"As surely as the Lord lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread --- only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it --- and die." Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.' " So she went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. ~ I Kings 17: 12 - 15 Pope John Paul II shared, "Nobody is so poor that he/she has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich that he/she has nothing to receive."
These words offer to each of us an outline for those who seek and work for peace. We cannot even begin to think of peace as long as we continue to separate ourselves into groups. At an early age we all learn what it means to give and to receive. Years ago following an extended illness, I had to learn how to experience receiving help. I have to admit, it was difficult, and at times I reacted in ways that today have left me both ashamed and embarrassed. It took a real adjustment in my thinking. Real human dignity is found in receiving as well as giving. This is true not only for individuals, but for communities, different cultures and parts of the world. About the only way we can allow peace to exist is when we each agree to give and to receive mutually. The idea behind real peace is when we reach out to give or to receive, what will we encounter in return? Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018
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"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God --- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." ~ I Corinthians 10: 31-33; 11: 1 Sometimes I wish we would openly talk about the good times and the bad times of Jesus as we do our own lives. I think it would help us to realize that Jesus struggled in so many of the same ways that we do. Through the daily life experiences of Jesus, we all begin to see the pressure building around him.
These must have been sleepless nights. Knowing the will of God, while understanding the unwillingness of others. Let's face it, there are twelve other people that are feeling the pressure as well. There are all kinds of stories being shared. Some are true and some, well let's just say, were not. There wasn't just the promise of the Messiah circulating. This would also mean a new King in the eyes of the Jews, and the lifestyle of religious leaders and rulers would be called into question. Something would have to be done, and if just one or two of those who followed Christ would turn on him, or be convinced by some other means, then the Messiah, or the idea of the Messiah, might be changed. The efforts by those who wish to do harm, rather than good, are having their effects. There are hurt feelings among those who are following him. Judas, for one, has already spoken out against Mary washing the feet of Christ with expensive oils. He declares before everyone that they should have sold these oils so that they could give the money to the poor. Jesus reminds that the poor will be with them always, but that Jesus would not. There is silence. For any of us, silence can also be a sign of being hurt. These relationships are being challenged in ways that pulls the men apart, and in the next few days, these relationships will be tested over and over again. So what happens when you find that you can't find the strength to rise above feelings such as being hurt, depressed, or simply just not able to move beyond a particular issue in your life? I believe that I'm asking a question that all of us may have experienced. The spiritual life in Christ can and does possess times that can and are challenging. At this point in the life of Christ, the need to go off and be alone must have been overwhelming. Not every conversation, or moment, is recorded. If Christ were both human and Divine, the reality is that Jesus surely must have known these moments as well. Any of us are capable of causing others to stumble when we are not honest with our feelings. We almost create a false ceiling. In order for us to be a true witness to our relationship with Christ, then we must be willing to show our complete self. A testimony to what God can and will do in our life must have moments that possess not only the mountain top moments, but also when we experience valleys that not only contain darkness, but feelings that we often don't talk about. It really is a disservice to others if we don't talk about both good times and bad. When we experience the lows, we must acknowledge them in a way that we can have others reach out, but also so others can see how those times were encountered and processed. The defeating moments are when others don't allow for us to go through the moments. It's one thing to not want the person to struggle, but sometimes it's worse not walking through those valleys with. It's not only denying the opportunity for God's true blessings, but also a much more meaningful relationship with those that struggle, when the situation has changed, and all emerge together on the other side. While life may have challenges, remain in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. "Silence!" He commanded. "Be still!" And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. ~ Mark 4:39 "I've opened 'Pandora's Box,'" she exclaimed as I listened to a friend share about something she had done. "They are never going to forgive me."
Family dynamics and experiences can sometimes remind us of storms that are brewing, or storms that seem to be like a hurricane that refuses to go away. Recently a friend of mine shared a deep secret she had hidden from her family. In nearly ninety years of life, she had never told anyone, until one of her children did a DNA test and the indiscretion came to light. As she shared about what had happened nearly seventy years ago, and about the circumstances surrounding an encounter that produced her oldest child, her tears flowed, and the storm that surrounded her, instead of allowing for the truth finally being out in the open, all she could sense was darkness, and the pain associated with telling the story. I wanted to tell her the words that Jesus offered while being tossed upon the sea, "Peace. Be still." I wanted some way to calm her as she relived the night. For her, the story was heartbreaking. While she had spent decades avoiding what had happened one night in her life, somehow, the words seem to make their way into the present. Suddenly, instead of offering peace, all I could think of was this, "This is your story, and you have the power to tell it now as you see fit." There was silence. There was peace. The one thing she had forgotten is that the power it took to live through the storm that night years ago, and the power she still possessed over the telling of that story, was like the words of Jesus that night. Storms rage all the time around us. Giving others the power to tell of these storms is an incredible opportunity for peace to exist. Even through my friend's tearful expression of pain, she was able to feel the peace that was being welcomed in. We forget that throughout scripture, encounters that are recorded like this one in Mark offer so much more for us today. It is the reminder that storms still rise up. That darkness, winds, and waves, can cause us to be fearful, but that there is Jesus, waiting to tell us not to be afraid, and to have peace. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." ~ John 20:27 Thomas knew Jesus because of the wounds that he saw.
