Each year I use the February Column to reprise my Annual Report. As we enter this new year we pledge to support one another, prayer for each another and celebrate the good work that God has begun in this parish community. Peace my friends. Pastor Jeff

One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had. I don’t get it, he said. Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did. But the winning woodsman just smiled and replied, But you didn’t notice, that every time I sat down to rest – I was sharpening my ax!

I know it seems a bit of an odd story to begin a pastor’s Annual Report, but this year I’d like to reflect less on what has taken place in the last year, and more on what is before us. I wish to share some thoughts about my upcoming sabbatical. From Mid-June throughout the month of July I will be away from my work here as pastor for a six week sabbatical. Sabbatical comes from the Hebrew word – Shabbat – literally, to cease. In the book of Genesis, a Shabbat is taken by God on the seventh day. God ceases from creation and rests. In the Book of Exodus Shabbat is the first command given after the flight from Egypt. In the Book of Leviticus, God commands that every seventh year is a time of Shabbat. In fact the command to Shabbat is given 170 times in the bible! And certainly you can not read the gospels without understanding that Jesus was a person of Shabbat – a man who often ceased what he was doing to rest.

These past ten years at Messiah have been a wonderful adventure. There have been so many great memories, great liturgical experiences, joyful gatherings and of course God has blessed this community in abundance. We are growing so quickly and in so many different ministries. Still, I know that to pastor a growing community into the next decade I need to sharpen my ax. I need to Shabbat – to cease from my daily activity and spend some time learning, reflecting, praying and resting. The ELCA recommends a sabbatical time every seven years for a rostered pastored and the Pastoral Parish Council and I have planned mine for this summer.

Starting in mid-June, Melissa and I and the children will be traveling to the Rocky Mountains as I will be enrolled in the Luther Academy of the Rockies. For two weeks I will be in class with seminary professors and theologians updating my understanding of the church and sharpening my theological ax. Afternoons will be spent with family, hiking, exploring nature and enjoying the beauty of the Rockies. Melissa and will then return home for a couple of weeks for family visits before heading off to the east coast. We’ll travel to Washington DC to re-visit my old university, spend time in historic Williamsburg, Va. and then spend a few days near the ocean on Virginia Beach.

During this time of Shabbat, Pastor Gil will be covering pastoral emergencies and presiding at Sunday liturgies. He will preach some of the liturgies and we will have guest preachers for some as well. The Pastoral staff will continue their great work in keeping the parish alive and healthy. I am aware that few people in life have the opportunity to take a sabbatical. I am grateful for the church’s financial support and for the council’s encouragement in this time of rest. During these six weeks I will pray for you, my Messiah Church friends, and trust that you will continue to gather faithfully every Sunday morning and lift me and my family in your prayers as well. God has done great things through our common ministry. I believe that God has even greater plans for us in the next ten years.

There is so much truth in Steve Jobs’ philosophy of time. The time we have is limited and thus so very valuable. I read recently:

• To realize the value of a year, ask a student who failed a final exam.
• To realize the value of one month, ask the mother of a premature baby.
• To realize the value of a week, ask the editor of a weekly magazine.
• To realize the value of one day, ask a daily wage laborer with kids to feed
• To realize the value of an hour, ask two people in love waiting to meet
• To realize the value of a minute, ask someone who barely missed the train
• To realize the value of a second, ask the person who just avoided a crash
• To realize the value of a millisecond, ask the person who won the Olympic silver medal

All time is limited and thus so very valuable. And still we waste time! As Steve Jobs so deeply believed, we waste time by striving to live someone else’s life – when we spend all of our days trying to live up to other’s expectations of us – our parents, children, spouses or our bosses. It isn’t wrong to please other people, but we have to be authentic people. We have to claim who we are and love who we are and live who we are!

We waste time when we get caught up in dogmatic thinking. This is especially true of churches. Dogmatic thinking keeps us from looking at the future with a newness and freshness that brings life. Just because that is the way it has always been done, doesn’t mean that it’s the only way to do it! In our church community and in our personal lives we have to try new things, and begin new adventures, and dream new dreams because our time is valuable!

