The Dust of Lent

One of the benefits of being involved up at Holy Infant is you build relationships with guys beyond the normal "How 'bout them Cardinals?"  Most of you know, I was involved with CRHP last year, and one of those relationships that sprang from those efforts was with Tyler Nienas.

I've known Tyler through the years from knowing Jon and Sheryl, and some involvement he had as a teen in youth group, and as a seminarian.  Tyler left the seminary during his discernment for his vocation and it was during this searching period that I invited him to come to CRHP with his dad.  It was an amazing experience.  Not just to see the bond between father and son, but to see the man that Tyler is becoming.

His love of the church and admiration for her history is inspiring.  When this 22 year old kid was preaching to a group of old soccer dads, I couldn't help but picture the scribes all huddled around Jesus, who at a very young age was sharing revelations.

Tyler would be the first to tell you that the comparisons between him and Jesus stop there, but I see the call in him.  As Tyler continues his journey, he shared with me something he wrote for Lent.  I convinced him to read it so I could make a quick video.

Here is that video.  I hope you enjoy the wise words of this young man as much as I do.  As we struggle through this season, let's not forget that we have strength in numbers.  We are one united body in Christ.  Pray for Tyler, for God to continue to use him as He sees fit, and for Tyler to be ready should that call come.  Let us also encourage each other to stay disciplined and humble as we wait for that glorious Sunday to come.

Slow Fade

From Casting Crowns Song "Slow Fade"

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid

When you give yourself away 

People never crumble in a day

Daddies never crumble in a day

Families never crumble in a day

This past weekend we here in the US celebrated Valentines Day - a wonderful time to express and demonstrate the love between a man and woman.  Flowers, dinner, chocolates, heart shaped cards with poetic verse and rhyme.  My wife and I spent an evening out together to reconnect and tap into that love once again.  My buddy Jim wrote a wonderful tribute to his bride over at the Vibrant Catholic Marriages Blog. 

Also this weekend our pop culture offered a different view of a relationship between and man and woman in the form of a movie based on a popular book.    The fact that I don't have to mention the name speaks to the attention it has garnered, and the power and enticement it has engendered.  The slow but persistent metamorphosis of the worlds definition of love has now led us to the point where a mainstream movie - one my 16 year old daughter can go see without my knowledge or consent - is normalizing the thought of a loving, lasting relationship containing elements of physical and emotional sexual abuse. 

Black and white has indeed turned to grey.

What do Elephants got to do with it?

How did early man come to know a Creator or to even conceive of One, an Awesome God?  Ritual dating back as far as 70000 B.C. evolved to rites of passage, thanksgiving, reconciliation and eventually to sacraments following the introduction of Judaism and Christianity.  Beside the desire to find meaning …, what evidence led early man to consider a Creator?  What preceded the developmental questions of superstition and faith?  Why of course, the earliest revelation, and by far the richest, is creation and we’re in it! 

Nature preceded all biblical records and religions.  Her elegance, magnificence extends beyond comprehension. From infancy, humanity continuously uncovers numerous laws translating them to symbols and mathematics to describe nature’s characteristics and to harness her many resources.   Tribes discovered something “beyond” and “inside” their humanity through their shared observations, experiences, and journeys.  The great “I Am,” the Spirit breathed life into all beings, all creatures, the plants for the harvest, light birthing new life in Spring, darkness inviting reflection in Winter, and the cycles of life through to death and beyond. 

Have we surrendered our powers and openness to observation? 

THE TINY WHISPER

by Fred Vilbig

After destroying the prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18, a great story by the way), Jezebel, the evil queen of Israel, sought the life of Elijah the prophet. Elijah fled to Mt. Horeb. Mt. Horeb was the same mountain where God appeared to Moses and revealed His Name. When Elijah got to Mt. Horeb, he hid in a cave. God called him out of the cave, and He said that He would pass by.

As Elijah waited, a strong wind came, so strong that it “rent the mountain, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord.” But God was not in the wind.

Next came an earthquake which shook the mountain. But again, God was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake, fire swept across the mountain. But again, God was not in the fire.

