I have been catching up on the national and international goings on and have concluded they are sadly fitting for Holy Week. Bussels attacks are heartrending. Trump as well as the whole political arena  is fit for sci-fi fans only. The economy is frighteningly fragile (and yes, some of the blame does indeed fall into my preferred political party’s past choices). Hard work no longer gets us ahead, but rather just barely keeps us afloat. And my soul hears the psalmists and Isaiah  voices cry,  “How long oh Lord?”

 Risking train of thought writing, (forgive me), it seems to me that we –and the world as a whole — have been trying to become accustomed to thinking globally as well as digitally, both contributing to out of control change that seems impossible to keep up with. Life no longer has much down time for family dinner, prayer, vacations, night. 

And faith?  For myself faith that somewhere, somehow, the omnipotent, trinitarian, living God is working in all of this mess is what gets me through. However, rather than being satisfied with faith being certain of things unseen, I have wanted some reassurance.  I admit to spending large portions of time figuratively staring out into chaos, trying to catch a glimpse of the Divine bent over this world, continuing to bring about the fulfillment of the Kingdom. It would make my job easier if I could point at least to an undeniable divine fingerprint in order to bolster those clinging to faith. Plus, it wouldn’t do my faith any harm either. 

Closer to home I find my community of faith continuing to do church as it always has, even with diminishing returns. How do I lead to the new normal when I have never been there? How do we live faithfully in a world who is too busy to make it a priority, especially when it means getting to know our oh so different neighbors, much less loving them? Have we become Jonah, seeking to escape a successful mission trip because we don’t like the potential new converts? What if the drug dealers come to hear the gospel? What if we find out that the ones who don’t work are as loved as we are by God? What if we learn that our resistance or refusal to break bread with those who live differently than we think right will be THE question we have to answer  before the One who loved such as them so much he died for them? 

Lord, we are in a new normal, I understand that. Please open our eyes to how to proclaim your Word to a people we don’t know in a place we have difficulty recognizing. Strengthen our resolve to not give in to hating and fearing and wall building. Give us courage to continue to love even when fear and hate seem more natural. Show us how to offer hope when ours is in short supply.Bring to our weary minds memories of how a soft word brings community. Give us those words. Give us hope so we can be hope. Amen.

Sometimes it is embarassing when God shows me where I have been wrong in my conclusions. Tonight I was in Walmart — my passtime outing–buying supplies for the confirmation class I teach. As I was choosing from the selection of small inexpensive photo albums to be used by the kids to record what the have learned each week, I realized that someone was behind me. I turned to find a young man — 30ish–in a uniform resembling a police officer. I asked if I was blocking his way. He quickly assured me that I was not. He was looking for an inexpensive photo album for his daughter. I said I was deciding which albums would attract the attention of 5th & 6th grade confirmation students, that I needed to be careful of price because the church was low in funds. I was talking more to myself than to him. He spoke immediately: “Well, then, get what you think they will like and I will be happy to py for it.” I then tried to reassure him that was not necessary, but he took the 2fers that I found, went to the register, paid for them, leaving them with the clerk. I asked the clerk if she knew him, but she assured me that she did, but he was a guard at the local prison.

There is still good in the world. And some of it passed from a young prison guard to a sometimes cynical, old preacher. Forgive me Lord, of my doubt of you and bless that young guard. May his blessings transform those in the prison as it has this preacher. Amen

Welcome to my blog. The title of the blog comes from my continuous amazement at how the world as I knew it changed while I wasn’t looking. While I was trying to understand the “normal” in a third world country where bathrooms and heat in the wintertime were optional, my home country became unrecognizable to me. Oh, most of the time, it was visually recognizable with buildings, highways, houses, etc. still maintaining the same form as before. Occasionally, I would get a jolt such as the first time I needed a ‘calling card’ to make a call on the cell phone I purchased at the airport. It was a bit disorienting.  However, while technology zoomed ahead at lightening speed, its impact still carries an impact from time to time: 16 year olds NOT pulling at the bit to get their drivers license with some showing no interest at all. Going uptown on the weekend to gather with friends no longer is appealing; texting and gaming and Facebook has taken the place of face to face interactions.😣

I suppose the biggest and most troubling change has struck me this year. Christianity being practiced and seems most popular is not the same. It does not the Christainity I believe and am committed to and do my best to live. When did become the norm that churches need policies regarding ‘Conceal and Carry’ laws? Then again, one might say, when did become the norm for someone to walk into a bible study, chat with the members and then pull out a gun and shoot those who had just demonstrated hospitality to the stranger at the gate? However, the unanswerable question I am still pondering is ‘How can it be acceptable to Christians for a Religious University President to pull out a gun when speaking to the student body and announce that it was necessary to have a license to ‘conceal and carry’ in order to be ready to shoot them as they come through the door…Before they shoot us.’ What happened to ” love God and love your neighbor as you love yourself,” “love your enemy”, “turn the other cheek” as foundational beliefs for Christians? Humility is also a biggie.  Servanthood as well. Commitment to Christ as a way of life, even with the risks. Are we not acting as the world acts through hating, fearing, and killing? I pray that my certainty of these truths are never put to the test, but, for now, I am holding out on the old normal a while longer…lend a hand or a heart or an ear where ever it is needed to whomever needs it; work for justice for everyone, even if you don’t think them worthy or they make different choices than you do; pray to see everyone else through God’s eyes…  And realize that without a relationship with our Creator, nothing will change. Maybe just maybe the radicalness of the old normal will catch on again. 🙏🏻⛪️