There once was a critical spirit. It found its way into the hearts of believers--important ones, high up in their churches, outspoken in their profession of all things Christ.
All things Christ except one: redemption.
People hosting a critical spirit demand unbrokenness from their friends and family. Their embrace does not find room for the different story. They are sure God could not possibly be working in a situation that has an alternate path to the one we are supposed to follow, the one that somehow got broken.
They are so sure they know God that they decide He can't possibly be taking something, someone, or a set of someones who live amidst truly broken and fashion a new and wonderful thing that in the end, will reveal a powerful, transforming Christ that we dismiss in our piety.
It is no accident that the Father threw open His arms for the prodigal son, while the pious brother looked on in contempt.
Only brokenness needs redemption, and we are the lost ones when we decide God is not in a situation because it looks...too broken.
The critical spirit wants us to remain high on our pious horse, looking down at all things unsuitable for our embrace.
Funny how the super pious hosting the critical spirit need Jesus even more. The beautiful broken already know Him.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength.com.
18 May 2013
16 May 2013
Why Do We Need God?
The madhouse we make with our tiny army isn't the only one.
We live in our madhouses of thoughts that collide with God's best, made with our "yes" to temptation.
We live in our madhouses of fear, anxious for everything, made with our refusal to hand over all of our troubles to God.
We live in our madhouses of circumstances, made with our overindulgence and lack of self-restraint. The tiny army that rules us is our too busy and our too overextended.
Some of these madhouses God blesses us with; others we move into on our own.
Either way, we need Him to step in and rule.
The good news--the crazy news? He wants nothing less than to live in our madhouse(s) with us.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength.com.
15 May 2013
The Astounding Miracle of Compassion--Day 3
On Day 1, we asked:
In all honesty, I sometimes begin a series here without knowing its destination, its conclusion. It is a day-by-day investigation I hope is directed by God.
Last night, my daughter sent me the link to Judith Shulevitz' article, The Lethality of Loneliness, which I read this morning. It took my breath to think that at the heart of this Feed Your Strength series might be the singular subject of loneliness and compassion as its antidote.
Shulevitz surveys research over time that concludes that "loneliness, a social emotion, can reach into our bodies and rearrange our cells and genes." It is that life-changing. She notes that what God wants for us is not to be alone.
Whether we are physically alone, alone in our thoughts, or alone in the fact that no one will substantially listen, loneliness requires not just the company, but the compassion of another.
Jesus was so intensely connected to each of us that He hung on a cross to make His compassion a fulfillment of Scripture. He modeled compassion at the highest level so we might be encouraged to offer it in ways that answer the loneliness around us.
No wonder compassion is such a hard-fought notion. It requires energy, resources, inconvenience, and self-sacrifice.
But then again, it saves lives.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength.com.
Why continue alone?On Day 2, we explored this thought:
Do people tell us superficial stories, hunting for a person who will genuinely listen, and through that listening, validate us and help up grow toward the light?"Grow toward the light" is a biological response of plants. Faith-based research points to improved health results when we pray, even when we gather in community to worship. In essence, we grow toward the Light, the reality of God.
In all honesty, I sometimes begin a series here without knowing its destination, its conclusion. It is a day-by-day investigation I hope is directed by God.
Last night, my daughter sent me the link to Judith Shulevitz' article, The Lethality of Loneliness, which I read this morning. It took my breath to think that at the heart of this Feed Your Strength series might be the singular subject of loneliness and compassion as its antidote.
Shulevitz surveys research over time that concludes that "loneliness, a social emotion, can reach into our bodies and rearrange our cells and genes." It is that life-changing. She notes that what God wants for us is not to be alone.
Whether we are physically alone, alone in our thoughts, or alone in the fact that no one will substantially listen, loneliness requires not just the company, but the compassion of another.
Jesus was so intensely connected to each of us that He hung on a cross to make His compassion a fulfillment of Scripture. He modeled compassion at the highest level so we might be encouraged to offer it in ways that answer the loneliness around us.
No wonder compassion is such a hard-fought notion. It requires energy, resources, inconvenience, and self-sacrifice.
But then again, it saves lives.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength.com.
14 May 2013
The Heroes of Compassion--Day 2
I almost never get it right.
Listening to someone's story without telling my own right back.
On the rare times I remember--and exercise the willpower to stay quiet--I am potentially a hero of compassion.
If I concentrate on the storyteller's words and hear his or her heart, without racing through the archives of my life to find a suitable comeback tale of my own, I have the potential to speak kindness and empathy into this person who has trusted me with a life story.
But, you argue, she's just commenting on what she did last night, or her new diet, or her new favorite book, or...
Why can't I tell my version right back?
Oh, you can. In fact, most of the time, you will.
But what if, by telling you the superficial stories, she is wondering if you are the person for whom she has been hunting--a true listener, a true hero of compassion?
Compassion, conveyed well, promotes the storyteller to a new significance. Someone cares about me enough to listen so maybe, just maybe, I am worth something.
Every moment we feel significant, we grow, like a plant, toward the light. We step into life with a little more heart and enthusiasm. In that moment of someone's true listening, we have become known.
Jesus, of course, is the ultimate Hero of Compassion, always listening, always elevating us to significance simply because we are fearfully and wonderfully made by Him. We are so known by Him because He created every fiber of our being.
Are you a potential hero of compassion today? A storyteller might need your listening heart.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
Listening to someone's story without telling my own right back.
On the rare times I remember--and exercise the willpower to stay quiet--I am potentially a hero of compassion.
