Being is Desiring...

"Desire is often talked about as something we ought to overcome. Still, being is desiring: our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our souls are full of desires. Some are unruly, turbulent, and very distracting; some make us think deep thoughts and see great visions; some teach us how to love; and some keep us searching for God. Our desire for God is the desire that should guide all other desires. Otherwise our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls become one another's enemies and our inner lives become chaotic, leading us to despair and self-destruction.

Spiritual disciplines are not ways to eradicate all our desires, but ways to order them so that they can serve one another and together serve God."

- Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

I have gone through extended phases in my life where I believed (or was led to believe) that all my desires were wrong. This led to a false sense of fear and and overwhelming feeling of worry. This idea that all desires were wrong desires led to me to believe that if I was content or happy doing something, it was not of God. I got this warped idea that if it wasn't difficult, it wasn't the right path. These things are simply not true and not of God.

Our desires can be a really good thing. A desire to please God that permeates our existence will redeem and reorder other desires that are, as Nouwen put it, a little "unruly" and slightly irrational. The desire and the need for love and community and support is not a bad thing. A desire to make a lasting impression in the world is not a bad desire. Even the desire for another person is not a bad thing. When all of our desires come under our ultimate desire to love God and love people, they are generally good and most certainly of God. God does desire to give us "the desires of our heart" as long as those desires are in keeping with His one desire for us (Psalm 37:4). And what is that but that we know Him and make Him known to others? Far better than we do, He knows our heart's desires and what we need. Let us trust Him to guide us and, in turn, trust ourselves to walk.

Unshakable Confidence

The title for the blog comes from a phrase I picked up from our reading of The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. Those two words have been following me around for the last several days. I cannot escape that phrase - unshakable confidence - and everything it implies. To have a confidence that cannot be shaken requires a great deal of trust and belief. Unshakable implies that this confidence is unwavering, unchanging, unswerving, unflinching, immovable, and steadfast. All of these words seem impossible until we consider that our confidence comes from one whose love for us was/is all of those things.

Manning also shared this quote from Marjorie Kemp, "More pleasing to me than all your prayers, sacrifices, and good works is that you would believe that I love you." And I would add to that simply this: Believing with unshakable confidence that God truly loves us will always call forth love in our lives. We have not fully received God's love if it does not grow in us a desire to share that love with others. Love calls forth love...always.

Words...

In case you haven't noticed, most of the blogs posted here are inspired by other people's words. I have a deep appreciation for prayers and quotes from saints - past and present. I also like the occasional movie or television quote that makes me think or laugh. I am relatively sure I can call up a quote for just about any occasion. In fact, as I talk to people I often find myself thinking of quotes, verses, or songs that describe them (or what they are talking about at the moment).

All of this got me thinking that it might be fun for us to word-share. This is your opportunity to share a quote, prayer, poem, or passage that inspires you or brings you joy. Share anything (tasteful, of course) - sacred or secular.

Wisdom from Thomas à Kempis

"Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good. Love alone lightens every burden, and makes the rough places smooth. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God, and can rest only in God, above all created things.

Love flies, runs, and leaps for joy; it is free and unrestrained. Love gives all for all, resting in One who is highest above all things, from whom every good flows and proceeds. Loved does not regard the gifts, but turns to the Giver of all good gifts."

- The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis (1380 - 1471)

Open Our Eyes, Lord

We have just returned from a week in inner-city Memphis for a mission trip. It was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. All week long, I was reminded of that old praise and worship song Open Our Eyes, Lord.

Open our eyes, Lord

We want to see Jesus,

To reach out and touch Him,

And say that we love Him.

The words to this song have always haunted me. On more than one occasion, I have found myself near tears and wanting to stand up in the middle of a worship service and ask if we really meant the words we were singing. Do we really want to see Jesus? A lot of times He is dirty, cold, hungry, and thirsty. Is that the Jesus we are looking for these days?

That is certainly the Jesus we look for when we are on a mission trip. On those trips, we see Him everywhere. We see Him in the 24-year old woman we worked for who is struggling to raise her four children and many of her own siblings. We see Him in the hundreds of families who have made the commitment to live in inner-city Memphis and love their brothers and sisters who are broken because they are broken, too. We see Him in the older man who lives in an abandoned car wash that smells of urine and beer. He wakes up each day shaking violently, desperate for a drink. We saw Him everywhere.

We are home now. Are our eyes still open? This is where it counts. It is not enough to go out and serve one or two times a year. It has to translate into the everyday. This is not to diminish the work done last week (and throughout the year through Service Over Self). But it is fleeting if it only lasts for a week or so here and there.

