Author: lakewooducc

What’s on your Christmas list? What gifts would you like to receive?

Some years ago, Bill Parsons, a Russian history professor, hosted a guest from Russia for several weeks. She was working with him on the Two St. Petersburgs Project. She had a son the same age as ours. We talked with our son about sending a gift home with this mom for her son. Something special from Florida. Our son had several toy plastic alligators. We decided this would make a good gift. We got the alligators together to choose one. The largest was probably about 2 1/2 feet long. The smallest maybe 10 inches. Our son chose the largest one to give to this child in a far off country. We were impressed. That was his favorite and the one he played with the most. And he chose to give it away.

When we presented the gift the eyes of our Russian friend got wide and she very politely said that she could not accept this gift. She said that is was simply too big. They lived in a very small apartment and there wasn’t room for something so big. A smaller alligator was selected, given, and received with relief and gratitude.

I think there are some good lessons here – about accepting limitations. Being honest. Not taking on too much. This holiday season can be a time of excess. Too much eating. Too much shopping. Too much drinking. Too much activity and frenzy.

We are told in the New Testament that Jesus led a simple life, materially. He didn’t own much. He could carry what he owned. He didn’t have property and possessions to take care of, maintain, and store. By living in a materially simple way, he was free to be generous, to be compassionate, to enjoy time with friends, to appreciate nature, and to serve. It’s important to remember the connection between the openness and availability to live an abundant life and material simplicity.

Of course, Jesus was also known as a glutton and a drunkard! And for hanging out with friends in low places! [Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34]

Reflection: Think about how you are creating space in your life for love, compassion, meaningful relationships and service. Are there ways to keep the tidal wave of activity this season at bay? Are we making time for what is most important?

Prayer: In this hectic season, may we pause, reflect, listen, and see the meaning and beauty around us and within us and others. May we not overstuff our bodies or our homes. May our consumption be gentle to the earth. In our pursuit of the Jesus life may we find true freedom. Amen.

Today is World AIDS Day. It’s a poignant day. A time to remember all those who have died from HIV/AIDS; an estimated 40 million people worldwide. A time to remember all those who are living with the virus. It is estimated that there are 1.2 million people in the US living with HIV/AIDS.

In the years since the 1980’s when AIDS erupted on the US scene we have learned a lot about the disease. But the disease has also taught us much. We have learned about prejudice. We have learned about how prejudice influences funding. We have learned about how prejudice fosters unfounded fears. We have learned about how prejudice affects access to health care. We have learned about stereotyping, and ostracizing, and stigmatizing. I suspect things would have unfolded much differently with HIV/AIDS if the first population hit in the US had been white, male, heterosexual CEO’s!

When it comes to sickness and prejudice, Jesus tried to teach some of the same lessons that we have been shown by HIV/AIDS. In his day, people thought illness and disabilities and birth defects were divine punishment for sin. Jesus rejected that idea. People who were sick were thought to be bad in some way. That’s why they got sick. So others stayed away from them. They were bad. They were unclean. You didn’t want to associate with disreputable types. If you were sick or had a disability, you were sidelined, pushed off to the margins of the community. Jesus rejected all of that. Stories in the gospels tell of crowds of people coming to Jesus for healing. He did not send them away. He had compassion on them. All of them. Regardless of ethnicity, religion, citizenship, income, gender, sexual identity, age, or culture. Sounds like universal health care!

For reflection: Can you think of a time when you were not well and you felt that you were treated in a degrading manner? Or ignored? Or did not get the proper care? Have you found yourself resisting reaching out to someone who is sick or dying? Maybe by giving this some thought, we will see some of our prejudices and work to eradicate them.

Prayer: We think of Jesus having compassion upon all who were sick, or disabled, or dying. May we realize that healthcare is not a privilege but a right and should not be contingent upon income or location. As Christians we pray for the courage to overcome our prejudices and fears and blanket the world with compassionate care. Amen.

Shock. Surprise. Bombshell. Cataclysm. Upheaval. Disruption. For us, these words usually refer to something bad happening. A couple was killed in a car accident involving a drunk driver on their way home from Thanksgiving dinner. This caused shock. Surprise. It was a bombshell to the family. A cataclysm. A source of upheaval and disruption in the lives of loved ones.

Advent, too, is about shock, surprise, a bombshell, a cataclysm, causing upheaval and disruption. Love breaking into the world, stirring things up and turning things upside down is a drastic unexpected turn of events.

Jesus, a poor peasant from a one stop sign town, was a complete surprise as a messiah. Not a first born son from a prominent, prestigious family. His ministry hit Israel like a bombshell.

While we may not like the way things are, we certainly don’t like change. And the birth of Jesus is about change. Scripture tells us that God does a new thing. The very origin of Jesus is an unexpected beginning for a messiah and it goes on from there. He heals whoever comes regardless of religion or ethnicity. That offends some. He criticizes the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. That stirs up others. Things eventually come to a head in the crucifixion. Jesus was far from universally loved and lauded.

In this season of lengthy darkness, cold stark nights, and short, frosty days in many climates, when things seem stark and bare and still, Advent signals a revolution. An upheaval that calls us away from our inner darkness to the light of healing love for ourselves and the world.

This year at Lakewood UCC the theme is “Give me Jesus,” the line from the spiritual. Jesus is the gift to the world that we celebrate at Christmas. Given the present state of things, we are mindful that to ask for Jesus is to ask for trouble – upheaval, disruption, shock, and surprise. It is also a plea for joy, wholeness, justice, and peace.

For reflection: How does the gift of Jesus rock your world? What kind of change and disruption come with the Jesus life?

Prayer: We yearn for healing. We long for peace. We want to see an end to injustice. We share these hopes and dreams with Jesus. We pray for the courage and vulnerability to receive the divine love bestowed upon the world in Jesus. Amen.