three-words time

God Bless You! That's probably my all time fav 3-word greeting!

There's something about the rule of three.  I find Anne Lamott engaging and love her casual conversations on Facebook, but I am equally glad for the precision of the title of her new book, Help, Thanks, Wow.  (Make a Note: Got To Read.)

No matter how the morning is going, the TV gets my full attention whenever GMA on ABC asks, "tell us your three words."  I like the homemade banners, the children passing cards from one hand to the other.  Surely here are locally-grown, good-for-you, root-vegetable messages.

I'm drawn to these current expressions because they are the newest version of a life-long obsession.  I think I may still have a bits of poetry embedded under my skin, stuck like pencil lead from early school days when I didn't know any better.  Mark-my-words.

I had to read Dickens too, so I realize that some very significant words have a different m.o..  They're deliberately convergent, closing in from all directions with gradual, stealthy steps.  Other words seem prone to meander, strolling away with contentment, having made their contribution merely a point of departure, perhaps?

Nevertheless, there are always some words like the sharps I save in a sturdy, Tide detergent container under my sink, resting only after having delivered their intended, necessary, sweet pricks through thin skin. Those are bloody welcome.

For St. Augustine, the three words were, "Take and read," and that was the beginning.  I know this about myself:  I never outgrow the thrill of bracing myself for the puncture point of "a word fitly spoken."  God and I meet there and I realize that all the rest is "sound and fury, signifying nothing."  Yes, God comes in the flesh, a word that is true and holy, holy.

Take all of the above and mix in my call to be a minister of the Word, (not to be mistaken by me for a call to wordiness.)  It's definitely three-words time for this blog:

Yes, Much, Others.

Yes (as in 2 Cor. 1:20),
Much (Acts 4:33), and
Others (Phil. 2:4).

Dare. I. Add.
Look. Them. Up?

PS

An invitation to rummage...

I know the organized church has clarified its purpose over the past “X” number of years, saying more directly, perhaps more concisely, certainly with more urgency, that we are a people who follow Christ in mission.  We hear that.  We understand that.  And, to the degree that we are people of integrity, we grapple with that purpose regularly, trying to see where such “following” will take us today, what it will look like at this moment or that.  We think in missional language.  We awaken and eat in a missional way, much as the people of God who, on the verge of their release from captivity, ate their last meal with their coats on, their sandals laced and tied, their staffs in hand (Exodus 12:11).  The church’s rally-day theme might simply be, “Go!”

Consequently, however, introspection has become somewhat passe’.  After all, we can’t be taking a long, hard look at ourselves if we are going to be a people of action.  It’s the adjective “long” that doesn't stand up under scrutiny. Church analysts will say we have been looking at ourselves for far-too-long!  Introspection has become a barrier to mission. 

But how then can we ever be certain of our motives?  The Bible calls this aspect of our experience, “the inclination of our hearts,” an inclination, as we are reminded often, that is seen by God, even if no one else questions our choices, (Genesis 6:5; Matthew 15:19).  We are neither inclined to be good, nor can we remain invisible.  David’s plot to have what he wants at the expense of his neighbor is exposed when Nathan exclaims, “you are the man.  Thus says the Lord God…” (2 Samuel 12:7). 

The truth is that we are not inclined to be honestly introspective any more than we are inclined to be lovingly missional.  Not without God’s urging and confronting.  And not without stories – many, many stories, like beads on a string, each connecting our inner lives with our outer choices.  Abram who follows God when no one else does, and yet who passes off his wife as his sister to save himself.  But that’s not all, there’s more to his story, better choices lie ahead.  Spectacular Elijah who is hunted down and gives up and yet, who is called out of his man-cave, revived once again for mission. Gideon, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, the Marys, Peter, Nathaniel, Andrew, the Johns, Paul, Aquilla and Priscilla—those of us who read the bible know them by name and by the “ins” and “outs” of their lives. 

Contrary to modern opinion, we are not necessarily being egocentric when we share our personal experiences. One life story laid out alongside of another – it’s the biblical way. If we offer stories from our own experience to one another -- perhaps while standing in the Fellowship Room on a Sunday morning with coffee in hand or working on a service project in the community -- we are in that same, long line. But sharing openly is not so popular today among those of us who want to have our own story look more polished.  We may enjoy reality TV, but not all of us would sign up to be the focus of judgments and jokes ourselves.   

Still sharing our life stories is critical...
     if we believe that they are emblematic, 

     if we have done some introspection beforehand, 
     if God shines through in the telling.

The other day while I was sitting at a coffee shop with someone, I was caught off guard.  I had been listening to the other’s story about making a difficult decision and I had responded, “You have to listen to the voice inside of you.” 

“But, that’s exactly what I’m doing,” said the person across from me.  “You’re contradicting yourself, Pastor.  I’m doing exactly what I want to do, but you seem to think the better choice would be to do what I don’t want to do!”

Honestly, I did not have a reply ready.  I was taken aback, surprised to discover that I was so illogical.  There it was, pointed out to me as plain as day.  And yet, something in that remark didn't seem right to me. 

On the drive home, the light came on.  How was it that I can believe we each need to listen to our inner voice and yet, sometimes choose to do things that we don’t want to do?  Of course! Introspection isn't only “hearing myself think.”  It’s about taking time to sit with God and pray.  I was assuming that “inner voice” that I would hear would be God’s, not my own voice.  It’s the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying “Not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:44). It’s the central story of a loving life, a story of self-sacrifice.

I believe in opening up my life for others to rummage around in, on the chance that they might find some little truth, like discovering a treasure at someone’s yard sale.  That's very different from my setting up a sales display for them and giving them a sales pitch.  I believe spiritual decisions are “gut” decisions, not made for me by others.  Oh, the church can confirm my choices by being the external counsel of those who also live with an awareness of God, whose lives have been rescued and changed by Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit, but my own obedience, my thankfulness – ultimately that’s between myself and the Lord Jesus.

Introspection, action, reflection, confirmation or adjustment – surely this is a healthy pattern for our lives, isn't it?  All under the direction of our Lord, all to our great mutual benefit by God's design and all to God’s Glory!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Shirley