Num. 35 & 36

35. God's grace softened my youthful legalistic tendencies so that I could enjoy living on planet earth.

Do more. Try harder. And whatever you do, don't let your inflated and sinful desires destroy you. 

I believe that my early guides in the Christian faith were well-intentioned. They were probably passing along to me the teachings from Scripture that they had received. But, good intentions notwithstanding, the result, over time, was a burden. It felt like what writer and philosopher Dallas Willard called "sin management." It was a far cry from freedom.

I thank God for the many teachers and friends, for my own failures and revelations, all of which helped rid my soul of this joy-robbing spirituality masquerading as Christianity. To be a Christian means, at its core, to follow Jesus. It means to put your faith in Jesus, the savior, and to be shaped by Jesus, the teacher. Having freed me from the penalty of sin, Jesus has brought me into a relationship with my Creator, whereby I am now, going back some forty-seven years, reclaiming my humanity from the shadows of death. I am, as G.K. Chesterton put it, "growing young." If sin prematurely ages us, then following Jesus reverses this process!

Every day I wake to the goodness and grace of God. But, unfortunately, in the last few years, we, as a society, have realized yet again that our leaders have clay feet; we've had to confront the truth that our bodies are subject to deadly pandemics. We have been afforded an opportunity to carefully consider wherein lies our hope. 

Ultimate hope is misplaced in science and politics, amongst other things. While I'm thankful for how both have shaped our lives and societies in good ways, there is a deep longing for something more, something more than either can offer. In difficult times like we are currently living through, we can grow cynical as we look at the mess around us or turn our eyes toward a lasting hope. In our struggles, we are waking up to new headlines and old despair, or we have new mercies with eternal hope.

This entails more than just a moral code by which to live! Instead of being bound to simply behavioral modification, my soul is being liberated for real life. I'm freed from would-be gods of science or politics and find meaning amidst the chaos in the One, True God! Every day fear loses its grip on me a little more. Every day old habits have less power over me. Every day I fail to be the person I want to be, and there, "new every morning," is God's mercy in Jesus. Some may call these platitudes or nostalgia. But, for me and the many who follow Jesus, it is immediate and life-changing. It is the soulful rest for which we long.

All of creation is waking up from the slumber of its suffering because of what Jesus accomplished. The whole earth is being renewed! Our current sufferings and travails, the Apostle Paul says, can't even compare with the beauty that awaits us. Following Jesus doesn't mean waiting on a train which will take you to some celestial city in the sky. To follow Jesus means you are being prepared and equipped to be a citizen of the New Heaven and New Earth… every day. Instead of being snatched away while sinners are destroyed with the earth, Jesus is preparing his followers to occupy the new creation! 

Whereas my younger self was haunted by my weaknesses and failures, my fifty-two-year-old self experienced the power of God's grace in those places. Instead of being tortured by shame, I reach out for the mercy and goodness of God in Christ Jesus. I can never run the mercy account dry! I can never stump God's wisdom! I join all creation in expressing our hope for eternal and ultimate salvation.

This get's me to my next item on the list: The Bible. 

36. The Bible is the story of God's glory unfolding in human history. Its pages are full of mystery and challenges. I can barely understand it, but I can't live without it.

Along the way, writers and teachers helped me humbly yet confidently assert the Bible as the foundation of the logic of my faith. For example, in my last post, I point to the despair that arises from worshiping science or politics. Neither of these is sufficient to carry the weight of ultimate hope. Elevating science or politics to be our ultimate hope does a disservice to both fields and inevitably disappoints. We get angry and fearful when we are disappointed. 

The basis of my assertion is found in the pages of the Bible (If you're interested, you can see this in a passage like Romans 11:33-36). All of us have a "bible" of sorts. That is to say, all of us have a basis for the reasons and logic of our life, beliefs, values, and decisions. And while many modern men and women take offense at the Christian Bible as a source for such wisdom, I would only ask them to be as honest and reflective about their source material as I am about mine. We don't have to agree, but let's not mock each other.

There is no denying it! The Bible is terribly misused and abused. Some people misquote it; others erroneously claim to literally apply the teachings to every aspect of their lives. Some people use it as a prop to pose for pictures or curry political favor. It seems that religious folks like to use the Bible to control specific outcomes or justify their questionable behavior. All of this is not the Bible's fault so much as the user's error. 

A tenet in orthodox Christian faith is that the Bible is inspired by God and written by humans at the direction of the Holy Spirit of God. Further, there was a process by which certain books were included in the Bible and others left out. And, yes, those were flawed men (being guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit) making such decisions. But, for many, this is all they need to know to shake their heads in disbelief. However, it is essential to note that the Bible is not the object of the Christian faith. God is speaking to us through the Bible to stir our affections for God; every page whispers God's presence in our lives. As such, it instructs the Christian's faith. So while the origin story, application of biblical teachings by some, or the stories contained in the Bible itself may seem flawed or offensive to a modern mind, for those who place their faith in God and the work and life of Jesus Christ, the Bible, humbly received, is how God teaches us wisdom and gives grace. Wisdom is practical knowledge for living a good life. Grace is God's mercy applied to our weary souls.

And the Bible is an amazing story. In short, it is the story of God's presence among human beings on earth. There are dramatic and hilarious stories, bloody and vengeful stories. There are touching as well as disturbing stories. Many of these stories are corroborated by other ancient sources as actual instances in human history; others may not be literally true but continue to cultivate faith in and communicate grace to the believer. 

