Grace | Faith Venture

Archive for the ‘Grace’ Category

Blessing for Work

December 6, 2023

I was greatly blessed at work. For most of the positions I held, I was the first person to hold the position. I had the opportunity to forge new paths and ways of doing things. Yes, I had several terrible bosses that cost my health for a bit. But many more were the bosses who taught and provided opportunities for growth. Most of the time I did not feel like a functionary simply filling in my time—like the protagonist in Franz Kafka’s eerie story of the man who turned into a cockroach over night.

Given an Irish and Welsh ancestry and vast eclectic reading habits, I don’t know how I missed John O’Donohue. Jerry Colonna introduced us in his book Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong.

O’Donohue seems (although I haven’t found the document to study) to be the closest to my interpretation to the German philosopher GWFHegel, The Phenomenology of Spirit. That enough was enough of an enticement. But it his capture of the Celtic spirit that captivated me.

In the fourth chapter of Anam Cara (soul friend), he discusses work. And how modern work can be soulless robbing us of imagination and creativity. (He also references an early essay of Karl Marx about the alienation of the worker in modern industrial work. One of my favorites.)

With that long introduction, I will leave you with O’Donohue’s blessing for work.

May the light of your soul guide you.

May the light of your soul bless the work you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.

May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.

May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light, and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.
John O’Donohue

Posted in Disciplines, Grace, Work | Leave a Comment »

The Story of a Family

November 10, 2023

Let me tell you a short story about a family.

Every member of this family lives their role as a server to each other. They look for ways to help. They anticipate the needs of other members of the family placing them before their own.

Just so, the wife serves her husband.

Being a family of followers of Jesus, the husband treats his wife well. He builds her up to be the best she can be. In fact, just like the example of Jesus, he is willing to give up his life for her.

The parents treat their children well concerned with their well being and education. In turn, the children respect the parents. (OK, when they are 2 and later as adolescents, there may be moments…)

When the family goes out, say to a restaurant, they treat the hostess and servers kindly. Same with sales associates at stores they visit.

I have been thinking about how to describe a modern family in English taken from Paul’s description of a family of Jesus-followers in first-century Greece taken from the letter to the Ephesians. Incidentally, the same passage often quoted by people to justify woman’s subservience to men.

I also think Paul would similarly describe the ekklesia, the gatherings of Jesus-followers that today we call the church. He seemed to be big on our finding our roles to best serve each other. And the community. And the world.

Posted in Attitude, Grace | Leave a Comment »

Giving and Receiving Grace

November 6, 2023

I have been able to discern through the practice of many spiritual disciplines that God comes to us through grace, or maybe more understandable (less theologically laden) we can say kindness. Some say forgiveness. I like kindness. God extends it. We humans can accept it, or not.

Accepting it, we can begin living with-God. Jesus called it living in the Kingdom of Heaven. It starts with the realization and acceptance that there is a God, and that God offers a better way to live. No rules, no judgement. God tried that rules thing (614 plus additional ones in the Hebrew Bible and Jewish 1^st century practice?).

Sounds simple. Why do we complicate it?

Unfortunately for us, it doesn’t stop there. It’s not all about you (and me).

Living with-God having accepted God’s grace, we must extend that grace to others. Responding to those who are injured and hurting; giving with a generous heart; having conversations with (not at) people showing care; practicing active listening.

Thinking we can live within God’s grace and not share it is like that light hidden under a basket or being salt without savor. Pretty much worthless.

Perform a thought experiment. What would your household, neighborhood, community, nation, world be like if even half of us practiced sharing grace?

Posted in Grace, Living | 1 Comment »

Beating Fear of the Other

September 28, 2023

Fear of other humans—those outside our immediate tribe—may be a built-in human trait. Maybe we translate that fear into emotions such as anger or loathing or snobbery.

A great antidote is to get outside your tribal boundaries—geographical or social.

I think of this when I attend conferences. Even just being in California from the Midwest I learn that there are many nice Californians who are not all whacko.

But I have three new friends, better term than contacts I suppose, from Chennai in India. Engineers and business people. Friendly. Talking technical and business opportunities.

There are always interesting people to meet from many countries of South America and Europe. Talked with a couple of people from Australia.

But even the guys from Mexico who repaired my patio were interesting to talk with and learn how they live and where they are from.

I can look to Jesus for inspiration. He and his closest followers were Galilean. Whereas people from Judah, the southern desert, were more insular, Galileans were on the major trade route. They saw people of many races and tribes passing through. There was Jesus and the Samaritan woman. And Jesus and the Syro-Phoenecian woman. And others. And from a teacher who was supposed to (by tradition) remain aloof from any non-Jew.

People to be feared do exist. Exploring outside your comfort zone can open your eyes to good people of many cultures with whom deep conversations can happen. Experience enriches your life.

Posted in Compassion, Grace | Leave a Comment »

It Rains On Everyone

September 22, 2023

We had six weeks of drought. Now it seems the rain will not stop (since we are waiting for dry weather in order to complete the sealing of our patio pavers).

So, I thought of the Peanuts cartoon where Linus tells Charlie Brown who is once again in the depths of despair, “It rains on the just and the unjust alike.”

Turns out that is an actual quote from Jesus unlike so many sayings we toss around.

This one took me to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

What’s the point of this teaching? So that you may be children of your Father in heaven. And again, Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

It pays dividends to look beyond the aphorism. To look at what Jesus is trying to tell us. Beyond a simple “it rains on everyone” is that we are to treat people the same regardless of anything. That does not mean treat everyone equally poorly. It means treat everyone as a perfect person just as God is perfect.