If I concentrate on the storyteller's words and hear his or her heart, without racing through the archives of my life to find a suitable comeback tale of my own, I have the potential to speak kindness and empathy into this person who has trusted me with a life story.
But, you argue, she's just commenting on what she did last night, or her new diet, or her new favorite book, or...
Why can't I tell my version right back?
Oh, you can. In fact, most of the time, you will.
But what if, by telling you the superficial stories, she is wondering if you are the person for whom she has been hunting--a true listener, a true hero of compassion?
Compassion, conveyed well, promotes the storyteller to a new significance. Someone cares about me enough to listen so maybe, just maybe, I am worth something.
Every moment we feel significant, we grow, like a plant, toward the light. We step into life with a little more heart and enthusiasm. In that moment of someone's true listening, we have become known.
Jesus, of course, is the ultimate Hero of Compassion, always listening, always elevating us to significance simply because we are fearfully and wonderfully made by Him. We are so known by Him because He created every fiber of our being.
Are you a potential hero of compassion today? A storyteller might need your listening heart.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
13 May 2013
The Conduit of Compassion--Day 1
My assistant principal walked to the 6th grade classroom to escort "Jennie" to the office, accused once again of stealing.
I will never forget the lesson I learned.
As Cathy headed her back to the office, she answered something urgent within herself. "Jennie, may I give you a hug?"
Jennie nodded yes, and even before the hug was over, began confessing all she had stolen.
Compassion has a name: Jesus.
When we allow ourselves to be escorted by Jesus, even to the places where we need to confess--especially to the places where we need to confess--Compassion leads us to freedom from the weight of sin, anxiety, doubt and fear.
Jesus offers hugs first, and then, safe in His embrace, we allow Him to untangle the world's traps into which we have entered.
Is there a weight you carry? Are you punishing yourself for it?
If you trade that misery in for the "scary" walk to the office, you'll find the embrace of Jesus on the way.
Why continue alone?
Tomorrow: heroes of compassion.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
I will never forget the lesson I learned.
As Cathy headed her back to the office, she answered something urgent within herself. "Jennie, may I give you a hug?"
Jennie nodded yes, and even before the hug was over, began confessing all she had stolen.
Compassion has a name: Jesus.
When we allow ourselves to be escorted by Jesus, even to the places where we need to confess--especially to the places where we need to confess--Compassion leads us to freedom from the weight of sin, anxiety, doubt and fear.
Jesus offers hugs first, and then, safe in His embrace, we allow Him to untangle the world's traps into which we have entered.
Is there a weight you carry? Are you punishing yourself for it?
If you trade that misery in for the "scary" walk to the office, you'll find the embrace of Jesus on the way.
Why continue alone?
Tomorrow: heroes of compassion.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
12 May 2013
Dear Young Moms
Today is your day. Some sweet things will happen for you today, even though the myriad of to-do's will have to be woven in since young motherhood knows no holiday.
As I am on the look back side of things, here is my wish for you:
Love yourself, not just today, but everyday.
When you botch it--which you will--take a moment in front of a mirror and say out loud, "I forgive myself." Then no voice can tempt you to endlessly replay your mistake.
Love yourself even when you know you've made a mess of things.
When you nail it--and you will--take a moment and thank God for that spoonful of sturdy that you can add to your skillset. Grow in sturdy for the days ahead.
Love yourself with thanks when you get it right.
I am surrounded by an incredible group of young moms. The most beautiful part of their joint journey is their humility and encouragement with each other. No one has it right, but they all have victories they celebrate together.
No one has it wrong either--so they pick each other up, dust each other off, and move forward...together.
The sisterhood of young motherhood is a God creation that is simply stunning for its energy, camaraderie, and compassion.
You would never, for a moment, want your children to live in doubt of who they are, wonderfully and fearfully made in God. You are their model for growing into that.
Why you more than dads? Because you have thousands more words per day and as women, we are brutal toward ourselves with some of those words. That is not unnoticed by little eyes and ears.
Today, yes, sweet things will happen. But what I care about more is that you help each other protect your greatest strength for the years ahead...cultivating a genuine love and acceptance of who you are. Your children will love themselves as you love yourself.
You, will, by loving yourself well, reveal to your children the very image of God--unconditional love not just for your family but for yourself.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength.com.
As I am on the look back side of things, here is my wish for you:
Love yourself, not just today, but everyday.
When you botch it--which you will--take a moment in front of a mirror and say out loud, "I forgive myself." Then no voice can tempt you to endlessly replay your mistake.
Love yourself even when you know you've made a mess of things.
When you nail it--and you will--take a moment and thank God for that spoonful of sturdy that you can add to your skillset. Grow in sturdy for the days ahead.
Love yourself with thanks when you get it right.
I am surrounded by an incredible group of young moms. The most beautiful part of their joint journey is their humility and encouragement with each other. No one has it right, but they all have victories they celebrate together.
No one has it wrong either--so they pick each other up, dust each other off, and move forward...together.
The sisterhood of young motherhood is a God creation that is simply stunning for its energy, camaraderie, and compassion.
You would never, for a moment, want your children to live in doubt of who they are, wonderfully and fearfully made in God. You are their model for growing into that.
Why you more than dads? Because you have thousands more words per day and as women, we are brutal toward ourselves with some of those words. That is not unnoticed by little eyes and ears.
Today, yes, sweet things will happen. But what I care about more is that you help each other protect your greatest strength for the years ahead...cultivating a genuine love and acceptance of who you are. Your children will love themselves as you love yourself.
You, will, by loving yourself well, reveal to your children the very image of God--unconditional love not just for your family but for yourself.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength.com.
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