Loud Night, Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

In the early 1990s, my sister, Virginia, came to visit me the week before Christmas. It was her idea to go to a bar. My suggestion that we cozy up with our jammies, hot chocolate, popcorn, and a Christmas movie was met with great disdain. Virginia enlisted the help of my roommate, Kristen, to convince me to go. Of course this was long before I was married with children, so I was as footloose and fancy free as a Presbyterian pastor could be. As far as Virginia and Kristen were concerned, there was just no good reason to stay home. That is why I found myself stuck in a smoke-filled bar that reeked with drunken breath and bad music. Random barflies belted out very bad renditions of Madonna and the B-52’s. Each person who took the stage gloried in a briefest encounter with stardom. Those brave enough to take their chance at fleeting fame, sang to a largely disinterested crowd that showed no mercy or compassion for effort.

This is precisely why I was baffled when Virginia decided that she and Kristen should do a duet together. Mind you, they have talent. Both studied voice in college and grew up singing in a church choirs. But why, oh why, would they stand before a raging sea of intoxication to display their talent? Surely that sea would engulf them in humiliation. To make matters worse, they decided not to choose a number sure to please the crowd. They chose a song they knew. Mind you, they only knew church songs. Kristen has a beautiful soprano voice, a perfect match for my sister’s alto harmony. Compared to the scantily clad and heavily made up faces of the women before them, Kristen and Virginia looked like they were trying to play a game of “which one doesn’t belong.” Looking every bit the choir girls they were, the two took the mic and told the Karaoke DJ they wanted to sing, “O Holy Night.”

“Oh please,” I groaned to myself. “Just let this night be over.” The music began amidst the noise and clamor of the bar. I braced myself for the cackles and the booing that previous singers provoked. Instead the most amazing thing happened. When Kristen and Virginia opened their mouths to sing, their voices floated over the chaos and seemingly sprinkled it with calm, peace and quiet. Everything came to an abrupt halt. Each head turned to see where the creamy blend of melody began. It seemed that no one moved. No one cheered. No one booed. No one did anything but stare at the choir girls and listen.

I will never forget that moment. As I watched the scene freeze before my eyes, I was stunned. People who had come that night for some fun and escape from their dull lives, found so much more. People who sought to drown out the misery of lost dreams and hopes in a few drinks, turned to listen to a promise. People who came to be famous for a moment, stopped to hear a song about true worth. They all stopped that night---the patrons, the bartenders, the waitresses --- they stopped for a moment of holiness. For an instant, that bar became a place of worship. For a brief space in time, the hope of the Christ child filled a room and brought it peace. It was as if someone, somewhere had pushed a pause button on crazy chaos, and it was all so glorious. But as soon as the song ended, insanity played again. An explosion of wild cheers and applause erupted for Kristen and Virginia. Ecstatic joy expressed unlike anything I have ever seen in the many churches I have attended.

It was Holy night in that smoky Trenton bar. For a moment, it felt as if Christ had appeared and the souls gathered together to feel their worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoiced that night. For that very moment, I will remain eternally grateful. When forced to leave my comfort zone, I heard the angel voices in a way I never had in a church service. “O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!”

Humans forced to leave their comfort zone to discover Holiness has always been God’s story. It was certainly part of Mary and Joseph’s. May Christ appear to us on our journey to Bethlehem this year. May he transform the uncomfortable places we encounter into holy places. For in that holy space, our souls discover their true worth.

Manger Gazing

Years ago, I was an Associate Pastor for family ministry. As such, one of my responsibilities was the annual Christmas pageant. Directing such an event is certainly not for the faint of heart or weak in spirit. It was an annual test of my faith and fortitude. Challenges included---but were certainly not limited to---every parent wanted their child in the pageant, but all were too busy to attend the desperately needed rehearsals. The costumes were ancient, but could not be replaced because the saint who made them 30 years earlier was still a member of the congregation and no one wanted to hurt her feelings. The shepherds, mostly boys, and the angels, all girls, did not want to stand near each other. And so it went each year,a mad and oddly joy-filled free-for-all.

One unforgettable occasion, a little boy was supposed to read the prophesy from Isaiah 11:1-10 filled with beautiful promises such as, "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them." Instead of reading Isaiah's promise, the child read the same verses from the book of Daniel (Lord only knows why). So as the baby Jesus doll laid in the manger, the narrator read, "At that time, I Daniel, had been mourning for three weeks. I had eaten no rich food, no meat or wine had entered my mouth, and I had not anointed myself at all for the full three weeks. . . My strength left me, and my complexion grew deathly pale, I retained no strength. . .I fell into a trance, face to the ground."

