So the assignment seemed pretty simple, go into the world on a Sunday morning and allow God to find you in a new way outside the walls of a church building. You would think as a pastor that I could accomplish this with my family; I mean if I am asking someone else (the new faith community that I am leading) to do it, I should be able to pull it off. Right?
So the day began with our ten and twelve year old girls in a dispute over territorial possession of the bathroom with each of them pleading the present and past wrongdoings of their sibling as they argued their position on opposite sides of a locked bathroom door. Their father promptly reminded them that the door had hinges and that it could simply be removed so that they could both enter and exit freely in perfect harmony from now on if they wished. This solution was met with a sigh and roll of eyes that I had seen too many times before. O, the joys of parenting.
With everyone set to venture out we sat down to do a family devotion together. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 seemed appropriate. A little discussion about what it means to be reconciled to Christ and one another would seemed to be good idea. I mean, I thought this was a good choice because since they were locked on opposite sides of the bathroom door, they could not read the picture hanging in their bathroom that reads “Sisters make the best friends.”
As we began the Bible study our ten year old said, “Dad, wouldn’t it be easier to just go to church?” Now I must tell you that I expected this response from some of the folks who I was asking to carry out this experiment of being sent into the world. But my own daughter? Ten? Isn’t it amazing that at 10 years old she is already becoming entrenched in a pattern of thinking that equates God talk and action with a church building? Wow.
Well, the Bible study went reasonably well. (By the way, Oxford American Dictionary’s definition of reconcile which we looked up in the course of the devotion: to restore friendship between {people} after an estrangement or quarrel). Beautiful. We headed into the world and found a neighborhood diner in a part of town that we seldom frequent where the hospitality and welcoming energy was amazing. We sat and ate as a family and God’s restorative power settled in as a right relationship between the earlier feuding sisters took hold.
And as we drove home a U2 song came on that really hit home. Titled “Yahweh,” which is the Hebrew word for God used in the Old Testament, these are they lyrics:
Take these shoes
Click clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes
And make them fit
Take this shirt
Polyester white trash made in nowhere
Take this shirt
And make it clean, clean
Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing
Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn
Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist
Take this mouth
So quick to criticise
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss
Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn
Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean
This love is like a drop in the ocean
Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, tell me now
Why the dark before the dawn?
Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own,
no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break
Yahweh had found us around that table. Often we don’t know the why of the dark before the dawn but we can see clearly when the sun rises. Where the mouths of our kids had been quick to criticize earlier… the kiss of Yahweh had done its work. Reconciliation. Redemption. Restoration.
As I tucked my ten year old into bed she took out her Bible like she often does at night and read a couple Psalms, highlighting them as she finished. “Dad, when I get old I want to have this whole book highlighted.” The kiss of Yahweh certainly will make your soul sing.
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For the assignment, our family headed to Nerstrand Big Woods State Park to do some hiking. It was our first official family hike since our youngest was born (we have a two-year-old and an eight-month-old). We weren't sure how long it would last with the little ones, but we were on the trails for over an hour. Our two year old walked on his own for almost the entire hike! That was cool for Mom and Dad.
ReplyDeleteBut there are some other things about the day that we found even more cool. As we hiked down into the valley to see the waterfalls, there were signs posted every so often explaining different things about the area. One of the signs told of how the glaciers had created that valley some 20,000 years ago. My first thought was how amazing it was that glaciers had been at that very spot where I was standing. It made me think of how much the earth has changed, yet God has stayed the same. He has seen all of these changes, had His hand in it all, and yet was still interested in being out on that hike with me and my family on Sunday morning. That was cool.
My second thought about the sign was related to the comment of 20,000 years ago. I was taught in Bible college that time really goes back some 4000 to 6000 years ago to the times of the patriarchs, Adam, etc. Yet we hear other places that the earth is tens of thousands if not millions of years old. So we pondered that for a while.
Later in the walk I was standing in the path, baby in arm, looking up at the towering trees above, and I HEARD a tree squeaking as it swayed in the wind. That was eerie. I didn't know that trees made noise outside of their leaves rustling in the wind. I told my hubby to listen to it. He heard it too and told me that when he had been hunting earlier this year he heard a tree howling (or something like that). It kind of freaked him out at first. He thought it was a deer huffing at him, but there were none around. That made me think of how scripture talks about how creation groans as it awaits the coming of our Lord. I guess I thought it was speaking figurativly. Maybe not.