That, friends, is a high bar.

Posted in Attitude, Grace | Leave a Comment »

Grace Turned Outward

July 7, 2023

John Fischer was a pioneer of the Jesus Movement music scene of the early 70s. He now leads a ministry called The Catch with the subhead Grace Turned Outward. A mutual friend introduced us (virtually). I send some financial support his way.

It’s because I really like that Grace Turned Outward mission.

I’ve experienced many evangelicals who seem suspicious of grace. They think it’s all about the head—saying you believe certain dogma. Some may look at grace turned inward. That strange warming in my heart.

I was given the gift of reading and thinking for understanding—feeble though it may be. I read the Gospels. Look at the actions of Jesus. Mostly he introduced other people to grace. He encouraged his followers to likewise share grace with others.

Jesus embodied Grace Turned Outward.

His brother James wrote about how worthless it is if you do not go out and help other people.

If you can feel the grace God has provided to you, it cannot be bottled. Jesus said not to hide your light under a basket but to let it shine as light for others.

Posted in Grace, Mission | Leave a Comment »

Have We Lost The Ability to Give Grace?

June 14, 2023

Social media makes it so easy to point out faults—of other people. You get mad and call other people liars or cheats or heathen.

Grace.

At various periods of Western history this was an acceptable female name.

More than a name, grace is an attitude. More than an attitude, it is a way of life.

Jesus was approached by a mob demanding to throw stones on a woman to kill her for adultery. An often asked question is, where was the man, since it takes two (as that old Motown song had it). Jesus may have recognized that in his response. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

That may be the beginning of grace. Realizing that I am not perfect and perhaps could use some grace from God myself. Further, I can give grace by refraining from words and actions that cause harm to another human being.

Paul, the Apostle, tries to explain grace in lots of words in his letters to the Galatians and the Romans, for example.

Jesus’ simple, yet profound, story explains better. No one is perfect. Why demand perfection of another? It’s all about grace. Getting it. Giving it.

Posted in Grace | Leave a Comment »

Seeing The Big Picture

April 6, 2023

I sit in contemplation this morning with the full moon beaming in the sky in front of me. This full moon signifies the special calendar times for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All together. I feel connected somehow.

Andy Stanley once asked people to consider what breaks their heart. Many things break my heart—one of which is how much those three religions separate from each other and generate hatred while each professes love.

A couple of days ago we had heavy rains. The next morning earthworms flushed from their lairs in the ground were on the streets and sidewalks by the hundreds. Were the robins out there feasting? No. They were in their same hunting areas as usual hopping, looking, pecking.

They couldn’t see the big picture. They were fixated on the way they’ve always done it.

This full moon 1,990 years ago found Jesus’s friends and followers fixated on what they thought the Messiah would be and do. Jesus spent a huge amount of the day teaching them. They didn’t see the big picture.

Even on Sunday with the empty tomb and the resurrected appearance of Jesus they could not comprehend the big picture.

It must have been 40 days later when it all came together for them.

How about for us? How often do we miss the big picture? How long does it take for lessons to sink in for us? Have we even now grasped Jesus’s teachings of love and grace? Sit in stillness and let those thoughts sink in. And see the big picture.

Posted in Awareness, Grace, Love | Leave a Comment »

The Futility of Controlling Nature and Others

April 5, 2023

My study window faces west. Early every morning even before dawn I see robins already beginning the days chore of finding food.

This morning I sit in my mediation chair and look out I see lightning from an approaching thunderstorm. I know it is supposed to hit about my usual time for walking to the fitness center.

I realize, there are no robins. What do they know? Are then sheltered in the evergreens and bushes already?

The rain will come soon.

Do you have any water leaks in your house? Or water rising in the ground around your house? We puny humans have been trying for thousands of years to control water, yet it remains a problem from catastrophic to annoying.

Yet, we think we can search through the writings of the Apostle Paul in order to compile a list of things we are not to do or be and then force other people (or even ourselves if truth be known) to follow these rules exactly!

We can’t control ourselves, let alone have the responsibility to control others.

The power of Easter morning and the realization of the extent of God’s grace.

Search diligently instead for Jesus’ teaching on how we are behave toward ourselves, toward others, and toward God.

Extend grace and love to yourself and each person you meet today.

See if you can do that better than you do controlling water in your house.

Posted in Grace | Leave a Comment »

Gospel of Welcome

April 4, 2023

I’ve been reflecting on this week almost 2,000 years ago. Yesterday I reflected on what we advertise through what we do.

John Fischer was a “Jesus Music” pioneer who started an online church trying to reach younger people with the message of the Gospel of Welcome, Grace Turned Outward. Sunday’s church at The Catch focused on this teaching after the “Sons of Thunder” James and John approached Jesus about being his next in command in his “kingdom.”

You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.
Mark 10: 42-44

There are places around the world, including here in America, where leaders using the name of Jesus are intentionally doing the first part of Jesus’ observation. They stopped reading after the first full stop (period). The last sentence is the teaching for us who are followers of Jesus to digest and incorporate into our lives.

This is something I’ve tried, and often failed, in my management and leadership career. It’s not easy. I’ve seen many people proclaim themselves “servant leaders” and yet go down in flames. Jesus never made things easy.

Except for grace. Something that comes over you at the moment when you realize you don’t deserve it. The supreme paradox of life.

Posted in Grace, Leadership | Leave a Comment »

Faith Venture