Experiential Spirituality

When our oldest daughter, Jillian, was about 5 we bought her a bicycle. It had a really cool color scheme of turquoise and white, and of course it had training wheels. Jillian is super smart and could read by the time she was 3, but bicycling was not an interest. Despite our best efforts, she never rode that turquoise and white bike. The bike sat until Jillian outgrew it, and we eventually donated this brand new, dusty bike to Goodwill. It wasn’t until she was around 10 or 11 when all the other kids in the neighborhood were riding their bikes and going places that Jillian wanted to learn to ride a bike. The other kids had the freedom that a bike gives, and Jillian wanted that too. But the thing is, no matter how many books on bikes and bike riding you read, it still doesn’t teach you to ride a bike. We had to buy Jillian a bigger bike, this time one without training wheels because Jillian was too embarrassed to use them. We spent a number of hours (without any other neighborhood kids around!) trying and falling, before Jillian pedaled her way confidently down the sidewalk.

I think our spiritual journey can be a bit like this too. Reading the Bible, classes, and study are really important to following Jesus and learning about “the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement,” as Presiding Bishop Curry calls our Church. But at some point in our spiritual journey, an intellectual approach to following Jesus isn’t enough. We are called to get on that spiritual bike and ride it.

A way we can do this is to walk with Jesus this week. Walk into that Last Supper on Thursday (7 pm) and let Jesus wash our feet. Wait awhile with Jesus Garden of Gethsemane. Watch the kangaroo court trial. Walk alongside Simon of Cyrene as he carries the cross. Hear the nails being hammered in. Weep at the foot of the cross on Friday at noon. Sit at the wake Friday evening (7 pm). Watch in wide eyed amazement as the light of Christ is brought back into the Church Saturday evening (8 pm).

I invite you to ride your spiritual bikes through Holy Week because following Jesus isn’t just something we read about -  it’s experiential.

Peace,

Brent+

With all Your Heart, With all Your Soul, and With all Your Mind

           Sometimes I am certain I am my own worst enemy. It seems to be second nature for me to assume I have not done something good enough, soon enough, with enough compassion, with enough love, or with enough thoughtfulness. I especially excel at this self-flagellation during Lent. Why should God love me, not only a sinner, but a fairly good sinner at that?

          When I was of elementary school age, in Sunday School I learned the following prayer: Thou shalt love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. These words that I command you shalt be upon your heart. Be holy unto your God. I am the Lord your God. It has  never been a problem for me to love God with all my heart with all my soul and with all my mind. I have been angry with God, confused by God, frustrated with God, terrified of God, and have wondered where on earth (or in heaven) God was. But I have never not loved Him.

          But here I am, near the end of Lent, wondering what is it about me that God chooses to love me? I am not rich; I am not famous; I hold no great influence over anyone; I am not beautiful. I am not even very organized. I could not be pious if my life depended upon it. I do not always manage to get Morning or Evening Prayer said.  Would I give up my life for Christ? I would like to think so, but don't hold me to it. So what is there about me for God to love?

          Yesterday, as I drove to Lexington in the silence of the morning, I sensed God trying yet again, to explain His love for me. Of course I know all the reasons we tend to tick off for why someone is attractive and hence deserving to be loved, are not things that matter to God. He loves me because I am one of His children, because he has known me since before I was in my mother's womb, and because I was created in God's image. God knows the number of hairs on my head. God loves me in spite of myself. God loves me, and YOU, so much that He gave His only begotten Son so that when you and I leave this world, we will make our new homes in Christ's eternal presence.

          I believe that God loves us simply because we are God's children. God loves each of us with all His heart, with all His soul and with all His mind. Yes, Jesus commands us to love our neighbors even as we love ourselves, but I also believe He wants us to love ourselves even as we love our neighbors.



         

Easter Approaches

When I was growing up, I was involved in a large, full scale production of the Easter story. Every year, the church would build a set, cast the parts, and spend months fleshing out the gospel account of Jesus’ final days. I lived for the play. We all did. Rehearsals took over our lives, choir practice became a weekly occurrence; we ate, slept, and breathed this play. 

Over my 12 or so years in the play I played multiple characters, some speaking and some not. I retold the stories of some of the major players in those final weeks of Jesus’ ministry. Nothing touched me more than seeing Jesus perform miracles in a large crowd scene at the beginning of the play. The sheer amazement and joy on those characters faces when they were healed of their afflictions. 

This man, who rode into town on a mere donkey, joined by this ragtag group of men, had given them life again. They could walk, talk or see because Jesus touched them.  It brings tears to my eyes to remember those characters and how they must have felt. Renewed. Rejoicing. 

As the Lenten season gives way to Holy Week and Easter, we relive Jesus’ triumphant entrance into the city. We join the praises and wave our palms for the Most High. The joy is palpable as Jesus, the long awaited Messiah, enters the city. 

Don’t forget the same Jesus, the one who rode a small donkey into Jerusalem, is still alive. He still heals and provides. He chose this path for us. As Easter draws nearer, don’t forget that it’s all for you.  The cross, the grave, the Resurrection.