And mostly we waste time when we ignore our inner voice and fail to follow our hearts. Steve Jobs wasn’t a particularly religious man and yet he believed that there was something sacred within each human being that I call the voice of God. Every Sunday I finish the liturgy by blessing you. I remind you that God goes before you to guide you and is behind you to encourage you; that God is above you to watch over you and beneath you to support you. And then every week I end by saying: And may you discover the power of God within you and know that God will always be your friend. What I mean by that is that the sacred is within you, and if you reflect and listen to this voice, then God will lead you well.

And so as we embark on yet another year I pray that you will use this year wisely. I pray that you will again realize how precious is every year and month, every day and hour, every single minute and second. Do not waste this time. Dream great dreams for yourself and stop trying live up to everyone else’s expectations of you. Do not plod through another year dogmatically doing things the same way – take some risks, strike out anew, and live differently. And most of all listen to that voice within you – the voice of the Divine. Have courage to follow your heart this year and may you discover the power of God within you and know that God will always be your friend. Happy New Year my Messiah Church friends!

I remember her patience and kindness to me when I first arrived at Messiah. There were afternoons when my then infant son Ben would be in my charge, and I would have him jumping in a bouncy seat between our offices. It’s always fun to have an infant around, that is of course unless you’re trying to answer phones and put together a newsletter and deal with office details – and Bev never once complained. I’ll remember too the day that Melissa called me at the office and told me that she was pregnant with our second son Joey. I ran into Bev’s office to tell her and she hugged me and cried with me and only later did it occur to me that she knew of this great news before my own Mom did – even more shocking – before my mother-in-law did! I remember how humbled I was the day that I discovered that Bev knew the names of all the mail carriers who dropped off mail; or the one’s who stopped just to use our restroom; or the people that fixed the office machines; or the sales people who dropped by to sell their products. These are people that I walked by so often and yet she took time to know their names. That is a true gift.

            I remember all the birthdays and Boss’s Days that I would walk into my office to find a chocolate donut sitting on my desk because she knew I had unhealthy eating habits and loved donuts. And I won’t forget the laughter that was always present when I would share a goofy email, or God forbid, try out one of my Sunday jokes. It was a joy as well to hear stories of her family, her husband Arlo, her beautiful daughters and her love of being a grandma.

            When you share workspace with someone every day for ten years, they see the best and the worst of you. Aside from Melissa, Bev has seen the worst! It’s the side of me that can be frustrated and worried when something goes wrong; tired and terse when weariness sets in; angry or controlling when things aren’t done the way I want (usually when I haven’t eaten!). Bev has seen it all and accepted it with grace. I’ll remember that as well.

            Still, perhaps more than anything else I will remember the hospitality that she showed to those who walked into the office simply to shoot the breeze. It’s a rare gift to make people feel as if they are not an imposition or a distraction and to listen to them. Bev is a great listener…and I supposed God knew that I needed a listener.             All of this and so much I will remember and in remembering I will show my gratitude.

            On Sunday, December 11^th in between the liturgies, we will be having a small celebration to honor Bev and the twelve years of ministry that she has offered to this parish community. Come and join us in the Gathering Space for cake and coffee and of course great conversation.

            So the question becomes: If Bev is retiring, who is managing the office? After accepting resumes and interviewing candidates, the pastoral Parish Council offered the position of Office Manager to Anna Eherenman. Anna has a background in Office Management and volunteer coordinating. She has an in depth knowledge of graphic design and has worked in church environments before. Aside from her family she has a passion for exercise and fitness (she has completed two Iron man races!) She also has a deep love for animals and has worked with the Dane County Humane Society. Anna and her husband and two children live in the Heritage Heights neighborhood. I’m pleased that Anna will be working on the Pastoral Team.