The biggest hightlight, though, was the freedom I felt in being able to seek God - or have Him seek me - on a Sunday morning outside of a church building. It was so freeing to get up and go on a family hike, spend time in creation, walk with God, be amazed at the work of His hand, and not feel guilty for not being at church! It reminded me that we are free in Christ! Don't get me wrong - I think corporate worship is great and important, but this reminded me there are other ways to worship.
Very cool Sara. It won't be long and you will be asking those two little ones to slow down becuase they are hiking faster than you and Brian can keep up!
ReplyDeleteFrom Cissy and Tom:
ReplyDeleteThe assignment was simple enough: “On Sunday morning I would like to invite you to get into God’s world and allow him to find you.” The purpose was to allow God to find me outside of the church building and for me to find God outside of the church walls. Tom and I talked over dinner the night before and decided that we would attend church and have Laura attend Sunday school – our typical Sunday worship experience.
On Sunday morning, I woke a little later than usual. I sipped my coffee and read my morning devotional. And then I prayed, “Dear God, I give this day to you.” As the morning progressed, I kept glancing at the clock, 7:30am…8:00am...8:15am, surely my family would wake any minute. We needed to get ready for church. I was so surprised, since Laura was awake by 7am most mornings. On rare occasions she slept until 8. And then it hit me, God had other plans for our day. I prayed that God would guide our day and open our hearts to his plan.
Laura woke up at 9:10 and Tom followed a few minutes later.
He groggily asked “What about church?” I responded “Can we get out the door in 5 minutes?”
He raised his eyebrows and the expression on his face inquired if I was serious.
“I think God has other plans for our day”, I said. “How about going out for breakfast and checking out the indoor park at Edinborough?” Tom added “How about feeding the ducks in Shakopee afterwards?” God had planned our day and it was sounding like a lot of fun!
We quickly got dressed and ready for our adventure. Laura chose our breakfast destination, McDonalds. Over breakfast, we explained to our 5 year old daughter the purpose of our assignment. She blurted out, “God isn’t here, He is at church.” Over eggs and hashbrowns, we talked about God being everywhere (omnipresent). Laura loved hearing that -- and knowing that God is with us no matter where we are.
We drove to the Edinborough park. We had never been there and had no idea what to expect.
Upon arrival, my immediate reaction was a place filled with exuberant children of all ages and relaxed looking adults. As Laura and Tom played, I looked around at the people. There were grandparents & parents & other adults interacting with children. What a beautiful sight. Families were picnicking at the indoor tables, chasing one another on the playground equipment, playing basketball in the gym, and snuggling on the many benches available. God created so many families, some of whom were black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Native American and a beautiful blend of multiple races. There were children with physical and mental disabilites, climbing, jumping, and sliding – some with the assistance from an adult or older child. These people who God created were having a great time with one another and we were all together in one building. I really enjoyed the sense of community I felt Sunday morning surrounded by these happy, relaxed families.
On Sunday, God found us experiencing time as a family – having child like fun at an indoor park. We were not interrupted by phones, emails or the busyness of life. We were climbing ropes, sliding down slides and throwing basketballs. Afterwards, we drove to Shakopee and fed the ducks. We came home, made popcorn and watched a movie cuddling on the couch. As a family, we talked more about God on Sunday than we usually do. Yes, God’s plan was much better than ours.
Theresa said...
ReplyDeleteSteve, Sara and Cissy, thanks for sharing your experiences. Sunday found us in church. I came hurting and fearful of what the future holds. God tapped me on the shoulder where I have my tattoo of a dove. When I think of the tattoo, I have always remembered The Holy Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove. Sunday, God reminded me of the rest of that passage of Jesus's baptism in Luke 3:22. "You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you."
Tap, Tap, Tap...
A voice from heaven said: Theresa, YOU are my beloved and with you I am fully pleased. Now, go into the world and don't be afraid.
On Sunday my sister-in-law and I hosted a family bridal shower for our niece Katie. This was the way the "assignment" of a church without walls - with women of many different ages and stages played out for us (or at least the women folk)...
ReplyDeleteMy personal prayer for this Sunday gathering of women (and girls), was that God would find all of us in very meaningful, Spirit guided conversations around love & marriage +
Don't you think God oftentimes builds His church around conversation & gatherings like these? +
Yes, we did the traditional - games & gifts - but most of the day was intentionally very organic, with a lot of space for the gift of God, & one another +
As the 17 of us linked hands in the kitchen to launch the shower in prayer, I was reminded how central Bread is for truly intimate fellowship +
We ate and drank, laughed and cried; remembered and looked forward, well into the evening hours +
God showed up all over the place +