Day 6: Two Men I Love

I LOVE the apostle Peter. He fills the silence with his enthusiasm. He makes BIG promises. He leaps before he looks and then falters when he looks.  And yet despite some of his boneheaded moves he preaches to thousands during Pentecost, Jesus calls him a Rock, Paul called him a pillar of the church, he was a strong advocate for the Gentiles and he was part of the inner circle.

Peter and I are kindred spirits. I can’t count the number of times that I speak before I think (like the other day when I told someone I could kiss them in front of a group of volunteers). My desire to help and show support for people often leaved me making promises that I can’t keep. Despite these failures Jesus calls me friend, He helps me overcome my fears, He allows me to share His word with thousands of people and He sees me for who He thinks I can be.  

I also LOVE Zacchaeus. Firstly, his name is so much fun to say! Plus he is short and eager and a great problem solver. He is not very popular. He puts dignity aside to satisfy his curiosity. He climbs trees!

Every time I hear this story, I picture myself in that crowd, lagging behind, climbing that tree. I imagine Jesus (laughing inside at me) calling out to a shocked me in the branches. Unfortunately, I also imagine that people look at me and whisper about how unjust it is that Jesus would pick me. I also sorta think that it would be kinda fun to smile at everyone as Jesus walks side-by-side with me on the road to my house. Is that naughty?  

Day 5: Let Us Pray

I have made a commitment. This commitment requires time, more time than I sometimes feel I have to give. It requires courage, definitely more courage than I think I have to share. It also requires compassion and well you get the picture.

I will no longer say the words, “I will say a prayer for you.” Some Christian huh?

What I mean is, if you are experiencing something that requires prayer (thanksgiving, petition, comfort) I will no longer say, “I’ll keep you in my prayers” instead I have committed to saying “Can I pray with you right now?”

This has resulted in a number of written, texted, posted and spoken prayers with friends. That’s not the hard part. The challenging part comes in when you are an acquaintance or maybe we aren’t that close. There’s that awkward time of “What will this person think about me?” or “Do they really want to pray with me?” and sometimes “Are they a Christian or not?”

Prayer is a fairly intimate thing. It certainly builds relationships and it isn’t something we do with just anybody . . . but why not? If we think it’s worth saying “I’ll pray for you” a promise of something I’ll do later when I make time (or maybe not) then it should be worth the few moments and minor discomfort it will cost me to do it right now.

So we’ll see how this goes. I’ll keep you posted as I experience the results. Feel free to give it a try too and we’ll see what we learn about each other and ourselves along the way. 

Day 4: Millions of Good Things vs REST

With three children, an attentive husband and a thriving career it is not often that I think of myself as enjoying leisure time. Although my husband will tell you I stay up too late reading or watching Netflix- this is one of the rare times of the day that I get to choose what I want to do. Even then I find myself getting caught up in doing for others rather than for renewal. Many people have weighed in on the idea of leisure time, and all of them define it a bit differently. In general, however, leisure is what one does to renew or restore oneself in an effort to stay focused on achievement the rest of the time.

Our culture is achievement obsessed. And by our culture, I mean me. I love to see what I can create, develop or foster in others. I take pride in a job well done and influencing other people and things in a positive way. While I don’t need tons of accolades, I do warm up to acknowledgement by others or words of affirmation. I like to do good and I hate making mistakes. Doing the “right” thing takes work, and work (whether at home or in the office) keeps me busy. So where does leisure fit in?

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.” Psalm 127:1-2

“Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27

“Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that you ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner lining among you may be refreshed.” Exodus 23:12

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:2-3

 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:38–42

As usual, I find comfort and conviction in God’s word. I hear him saying to me that it is o.k. to work in this world, as he directed Adam to do, to make things beautiful and right and especially to do so in a way that will bring him Glory. I also hear his reminder that it isn’t the toiling that brings about achievement (not since sin is ever-present in this world) but it is God and in glorifying Him that we can build up our strength. In his word I see a tale of caution that when we are too busy in the preparedness and service to Christ we may miss his very presence. I see that rest and our practice on Sabbath is created for US, for ME, not for God. God does not need us in worship nor does he have much use for our rest, He knows that WE need these things.

Our God role modeled rest throughout creation as he savored each creation day by day. Christ stole away for solitude even when thousands clamored for his attention. In fact, these people didn’t just clamor, they NEEDED Him, they represented MILLIONS of GOOD things he could be doing with his time. And still he knew the importance of rest and leisure time spent with his heavenly father. (Although it strikes me that prayer resulting in blood was not one of the leisure moments in communication with His Father.)