            Again, please join us on Sunday, December 11^th as we show our appreciation for Bev. Stop by and say hello to Anna in the New Year. Most of all take some time to remember those who have touched your lives. Remember, and in remembering you will show your gratitude. After all – Gratitude is the memory of the heart

Now Maya’s grandmother operated a General Store and would often call for Maya when one particular person made a purchase. After her grandmother asked: How are you? – The customer would whine and complain about the weather, the economic situation, his wife, his kids or one of a dozen other things. Always he came in and complained. Her grandmother always turned to make sure that Maya was listening and paying attention.

One day, after Maya had listened yet again to the complaints and after the customer was out of earshot, Maya’s grandmother spoke these words: Sister, there are people who went to sleep last night, poor and rich and white and black, but they will never wake again. And those dead folks would give anything at all for just five minutes of this weather, or ten minutes of difficult plowing. So you watch yourself about complaining. What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, then change the way you think about it!

Well Maya grew up and rose from the poverty of ruralArkansas. She refused to be defined by the barriers of a segregationist South; she embraced her color and her history; she survived sexual abuse and the sexism of her culture; she was at the forefront of the civil rights movement and she’s stood on the side of those oppressed – women, children and the poor for seventy years; she has been nominated for a Pulitzer prize and has received 30 honorary degrees! Through it all she refuses to complain and she continues to inspire others to move beyond their perceived limits – to live, and to love, and to rise.   

Out of the huts of history’s shame, I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain, I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise, I rise, I rise.

            The optimism of Maya Angelou’s poetry is inspiring to me. Each time I read her writings I am invited to change the things that I can change; to adjust my attitude when faced with the unchangeable; and to rise, always to rise. Maya’s poetry, like the words of Jesus remind me that every moment and every second and every breath I take is a gift from God and that there are hurting people in the world, and dying people and lonely people who would give anything for my little complaints. I am reminded to stop complaining and start living – to rise – and live. That was the message of Jesus throughout the gospels. He would so often tell people rise and sin no more, or stand up and walk, or be on your way, your faith has saved you. Jesus was always encouraging people to change what they could change, to adjust their attitudes in the face of the unchangeable, and most of all, to start living, to rise!

            Perhaps this month as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day this should be a part of our gratitude – a commitment to stop our complaining and start living. Gratitude is an attitude and attitudes sometimes need to be adjusted. This year on Thanksgiving Day I will take stock of my complaints. I will change what can be changed. I will adjust my attitude in the face of what I can not change. I will be grateful for this moment – and like Maya Angelou – I will rise. I will rise up and live.

All our discontents about what we want appear to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.

Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

 I think I was in middle school when I first read Robinson Crusoe. It seems so many years ago and yet the story is a profound one that sticks with me. Perhaps Daniel Defoe gave us some good advice through his fictitious character Robinson Crusoe. The first thing that Crusoe did when he found himself on a deserted island was to make out a list. On one side of the list he wrote down all his problems. On the other side of the list he wrote down all of his blessings. On one side he wrote: I do not have any clothes. On the other side he wrote: But it’s warm and I don’t really need any. On one side he wrote: All of the provisions were lost. On the other side he wrote: But there’s plenty of fresh fruit and water on the island. And on down the list he went. In this fashion he discovered that for every negative aspect about his situation, there was a positive aspect, something to be thankful for. It is easy to find ourselves on an island of despair and self-pity. Every once in awhile it is time that we sit down and take an inventory of our blessings.

To take an inventory of our blessings and to acknowledge that we are blessed by God is the beginning of true stewardship. Stewardship is really an act of gratitude, a time when we put our discontent and problems aside to reach out to others. It’s that time of year again – the time when we, as a community of faith, count our blessings and give back a portion of all that we have received.