But after the fire, Elijah heard a still, small voice, a whisper. When he heard that, Elijah hid his face. He knew that God was in that whisper.

I know people who have heard the voice of Jesus or Mary. These are called locutions. I, myself, have never experienced that, but I believe that others have.

In my prayer, I experience God as a quiet Presence. You could say that I feel Him more than anything. It is a very subtle thing. Some might accuse me of making this up or projecting it, but it is such a powerful Presence which I experience sometimes at such odd times, I find it hard to think that it is something that I am imagining. It seems to originate from outside of me ... or maybe from deep within me.

We can easily drown out that Presence. Our modern society does all that it can to distract us from it with TV, radio, cell phones, iPods and iPads, billboards, and all other kinds of noise and distractions. If we want to come to know God, we need to silence all of these distractions and listen for that still, quiet voice.

If we think about it, it’s fitting that God comes to us as a still, quiet voice. God is all-powerful. He is also irresistibly attractive and beautiful. I believe that once you see God, you must either flee Him (which is hell) or be drawn irresistibly to Him. If He were to reveal Himself to us in this world, I think that our free will would be impaired if not even lost. How could anyone resist the most wonderful, perfect, and beautiful Person in all of existence who could perfectly fulfill all of our hopes, dreams, and desires? In a very real way, if He were fully to reveal Himself, we could not love Him because love must be a free response. A forced love is not a real love. So only by veiling Himself from us and revealing Himself to us in a very limited way can we freely choose to love Him. And that is really the only thing that He wants from us ... our love.

So in order to give us the freedom to love Him, He comes to us in a still, small whisper. Listen for it.

The Balance of Life

As I get older, I start to realize that the pace of life has picked up a bit.  We have the ability to get information instantly.  We can play any song, get directions, or reply to your boss’ email in minutes.  As Brooks from Shawshank put it, “The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry.”  We try to improve our productivity at every turn.  Find a better more efficient route.  Preprint you boarding pass.  Microwave that pre-made dinner.

Why?  We all have the same number of minutes in a day.  Why are we racing through them at such a torrid pace?  Somewhere, someone has convinced us that if our days are not hectic, if our schedules are not filled, that we are lazy.  We are not living up to our potential, and striving for excellence.  You don’t want to be the guy who still has his Christmas lights up come February 1st.  I mean have you seen the athletes on those Gatorade commercials?  I need to have that kind of drive and passion!

The United States of America on average works more hours, takes less vacations and view those who work the longest hours to be the most dedicated.  Some say it’s the price to pay for success.  Studies prove this not to be the case.  In fact, when looked more closely as to why American’s are so addicted to being busy, it has less to do with ambition, and more to do with the anxiety of what they will face in it’s absence.  We are no longer comfortable being still.  We have come to find comfort in the stimulations and the distractions, and have learned to avoid living a more authentic life that values reflection and examination of self.

People now brag about how busy they are.  The satisfaction from bragging provides the same pleasure sensation that we derive from food or money.  Bragging about being busy has become a new unconscious habit.  Our new status symbol isn’t that Jag or Rolex.  It’s that we are booked solid for the next three weeks.

Is this what God is calling us towards?  Do you think He is impressed when he looks at your full calendar and watches the way you rush about your days?

Exodus 14:13 Moses tells his people to “Fear not, and stand still.”  When Jesus compares Martha’s work ethic compared to Mary’s adoration, who is told they are missing the mark?  Matthew 11-28 “Come to me all who labor and I will give you rest.”  This does not sound like a God who is cracking the whip, but one who is calling us to simplicity.  Being a workaholic, coaching every kid’s sport while washing the cars and edging your lawn might make you think you are achieving and providing.  But what are you achieving?  Stress, anxiety, burnout?  Do you find yourself turning on the TV or staring at your phone, trying to slow down and find peace?

God is not the one hoping to keep you busy and distracted.  He is calling you to fight through your pride and proving to the world how important and popular you are and clear your schedule.  Have a week where you say no.  Be proud of how blank your calendar is.  And spend all of that time finding a way to sit still.  Quiet all of the voices in your head running through your to do list and reminders.  There is peace waiting for all of us.  And in that stillness, He is there.