What are you looking for?

"What are you looking for?"
John 1:38

As we grow older, and, perhaps more reflective, we can sense Jesus asking us this question too. We have reached some of life's goals, we have raised families, we have done what we felt called to do. Now what are we looking for? Ponderous, isn't it? No wonder older people seem wise! Maybe we've been too busy doing all the other stuff to sit for long stretches of time in silence. Maybe we are too stir crazy to think too deeply and come up with an answer to Jesus' question. But there is no time like the present to give it a think. What are we looking for? The old hymn "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" pops into my mind when I think on this question. I always seem to desire to be closer to Jesus, though Jesus living right in my heart should be close already, right? The problem is that I tend to fall back on the idea that God is out there, somewhere, not in here, in my heart. I can sit and hear Jesus say to me, "What are you looking for? It's right inside your heart, right now. Always. Sit still and go there." I think that is the gift of contemplation...sitting and finding, both what we're looking for and where it is. Blessings on the first weekend of the new year! Love, heidi

More important than ourselves...

"Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but everyone for those of others."
Philippians 2:3-4

The folks at Pray-As-You-Go used this reading today and it really struck me. What if everyone heeded this from St. Paul? Oh, I'm sure there are many who do live this way, in the quiet of their own lives, but what if those in power thought more of others than themselves? Can you imagine how the world could change and heal? There must be a deep survival mechanism wired within us that causes us to look out for ourselves. But there is also a grace deep within that urges people to sacrificially serve others. Think of the heroes and heroines we hear of whenever there is a tragedy...the helpers, as Mister Rogers would say. Those are the people who react as this reading suggests, for others, putting others first, not looking out for themselves. That grace is stronger in them than the instinct to look out for their own safety or need. Today, as we still bask in the freshness of the new year, let's pray for help uncovering that grace within ourselves. God put it within us; it is there. We just need to tap into it. Love, heidi

Happy New Year!

"Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another..."
Colossians 3:12

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family and this reading always seems to be spot on. Each time we celebrate this feast, it seems like a good time to hold our families up to the light and see how we measure up. The danger in that is that we may feel we've failed somehow. After all, whose family could ever measure up to the Holy Family of Nazareth, right? But if we flip back and dig into the Advent reading of Jesus' lineage (Matthew 1:1-17) we find all sorts of skeletons in those closets! Jesus being born into humanity--imperfect humanity--shows how God loves humanity, imperfections and all. There is no such thing as a "perfect" family, since families are all made up of imperfect people. Even Jesus' parents lost him in a crowd and accidently left him in Jerusalem...and what parent hasn't gone through THAT nightmare? The point is, that we take St. Paul's advice here and strive for compassion, kindness, patience and love in our families, "strive" being the operative word. Understanding that our families aren't perfect, we can ask for forgiveness and offer forgiveness to those with whom we struggle. That seems to be as good a New Year's resolution as any, don't you think?  Blessings and love to you as we turn the calendar again...to 2019! May it be a year we all rejoice in and love God, and each other. Love, heidi

Everyone is given a gift...

"Christmas creches and the gospel of Bethlehem validate the truth that God's Presence is to be found in the most unexpected places and most unlikely persons."
Fr. Ed Hays, "Meeting Christ at Broadway and Bethlehem"

Look around the stable.  Who is there? Fr. Ed Hays points out that the "important" people of the time, the priests, the hierarchy, the elite are not there. Oh, the wise men come later, but they come become they are wise, not because they are important. Look around your own "stable." Who is there? Do you host important dignitaries? Do you surround your table with the wealthy and elite? Who is around your table? Jesus is your guest. Jesus is the guest of all who see that God is present in the most humble and unlikely places and people. Once again, I watched the beautiful movie, "The Nativity Story" last night and was so touched by the old shepherd who visits the stable. His dirty, trembling hand reaches out to touch the newborn babe and, instead of pulling the baby back, Mary offers Jesus to the shepherd to touch. "Everyone is given a gift," she says. Indeed. Everyone. May your Christmas be merry and bright...Love, heidi

Love everyone...

"Love everyone. I'll sort them all out later. ~God"
Message on a church reader board

This message hit home with me this morning when I had a pre-dawn visit with my neighbors as we headed downstairs. I had so many judgments about these folks from the time they moved in. I had vivid assumptions about them, based on stuff I'd noticed, but still never meeting them. It's the same with others in my building, too. They do this and that, they have an offensive bumper sticker, they BBQ on the balcony, therefore they are this or that. Argh, all of it! In conversing with these folks, I realized they are nice. They like my dog. They are just people living their lives in Boise, USA and yada, yada, yada. What if the message I am to learn this Advent season and the whole time I am living here, is to just try to love everyone and let God sort them out later? I'm not the one who needs to sort them out! My job is to just be friendly and nice, smile at people in the parking lot, pick up trash when I see it, thank the staff whenever I see them...just be the kind lady on the third floor. Wouldn't that be easier than judging everyone? One would think, but alas, it's easier to making sweeping harsh judgments. Maybe just for today, I'll try to love everyone and let God sort them all out later...and then I can try again tomorrow too! Love, heidi

A voice crying out...

"Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ."
Luke 3:15

John the Baptist captivated the people, telling them what they must do: share what they have with the poor, be honest in their dealings with others, and be satisfied with their wages. The people thought this advice so rich and wise that they wondered if John may be the promised Messiah. The people recognized that what John was saying was godly and good. It makes me wonder how, if the people of the first century got it, how can we miss it now that we've enjoyed the Messiah (giving us the same message) for two thousand years? Why does it seem greed and selfishness have seeped into our culture? It seems dirty dealings are acceptable, even lauded, if power and wealth are achieved and one doesn't get caught. Maybe, good as it sounds, the advice to share and care for others is still hard to accept. Jesus said the same things and they killed him as they killed John and many voices in the wilderness since. But, as followers of Jesus, we need to listen to John as well as Jesus. We are not to follow the culture by selling out to power, prestige and possessions! We are to live simply, generously, and compassionately; for others need our help--not our judgment. A voice cried out in the wilderness and some of the people got it. Do we? Love, heidi