Jesus is all around us - always hungry, thirsty, dirty, cold, and broken. Sometimes in the most unlikely places. He is in that woman you see everyday at work who seems to have it all together. Or maybe in the man who holds it all together each day for his family, but is dying inside because of some secret addiction. That child who feels isolated and unloved at home and at school. Sometimes he looks like a friend or family member who is just having a bad day and stands in need of extra encouragement. And yes, sometimes He looks just like what we saw last week in inner-city Memphis.

There are times when the hunger is physical. There are just as many times when it is a spiritual hunger. There are times when the best thing we can do is offer a cup of water. Then there are times when the thirst can only be satisfied by Living Water. Sometimes the dirt is noticeable and real. Other times it is hidden in the recesses of our hearts. There are days when the need is for a coat to bring warmth. Many days the need is for listening ears and the warmth of a smile and a hug at just the right time. We encounter Jesus in our everyday. Will we recognize Him? Sometimes the task is like the one we tackled last week - a mission project. Most days it takes the form of the mundane - hospitality, encouragement, listening, courtesy, availability.

There's this old quote that I love. I wrote it out for my mom years ago and she still has it on her bulletin board at home. I wrote it in a fun sort of font because that is the way I understood it then. It carries new meaning today. The quote reads, "People see God everyday, they just don't recognize Him..." (Pearl Bailey). Oh, that we would open our eyes and see Him, reach out and touch Him, and say that we love Him...everyday.

This is Jesus

I have always loved the excitement that surrounds Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. I remember waving my palm branch with everything I had as a child. In the church where I grew up, our Associate Pastor "looked" like Jesus (keep in mind that I was no more than 8 years old!) and always rode on a real donkey through our makeshift Jerusalem. We would shout "Hosanna!" as we waved our palm branches at the coming King. I - along with all my little friends - always got caught up in it all. I am pretty sure I thought our Associate Pastor was Jesus for at least part of my childhood!

I imagine the scene at that first Palm Sunday was not unlike the ones I remember so vividly from my childhood. The background was different, as Jerusalem undoubtedly looked and looks nothing like North Little Rock, Arkansas! But the reaction of the people to Jesus' entry wasn't much different than that of the children and adults who gathered each year at my home church to celebrate together.

In Matthew 21:1-11, we see Jesus received as a King as he enters into Jerusalem. He comes riding in like royalty and the people spread their coats ahead of Jesus, waved palm branches, and the crowds were shouting praises at Him.

"Hosanna to the Son of David!"

"Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Hosanna in the highest!"

Matthew tells us that the "entire city of Jerusalem was stirred as he entered" (v. 10).

"Who is this?" they asked.

"This is Jesus..." the crowds replied.

This is Jesus. That phrase jumps right of the page for me every time I read this passage. A powerful statement made by a crowd of people who knew not what they were saying. Sure, they greeted him with a response fit for a King and all the fanfare that implies. They "understood" that he was King, but they did not really understand what kind of King. They missed it...and we often do, too.

The paradox of the Kingship of Jesus Christ is that he is the humble king. Royalty, yes...but not the kind the people expected. This King was born to die a death not fit for a king. His was to be an everlasting Kingdom, ushered in by the most surprising and shameful of means. Death on a Cross. This first Triumphal Entry is but a prelude to the Passion of Jesus Christ. His life, death, and resurrection accomplishing the unimaginable for the people of Jerusalem and countless generations to come: eternal life.

Yes, this is Jesus. Humble King. Obedient Son. Lord and Savior.

Indeed, "Hosanna!" is what we should cry with the crowds. For this phrase literally means, "God save us!" And this is what He has done for us.

So, as you approach this Palm Sunday, ask God to open your eyes to see this Jesus in a new light. Experience Palm Sunday as one who knows the rest of the story. The story of redemption, restoration, and new life that awaits on the other side of the Passion.
But stay a while at Palm Sunday and let the experience of that first one and this one really register. This is Jesus. Behold, your King and Savior!

A Lenten Prayer

Almighty God, merciful Father, and my good Lord,

give me heart-piercing goodness and humility...

Help me to love You and pray to You,

praise You, and meditate upon You.

May I act and think in all things according to Your will,

purely, soberly, devoutly, and with a true and effective mind.

Let me know Your commandments, and love them,

carry them out readily, and bring them into effect.

Lord, let me go on with humility to better things

and never grow slack.

- St. Anselm, Prayers and Meditations

This prayer appeared in a Lenten Reader I received last year. I thought it was a beautiful prayer and worth passing along to you. Make this your prayer during this Lenten journey...