            I have always been so grateful for the stewardship that I have witnessed here at Messiah Church. So often I hear pastors speak of their trials with finances. There is never enough money to meet the salaries, or to pay for the roof repairs, or to replace the old furnaces – and rarely ever enough to meet the needs of programming and charitable outreach. I can say with relief and joy that this has never been my experience here! Every year you impress me with your generosity for which I never cease being grateful. It isn’t that we are a community without problems, or that our lives haven’t been touched by tragedy, or we haven’t felt the effects of a difficult economy – no – our faith community is like all others. Still, I have found this community to be a family deeply aware of its blessings. We have so many committed volunteers, a caring and passionate staff, a facility that is beautiful and functional, liturgy that is vibrant, and moments of fellowship that are meaningful. Most of all, I know that you are aware of the Spirit of God that moves through here in a way that touches and changes lives. It is a tremendous honor to be your pastor.

            In this year’s Stewardship Campaign I am going to ask you to remember these blessings and to be generous yet again. In the weeks ahead at liturgy, you will hear the call to Stewardship from Louise Fosdick and Vince Borleske, the co-chairs of our Debt Reduction Appeal and Stewardship 2012 Campaign. You will receive in the mail a Question & Answer leaflet explaining the three-year pledge commitment. Toward the end of the month you will receive a Hoped for Gift Letter and two Commitment Cards. Finally, on Sunday, November 13^th I ask that you bring your pledges for the Debt Reduction Campaign and your pledges toward the 2012 Stewardship Appeal and place them on the altar during liturgy. We will celebrate Commitment Sunday with our wonderful Harvest Meal, a Thanksgiving celebration for our entire faith family. There is no cost for the meal – this is simply a Sunday to celebrate what God is doing here at Messiah Church.

            In the weeks ahead take a moment to remember how we are blessed as a church. Remember what God has done in your life. Remember how we are blessed to be a blessing for others and pray about your pledges to our Debt Reduction Campaign and for the 2012 Stewardship Appeal. The Spirit of God is alive at Messiah. God is doing great things with us and through us. There is so much more to be done!

Why would I travel with all those things? I’m just passing through.

            I thought of that story just the other evening. I was out for a motorcycle ride and enjoying some of the breathtaking scenes of an August evening in Wisconsin. The rolling fields of wheat and corn and soybeans all providing a beautiful overture to a perfect sunset. The evening was spectacular. Just by chance I stopped by New Life Church just down the road from us and was surprised to find that they had built a labyrinth on their church property.

Have you ever walked a labyrinth? The labyrinth is a prayer tool that began in medieval times. In their desire to draw closer to God, people often took pilgrimages to the Holy Land or other sacred sites. Some of these were thousands of miles from their homes. For many people, most people, this kind of journey was impossible, so they built labyrinths, often in the floors of their great cathedrals to symbolically represent their pilgrimage journey. New Life’s labyrinth is modeled after the labyrinth built into the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France. The labyrinth is a large circle (75 ft. diameter) of winding paths. There is only one entrance and one exit. It is not a maze with tricks and dead ends; rather, it is an elegant and beautiful winding path that leads to a center point. The idea is that to walk the winding journey helps one focus inward and creates a spiritual stirring within. In walking the labyrinth you are reminded that we are on a journey to God – or better – we’re just passing through.

As I walked the labyrinth on that beautiful evening I spent some time praying for the people who have asked for my prayers; I prayed too in gratitude for my children and my wife; I remembered the people of Messiah Church as I took in the beauty of the sunset. As I ended my time in prayer however, I thought of that story of Gandhi and remembered that I’m just passing through. I wondered if I’m carrying too much baggage on my journey. There is the baggage of possessions to be sure. Like so many people, I sometimes long for a bigger house, a nicer car and the newest gadget. Is all the “stuff” I carry with me really necessary? I carry as well the baggage of worry about the future. I worry perhaps too much about things over which I have no control – the future for my children, or the health of the greater church, or my health and the health of those I love. Does any of this worry help me in living the fullness of this day or is it simply weighing me down on my journey? I know that I carry around memories of past mistakes and some regrets of things I failed to do. I sometimes dwell on old wounds and allow anger to get the best of me. There are moments when I’m too concerned with what others think of me and fail to make the difficult decision. Isn’t all of this unnecessary baggage that keeps me from growing and holds me back on my journey of faith? You see, all of us have unnecessary baggage that we carry and we often forget that we are just passing through.

