Is it Time for Change of Heart?

My college-prep seniors and I have been studying Dante’s Inferno.  Yesterday, we studied Circle Seven, Canto 13: Suicides. For good or ill, Dante relies on his theological and religious upbringing as he explains that these sinners end up in hell because they threw away God’s gift to them: Life.   According to the analytical commentary, these sinners, overwhelmed by discouragement, gave up, which is why Dante basically labels them as cowards.  Dante’s stance, based on his theology, is that violence towards self is the antithesis of courage.

My purpose here is not to debate Dante’s Inferno, nor is it to debate the eternal destiny of suicides.  The oppositional forces of discouragement and courage are what caught my attention.  Ever curious, I am the intellectual version Alice whose insatiable quest for deeper understanding leads her to further faith pursuits once she falls through the rabbit hole.

My first task was to look up the definition of courage.  The most popular, worldly definition of courage is fearlessness and bravery.  However, courage is much more than that. It is the “quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty,” and “strength in the face of grief or pain.”  “Courage” originates from the Latin, “cor,” meaning “heart.”  Thus, courage is the condition of the heart.  

The definitions demand a momentary pause of personal accounting.  Where are our hearts and minds when pain and grief are present? Are they caught up in the whirling tornado of circumstance, or are they firmly fixed in the eye of storm?

As I continued to process what I had read, I came to the conclusion that a person has to choose one or the other:  Discouragement or courage.  The two cannot co-exist, much like fear and faith cannot.  Those who are discouraged have lost sight of the Source of courage and hope. For Christians, courage is found only in Christ.  Likewise, when trouble arises, we are called to courage because Christ is strength, hope, and power. 

Thus it is completely appropriate to say that Abraham, David, and Daniel had courage.  In Genesis 22, we read of Abraham’s ultimate test of courage:  The sacrifice of his son.  For three agonizing days, Abraham traversed the desert with Isaac and his servants, to the location God had chosen for the sacrifice.  The unbelievable task had to have weighed heavily on his mind and heart throughout those three days. Nevertheless, according to what we read in the Bible, Abraham never wavered; his heart and mind were firmly fixed and committed to God. When Isaac asked about the lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son”(Genesis 22:8).  Abraham's courage was His God. 

When David arrived at camp, the situation looked grim.  Saul’s army was discouraged as the Philistines and their giant warrior, Goliath, seemed to be kicking their butts.  The puny, youngest son of Jesse seemed like a fool when he chose to call out the giant, refusing armor and choosing a slingshot as a weapon.  While David’s bravery and fearlessness are often the focus of the story, they are by-products of a courageous heart, rooted in God.  David reveals the source of his courage when he says to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. . .All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands” (I Samuel 17: 45-7). David's courage was His Lord.

When Daniel opted to follow God’s rules versus the king’s rules, he was treated to a seeming one-way trip to the lion’s den. Even though the king lost sleep during Daniel’s overnighter with the big cats, Daniel calmly explained to the king the next morning: “O king, live forever.  My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.  Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.”  (Daniel 6:21-22) Daniel’s courage was His King.  

In all three examples, their hearts were focused on God, not their circumstances.  Thus, when life is miserable, we have no excuse.  We have access to the same Power Source as Abraham, David, and Daniel.  We are called to courage just as they were; the choice in ours.  When our hearts are focused on God, our hearts trust in His purpose more than the circumstance. 

Similarly, “encouragement” is another word that capitalizes on the idea of courage, as it is the root or (literal) center.  Thus, when we offer encouragement to others, we share our hearts, our Source of Life with others. 

¹⁰ So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

¹¹ “All who rage against you
    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
    will be as nothing and perish.
¹² Though you search for your enemies,
    you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
    will be as nothing at all.
¹³ For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.

Isaiah 41:10-13 

Want God's Will? Then, Cast the First Stone

Over the weekend, we camped at Split Rock Creek State Park. By comparison, it is a fairly mundane state park in the middle of bluff country.  If you are reading between the lines correctly, that means it is a state park that is out in the middle of nowhere, and there is nothing to look at. . .with one exception. 

