Noah's Ark. What a full story! I could talk about the faith of Noah, building an ark months (maybe years) before there was a flood. I could talk about the bird that brought back the olive branch, peace rising from the chaos. I could even talk about the rainbow, God's mighty war bow facing away from humanity. No, I'm not going to talk about any of those things. Instead, I want to talk about Noah's drunkenness. Noah, a farmer, made a new start and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and took off his clothes in his tent. 22 Ham, Canaan’s father, saw his father naked and told his two brothers who were outside. 23 Shem and Japheth took a robe, threw it over their shoulders, walked backward, and covered their naked father without looking at him because they turned away. Genesis 9:20-23 CEB I know, it's one of the least glamorous aspects of the story, in close contention with cleaning animal poo on the boat. However, since that's not physically written in the scripture, drunkenness wins. I think seeing Noah naked and drunk helps us see the bible realistically. There is something raw and emotional happening in this story. Almost everyone is dead.There is such an epic scale of loss, and Noah does something so emotional, raw, and real. This story teaches us that our Biblical heroes can be vulnerable, sad, and angry. This should make them characters we can relate to.Grief is real for all people: prophets, saints, and everyone. God loves us even in our grief. Which biblical character do you most relate to? Dear God, Help me see the real humanity in the divine narrative. Amen.
AHallmark destroyed love. If only it was that easy. Really, Hallmark made it more difficult to label love. We are told love is flowers and chocolates. Love is sentiment in a kitschy card. In reality love is seeking the best scenario for a person or group. When the perfume and caffeinated candy is peeled away, what is left? Is it love? It could be. We have to separate our relationships from our gifts... mostly. "No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you." John 15:13-14 CEB Jesus showed us the greatest love by willingly accepting an unjust punishment. Jesus is God's gift to us. There is no taking away the wrapping. It exists as is. God loves us. How do you live out that love? Loving God, Let us get to the essence of what that love means. Amen.
,We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen. Taken from the Nicene Creed Any good and healthy beginning starts with God. God, our Creator, maker of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen. In reading the Creation something keeps coming up. It was good. What God does is good. Many are afraid when they hear God is ready to create in them. Of course! Something has to die, and we need to be unsettled. Who wouldn't be afraid of that?! Only, when God comes into the creative process, our old selves simply can't live because that side of us is already dead. We only need to accept who we are for God to create in us what we will become. Here's the trick: As scared as we are of letting go of what was, what will come (when God is in control) is always good. How is the Creator re-creating in you? Dear Creator, Help me see when I need to let go. Amen.
When God began to create the heavens and the earth- the earth was without shape or form, it was dark over the deep sea, God's wind swept over the waters. Gen 1:1-2 (CEB) When Disney produced Pocahontas it was, most obviously, devoid of any actual history. Less obvious was the side role of "wind." It moved the plot forward, it became a bigger role than that non-speaking raccoon. Here's the question that arose following the big screen debut of Pocahontas:: What does wind look like? Disney's solution was to have dying leaves being moved by it. "Have you ever seen the colors of the wind?" This question perplexed many a child, who would longingly look out her window, hoping for the wind to brush through her hair like Pocahontas. Only, when that wind did come, it created a rat's nest that took hours to untangle. Those beautiful leaves were a mess too. It looked beautiful on screen. In actuality, a bunch of dying leaves coming at your face is nothing but a mess! Perhaps, this is the truth in the Spirit. We want to have this romanticized view, where we are gently moved along. In reality, the Spirit unsettles us. The Spirit tangles us up a bit; leaves us a bit disheveled. How is the Spirit unsettling you? Dear Spirit that moves over the deep, Move over us, and help us name our chaos. Amen.
The End. It seems like an odd place for a story to start. The curtain has fallen. There is nothing more to be said, or is there? Hope is often born from the ending of other stories. A seed must die to grow a tree. A caterpillar must pull it's very essence apart to become a butterfly. The world is a cycle, and one piece must end for the next piece to start. This start always begins with Hope. This is how the story begins. For it to be born, something must die. Our desire for vengeance, and retribution must put down for us to accept this new story. This story is the story of peace, joy, and love. There is little room for vendettas when Christ is involved. What is your hope this Advent season? Dear Holy Creator, In this new beginning, help us let go of what hinders our hope. Amen.
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