Mortified as the director, I felt my strength leave me and my complexion must have grown deathly pale. I sat in the front pew wishing that I could fall into a trance, face to the ground, but no such luck was to be had that Christmas Eve. In fact, Joseph, obviously bored with Mary and the baby, went to go hang out with his far more interesting friends, the shepherds. The shepherds had learned that one could "hook" an angel with their shepherd hooks and so they tormented the angels behind them. There was no peace in that Bethlehem scene. Just pushing and shoving amongst the angels and shepherds, a Joseph that had lost his focus, and a narrator reading words of doom instead of promise. The only exception to the nightmare was Mary. Sweet, amazing Mary somehow managed to ignore the frenzy around her to stare intently at the Madame Alexander baby doll as if it were truly the baby Jesus. Though I do not remember the child's name, I have never forgotten her inspiring tenacity. It was a Christmas gift that has returned to me each year.

The image of that lone child surrounded by a wild cast of characters portrays God's call to each of us during the Christmas season. We listen for Christ's promise, even when words of doom are proclaimed by a misguided soul. We keep our focus even if someone who is supposed to stand beside us decides to wander off into mischief. We remain calm and keep our balance as we kneel before prince of peace, instead of getting "hooked" by the bad behavior of others.

The world could use some more Marys. Both the Mary in the Bible and the little girl who gave an Academy-Award-winning performance in that Christmas pageant. For it is the Marys of the world who allow Christ's love to be born on earth---even in the midst of chaos and brokenness. Mary is the one who says, "Let it be with me according to your word."---instead of according to the frenzy surrounding me. This Christmas season, I am going to try to be more like Mary. Even if the miracle of the Christmas story doesn't unfold seamlessly or perfectly in my life, I am going to fix my gaze upon the Christ child.

May God bless each of us with the willingness and courage to gaze upon the promise of Christ throughout the Advent Season. For the miracle of Christmas comes not from directing others to behave in a way that pleases us. The miracle of Christmas comes from pointing our gaze toward the manger of divine love, no matter how badly others are acting. So come, let us adore him so that God's gifts of peace, love and joy can unfold on earth.

Dog Blog

Nothing lifts my spirits more than a long walk with my dogs. Unfortunately, due to my hectic schedule such walks are not always consistent. Nonetheless, my two Labrador Retrievers are wild with happiness when the leashes appear. Our dogs don't scold me and demand to know why this hasn't happened sooner. They don't sulk and refuse to leave the house because we didn't go when they wanted. They don't look at me condescendingly as if to say, "Well you giant couch potato, why even bother to get in shape now?" No, instead of negativity, they exude unbridled joy with electric wagging tails and drool-filled panting. Life is never so good for them as when the leashes come out---except of course meal time.

Dogs are present oriented, and they can teach us how to enjoy our daily walk with God. When we do not have time for self care, we often beat ourselves up with personal criticism. It's easy to think, "I haven't exercised in a month (or a week or year) why bother now?" Likewise, if we have fallen out of the habit of daily prayer and meditation, it is hard to savor the wonders of God's love. We are too busy focusing on how we don't pray and meditate the right way---as if there is such a thing. We focus on what we didn't do yesterday and what we probably won't do tomorrow. Instead of regretting the past or dreading the future, we would do well to follow the example of dogs. Let go of the past. Stop worrying about the future. Celebrate the moment.

Perhaps the next time we are feeling down, we can pull out a leash and take a walk in a new direction. OK, maybe not a leash, but some tangible object that instantly inspires a renewed enthusiasm for life. For some, that may be a phone call to a good friend, or work in the garden. Others may find themselves smiling at a child's photo or children at play. Still others may cling to a favorite Bible verse with its promise of love and strength. Everyone has something to help capture the wonder of the present moment. The trick is finding that something and focusing on every-day miracles---like a walk with your dogs. For when you face in the direction of joy, you are more likely to find it.


Daily Challenge: Celebrate the Gift of Today.
God has made everything beautiful in its time; moreover God has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they shall live. Ecclesiastes 3:11&12

Dear God, help us to live this day as if Christ is walking right beside us granting us the love, strength and courage we need to live well and be well in your world, Amen.

The Road To Emmaus

Luke 24:13-35

When Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared among his closest followers, but they did not recognize him. In their mind's eye, Jesus was a dead man in a grave where they remembered him. All hope was gone. When he appeared to Mary, she mistook him for the gardener. When he appeared to Cleopas and his friend, they thought he was a clueless stranger. Mary didn't recognized Jesus until he called her by name. The travelers on the Road to Emmaus didn't recognize him until Jesus broke the bread at dinner.

If you live long enough, you are going to travel the Road to Emmaus. It is the road you are forced to take when your heart is broken and your dreams for the future are crushed. It's the road you travel when a relationship ends, a job is lost or a loved one dies. It is lonely, hopeless and terrifying because you cannot recognize that God is still with you. That's the Road to Emmaus.

Jesus walked that road with his followers whether they realized it or not. When we trudge through seasons of grief and pain, we probably will not see that Jesus travels with us. Jesus allowed the two disciples to pour out their feelings of despair as they walked along. Instead of embracing them with words of comfort, Jesus slapped them with divine truth. "How foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all the prophets have declared."