Perhaps in the next few weeks you might find a moment or two to reflect on your own journey. You might even want to take a ride out to the labyrinth at New Life and take a reflective stroll (you don’t need to ask permission or check in at the church – just pull into the parking lot and look for the entrance to the prayer area). However you reflect, think about the extra baggage that might be weighing you down or holding you back. Remember the story of Gandhi. Remember the importance of each day. Remember that we’re all just passing through.

            This was the quotation that was going through the mind of David Roche as he prepared to give his first public speech. The quotation is from Eleanor Roosevelt and her words seemed to lift him each time he faced his fears. David was facing this time a giant of a fear. It has been said that the number one fear that people have is the fear of public speaking – of standing in front of an audience and drawing a blank, or looking silly, or worse, appearing ignorant – (by the way, as someone who stands in front of people each Sunday, this fear never really goes away!!!)

            Still David’s fear of public speaking was even beyond the normal range due to his disability. David Roche was born with a severe facial disfigurement. On the left side of his face is an extensive cavernous hemangioma, a benign tumor consisting of blood vessels. As an infant and child he underwent many facial surgeries and heavy radiation therapy, which left radiation burns on his temple and eyelids. While David is a bright and personable young man, whenever people first came into contact with him they would immediately be take aback by the ugliness of his condition. Often people would stop in their tracks and their faces would freeze. They would try to hide their amazement, but David learned to accept the stares of others and their whispered comments.

            David wanted to face his fear of public speaking and so he attended the Lee Glickstein Speaking Circle and volunteered to be the first one to stand at the podium. On this particular day the audience shifted uncomfortable as David stepped up the makeshift stage. David kept repeating to himself Roosevelt’s mantra: You must do the thing you think you cannot do. He stood before the crowd as dozens of people looked down at their hands to avoid his face. David simply stood there silently until in an awkward moment everyone finally met his eyes. Then he began his first speech.

            I was born with a face that is a gift from God! The crowd seemed perplexed as he continued. Perhaps my face is not the kind of gift that you rip open on Christmas morning and exclaim: ‘How exquisite! How did you know? How beautiful!’ No my face is more like ‘Oh you shouldn’t have! The audience couldn’t help but laugh at David’s self-deprecating humor. Then David turned serious and explained to them that he was able to master his fear by remembering that indeed his face was a gift – a gift from God. God gave me this face to remind you of what you already know, but sometime forget – that it’s OK to be flawed.

            I looked up David Roche’s website www.davidroche.com and saw a picture of his face and after reading his story I went to a mirror and looked at my own. I asked myself: Do I believe that I am a gift from God? Do I truly believe that God has given me to the world as an instrument of love and life? Do I really believe that it’s OK to be flawed and that God will use my flaws to do great things? These are the questions that Jesus confronts in our scriptures each week. He addresses the fears of the disciples that they are not smart enough; he addresses the fears of the lepers and the Samaritans and the poor that they are not clean enough; he addresses women and children and the marginal that they are not powerful enough. And always Jesus assures them that they are tremendous gifts from the Creator – that they ARE enough! Jesus allowed people to face their fears by reminding that they were enough and had enough and that it was OK to be flawed. And more, Jesus called them to trust in the God who would use them and their flaws as they were to bring about the Kingdom of God. David Roche has traveled the country inspiring people to see themselves the way God sees them. Like Jesus, he reminds us that we can face down any fear with God on our side; we can do great things with God on our side; and it it’s OK to be flawed because God is always and forever on our side.

            Anyway, on the way into the ball park, a young woman, an employee of the Madison Mallards, asked three of the boys if they would be interested in running in the fruit race at the bottom of the second inning. In the fruit race, three young children dress up as healthy snacks – an apple, an orange and a strawberry and race around the bases. So there I was in the stands watching my little Joey race toward first base dressed as a giant strawberry along with his friends Sean and Kyle Fahey. Melissa and Ben were down on the field urging them on and Rachel and I were up in the stands with thousands, literally thousands of screaming people. Even as I watched them run I thought: Why are all these people cheering? Certainly no one really cares who wins this race? Certainly they’re not cheering for a particular favorite fruit? There was such joy in the cheering, such effusive energy, and such pure abandonment. Why all the cheering? And as the race ended and the cheers died down, I looked around the ballpark and took in the scene.