           

As my husband and I and another couple explored a trail near the campground, we came across the Split Rock Creek Bridge (see picture).  It was a WPA project that was originally built in 1938.  Other than a little added mortar, the bridge has remained largely untouched, which makes it an impressive and beautiful engineering masterpiece. 

           

As we examined the bridge, we talked of the men who must have made it.  More than likely, unemployment and hunger were the two ties that brought them to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In joining the CCC, they earned their meals by completing an honest day's work.  The result of the WPA and the CCC's efforts is many of the wonderful landmarks that we enjoy today.

           

I'm no engineer, nor am I a construction worker.  As ornery as I am, I admit that I am a wuss when it comes to physical labor.  Sure, I can split wood or haul dirt for a while, but I can't imagine the kind of effort that was involved in unearthing, moving, lifting, and securing the stones in a bridge such as the Split Rock Creek Bridge. 

And to think. . .it all started with one stone. . .to which another was added. . .and another.

As God has been reminding me lately, that's how faith works too.

As Christians, our earnest and sincere prayer is often this:  "Dear Lord, please show me Your Will for my life."  We want God to show us the big picture so that we do diligence by making helpful and productive choices along the way.  Our hearts are in the right place. This is not a bad prayer, by any means, but we are missing the point.

The end result of God's Will is not our accomplishments, but who we are.  Building Christ-like character is the end goal. When we have achieved that, accomplishments don't matter, because all of our choices and actions flow from the relationship we have with the Father.  The kick in the pants is that building Christ-like character is (usually) a slow, step-by-step process, which is based on one decision at a time.

And each decision involves one, simple choice: Obedience.

"And Jesus said, if any man wants to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23). Knowing and following God's Will for our lives involves the denial of self and obedience to God's promptings. The phrase, "denial of self," in its most practical terms means consciously setting aside whatever is rooted in self (physical or emotional comfort? pride?) that may cause us to say no to God at any given moment. 

"His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. . .God is not working toward a particular finish; His end is in the process - That I see Him walking in the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. . God's training is for now. His purpose for this minute, not for something in the future" (Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest). 

Thus, God's Will for our lives is revealed at the moment of obedience.  God's Will is the process, not the end. Each time we choose obedience to His promptings, we are, in fact, in the center of God's Will. There are at least three added bonuses each time we choose obedience to His promptings. First, we experience the peace and joy that come with living a life by faith not sight.  Secondly, we move one step closer toward Christ-like character as we choose to live and act in the way He demands, and best of all, we grow in our relationship with Christ.  In order to be obedient, we need to tune our ears to His still, small voice.  As we listen and obey, we, again, know, understand, and love Christ more deeply. 

I am sure that the prospect of building the Split Rock Creek Bridge was daunting to the CCC workers at first.  The stones were so large, and there were so many of them; but one-by-one, each stone was moved, fitted, and secured in just the right place.  The result is a beautiful bridge that has withstood the wear and tear and storms of life. 

The most daunting decision we must make on a daily basis is whether or not to obey.  When we do, God's Will is in motion, and the end result is always something more beautiful and enduring than we could have ever imagined. 

The Parable of Pops in the Park

Life is a series of Polaroid moments in which the greatest truths of this earthly life are dispensed.  Wisdom awaits those who are attentive to these moments.  At least, this is true for me and reflects the way my mind works.  

I was reminded of this fact again while my husband and I attended church at our local state park.  The ecumenical church service occurs every Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and it is hosted by a local Lutheran church.  Since nature (the services are outside unless it rains) is the best church sanctuary (in my opinion), we like to attend this service periodically throughout the summer.

New this year is communion.  Due to the fact that several members of the host Lutheran church prefer to attend this service, communion was probably added at the members’ request, but it’s a nice addition for visiting campers as well.

The reason I relay all this information is because my husband and I had front row seats to the communion line.  Due to where we had chosen to sit, we had no choice but to “people-watch” as the queue moved toward the wafer and wine.  