The climax in the Bible is Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead after three days in the tomb. Thus, this story is the central tenet of the Christian faith. As Bishop Tom Wright says, Jesus' death is when "the revolution began," a revolution which at once reconciles and relativizes, bringing everything both under and into the love of God eternally. It's a revolution that invites blind beggars, persecutors, doubters, and tax collectors alike to their Creator, in whom there is hope for the restoration of all of creation.

Num. 34 - A Good Hike

34. I love a long, hard hike. But, I also love the end of a long, hard hike.

A good hike isn’t all the different than a counseling session (See my last post). In fact, I’ve combined the two on more than one occasion! Hiking has various aspects that come together to make it so profoundly satisfying for me.

First, I usually hike with others. Sharing these moments, whatever they turn out to be, is one of my great pleasures in life. Having a shared experience with that person or group of people forever connects us. I like that. I have spent time alone in the wilderness, and I like that, too. But I often find myself thinking of the people I wish could’ve come along for all the fun and beauty!

Second, the beginning of the hike gives your body a chance to settle into what is happening. The body wakes up, and the blood moves as the heart increase its pace. At altitude, these first few moments can be a little disheartening! What were you thinking? I’ll never make it! We all have to start somewhere.

Third, once the shock of the start of a long walk has faded, then you settle into a rhythm. A good pair of boots/shoes and socks is key to making this transition happen. When you do feel like you are finding the right pace, there are moments where your brain says to you, “We could walk forever like this!” WIth your mind shifting into this cruising gear, you can really start taking in all around you; you begin settling into the moment, forgetting whatever destination you had planned. Whether it is a waterfall or a summit, the whole point of hiking is this zone of awareness.

Fourth, depending upon how long you are on the trail or how heavy the backpack is, whether you are at altitude or in thick humidity, the challenge of the hike starts to settle in with time. The struggle can be a distraction from the beauty. Pain, however, isn’t weakness leaving your body — no matter what the Marines say! Pain is, well, pain. Discomfort is unpleasant no matter what slogan you shout to yourself. It’s most certainly not weakness; it’s not a problem in and of itself. Pain is part of being alive! It’s part of the price you pay to do something that wasn’t doable from the couch. Embrace it and give thanks that your body is talking to you. In fact, let it know that you’re not done yet! Pro Tip: This is about the time I throw a party in my mouth, a.k.a. reach for a Jolly Rancher!

Finally, I love the end of the hike. Whether pristine or barely tolerable for the night, getting to a campsite is always a welcome sight. Getting back to the car and enjoying all the work the engine does as you pull away from the trailhead is incomparable! It’s the sense of accomplishment in combination with the sheer fatigue that comes together to create a deep well of gratitude. 

We just did that. Wow, that was beautiful! I’m so tired. I’m starving. I’ll never forget that.

These are expressions of awe and gratitude, which are essentials for the good life.

Number 33: Show up, slow down, listen

In case you are just joining me in these posts, I’m writing about 51 things I’ve learned in my 52 years of being alive on planet earth. The next two posts are numbers 33 and 34.

33. I can’t change people. I can’t dictate how quickly people change. But, I can be part of the process if need be.

When I earned a counseling degree nearly thirty years ago, I might have subconsciously known this one, but I couldn’t have said it so plainly or simply. Unfortunately, when you start out in counseling and helping people with life’s challenges, there’s tremendous pressure to know many things and be an expert. This innocent, albeit naive, assumption quickly collides head-on with the reality of the situation. Moreover, it crumbles when you slowly but surely realize that people aren’t looking for all-knowing experts but someone with whom they can share painful secrets, simple pleasures, or haunting memories. 

This sharing, giving, and taking, requires time. No one who comes into my office has the same pace or rhythm in their journey. My job is to slow down and join up (horse whisperer language!). My job is to listen, to be curious. I even have to check my knee-jerk impulses to talk, share a story, or give a piece of advice. The first rule for myself is to be present.

Simple, you say? 

I continually underestimate the power I possess in simply being present with someone. We all possess that power with one another! Undoubtedly, there is a part of my brain that screams out that I have more to offer than just my physical, emotional, and spiritual presence with another person. It's safe when I stand with my theories and solutions versus sitting with a person in their struggle (that's for another post another time!). While the course of things will lead us to engage helpful words, ideas, theories, stories, poems, and even laughter, it all starts with being there. The person seeking help must show up and be ready to be known. I, as the helper, must have the capacity to accept the client right where they are.

As things slow down inside of me and afford me this sort of space, the other person begins to slow down and realizes they are not alone. Learning that you are not alone is the first and, perhaps, most powerful part of the counseling relationship. Carl Rogers popularized the idea of “unconditional positive regard” in humanistic psychology. According to this theory, the counselor’s responsibility is to establish an environment that fully accepts the client for who they are which is experienced deeply and positively by the client. Once established, the process of real and lasting change can occur. As Carl Rogers once said, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” 

Last year alone, I saw nearly three hundred different individuals in some capacity, most of them facing serious hurdles in their journey. I can’t even begin to describe the diversity of people included on that list! I chuckle at the thought of that alone. But, here’s the thing, I experienced what Frederich Buechner described as calling in all of these encounters: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet” (Wishful Thinking: A seeker’s ABC, 119).