others. What is your joy? Let me know. Send your stories to garrett@1stpresalbany.org (or mail them to the church) and let’s start a journal, or maybe even a book full of stories, full of fuel for joy for all those in moments of despair.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Minister's Minute from August Issue of the Journal of Hope and Joy
You have a story to tell. Yes you, the one reading these little words right now. Maybe you are thinking, “What story do I have to tell?” And maybe you say that because you think your story is boring, because you know you have a story. Life is a story. It starts way back when, before we can remember. I don’t even remember the age I was of my earliest memories, and sometimes I don’t know if I remember something about my life or if I only remember the stories I was told. I guess it doesn’t really matter. All of that jumbled up mess in my head becomes my story.
I was born on September 3, 1980 at exactly 1 pm Pacific Standard Time, which is 4 pm Eastern Standard Time. I don’t remember being born. I don’t remember the first time I was held by my parents or the first time my mother kissed me. I don’t remember any of that, but I’ve heard stories about it. And while we each have our own stories to tell, we find out in the course of our lives that other people have their stories to tell, and sometimes in their stories we make appearances, sometimes they have stories to tell about us.
I look forward to being able to tell Langston about some of the stories I have about him. There will be some moment in his life when things seem to be spiraling out of control, because there are times in everyone’s life when that is true. And when that happens, maybe I can tell him about the day he was born. The way he urinated all over the nurses as soon as he came out. The way he puckered up to kiss his mother the first time their faces met. And while that story may not help him in whatever he is going through, it might help him realize that life is bigger than any one moment no matter how horrid it is.
The truth is – even if we think our stories are boring – we like to share them. Today I was sitting in a living room with three other people sharing stories. One of us would say, “There was this one time…” and then we would share about that one time, that one time unique to whomever was sharing it. Then someone else would come up afterward saying, “That reminds me of the time…” and then some other story maybe similar or maybe not was shared. In the hour I was there I must have shared a dozen short stories of my own life and heard many more. And as I left our little story telling session I realized something, we had each grown closer in that hour.
Perhaps that is why we share our stories in the very end, to grow closer with others. I recently read a study that was done over the course of years about couples. This study said that when people were dating the two could sit at the dinner table and would talk on average 51 minutes an hour. That leaves 9 minutes for eating and drinking and whatever else. When people got married the time spent talking immediately went down, and continued going down the longer they were married.
At first I was a bit saddened by the study, but as I thought about it some more I realized it wasn’t such a bad thing, maybe it is even a good thing. Surely there are less stories to share with someone you know so well, therefore you are not trying to get to know them as much as you are just trying to be with them. The stories that you have now you have together. Since God shows up in the silence (read about Elijah if this sounds strange to you), maybe the silence we can have with our loved ones means that we are just comfortable loving them as they are, and then being with our beloved, because what can be more special than being with the one we love?
Now I have a couple of thoughts. First it is good we share our stories with people we meet. It is the only way we make friends, people who know us, and friends are good. Secondly do not forget to listen. It is as important to listen to another’s story as it is to share our own, because only in listening to them do we get to know them, can we grow to love them, can we move to the point where we create stories with them, and then maybe we will be able to sit down together and not say a word and feel like plenty was said.
Finally perhaps God sometimes seems so hard to hear because God does not feel like there is anything to be said. God sits there with us silent just because God knows our stories and loves us without having to say a thing. God is happy being in the presence of God’s beloved. Next time I am sitting alone in silence I hope I can remember that I am not alone, God is there too happy just to be with me.
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
I was born on September 3, 1980 at exactly 1 pm Pacific Standard Time, which is 4 pm Eastern Standard Time. I don’t remember being born. I don’t remember the first time I was held by my parents or the first time my mother kissed me. I don’t remember any of that, but I’ve heard stories about it. And while we each have our own stories to tell, we find out in the course of our lives that other people have their stories to tell, and sometimes in their stories we make appearances, sometimes they have stories to tell about us.
I look forward to being able to tell Langston about some of the stories I have about him. There will be some moment in his life when things seem to be spiraling out of control, because there are times in everyone’s life when that is true. And when that happens, maybe I can tell him about the day he was born. The way he urinated all over the nurses as soon as he came out. The way he puckered up to kiss his mother the first time their faces met. And while that story may not help him in whatever he is going through, it might help him realize that life is bigger than any one moment no matter how horrid it is.
The truth is – even if we think our stories are boring – we like to share them. Today I was sitting in a living room with three other people sharing stories. One of us would say, “There was this one time…” and then we would share about that one time, that one time unique to whomever was sharing it. Then someone else would come up afterward saying, “That reminds me of the time…” and then some other story maybe similar or maybe not was shared. In the hour I was there I must have shared a dozen short stories of my own life and heard many more. And as I left our little story telling session I realized something, we had each grown closer in that hour.
Perhaps that is why we share our stories in the very end, to grow closer with others. I recently read a study that was done over the course of years about couples. This study said that when people were dating the two could sit at the dinner table and would talk on average 51 minutes an hour. That leaves 9 minutes for eating and drinking and whatever else. When people got married the time spent talking immediately went down, and continued going down the longer they were married.
At first I was a bit saddened by the study, but as I thought about it some more I realized it wasn’t such a bad thing, maybe it is even a good thing. Surely there are less stories to share with someone you know so well, therefore you are not trying to get to know them as much as you are just trying to be with them. The stories that you have now you have together. Since God shows up in the silence (read about Elijah if this sounds strange to you), maybe the silence we can have with our loved ones means that we are just comfortable loving them as they are, and then being with our beloved, because what can be more special than being with the one we love?
