Perhaps you saw the story in the paper last week. I'm thinking about the one about the 67 year old Las Vegas woman who went missing last April. She was finally found, by her husband inside her own home -- under a pile of debris. After being reported missing by her husband back in April (that's four months ago), an extensive search was conducted including bringing sniffer dogs tinto the home and to the area immediately adjacent to it. The problem was that there was so much odor inside the home (from her obsessive hoarding) that the dogs were unable to pick up her scent. Apparently Billie Jean James had been in the room she called her "rabbit hole" when items squirreled away there collapsed on her.
It is a sad story. It must have been a sad existence. But there are others who have died beneath the weight of their hoarding.
Most of us are not in danger from that kind of hoarding. We are much more in danger of stockpiling resentments, grudges, slights and our own misguided perceptions of others. These kinds of things are everywhere: in traffic, when someone gets the promotion or position that we think we deserved, when someone doesn't do the job our way, which is of course much better. We find them when someone gives us bad news about a budget cut or layoff, ends a relationship, takes advantage of us or uses us for their own ends. You see this list could go on and on.
There is a piece of our humanity that leads us to hoard these offenses. We might take our anger out on a family member or other innocent party. We might be cool to someone and keep them at a distance. We might choose not to make the first move to greet that other person, or secretly hope they "get what is coming to them." We might be angry or sad most of the time. Our friends might notice that we are withdrawn, moody or distracted.
You see, these are the signs of human hoarding of emotions, resentments, slights and perceived injustices. These are the signs that we are slowly being smothered under the weight of emotional hoarding.
These things are better let go of than stored away. If you think you've been mistreated, deal with it directly in terms of a conversation (no e-mail or texts of this kind of stuff). Maybe it won't be resolved, but it is healthier than hoarding. For many things, it is better just to let them go. To walk away. To "dump" them in to a journal or letter that is then destroyed. To move on with your life.
In the end refusing to let go and walk away from the resentments and offenses that we want to hoard, will harm our spirit and leave us under the control of another.
Paul gave this advice in Colossians 3: "Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you."
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
September, 2010 Sketchings
“’JOURNEY 2 RENEWAL’: A SUMMARY!!”
I thought it appropriate to provide a summary of my part of our “Journey 2 Renewal.” While you are getting bits and pieces of this wonderful time, it seems helpful to share with the whole of Morning Star some of ways in which I believe this time has made an impact for my life and ministry.
First of all, however, Teresa joins me in saying a great big “Thank You” for this time away, this time to renew, this time to journey to places we really never dreamed of seeing. What began as a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip actually opened up our dreams to a lifetime that will include more travels into this wonderful, engaging and interesting world.
My activities included reading, personal travel and reflection, attention to my spiritual, emotional and physical self, relationships with my God and my family and a three-week tour “In the Footsteps of Paul.” I also was able to worship with area and regional congregations and connect with my mentor and accountability partners.
My major “goal” was to enter into a new season of “being” – “well being”, being present and being claimed by God’s grace. In the reading of Paul, my travels and the slower pace of these weeks, I believe my spirit has been calmed and buoyed at the same time. I find myself able to find the quiet depths of my inner self and to enjoy ministry with a different pace and focus. An active and tangible result of this season of being has been the formation of some new relationships with a “spiritual guide” and a new set of ministry / mentor partners. I believe these new relationships will help me continue to grow the seeds planted during “Journey 2 Renewal.”
These “popcorn” observations also help share a perspective on Journey 2 Renewal:
“GOD” PROMPTING:
My reading of Paul and his ministry, along with the ease with which tour participants “testified” to their faith, challenged me to ponder the whole idea of “testimony”, both my testimony to my faith and my testimony to Jesus as the Christ. (I blogged about this theme earlier.)
LEARNING “NUGGETS:
Most of the Apostle Paul’s work was not in Greece (Philippi, Athens and Corinth). Rather it was in Turkey, mostly in the parts of Turkey that we did not visit.
Turkey and the areas of Biblical History have a long been the center of political conquest with at least 9 different conquering empires over human history.
SURPRISE OPPORTUNITY:
A visit to the Science Museum of MN’s interesting and informative exhibit of the “Dead Sea Scrolls” and the “St. John’s Bible”. I saw the St. John’s Bible exhibit in Omaha, but it was meaningful to see it linked to the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Please know that from time to time I will be sharing more of my learning and observations. I hope you’ll be open to sharing yours as well.
T. O. M.
I thought it appropriate to provide a summary of my part of our “Journey 2 Renewal.” While you are getting bits and pieces of this wonderful time, it seems helpful to share with the whole of Morning Star some of ways in which I believe this time has made an impact for my life and ministry.
First of all, however, Teresa joins me in saying a great big “Thank You” for this time away, this time to renew, this time to journey to places we really never dreamed of seeing. What began as a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip actually opened up our dreams to a lifetime that will include more travels into this wonderful, engaging and interesting world.
My activities included reading, personal travel and reflection, attention to my spiritual, emotional and physical self, relationships with my God and my family and a three-week tour “In the Footsteps of Paul.” I also was able to worship with area and regional congregations and connect with my mentor and accountability partners.
My major “goal” was to enter into a new season of “being” – “well being”, being present and being claimed by God’s grace. In the reading of Paul, my travels and the slower pace of these weeks, I believe my spirit has been calmed and buoyed at the same time. I find myself able to find the quiet depths of my inner self and to enjoy ministry with a different pace and focus. An active and tangible result of this season of being has been the formation of some new relationships with a “spiritual guide” and a new set of ministry / mentor partners. I believe these new relationships will help me continue to grow the seeds planted during “Journey 2 Renewal.”
