Broken then Given--That's Our Calling

 A friend pointed me to Henri Nouwen's book, Life of the Beloved. In it, he writes to an unbelieving friend and his friends on how to live a spiritual life in a secular world. I resonated with it because I've been writing a study group curriculum on how to survive work using the Sermon on the Mount. Outside the church, it's not an easy life. We dread work. We're consumed with endeavors that earn money so we can pay bills or pay for leisure activities.

Nouwen describes the spiritual life in a secular world as: Taken, Blessed, Broken and Given. This parallels, obviously, the last Passover meal--Seder--Christ shared with His disciples before the Crucifixion. He took bread. He blessed it. He broke it. He shared it. During the ceremony, He says, "Take, eat. This is My body." Or as Luke records His words, "This is My body given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." These latter words are echoed in Paul's writings, notably 1 Corinthians 11, as he chastises people who won't share food at the Lord's Potluck.

In many places in the Greek scriptures, the universal church is described as the body of Christ. "We are His body..." 

If Christ's own earthly body was taken, blessed, broken and given, should we not follow our Lord and Master similarly? Perhaps we need to learn what it means to first be Taken (chosen) among a pile of matzah bread. Realize we are blessed (hence the beatitudes for the poor in spirit, those who mourn, are merciful, peacemakers, and so on). The hardest may be surrendering or submitting to be broken so that we might be a blessing to others, when our lives and resources are shared or given away. Might we already be broken by loving and serving our families, our neighbors, our community, our colleagues in different venues--that our gifts, talents, resources are divided in order to serve His people, His precious creation?

This feels like a lifelong journey, and one Nouwen acknowledges he's also still learning.

Bakery bread rack (c) 2016 author

Closed Door or Satanic Hindrance?

 In a recent group discussion, the leader half-jokingly mentioned that his survey of our relationship with Christ must be really good because "Satan was hindering the printing of it, causing a lot of printer problems." I half-jokingly replied, "Maybe it was God trying to close the door 'cause it's not necessary."

In both 1st Chronicles and 2nd Samuel, there's an account recorded of King David taking a census. In one passage, it is Satan that provokes David to take the census. In the other, it is God that creates the provocation. It's not that a census was bad. Moses conducted a few. Solomon later takes a census. But King David's census makes God angry and David has to choose a punishment.

Whether an obstacle is a satanic hindrance or a providential obstacle, we won't know unless we ask. Paul relates that he was hindered by the Spirit from entering certain regions (Acts 16.6-7). In a lesson on godliness, I used this definition of ungodliness: not considering God as being a part of our life or being consulted on what we should do or be. Without God's input, we might interpret any circumstance against our own desires. I randomly dealt some cards, hoping for hearts and dreading getting clubs. I got 3 hearts and 3 clubs and a combination of the other two suits for the last 3 cards. Could I say that 3 hearts was a success? Could I say that 3 clubs was a defeat? Could I say that the hearts are from God and the clubs from Satan? Any of the answers are just interpretations based on my own desires and preferences. I might be called double-minded because I won't listen to God's input when I pray, but only my own conclusions--or seeking a second opinion if I don't like God's diagnosis. As James warns, God won't talk if we won't listen. 

We have to consider God's input before we know if we need to persevere through a closed door--"knock and it will be opened--or leave it closed. Ask and the answer will be given. Seek and you will find God's diagnosis.