When they arrived at their destination the weary travelers beg Jesus to stay for dinner. At the table, when the talking and walking had come to an end and all was quiet, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly Cleopas and his friend saw that Jesus was always with them. The Road that seemed to lead only to suffering and pain, actually led to the joy of a new beginning.

Jesus continues to call us by name today. He takes us as he took that loaf of bread at the table with his disciples. He takes us in his hands of love. He blesses us with a future we never dreamed possible. He breaks us from past regret and failure and gives us love to share with the world.

When you stumble along your Road to Emmaus, keep the faith. Remember that God walks with us even if we cannot see a divine presence. Even when life makes no sense and it is a struggle to keep going, don't give up. For the day will come when you hear God's loving voice calling your name. You will feel Christ's hands as they take you, bless you, break you from the past and give you hope to share with the world. That's the miracle of Easter. That the Road to Emmaus doesn't have to lead you to despair but can actually lead you to the miracle of new life.

May we keep the faith in our travels through God's world.

Weekly Challenge: Trust that God is with you, even when you cannot recognize him.
Remember that God longs to:
take you in his hands,
bless you with a future,
break you from past hurt
and give you love to share with the world.

Living Large

Henry Nouwen once wrote,

The grateful life is to remember Jesus and try to imitate him when we are no longer in control of our situations, be they personal, or family or other occasions of loss. Of course, this does not mean that we remain in destructive situations or that we allow others to take away our integrity. But so often we must suffer loss and breakage, not because we deserve them but because of our human weakness. God is close to the brokenhearted and will support us as we forgive those who wound us. In moving from resentment to gratitude we tap into deep waters of inner freedom and love.

It is always such a shock when we are hurt, especially by someone we love. When sorting through conflict or broken relationships, we must stay spiritually centered. Instead of seeing hardship as a sign of God's absence, we must learn to see it through the lens of faith. God can use our struggles to draw us closer to Christ. Though God does not want us to suffer, God can use our pain and transform it into wisdom, patience, humility, forgiveness and love.

Jesus was not exempt from broken relationships, nor will we be. We must learn to grow through human brokenness to discover new life. Jesus teaches us that we can become better instead of bitter when we are hurt or wounded. During Holy Week, we remember how Christ encountered betrayal and abuse with divine grace. Regardless of what was said or done to him, Jesus refused to stop loving others. Through Christ's enduring spirit, we can practice gratitude instead of resentment. Through faith, we can taste the sweet waters of Christ's love instead of the sour vinegar of self-pity, self-righteous anger and revenge.


Weekly Challenge: Be grateful! Thank God throughout the day for the gift of life and love. Pray for people or situations that irritate you. Ask God to help you become better instead of bitter.

Lenten Discussion

Luke 21:1-8 Wild Generosity


Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. Theodore Roosevelt

This week sermon focuses on the widow who placed two coins in the temple treasury. According to Jesus, her small gift was better than the larger gifts offered by the wealthy.

Sometimes we diminish the power of our gifts because we don't think we have enough to make a difference in the world. "I don't have enough time. I don't have enough money. I don't have enough energy." We lament. We whine. We bemoan our inability to be effective disciples. But when we simply do what we can, where we are, with what we have, God's transforming power is unleashed in our world. God knows our limits better than we do. God will not ask more of us than we can do. We simply need to trust in his power to work through us. Even on those days when we wake up tired and grumpy, God can still use us. Regardless of how we feel, we can act in faith instead of wallowing in self-pity.

Henry Nouwen wrote, A grateful life is one in which we receive our gifts, lift them up to God trusting they will multiply.

Just for today, let us convey our gratitude by sharing the joy of life with others--- where we are with what we have.

Challenge: Name at least one thing you can do to share the joy of life today.

Lenten Discussions

Luke 13:1-9 Productive Faith

Jesus calls us to nourish our souls with divine love and hope so that our lives can bear the fruit of divine love. Jesus tells his followers to repent or perish. What areas of your life would you like to change? What stops you from doing it? Many of us would love to find the time to nourish our souls, but we are too busy. Nurturing a spiritual life is a tall order when you have a job, a family and a house to maintain. How can we find balance when daily demands are constantly pressing in on us?

I am going to start by giving up worry and picking up gratitude instead. Precious life energy can be exhausted by nothing more than worry. Though I hate to admit it, I often worry about things that don't matter in God's kingdom. The world won't end if the kitchen isn't mopped, if you can't walk through my children's bedroom or if there are crumbs all over the back of the mini-van. Sometimes we can become infested with worry pests that destroy the fruit of the spirit God wants to grow within us. Excessive worry about what other people think, about an honest mistake, or about an uncertain future can pull up the roots of our faith. Instead of being planted firmly in the soil of divine love, and showered by divine love, we can feel torn, scattered, and washed away from our true values. In that state, we can hardly bear fruit.

Repent or perish, Jesus said. Just for today I am going to practice gratitude instead of worry.
If you could change anything to nourish your soul today what would it be? Why not do it?