One couple, in particular, caught my eye.  Presumably married, the two did the Mom-Pop sandwich (“Junior” was between them) as they inched their way toward the pastor; Mom was in the front, and Dad was bringing up the rear.  It sounds pretty typical, but this mom and pop were in their late 80s and “Junior” was in his late 50s or early 60s, and he had Down Syndrome.

The Polaroid moment for me occurred as Pops and Junior were negotiating the sloping and uneven landscape. Pops reached out to grab the back of “Junior’s” shirt in an effort to stabilize his son along the precarious hillside. As you imagine the moment in your mind’s eye, I’m sure you are thinking what I was thinking; negotiating the hillside was every bit as dangerous and difficult for Pops, but true to form, Pops was more concerned about his son’s safety than his own.

The wheels in my head started turning. My husband and I are at the point in our lives where our children, 21 and 19, still require parenting, but they are, in many ways, independent. Sure, they make mistakes, and the trial and error process yields as many successes as failures, but they are making their own decisions.  Likewise, our kids still need us, but in a different way, and all of us are adapting to the new-found freedom that accompanies their independence.

For a child with Down Syndrome, there is independence in small doses and according to a different scale; dependency, however, is a way of life. Likewise, for parents of children with special needs, active parenting is a lifelong commitment. It might not sound like a big deal until one actually thinks about it. For most parents, an investment of 20-25 years of active parenting is required, and then, the adult child typically starts the process with his/her own family.  For a parent of a child with Down Syndrome, parenting is a full-time job for life. 

Even though my husband and I are several years from retirement (and are not in any hurry to get to that age), we still have “when-we-are-retired” conversations, in which we imagine days and activities which will be strictly of our own choosing.    

As I watched Pops and Junior shuffle along, I tried to put myself in Pops’ place. I don’t know Pops, nor do I know anything of his life or experience, but I imagine that Pops’ “golden years” have been very different from his contemporaries.  Even so, as evidenced by his non-verbal interaction with his son, Pops is, first and foremost, a dad.  His job is, and has always been, to care for, love, and watch over his son.  If asked about life, I imagine him shrugging his shoulders and saying, “I have no complaints.” In fact, I imagine him pulling up a chair, grabbing a cup of coffee, and saying, “Let me tell you about all the blessings.”

Pops and Junior brought tears to my eyes – not because I felt sorry for them, but because I felt ashamed of myself in comparison.  My daughter has been a real pain in the butt, making questionable choices, hanging around questionable people, and challenging the values in which was raised.  At times (ok, many times), I have been on my knees – tears of exasperation rolling down my face and with a raw heart turned inside out- alternately confronting then pleading with God over this kid.  I’ll bet Pops has been there too (minus the histrionics). 

The truth is that our life circumstances – that includes the kids (as well as the lack of them) with whom we have been entrusted – are allowed by God.  We each have a job to do for Him, and we each have been equipped with gifts, talents, and temperaments to complete that/those special, unique, and personalized jobs. 

I Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.”

I Corinthians 12: 4-6 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”

Thus, those jobs. . .A) Bring glory and honor to the creator, B) Advance the work of His kingdom, and C) Grow our relationship with Christ by molding our character.

Pops and I each have had different rows to hoe in life.  It’s ok, though, because our Dad in Heaven IS the Mom-Pop sandwich; He plows the path for us and brings up the rear. Whether we feel it or not, He grabs the back of shirt, stabilizing us as we navigate the hills and valleys of life.  

And based on the Polaroid moment that I saw today, it seems Pops has a pretty cool reward coming.

Matthew 5: 5, 7, 8

“Blessed are the meek, For they will inherit the earth

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy;

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” 

It is finished. You lose. Go home, Satan.

“Father, Father, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

“Please forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

“I tell you the truth; today, you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

“Dear woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.” (John 19:28)

“I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

According to Scripture, these are the last recorded words of Christ before His death. As I read through each of them, it seems to me that Christ was working through the stages of grief, but even in His final moments, He was showing us how to deal with the tragedies and hardships of this life.

