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The Prayer of Oscar Romero
"It helps now and then to step back and take the long view" - wise words from Archbishop Oscar Romero. The Archbishop served the people of El Salvador and was assassinated in 1980 while he was saying mass in San Salvador.
It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything. This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.
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The Wicker Basket
The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, 'Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?' The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, 'Take this old wicker coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.' The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out be fore he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, 'You will have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the old wicker basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was 'impossible to carry water in a basket,' and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Papa, it's useless!' 'So you think it is useless?' the old man said. 'Look at the basket.' The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean. 'Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.'
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Just another Manic Monday!
Here we go again! Monday morning hits, and our crazy routine resumes:
- wake up (after slapping the incessant alarm clock over and over again)
- get ready
- get kindergartner up and dressed and to the breakfast table
- prepare a gourmet breakfast (aka cereal)
- get toddler up, comfort and insert medicine as still sick
- get starving baby up (okay in reality she is already up and screaming) and pop bottle in mouth
- make lunch
- check 'take home' school folder to see what we should have done over the weekend (and obviously didn't)
- nag the child who has no sense of time until she is in the car (nice)
- drop off kid #1 at school
- stop and get gas (because the magic fairies didn't fill up my car while I slept once again - really fairies! help a girl out!)
- fight the roads into work
- attempt to pick up a trashed office (kid #1 spent 12 hours with me in office yesterday)
- begin to-do list
- give up on to-do list
- decide to blog
Okay - giving up on my 'to-do' list is not a normal part of my routine. I'm admittedly a little obsessive compulsive about getting things done. Case in point - this morning my almost 2 year old was still feeling bad. My sweet almost 6 year old decided she wanted to comfort her baby sister. (and hey, if it meant procrastinating getting ready I'm sure she saw it as a win-win).
"Claire," I said, "we have to get our job done first. Finish getting ready, and then you can love your sister."
I know, I know - awful right! I didn't mean it the way it sounded. But as I reflected on this awful parenting moment during the rest of the morning shuffle, I realized once again that my OCD is getting the best of me.
God never shows up on my 'to-do' list. My list is made up of action items. Spending time with God is not really an action kinda thing. And yet my loving God is way more important than anything else I have on my list for today or any day, just as loving her little sister was more important to Claire than getting to school on time.
So, I will learn from my kiddo today. I will do my best to have my priorities be made evident in my actions.
God before me, God behind me, God beside me, God within me, God on the top of my 'to-do' list!
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Anticipation
 | | Ely, anxiously waiting for 'wubby' (her blanket) to wash. |
I realized today that I don't anticipate things the way I once did. Maybe this is just me, or a universal reality of getting older. As a child I remember that the days before Christmas were agonizingly slow - as I yearned for and dreamed of Christmas morning. The first day of school brought such excitement that I never slept the night before. Even the upcoming weekend brought a giddy anticipation as I would plan outings and fun. But now as an adult, it seems that I have outgrown the ability to be overcome in anticipation - maybe I'm too busy to anticipate!
As Christians, we both live in the midst of the Kingdom of God and anticipate the coming of the Kingdom of God. We have an 'already, but not yet' kind of existence. By its very nature the life of a Christian is a life of anticipation; Looking forward to more - a fuller life in Christ and ultimately in death an eternal life in Christ. Today, if only for a moment, I will stop and anticipate.
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ WILL come again! 
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"Life" as brought to you by Jesus
My family has been enjoying the new series "Life" on the Discovery channel. Videographers traveled to the ends of the earth, and filmed countless hours of nature and wildlife to present this spectacular show. In order to help fund this project, the creators have taken full advantage of corporate sponsorship. Consequently, during the commercial breaks, the audience hears the deep voice of an announcer state, "This is Life, as brought to you by Target." The first time I hear this I couldn't help but give a bark of indignant laughter! Don't get me wrong, I love shopping at Target stores. Target provides me with food, clothing and assorted sundries - but Life has been provided for me by God and God alone!
Today is a gift - I have not earned it and I do not deserve it. I will dedicate this day to loving Jesus!
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