It was a spectacular June evening and the stands were full. The smells of summer abounded – the grills were fired up, the beer and soda were flowing freely, the children were eating cotton candy and licorice ropes and popcorn; the home team was ahead, the flags were flying in a gentle summer breeze and the Duck Blind was rowdy as usual; there would be fireworks following the game, tee shirts were being tossed into the stands, and free custard was being given away. It was summer at its best! I smiled and thought to myself: They weren’t cheering for fruit…they weren’t cheering for a race…they were cheering for life! People were watching three young boys run around a baseball diamond dressed as fruit and cheering for life, the beauty of life, the gift of life!

            It was a wonderful evening, one that I will remember long. The Jewish people have a phrase for this experience – they say le-chaim – to life. I think that’s what we were feeling at the Mallard’s game last weekend. For a few hours on a beautiful Saturday evening we were reminded that in a world of flooding and destructive tornados we still say le-chaim – to life!  In a world where we are weary of fighting each other, tired of all the political dissension, and tired of the division we still say le-chaim – to life! In our personal lives that are filled with grief and stress, and health problems, and family issues we still cheer le-chaim – to life!

            This moment at a ballpark was I think a gospel moment. Jesus constantly urged his followers to drink deeply of those moments that gave them life – that allowed them to affirm life – that helped them to cheer le-chaim – to life! Jesus is often portrayed in the scriptures as lingering over a meal. It is recorded that he would steal away by himself to rest and be refreshed. Jesus allowed himself to be cared for by others. He would accept invitations to dinner, and have his feet anointed, and was the focus of attention at gatherings. He is pictured as a man who could enjoy the moment, and dwell in the beauty of life. Jesus was a man who had no problem cheering le-chaim – to life!

            So I suppose this July message is really more of a prayer for all of you. I pray that you will find those moments this summer to be refreshed and refilled. I pray that you will dwell leisurely in those times of family and friends. I pray that you will take time to feel the warmth of sunshine, or a cool breeze, or the sweet smell of flowers. This summer I pray that in the midst of a weary world you might find those moments of joy that you will remember long. And when you find them cheer for the beauty of life itself. Cheer for all you are worth: le-chaim – to life!

While complaining to his coworkers about his problem one day, one of his colleagues suggested a book on infant massage. Rayes immediately went in search of the book and that night, he tried the technique, gently rubbing his baby’s back, arms, head, and legs until the baby was completely relaxed and obviously had fallen into a deep sleep. Quietly tiptoeing from the darkened room so as not to disturb the rhythmic breathing of the baby, he made his way directly to his own bed in hopes of enjoying a well deserved full night of sleep.

No such luck. In the middle of the night, his wife awoke him in a panic. “Get up, honey!” she said as she jostled him awake. “Go see why the baby is not crying!”

Do you know anybody like that? Some people are just worriers. Even when things go well they worry, they fret, they fume. They worry that something bad will happen. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen tells many memorable stories in her book, Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal.

In one of her stories she asked one of her patients to describe her husband. The woman laughed and told a story about a visit they made to Hawaii. An organized and frugal man, her husband had re­served compact rental cars on each of the four islands months in advance. On arriving on the Big Island and presenting their reservation to the car rental desk, they were told that the econ­omy car they had reserved was not available. Alarmed, she watched her husband’s face redden as he prepared to do battle. The clerk didn’t seem to notice. I am so sorry, sir, he said. Will you accept a substitute for the same price? We have a Mus­tang convertible. Barely mollified, her husband put their bags in this beautiful white sports car and they drove off.