Woundedness is something that we all know a little something about. Years ago I wrote a piece entitled, "The Wounded Person" Once there was a wound that was unique, because it was mine. I wore it on the inside and I had lived with this wound for a long time. I did not realize at the time, but I wanted to be free from this wound. No longer could I ignore this wound, but it became an ache that would not stop. If I were truthful, I'd say that I had an appreciation for this wound. The more I noticed the wound, the more I became vulnerable to God. Deep within me something greater was developing. The emerging wound was also nurturing faith, daring me to reach deeper, and to touch this wound, apply healing measures slowly being brought into the light, where others would see and know my woundedness. One day, without realizing, I reached in and touched this wound. A grace I couldn't see flowed through me, and began to fill this place, where my wound lived. "I'm afraid!" I cried, while claiming wholeness. The wound had left me, and my faith had turned to belief, taking the wound's place. I have not lost my appreciation for the wound that made it possible for me to know the mercy that now I hold. Our woundedness occurs in ways that others recognize, and then, in very secret and dark places as well, that only our heart seems to know. I wish that I could say that I understand what healing and wholeness completely looks like, and how to overcome the obstacles that keep us from receiving these things, but even in Christ's woundedness, he was able to help Thomas. I cherish this moment between Jesus and Thomas. It is a reminder to me that we can only hope, sometimes, that what we encounter will help us. For some, there are wounds that will not ever heal. In these situations, the grace in which the wounds are shared must encounter wholeness in a unique and special way that sometimes, only God can address. In those times, remaining in God's grip is all we can hope for... Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 "Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you." ~ 1 Samuel 12:24 Have you ever had a dream so real that when you awoke you had to ask yourself, "Was this real?" Lately it seems that when I sleep I have been encountering dreams like these.
I sometimes feel the same way about faith. While we know that faith is believing in things we cannot see, the experience of the dreams I have had lately seem to model that faith as well. The difference? When I wake up I tell myself, "It was only a dream." When something happens that expands or changes my perspective on faith I say, "It is God." I remember a woman I met once at a cancer clinic who was sharing with me the odds she had been given to "beat this cancer." As she shared that she only had a "one in three chance of surviving," she finished with, "You know, the kind of odds that tests your faith, and God loves." For any of us, we do have life experiences that cause our faith to go through many things. Our most challenging moments bring us opportunities for growth in many ways. Our growing and maturing faith is among the greatest of these when the situation seems to be the most difficult. The faith of Christ, although challenged by the human condition, by the end, had enough faith to declare, "Into Your hands I commend my spirit." For any of us, to trust in God means that we are expanding our faith. When we learn to trust God for all things, then we begin to fully realize the capacity of our faith, and the relationship that God hopes to have with each of us. "Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto Thee..." Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 "My cup runneth over."
~ Psalm 23:5 Years ago the Psalmist penned the 23rd Psalm. It is read at most funerals, or in time of great challenges. At one point David writes that the Lord, who is the shepherd, sits him at a table with all of his enemies, and anoints his head with oil, and then fills his cup until it is overflowing. For me, this Psalm provides a lot of comfort. As a chaplain, I memorized this Psalm years ago, and because it does often bring comfort, I recite this nearly once a day at the bedside of one of my patients. It's amazing that even in some of the most challenging circumstances, these words are often known, and I may find that others say them with me. I will sometimes ask a person what this Psalm means to them, and what fills their cup? The thought at first is that this cup is overflowing with blessings, but for many, the cup is filled with pain, sorrow, and worries. Sometimes our sorrow, or the events of this world, overwhelms us so much that we no longer can believe in joy. Life just seems to be a cup filled to the brim with war, violence, rejection, loneliness, and endless disappointments. It is these times that we must be reminded that crushed grapes can produce tasty wine. It might be hard for us to trust that any joy can come from our sorrow, or pain. It makes me wonder if I were to change certain habits in my life, would I begin to notice a new aroma coming from my cup of blessing? I love the song, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." It serves as a reminder to me that the things I seek out is what fills my cup. Though the joy that seems to be lost may be found again, the things of the world, and the things that create sorrow, which we really can't seem to ignore, may actually become livable again by looking closer at what is in our cup. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:10 Someone recently asked me how I live each day being with people who are dying? I have to admit, I get asked this question a lot.
