Category: Kim’s Blog

A New Year’s Plea

We are told that when Solomon becomes king of Israel, God appears to him in a dream and says, “Ask what I should give you.” [See I Kings 3:3-14] Wow! An open invitation from God. For anything. That beats three wishes from a genie! It would probably take me the rest of my life to figure out what to ask for! What is just the right thing? Is there a trick to this? Can’t you imagine machinating over this endlessly? What would you ask for?

In the story, we are told that Solomon says, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” An understanding mind, able to discern between good and evil. What an answer! Wouldn’t this benefit anyone not just a king?

As the new year begins, we may be thinking about the proverbial resolutions or intentions for the year ahead. What are we thinking about as this new year begins? A new car? A diet? To be more organized? To get more exercise?

When Solomon asks for a discerning mind, the story includes a comment from God that Solomon has not asked for riches or long life or the heads of his enemies. Because he has asked wisely, his request will be granted. He will be given a wise and discerning mind.

The story about Solomon and his encounter with God may give us some guidance as we think about our desires for the new year. We can begin this new year with a prayer like Solomon’s making our plea: Give to your servant an understanding mind able to discern between good and evil.

Happy New Year!

The choir recently sang a spirited anthem entitled “Come Flood This Heart of Mine.” It is a wonderful prayer for God’s love to fill our hearts and our lives. The piece is rather fast and many things going on in the music. You feel the flood of sound and energy when you hear it.

This Advent season, we have been preparing ourselves to receive God’s gift of love to the world in Jesus. We have reflected on the importance of Jesus for our lives and the life of the world. In this season, we get ready to be flooded with God’s love.

But maybe we don’t feel the rush of love and the wash of joy. There may be circumstances in our lives and in the world that make it difficult for us to open ourselves to be flooded with God’s love. Perhaps stresses and cares leave us feeling isolated. Our hearts may shrink with heaviness and grief. But love does not need a huge opening. It does not need a gateway. It does not even need an invitation. Divine love sneaks in, and seeps in, even where there may be no apparent opening.

As Dr. Seuss reminded us, we can’t stop Christmas from coming. Maybe it will be flood, maybe only a trickle or a drip, but divine love will make its way into our lives and into our world, with or without our help. Tidings of comfort and joy!

For reflection: Think of a time you have witnessed a flood of divine love.

Prayer: Christmas is almost here. Are we ready? Will we ever be ready? Can we be ready? To accept the outpouring of love that is given to the world in Jesus? While we may or may not be ready, God does not depend on our readiness. Love comes! May we take joy in that promise whatever our circumstances. Amen.

This evening we read The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever out loud. It has always been one of my favorite Christmas stories though I have not read it for years. As usual, it did not disappoint. It was still laugh out loud funny in places. The Herdmans, the family with the bad kids who steal, and hit, and smoke, and set fires, were as bad as ever. The church people were just like church people can be. And in the course of things, you see that the Christmas story has meaning for the “good” people and for the “bad” people. It changes and transforms all people.

In the Christmas story with the shepherds, angels, special pregnancy, no room at the inn, the barn and the animals, and then the version with the wise men and Herod, there are many points of access for all different kinds of people.

That is Jesus. He has a message for “bad” people, and for “good” people. His teachings and his life touch us one and all; even people who are not Christian or church oriented. With Jesus, there is something for everyone and no one is left out. So, it is not surprising that Christmas has become the most celebrated holiday in the world.

But I am wondering where Santa, the reindeer, the elves, and the stockings, hung by the chimney with care, fit in. The holiday of shopping, shopping, shopping and buying, buying, buying just doesn’t seem to go with the poor baby born in the barn and placed in the feeding trough to sleep. The Santa holiday leaves people spent and often in debt. The Christmas stories in the Bible invite us to think in new ways and to have hope in the future. You don’t need any money to receive the gifts offered by the stories of Christmas and the teachings of Jesus. It is all freely given. May we be grateful recipients.

For reflection: When you think of Jesus, do you think of him as poor? How does that impact your image of Jesus?

Prayer: We give thanks for the stories of scripture and the way they invite us to see life differently. Jesus is portrayed as a very real person engaging the pressing issues of his day. May our faith give us hope and direction for the conditions of our day. May we see how the Gospel speaks good news of great joy for all people. Amen.