Now I have a couple of thoughts. First it is good we share our stories with people we meet. It is the only way we make friends, people who know us, and friends are good. Secondly do not forget to listen. It is as important to listen to another’s story as it is to share our own, because only in listening to them do we get to know them, can we grow to love them, can we move to the point where we create stories with them, and then maybe we will be able to sit down together and not say a word and feel like plenty was said.
Finally perhaps God sometimes seems so hard to hear because God does not feel like there is anything to be said. God sits there with us silent just because God knows our stories and loves us without having to say a thing. God is happy being in the presence of God’s beloved. Next time I am sitting alone in silence I hope I can remember that I am not alone, God is there too happy just to be with me.
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wise and Healing Words
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. – Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)
When have words hurt you? Do you remember who said them? When have words healed you? Do you remember who said them? When have you used reckless words? Did you want to hurt someone? When did you use your words wisely? Did it bring healing?
The following is from Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and can be found here: http://www.lukeford.net/Dennis/t4.html
Over the past decade, whenever I have lectured on the powerful, and often negative, impact of words, I have asked audiences if they can go for 24 hours without saying any unkind words about or to anybody. Invariably, a minority of listeners raise their hands signifying "yes"; some laugh; and quite a large number call out, "no!"
I respond by saying, "Those who can't answer ‘yes’ must recognize that you have a serious problem. If you cannot go for 24 hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go for 24 hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. Similarly, if you can not go for 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, you have lost control of your tongue."
It is well worth our time to read the rest of the Rabbi’s article, but the point is made. Sometimes we say mean things without knowing it, we call it miscommunication, and maybe it is. Miscommunication is easy when we don’t take the time to consider a situation. Maybe that is why the proverb comments about the tongue of the wise. It is a wise person who takes the time to realize that miscommunication is possible and ensures that her words are healing no matter what, and what would the world look like if we could all control our tongues for 24 hours? Perhaps it is time to find out!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
When have words hurt you? Do you remember who said them? When have words healed you? Do you remember who said them? When have you used reckless words? Did you want to hurt someone? When did you use your words wisely? Did it bring healing?
The following is from Rabbi Joseph Telushkin and can be found here: http://www.lukeford.net/Dennis/t4.html
Over the past decade, whenever I have lectured on the powerful, and often negative, impact of words, I have asked audiences if they can go for 24 hours without saying any unkind words about or to anybody. Invariably, a minority of listeners raise their hands signifying "yes"; some laugh; and quite a large number call out, "no!"
I respond by saying, "Those who can't answer ‘yes’ must recognize that you have a serious problem. If you cannot go for 24 hours without drinking liquor, you are addicted to alcohol. If you cannot go for 24 hours without smoking, you are addicted to nicotine. Similarly, if you can not go for 24 hours without saying unkind words about others, you have lost control of your tongue."
It is well worth our time to read the rest of the Rabbi’s article, but the point is made. Sometimes we say mean things without knowing it, we call it miscommunication, and maybe it is. Miscommunication is easy when we don’t take the time to consider a situation. Maybe that is why the proverb comments about the tongue of the wise. It is a wise person who takes the time to realize that miscommunication is possible and ensures that her words are healing no matter what, and what would the world look like if we could all control our tongues for 24 hours? Perhaps it is time to find out!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Doing What We Can
“She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” – Mark 14:8-9 (NRSV)
What can you do for Jesus? Have you done it? What is holding you back? How are you holding yourself back? Who have you seen that did something beautiful for God? What can be told about you wherever the good news is proclaimed?
Jesus spoke this of a nameless woman (in Mark’s Gospel that is) who poured expensive perfume all over him. Some people said it was a shame that she would waste it, but not Jesus. He praised her for doing what she could do, which was lovingly giving the best she had to Jesus.
Many of us wish we could do all sorts of things for Jesus. We wish we had more money so that we could give it to the church for some kind of ministry. We wish we had the ability to preach like Billy Graham so that we could tell more people about the love of Jesus. We wish we could write some hugely successful book like Rick Warren so that others might find meaning in their lives. Sometimes our wish is that others would get out of our way so that we could do what we want. The whole while we are wishing about what we might be able to do we never do what we can.
This woman did what she could, and we still talk about it 2000 years later!
Just last week a married couple worked on bicycles for the needy here at the church. Using their talents they were able to make three bikes work that before didn’t. I thanked them for blessing three needy people by taking their time to repair those bikes. “Oh we are only doing what we can,” I was told. And somewhere Jesus was rejoicing, praising them for doing what they could. What can we do for Jesus? Whatever that is, it is time to do it!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What can you do for Jesus? Have you done it? What is holding you back? How are you holding yourself back? Who have you seen that did something beautiful for God? What can be told about you wherever the good news is proclaimed?
Jesus spoke this of a nameless woman (in Mark’s Gospel that is) who poured expensive perfume all over him. Some people said it was a shame that she would waste it, but not Jesus. He praised her for doing what she could do, which was lovingly giving the best she had to Jesus.
Many of us wish we could do all sorts of things for Jesus. We wish we had more money so that we could give it to the church for some kind of ministry. We wish we had the ability to preach like Billy Graham so that we could tell more people about the love of Jesus. We wish we could write some hugely successful book like Rick Warren so that others might find meaning in their lives. Sometimes our wish is that others would get out of our way so that we could do what we want. The whole while we are wishing about what we might be able to do we never do what we can.
This woman did what she could, and we still talk about it 2000 years later!
Just last week a married couple worked on bicycles for the needy here at the church. Using their talents they were able to make three bikes work that before didn’t. I thanked them for blessing three needy people by taking their time to repair those bikes. “Oh we are only doing what we can,” I was told. And somewhere Jesus was rejoicing, praising them for doing what they could. What can we do for Jesus? Whatever that is, it is time to do it!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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