Some days are harder than others, just like some of those encounters that I have. It's easy to respond when thinking about someone who openly admits, "I've had a wonderful life, full of great experiences. I'm ready, whenever the Lord calls me." Compared to the times when the first comments are, "I don't understand why this is happening to me? And happening now?" Nine years ago when I was given a diagnosis following a car accident that included the word, "terminal," all I could think about was my two children. My prayer? I wanted to see my daughter fall in love for the first time, and my son grow into a man. It's interesting, the things one thinks of when we are about to encounter death, or as I have begun to respond, "eternity." We live in a society where death is avoided at all cost. The baby boomer generation is suddenly driving medical procedures, television commercials that reveal all kinds of problems facing an aging population, and the church seems to be turning itself inside out to adapt to keep people entertained and focused on everything else but what we all know. At some point, the reality of our faith must cross the threshold of mortality. The presence of eternity must begin with a final chapter. I don't always have an answer for the "Why?" In fact, I don't even try. The fact that we live in an imperfect world, filled with humanity's ability to choose, and the reality that at some point our bodies will simply "give out" doesn't provide comfort, but our faith can and does. As one of my patients shared, who happened to be an English teacher, "my last sentence on earth will include a powerful comma," as she referred to her death. While I realize that each of us will make this journey, for me, the reality of eternity meets me each day. So often as I read the 23rd Psalm while someone lays dying, I encounter these words, "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." It is the balance between that last step, and the next, that reminds me that each of us will invite eternity to be part of our life's journey. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.” Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. ~ John 16:16-22 A mutual friend, and pastor, shared with me this morning. "We are sitting here planning my wife's funeral," as he struggled to talk. "As a pastor we always speak of being prepared. We always hope that the people in our parish will plan. Planning what you want for your funeral is so important. Today I'm struggling with this advice. It is the paradox of joy and sorrow."
He continued to share, and we ended up talking about the paradox of the cross, and that the idea of death for any of us is the reality of the cross as well. We know that without the cross, we would not have eternal life, but that we would not have eternal life of the cross with the sorrow surrounding it as well. I began to realize that we found a way to make "shop talk," even at a time like this. I must admit, being the pastor to a pastor, and a friend at the same time, has many hidden pitfalls. I say this in the most loving of ways. In my years of serving churches in one form or another, I realize that as a pastor, caring for our own is something most of us struggle to do. So, making sure that I am doing "what's right," for my friend is so important to me because I know of his wonderful ministry for years to others. He laughed as I made a religious remark about "God's presence and faithfulness." He reminded me that we live in a world where we want custom made clothes that fit perfectly, but we shop at stores that only have clothes ready off the rack. He's right, you know. Our ability to be the living instrument of Christ in the world is filled with many moments where our words and actions are straight out of a book on discipleship, and it falls short of who and what God wants us to be to one another. It's the, "We will be praying for you," when the person wants to hear, "I am sorry with you. I feel your pain," or, "I'm just as angry with you." While he talked about all the things that his wife has meant to him, and what she has done for others, his heart continued to find new ways to break. He wants answers, and he doesn't want to hear, "It's some part of God's greater plan." It is the harsh reality of the cross and it is the paradox of life. It is joy and sorrow "trickling down," like the hymn suggests. We all know what this is like. It is the unique consequences of the Divine encountering dust, of life and death, and the struggle to understand eternity when we are faced with our own mortality. It is Jesus telling the Disciples, I will be leaving you, and you will be sad, but at some point you will once again know joy. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30 Yesterday was a difficult day. It's not that there were any surprises, but it just seemed to tap all my resources. I thought to myself, "It's only Tuesday!"