In loving memory of

Cassandra Barnes, Anthony Belcher, Charles Berrier, Joe Boatman, Steven Bowen, Timothy Bryan, Ruby Butler, Steven Buszinski, Bruce Christy David Cooney, Henrietta Dickson, Johnny Hicks, Patricia Hill, Randy Howell, Raymond Johnson, Lloyd Jordan, Steven Kirby, Daniel Krufka, Glenn Livingston, Zachary Loughlin, Alan Mason, Edward Pederson, Elma Probeck Reames, Lawrence Rowe, Kyle Schlittenhart, Dennis Showard, Michael Sproul, Matthew Stewart, Ronald Sullivan, William Thornburg, Theresa Turbak, Bradley Tutwiler, Mary Jane Veerman, Fred Waters, Walter Weaver, Jr.

These are the names of the homeless people who have died in our area in the past year. They were remembered at an Interfaith Memorial Service for the Pinellas County Community Sunday Dec. 21 at 5:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown St. Petersburg. There were several additional names added of people who had died just that weekend.

The Memorial Service in St. Pete was part of a national memorial held each year on Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year. Or, as we were reminded at the service, the longest night of the year.

To me, the solstice is the shortest day of the year. The limited daylight makes me feel like I have to get everything I want to get done in a shorter time because once it gets dark, I think of being done for the day. To me, darkness is a time to leave work behind, read, wind down, go to sleep in the comfort of my warm bed with a dog at the foot of the bed keeping my feet warm. It’s a time to sink into those luscious hours of dreaming.

But as I learned at the Memorial Service, for homeless people December 21 is the longest night of the year. This means more hours of cold to endure outside. It means less time to see what you are doing without the aid of artificial light. It means more time vulnerable and exposed as a potential victim of violence. More darkness means more fear and more discomfort for those who are homeless.

As we approach the celebration of the birth of Jesus, we remember that he teaches us to see in a new way. Jesus teaches us to see things from the perspective of those who are vulnerable, weak, and outcast. He teaches us to see through a lens of justice and compassion, rather than self interest and privilege. When we see the world through the eyes of Jesus, we see the stark honesty of love, beauty, terror, and pain.

For reflection: Think of one example of how have you come to see life differently because of Jesus.

Prayer: In the Christmas story, we are told that there was no room at the inn so Jesus was born in a barn. May we have eyes to see those who are not welcome. May we see those who feel outcast. May we be sensitive to those who feel they do not belong. With our eyes open, we can help to create a world that is a safe home for all. Amen.

This is the time for the winter solstice. The shortest day of the year. The day with the fewest hours of sunlight. At least it is so for those on our part of the earth. These shortened days make me want to go to bed early. As soon as it starts to get dark, I am ready to pack it in for the day. Productivity can be severely reduced. Longer sleep can mean more dreams which may be good or disturbing.

The light is shortened, but it is not gone. Somewhere the light is shining. Even if only briefly. That is what Christmas says to us again and again each year. The light shone in the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it.

We experience darkness in so many ways. Maybe the health issues of age make life dark. Maybe the responsibilities of caregiving hover like a cloud. Maybe economic uncertainty casts its gloom. Maybe guilt or regret cause a dimming. The condition of the world and what feels like ever escalating violence feels like darkening gloom. The crisis of global climate change can feel very dark. Grief and betrayal may darken our days. Addiction can feel dark. The future may look bleak. There are many ways that our days may seem darkened.

Christmas, with lights on the tree, lights on the house, lights in the yard, lights in the windows, and candles aflame, bears witness that the darkness cannot overcome the light. The light still shines. Maybe seemingly far off. Maybe dimly. But it shines.

Jesus reminds us once again to look for the light. Acknowledge the darkness, but seek the light – from within yourself, from others, from God. No matter how dark it is, the light is still there.

For reflection: When have you felt enveloped by darkness? What darkens your days?

Prayer: Jesus is the light of the world. No matter where we are, geographically, spiritually, emotionally, Jesus is light. That light is shining, somewhere, somehow. We pray for the will to look for the light and to let the light of goodness, peace, and love illumine our lives and the world. Amen.