The same thing happened throughout their holiday. They would turn in their car and fly to the next island, only to be told that the car they had been promised was not available. They of­fered a substitute for the same price and each time the substituted car was an upgrade far nicer than the car they had expected. It was amazing, she said. After the Mustang, they had been given a Mazda MR‑10, a Lincoln Town Car, and finally, a Mercedes, all with the most sincere apologies. The vacation was absolutely wonderful and on the plane back, she turned to her husband, thanking him for all he had done to arrange such a memorable time. Yes, he said, pleased, it was really nice. Then, much to her amazement he added: Too bad they never had the right car for us. She said he was absolutely serious!

What do you do with people like that? Some people can see the dark side of any cloud, even one with a silver lining. They are worriers. They fume, they fret, and they stay stressed out.

Do they ever read the words of Jesus? More to the point, do I? After all, I’m a kind of worrier as well and I often let the little stressors of life get to me. How often I fail to see the gifts I’ve been given because my day, my project, my life is not going according to my plan. And yet Jesus said to his friends: Look at the birds of the air. They neither so nor reap nor gather into barns – and yet God feeds them. Is this not our challenge throughout the season of summer? Are we not called to look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and remember that God loves us? Are we not asked to drop our worrying and complaining and our desire to control every moment of every day and remember that we are of infinite worth? Enjoy the warmth of summer. Allow the breezes to wash over you and heal you. Listen to the world around you. Do not worry!

On the third day his Katie became tired of his attitude. She came downstairs dressed in mourning clothes, her black attire that was reserved for Christian burial. She walked into Luther’s study dressed head to toe in black. Luther looked up from his work. Who’s dead? he asked her. God, she replied. Luther rebuked her, saying, What do you mean, God is dead? God cannot die! Well, she replied, the way you’ve been acting I was sure He had!

I have a feeling that Melissa, my wife, might want to use that tactic on me some days! I often get down about the state of our world. There is rarely a day that goes by when I don’t hear about the division and stalemates within our political system. I read the stories and listen to the news and dwell in the political conversations and suddenly I’ll find that by mid-day I’m hunched over and sad looking and I’ve hardly smiled at all. There are times when I’ll get down about my family responsibilities. I’ll spend time with Ben and Joey and Rachel and exhaust my energy in correcting their behaviors. Do this! Stop that now. What did I just tell you to do? These are the constant refrains. Suddenly I’ll realize that spending time with these children, these beautiful gifts from God has become a burden and I’m all hunched over and my brows are furrowed and I’ve hardly smiled at all.

My church life too shares this pattern. I’ll arrive at the office and make my list of things to be done when the interruptions will begin – an unexpected hospital visit; another phone call asking for rental assistance; a call from the funeral home to arrange burial. There are days when I’ve caught myself getting down about ministry and forgetting that these interruptions are my ministry! By mid-day I’ll be all hunched over, getting more and more frustrated and I’ve hardly smiled at all. I suppose someone needs to ask me the question: Is God dead? That’s the way I so often act – as if God has died!

The Season of Easter is a call to shake off these doldrums, to shed our clothes of mourning, to straighten our shoulders and live as people of joy. This is the proclamation of the Easter scriptures – that God is alive within us and around us and because we are forever held in God’s love we can live as people of joy. There’s a 15th century mystic named Julian of Norwich who said, The greatest honor that you can give to God, greater than all your penances and sacrifices and mortifications, is to live joyfully. Not only is this the greatest honor we can offer God, this is also our most powerful witness to a world. Perhaps this is the very definition of evangelism, to be people of joy every day!

The joy of a disciple of Jesus is not some pie in the sky attitude that ignores the mess of our daily grind, or turns a blind eye to the cruelties in the world. The joy of a Christian is an acknowledgement that God is present even in the midst of our trials. The source of our joy is a deep belief that the final word of Calvary is not death but a life that is larger than death itself. The joy of a Christian is a proclamation of Good News to a world that is so desperate for anything good – that God is not dead; that God can not die; that in the end what remains is God alone, the God in whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). If I believe this then I must show it on my face and in my attitude. If I believe this then I will smile more and laugh more and live more. If I believe this then I will honor God and spread Good News by being a person of JOY!