We all struggle to remain in the fast lane these days. We seem to respond to texts and emails immediately, drive in HOV lanes, multi-task while appearing to sit still, and on and on. I know when things are beginning to get to me. My mind doesn't rest. I have to admit, I begin to notice that my mind begins to drift while trying to remain focused. I can't seem to allow myself to rest. When I do rest, I am overwhelmed by dreams that seem to exhaust me. Jesus seems to understand. Matthew shares that we become weary, and that sometimes the only thing we can do is to give all of these things over to God. Recently someone shared with me that he tried to do just this, but the pressure of getting everything accomplished was driven by his own ideas of what it means to be successful. The ability to cast our cares upon God takes more discipline than the act of making out a list of "things to do!" It means that we purposely stop what we are doing, while thinking about what it is that we want to get done. As people will share with any of us in these situations, we always have options. The benefit, or the goal, is to allow God to have more control. The idea of giving ourselves, or our troubles, to God, means that we are never expected to struggle with things alone. Before we struggle, we are to pray. Before we get overwhelmed, we are to let go. But most of all, before we become so weary that we don't know where to turn, we are to take time to rest. Time and time again I have shared, and experienced, we are truly only as good for one another as we are for ourselves. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ~ John 14:19 One of the most powerful images we can encounter in our faith is that of the stone being rolled away. The resurrection is the witness of God's amazing power, and that Christ still lives.
Scripture reminds us that "He is risen!" For many of us, however, the image that Christ now lives within us, and we are His temple, is another illustration of a tomb. As part of my job as a chaplain, each day I ask people to tell me about their faith. It surprises me at the number of people who provide the answer in almost a second-thought way, "Oh, I'm a Christian." The purpose of the stone being rolled away is so that the world may know that Jesus has risen from the dead. If we are to be instruments of the living Christ, then we must allow the things that seem to block the ability of Christ to fully live in us, to be removed, or rolled away as well. I have often wondered how different the world would be if we were given the opportunity to see the living Christ more often! Our city sidewalks are modern day dusty roads of Israel, where Christ walked, sharing the message of hope and love. The coffee shop on the corner has become the mountainside where Jesus proclaimed that those who were different were called, "Blessed." The beaches along the Gulf are still capable of allowing the words, "Follow me," to be heard. Any one of us are capable of rolling back the stone that often creates a tomb of our heart that prevents Christ to fully live. Each time we pray, "Not my will, but Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," the stone begins to sway. When we are able to walk across the street to help someone in need, a little bit of light begins to shine into the darkness. Every time we feel the need to seek justice for our neighbor, or those that are different than us, not only does the stone move, but begins to crack and fall away. The stone falls away when we realize that being the temple of God means that God must also be given the opportunity to live within us! The tomb can only be seen as empty when we allow Christ to live in and through us. "He is risen! Risen, indeed, in me!" Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
~ John 21:15 - 19 Having been blessed to know most of my great grandparents and grandparents, I have to say, I learned a lot about living, growing old, and dying. Our ability to grow old gracefully involves many factors. Our health of course, but also, the circumstances that meet us each day. While physical abilities are something we all worry about, the mind is also something we can focus on. Questions like, "Will I remember, or know others?" "Will I still be independent enough to take care of myself?" are just a few of many. Jesus first begins asking Simon Peter a basic question, "Do you love me?" While he declares his love for Jesus, Jesus then tells him things that he must do. Feed and to tend his sheep. He then tells him to "follow me." But first, he describes something that most of us would describe as aging. I think we all realize that when we were younger, we were capable of many things. Tying our own shoes. Fastening our own belt. Deciding what our own choices were for the day, and striking out on our own. I watched my grandparents as they aged, these things become more difficult. It's not just tying your shoes as fingers find their way to fashion shoe strings, it's also about bending over to tie them. Deciding what to wear, and will it be appropriate for the weather? Things that once never entered our mind, consciously, now possess time in our day. Jesus seems to touch on this very process, sharing that at some point, someone else will fasten our belt and will lead us. This was true in the case of nearly all my grandparents. While this is something to consider, Jesus is more concerned about something else. BUT FOR NOW... will you follow me? No matter what our circumstances, ultimately our decision to follow Christ is ours to make. What does this mean? Well it means something different for every single one of us! While scripture shares how this worked for Jesus and his Disciples years ago, and the communities they resided in, it serves to help us see what some of these relationships looked like. As a chaplain I always found it interesting that when I would introduce myself to a patient, the patient would often begin to tell me about the church, or faith, that he or she belonged. Whether Jesus was part of the faith tradition, or no tradition at all. Whether the person prayed, or experienced faith. Often these all seemed to encompass some kind of Biblical understanding. Many times I would listen to a list of things that described their faith, but ultimately, if the person was Christian, I would respond, "So you follow Christ." It is not always about what you do, how you worship, or for that matter, what others believe. It is the words that Jesus shared with Simon Peter that day, "If you love me, follow me." While there are many things within my faith tradition that I cherish, as these are the things I do to practice my faith, ultimately my life is about a choice to follow Jesus. That is the one choice all of us must make, and how that looks, will be different for each of us! Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2018 |
AuthorRev. G. Todd Williams is the author of the book, "Remember Me When..." and is a former hospice chaplain and pastor. Archives
February 2024
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