A moment on the bright side

“Look on the bright side.” they

I probably shouldn’t, but I always get bristly when cliche phrases are said to try to make others feel better. Sometimes things are just dark, and the bright side is too far off in the distance to even imagine what could be there. But if we are in the darkness, and Jesus is the Light of the world, and Jesus is God made flesh, then the bright side would be God’s side. As I looked at this photo, from the dark side, I saw the light reaching over the mountains, reaching over to the dark side.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:4-6 (NKJV)

I may not be able to look at or imagine what the bright side is like as I am in the darkness, but knowing there is another side brings me comfort. Let me assure you, there is another side to our pain and our darkness. There is God’s side. And as I notice the light coming over the mountains, I am reminded God’s side is not separate from our side. He has a plan and a purpose for each of us and for all the events in our lives. His purpose is to draw us ever closer to Him. Pain, suffering, and darkness are a necessary part of the process. So that when we glimpse the other side, we long for it, we move toward it. We open our hearts and trust in it. And the light that may seem distant at the time can settle deeper into our hearts.

As I read the following passage this morning, I was struck by Simeon’s delight at seeing the Messiah and what must have been compassion as he tells Mary of her future suffering.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
    according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
    which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:25-35 (NRSV)

Though we may not be able to fully comprehend these things. And though it may not soften the blows of our individual suffering any more than I imagine it could have for Mary. Perhaps like Mary, we can trust the bright side, knowing the bright side is on our side.

In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:4-5 (NRSV)

A moment of dejection

The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it. Oswald Chambers

Some days are just like that though. We feel dejected uninspired and wondering “What is the point?” Those days for me, I am of not much use to anyone. If I try to confide in others, I risk the possibility of bringing them to where I am. And, “Though misery loves company.” as they say. I don’t feel it is a very kind friend that dumps on another the very dejection that we are trying to get out of. Where do we go then?

I feel I have a few choices.

I can go to someone who can be detached from me personally, who is strong at the moment in their own spirituality and can be my encourager with facts, not feelings. This is a rare friend and often hard to find.

I can look outside myself for some small contribution I can make to another person to encourage them and make their day brighter. This, in turn, will lift my spirits.

Or I can go deep. Deep into the place where that dejection first started. What was I looking for in the first place? Was it egocentric? Was I open to the possibilities of the looking for one thing and finding something else? Can I stop for a moment open my heart and see the Grace that was very likely hidden right there? Can I just be in the moment, waiting?

The moment we go deep, we are in prayer. This is where we are speaking of our dejection out loud, and we are waiting for an answer. This is the moment hope begins. We are no longer dejected we are waiting in hope for a word from the inner voice of our God.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
    more than those who watch for the morning,
    more than those who watch for the morning. Psalm 130:4-6 (NRSV)

A moment of doubt

…but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.” Luke 22:31-34 (NRSV)

There are times when our faith may fail. What then? In this scripture, Peter is puffed up and telling Jesus he will not have doubt. Jesus says “Oh, you will, but when you come back you will be strong enough to strengthen others.”

In John chapter 14 verse 6, “Jesus says I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This statement infers a lot, and we often use it as an exclusionary device for who is in and who is out. This is a statement that causes me a good deal of doubt. What if Jesus is not THE Way? What if Christians are wrong?

I am currently reading The Book of JOY. As I read, I can’t help but think that the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, in their spiritual life, are in conversation with the same creator and the same God. This opens a whole can of worms in the small box of faith I am at times most comfortable in. My thoughts start swimming around, and I start questioning lots of scriptures. This is good. When my thoughts begin to settle again, I remember what I really know for sure. God is Love. Love with us and in us translates across cultures and religions.

Personally I am a Buddhist, and I consider faith very important. but at the same time the reality is that out of seven billion people, over one billion people on the planet are nonbelievers. So we cannot exclude them. One billion is quite a large number. They are also our human brothers and sisters. They also have the right to become happier human beings and to be good members of the human family. The Dalai Lama

Jesus’ teachings focus a great deal on unity. We need to be unified with God and each other This learning is simpler, narrowed down by the claiming of Christ as the only way to God. Being united in love is much more difficult because we get uncomfortable with our differences. Jesus, in the Gospels, shows us the way to love each other and the way to love God. We love by serving and putting others ahead of ourselves. In following Christ, my faith has a focus and a purpose. The way to unity is love. My doubts are transformed when I look outside myself and offer love to someone in need.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.Philippians 4:8 NRSV

Personally, I am a Christian, and when I think about these things, I think of Christ. What do you think of?

A moment of laughter

Give me a sense of humor, Lord, give me the grace to see a joke.
To get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folk. Bob Hope

Some days are just heavy, and the weight of them is almost too much to bear. We need laughter to help release the emotions that we have been well practiced in holding back. Reading Bob Hope’s words today brought a memory back so strongly…

My mother died 21 years ago, and my heart still breaks from missing her. My Grannie passed almost three years ago, but the memory of attending her service in New Orleans recently came to me like it was yesterday. I not only mourned my grannie again, but the loss of my mother returned to the surface. My grannie had taken care of my mother through her cancer. I witnessed as she lovingly walked my mother, her child, to the end of her life.

In New Orleans, LA most burial plots are above ground, and my mother was buried in a mausoleum. Her plot belonged to my grandparents, and my understanding is there was room for three bodies, but not three coffins. When my grandmother passed, and her body was to join her husband’s and their child’s. My mother’s body was removed, wrapped and returned to the plot without her coffin. Even I, as a grown woman, had a great deal of curiosity about this whole process. So, I tried to peek into the curtain covered space. When I did, I whispered, too loudly (there is quite an echo in the corridors), “I want to see my mummy.” As you can imagine some laughed with me and others did not. But my quiet laugh turned into a fit of quiet giggles and my giggles to tears, and I felt so much better for the emotional release.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Ecclesiastes 3 (NRSV)