As He cries, “Why have you forsaken me?” we see brokenness, heartache, loneliness, and depression. He had lived blamelessly on this earth, and yet, there was the shock of being abandoned.

 I think it’s safe to say that we have all been there – at the bottom of the barrel, crying out to God, feeling abandoned and/or generally ripped off.  Although most of us would be ashamed to admit it, we angrily shake our fists at God: I have tried to do my best for you.  Why are you punishing me? Where are you? Why are you allowing this to happen to me?

The truth is that God owes us nothing and gave us everything – including Himself.  Even so, to hear Christ utter these words is assuring.  He knows the exactly what it feels like to be human and in the depths of despair.

Rather than wallow in His own misery, Christ shows us the importance of turning away from the inward focus on self to the outward concerns of others.

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”(Matthew 26:36-40)

Even while facing physical death, Christ seized the teachable moments concerning love, empathy, and compassion. 

“Please forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Even while being tortured, humiliated, and mocked, Christ didn’t whine; He interceded on their behalf and asked God to forgive His persecutors - us.  

Then, when one of the robbers recognized his degradation and repented, Christ didn’t hesitate to address the convict’s need. He said, “I tell you the truth; today, you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Likewise, although his suffering was great, Jesus considered His earthly mother and brother: “Dear woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.” (John 19:28) As a mom, the worst possible earthly experience that I hope to never endure is burying a child. As bad as that is, I can’t imagine having to stand there and watch my child die a slow, painful, and humiliating death as well. Here, Jesus seems to put himself into His mother’s shoes as He gently reminds His mom and brother that they need to comfort and support each other.

“I am thirsty.” (John 19:28) This seems like an odd thing for Christ to say in His final moments.  It’s not so odd that He might, indeed, have physical thirst; however, in considering all that He is enduring, it seems low on the totem pole of immediate concerns. On a practical level (and as I was reminded at church last night), Christ uttered these words because it fulfilled Scripture. For generations to come, there would be no doubt as to who Christ really is and what He did. 

In addition, recognition of need precedes change.  We have to recognize that we are, indeed, thirsty in order to seek and find living water.  If we continue down the path of thinking that we don’t need God and can take care of business on our own, thank-you-very-much, we will continue to walk in circles and/or into one dead end after another. 

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) In His final moments, Christ submitted Himself to the Father, knowing full well that the present circumstances were a necessary and miserable stepping stone to vast, eternal joy. Relief could only be found by allowing God’s good and perfect plan to run its course. 

Likewise, for us, acceptance of our need and submission to the Father is where true joy, purpose, and fulfillment can only be found. Rarely does any human discover this truth in any other way other than the hard way.  For most of us, we find the word, “submission,” to be distasteful as it makes us sound weak and powerless.  Going our own way may bring us temporary happiness, but true joy is only found in the “sweet spot” of God’s Will for our lives.  If Jesus Christ placed His very life in God’s hands – trusting and knowing that His Father had it all under control – we have absolutely no excuses.

“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Yes, the good news is that it is finished.  With those words, Christ assured that the prophecies were complete.  Most importantly, the reign of fear and impending death is done.  It’s “GAME OVER,” Satan.  You lose.  God has the victory – now and always.  Christ did what Satan never could or would; He sacrificed Himself. . . He sacrificed Himself for us. . . He sacrificed Himself to pay for the sins of the entire world so that we WILL be with Him for all of eternity.  It is finished.  Go home, Satan.

It may be Friday, but Sunday IS coming – both literally and figuratively.  This world is such a terrible mess – confusion, darkness, conflict – but God IS coming to reclaim what is His.  Sunday IS coming. God has promised it.  Jesus believed God and sacrificed His life for us.  Therefore, I trust in God’s perfect plan, I believe He conquered death and “pwned” Satan for eternity, and I am eagerly looking forward to His return.