God is With Us

I am often asked why God allows bad things to happen.  This question of theodicy sits on the heart of grieving parents, the mind of a person who spouse was unfaithful, and on the lives of victims of violence and terrorism.  We live in a world where bad things happen every day.  Evil is present and sin abounds.  I struggle to understand why car accidents kill innocent people, why parents forsake their gay children, why sitters abuse those in their care, or why people kidnap, steal and kill.   13 years ago today, I stood huddled around a small TV in the student lounge of Duke Divinity School.  An occasional gasp or loud sob were the only sounds that broke the silence, as I stood with my classmates and wondered:   What? Why?  How? 

The truth is that I don’t know.  I don’t know.  I could attempt to explain evil and suffering and my words would fall short.  My understanding of a loving, compassionate God invites me to not answer the “whys” of life and to focus on the presence of God.  Throughout scripture, we read of God’s promise to be with us always.  The very God who knit us together in our mother’s womb promises to never leave or forsake us.  The God who calls us by name and knows the number of hairs on our head promises to be with us even ‘til the end of the age.  The God whose son was birthed into the world and called Emmanuel; God with us is the same God that through the power of the Holy Spirit we will never leave us orphaned or alone.  God in God’s great love for humanity is with us always.

St. Paul’s Chapel, an Episcopal Church was located just beyond the wreckage of 9/11.  This very building became home to rescue and relief workers for months following the tragedy.  This little chapel opened its doors and allowed the presence of God to breathe all over New York City through gifts of hospitality and a space of rest for those responding to the tragedy.   Massage therapist, musicians, podiatrist, counselors, and others with varied skills and gifts came to offer support to and help.  The walls became filled with posters and cards from all over the world expressing prayers and love.   In the midst of loss and devastation, God was there.  As they retell their story today, God is present. 

On days like today, I choose to remind myself of God’s eternal love and presence and to allow God’s presence to over shadow and overcome the questions of ‘why.’  I know that at the heart of every accident, every tragedy, and every act of terrorism there is a God of love in the midst of the people providing healing and wholeness.  And I have learned that as I focus on God’s love, I am able to choose love and start to overcome evil with good.    

 

A Required, Mandatory, Not Optional Relationship

In my work with candidates for ministry and clergy in their early years of ministry, I find myself using the phrase “required, mandatory, and not optional.”  In the UMC, we certainly have a lot of those opportunities.  One such “required, mandatory, not optional opportunity” is called RIOM.  Residency in Ordained Ministry is set aside to provide newly commissioned clergy intentional mentoring as they journey toward ordination.  The last two weeks, I have spent time with nearly 50 clergy in their 1^st or 2^nd year of RIOM, and I have been reminded that out of requirement comes blessings.

My own RIOM journey started in the fall of 2003, a new graduate of Duke Divinity School and a young pastor with her first appointment as an Associate at Aldersgate UMC.  I was a mix of emotions sitting around a table with people I did not really know and quite frankly did not think I had “time” to get to know.  What I learned was that from that table would come people who listen to me, support me, stretch me, and love me.  From that table came relationships.  From that requirement came blessing.

Ministry, marriage, parenting, and life all come with celebrations and challenges.  It is a gift to have people who share in your joys and heartaches.  I am grateful for those who journeyed with me through RIOM and for those who journey with me today.  At heart of these relationships I find life. 

 

Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.   By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13: 34-25).  A new commandment; a required, mandatory, and not optional opportunity to love others as God has loved us.  From the commandment, flows the incarnational blessing of a life giving and life sustaining relationship. 

The 2014 RIOM Launch Retreat....required, mandatory, not optional.