These “popcorn” observations also help share a perspective on Journey 2 Renewal:
“GOD” PROMPTING:
My reading of Paul and his ministry, along with the ease with which tour participants “testified” to their faith, challenged me to ponder the whole idea of “testimony”, both my testimony to my faith and my testimony to Jesus as the Christ. (I blogged about this theme earlier.)
LEARNING “NUGGETS:
Most of the Apostle Paul’s work was not in Greece (Philippi, Athens and Corinth). Rather it was in Turkey, mostly in the parts of Turkey that we did not visit.
Turkey and the areas of Biblical History have a long been the center of political conquest with at least 9 different conquering empires over human history.
SURPRISE OPPORTUNITY:
A visit to the Science Museum of MN’s interesting and informative exhibit of the “Dead Sea Scrolls” and the “St. John’s Bible”. I saw the St. John’s Bible exhibit in Omaha, but it was meaningful to see it linked to the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Please know that from time to time I will be sharing more of my learning and observations. I hope you’ll be open to sharing yours as well.
T. O. M.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Long Slow Rains and Spiritual Growth
Today, Tuesday 8/17, was one of those days when there were showers and rain all day long. From last evening and through the day and on into this evening there was pretty much a steady light to moderately heavy rain.
Being out and about today took me back in my memories to similar days as a child. This time of the year, a day long rain was somewhat of a luxury. It marked a time to take a break in the routines of farm life. It was a time to catch up on mending broken equipment, fixing fences, running errands, preparing for the fall harvest as well as tending to relationships with neighbors and family and even have the luxury, perhaps, of an afternoon nap. I remember day long rains with a certain amount of fondness, a warm reflective feeling in my being.
While today didn't actually provide a farm type break, it did provide a mental/spiritual/emotional break from a long string of hot days, some of them unbearably so. It did provide a respite for lawns and soil cracked with thirst. It did offer an opportunity for a slower pace going from here to there -- the streets were extra slick for some reason and the resulting accidents slowed the pace of traffic -- sometimes. It did provide an opportunity for this reflective moment of fond memories of my feelings on days gone by.
My reflective moments took me, actually, to some thoughts about how this kind of rain is so good for the thirsty earth. Unlike most of the rains this summer that came in such downpours that much of the water ran off. The earth was no more able to drink in all that moisture than you or I are to grab a thirst quenching drink from the proverbial fire hydrant. But this rain is different. The earth can drink up most of this nectar from the sky. The lake has hardly risen, the creek remains within its banks. My back yard is not a lake. The earth is swallowing the gift of the rain at about the same pace as it is falling.
Somehow, my spiritual growth follows this same pattern. When I find myself "dry" (so to speak) sometimes the mountaintop experiences aren't satisfying long term. When I find myself dry I don't find a downpour to be particularly refreshing. What refreshes is the long, slow, steady work of the Spirit, the never failing but enduring love of God and sipping from the Word of God. What brings growth and fruit is the consistent day by day attention I have to the presence of God in the everyday, routine surprises in life.
I was blessed by the rain today. I was blessed by the showers of God's love and grace. I was blessed by fellowship with other Christians. I was blessed to be able to drink up God's presence at a pace that didn't overwhelm me. As a result, I've take another step in the gradual process of being a little less of me and a little more of Him.
The rain showered on you today. God's love and grace showered on you to. And you took another step in the process of this adventure we call life and faith. I hope your step was as wonderful as was mine.
Being out and about today took me back in my memories to similar days as a child. This time of the year, a day long rain was somewhat of a luxury. It marked a time to take a break in the routines of farm life. It was a time to catch up on mending broken equipment, fixing fences, running errands, preparing for the fall harvest as well as tending to relationships with neighbors and family and even have the luxury, perhaps, of an afternoon nap. I remember day long rains with a certain amount of fondness, a warm reflective feeling in my being.
While today didn't actually provide a farm type break, it did provide a mental/spiritual/emotional break from a long string of hot days, some of them unbearably so. It did provide a respite for lawns and soil cracked with thirst. It did offer an opportunity for a slower pace going from here to there -- the streets were extra slick for some reason and the resulting accidents slowed the pace of traffic -- sometimes. It did provide an opportunity for this reflective moment of fond memories of my feelings on days gone by.
My reflective moments took me, actually, to some thoughts about how this kind of rain is so good for the thirsty earth. Unlike most of the rains this summer that came in such downpours that much of the water ran off. The earth was no more able to drink in all that moisture than you or I are to grab a thirst quenching drink from the proverbial fire hydrant. But this rain is different. The earth can drink up most of this nectar from the sky. The lake has hardly risen, the creek remains within its banks. My back yard is not a lake. The earth is swallowing the gift of the rain at about the same pace as it is falling.
Somehow, my spiritual growth follows this same pattern. When I find myself "dry" (so to speak) sometimes the mountaintop experiences aren't satisfying long term. When I find myself dry I don't find a downpour to be particularly refreshing. What refreshes is the long, slow, steady work of the Spirit, the never failing but enduring love of God and sipping from the Word of God. What brings growth and fruit is the consistent day by day attention I have to the presence of God in the everyday, routine surprises in life.
I was blessed by the rain today. I was blessed by the showers of God's love and grace. I was blessed by fellowship with other Christians. I was blessed to be able to drink up God's presence at a pace that didn't overwhelm me. As a result, I've take another step in the gradual process of being a little less of me and a little more of Him.
The rain showered on you today. God's love and grace showered on you to. And you took another step in the process of this adventure we call life and faith. I hope your step was as wonderful as was mine.
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