Gratitude and Hebrews 11

Our staff at St. Paul spends a lot of time talking about gratitude...what we're grateful for, and how it's important to express that gratitude. Admittedly, gratitude isn't always my first instinct. I sometimes gripe before I express my gratitude. But I'm learning here, in this community of gratitude, how much I have to be thankful for.

So...the other day during Confirmation at St. Paul, Pastor Heather did this activity based on Hebrews 11 and the great cloud of witnesses that we are surrounded by in our lives. Hebrews 11 is full of examples of "witnesses" of the faith...people who have gone before us and demonstrated life centered in God. Hebrews 12:1 tells us the point of chapter 11: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us..." After reading this verse in Confirmation, Pastor Heather had the Confirmation class write names of their own "Cloud of Witness" on a piece of paper. Our poster was soon full of names of people who had helped to form faith in us, who had helped us to "run with perseverance."

I was talking later with Reverend Spears about this activity. I found it meaningful and inspiring. I was reflecting with her on my own Cloud of Witnesses, and also reflecting on gratitude. I made a comment to Heather about how grateful I was for those people who have gone before me in faith, and who have intentionally instilled faith in me. It is these people that I am most grateful for. As I think of all the reasons that I have to be grateful, my Cloud of Witnesses is my number one reason for gratitude.

I am grateful for these people because, I am sure, that I wouldn't be a person of faith without them. I would not be in ministry without them. These are folks who read the bible with me, who prayed for me, who befriended me and hugged me, who taught me to sing and speak the faith. They modeled Christian living for me with authenticity and integrity. They have forgiven my frailties and failings, and shared their own vulnerabilities with me. They have recognized gifts in me, and encouraged me to use those gifts for God's glory and not for my own.

So, I guess this blog is a shout out to them...to my own Cloud of Witnesses. An opportunity to express my gratitude. Thanks to you all...too many to name...who have walked with me on this journey. I am forever grateful.

What about you? Who is in your Cloud of Witnesses? Who or what are you most grateful for? And have you expressed your gratitude lately?

Cookie Heaven

I have attended many weddings in my life, but I must say that my wedding was the best. I'm biased, I know. But it was an outstanding weekend. My bride is beautiful. The 30^th day of August was bright and clear; the sky watercolor blue. Rolling green hills surrounded us on every side. The sun shone strong through the walls of glass into the tall chapel at Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp. Picture perfect. Add to that our large families and numerous friends who traveled many hours to come pray for us and celebrate with us. It all felt like home. We sang our hearts out during the worship service, and we danced the night away in the Dining Hall. I could live in that day forever. Especially with our mountain of cookies. Let me explain.

I wanted to have a potluck for the wedding reception, but we determined that it would be difficult logistically. When we began to discuss the kind of wedding cake we would have, my then fiancé and I both shared that we enjoy cookies more than cake. And...voilá! The idea was born: a cookie potluck. We invited over thirty dear friends and family members known for their culinary skill and generosity to bring one batch (or more) of their favorite cookie. The result was awesome. The table heaped over with cookies! My wife and I stuffed cookies into each other's mouths and then served one scoop of ice cream to each of our guests as they selected unlimited numbers of cookies to fill their plates and inspire their palates. We had more cookies than any group of wedding guests could devour! (Photo courtesy of Mandi Hillman, Serendipity Studios)

The scene of cookies, and really the whole weekend, spoke to me of the abundance of God. Through Jesus Christ we have access to the resources of God, and we have more than enough. God's generosity does not run out. God offers us life to the full, now and eternally. My wedding day ignites my imagination for the grandeur of living in God's abundant, heavenly fullness.

In the meantime, I'll keep enjoying the ten bags of leftover cookies in my freezer.

How do you pray?

I've been thinking a lot about prayer lately...about how many different way there are to pray. There are so many ways to pray! Sitting or standing. Eyes open or closed. Shouting or singing or whispering. Praying with another, or 12 others, or 100 others, or alone. How do you pray? How do you talk to God?

I love prayer because it is so authentic. Prayer has got to be our most honest form of communication, with anyone, period. Think about it. We are utterly honest when we pray...because we know that we can't hide anything when we pray...God knows what we are thinking and feeling before we even say it...so it's not even worth trying to hide it. I love that prayer draws that honesty out of us. I love that we can pray what we really, truly feel. I can cry or scream or stand in awe when I am in prayer. And all of those ways of praying are legitimate because they are all honest.

So, how do you pray? What type of speach with God feels most authentic to you? What body posture do you prefer when you pray? What does your verbal and body language communicate to or about God?

Try praying in a new way this week, and see how it changes your relationship with God.

Lilly Pads

I love observing life, watching things move and grow. Each little corner of the world has something interesting to offer. On evening walks by the river, I have found myself mesmerized by these giant lilly pads reaching out of the water. Obviously, they didn't get the memo telling them to "stay low, blend in, go with the flow". Maybe they got tired of frog traffic and nibbling fish? Or, maybe when the waters receeded they had already adjusted to this new way of being and dared not come back down.

What does it mean to be flexible, yet fixed? What does adaptability look like in your life?