But is it in Psalm 127 that my soul sings with the knowledge that it is as His beloved that he desires rest for me. It is a gift, among many, that he desires me to experience. He will give it to me because he cares for me, and if my stubborn self refuses to accept this gift for its own merit, I will do so out of obedience, because it is not only good news but also law. When there are many people clamoring for my attention he tells me “come away with me, alone, and I will give you rest.”  

Day 3: Off the Hook

One of the worst things someone can say to an educator when they missed class or the crux of an educational event is “Did I miss anything?” I have had many, many people ask me this question or state its sister question “How important is it that I attend XY or Z?” As an educator I want to scream, you missed genius conversation, pinnacle opportunities for discovery and irreplaceable relationship building! I want to sarcastically drawl, “Oh it’s not really too important that you attend, the others will carry your weight, I’m sure you can google all the information anyway and your lack of commitment will hardly be noticed.”

What I typically end up doing, however, is helping the individual or family arrive at a solution that families and individuals are seriously lacking the skills to do on their own these days. The analysis of weighing opportunities, priorities and making decisions that reflect one’s values, beliefs, and matches their long term goals is rapidly depleting from the pre-frontal cortex. It may be that people are pretty much used to being told what to do and where to go, or perhaps they let society support and make their decisions for them. I am not sure why this phenomenon exists. I only know that when people look to me to “let them off the hook,” I typically provide counsel rather than relief. (I get that from my mother.)

As people redeemed by our Savior, belonging to a sovereign God and living after the resurrection of his Son - the way we live, make decisions, and prioritize should reflect the redemption we have received. To belong to something means that we are a suitable member of that place or with that person. On our own accord, we are neither suitable nor a member of God’s family, yet with his redemption we are made righteous and holy and are adopted as his children. Our lives and decisions should reflect the Grace and Mercy that he has bestowed upon up. In kind, we share that grace and mercy with others.

Let’s, you and I, assume that we are missing something. Let’s acknowledge that there are innumerable opportunities to share His love, learn His Word and reflect his Grace. And let’s commit to making the best decision that we can, right now, and until he calls us to our own resurrection, to make our decisions based on this infallible Truth and not based on who will let us “off the hook” most easily. 

Day 2:The Adrenaline of Peace

What is the difference between the Peace That Passes All Understanding and Adrenaline? I asked my counselor this last week. 1) Yes, I’m seeing a counselor; I got stuff to work out and 2) o.k. so I didn’t really ask this question of her in so many words. I was thinking about God’s peace though when I relayed to her how my mother had gone to the hospital last week by ambulance and throughout her 24 hours stay and into the next 72 hours I did not, even once, shed a tear. How does this happen? How does someone who has had several months of emotional meltdowns not freak out when her mother and  her best friend is going through this situation? At first I was at a loss.

So, the counselor said that the urgent situation may have required my fight instinct (jolly good for me I fought, instead of curling into fetal position). She said that that adrenaline response can actually last for up to 72 hours and that I should just keep tabs on monitoring my emotions as they may catch up with me eventually when I realize the immediate crisis is averted.

The way that I see this "phenomenon" is:  God granted me His strength, His peace, and His faithfulness throughout the experience. It was real. It was good. I give thanks. Even if this peace was an adrenaline response, what a brilliant, good and gracious God for creating such a complex and naturally self-caregiving body for me.

It’s times like these that give me Hope in living as a child of the resurrection.

(Well, now that was a ton of personal sharing in one small-ish post, huh? No worries, I'm transparent like that.)

Day 1: Nothing "Drive-Through" About It

It has been almost three years since I attempted, somewhat successfully, to blog for 30 days. Well, I’m back, this time for 30 days before Easter and probably just in the nick of time seeing as my selfishness is a bit out of control and I can’t seem to remember what living as “People of the Resurrection” really has to do with me, my family and my monotonous, sometimes frantic, life. So, if you care to join me in this re-introduction to what it means to live post-resurrection, please do. If you don’t, that’s o.k. too. I can tell you one thing already; after three years I have learned there is nothing speedy or easy about being reminded that I am a sinner and that, just as I came from ashes I will once return to ashes.

No, my reminders come slowly and sometimes painfully, and almost always needlessly. “Oh what needless pain I bear.” Pastor Meador described “sitting in” this season of Lent, stopping, holding onto the opportunities for reflection. Reflection on what it means to be a sinner, have a savior, and live as people of the resurrection. He never, not once, suggested that this time leading up to Easter, or any other time of the church year should or will be served rapidly. THERE ARE NO DRIVE THROUGH ASHES.

It’s just not likely that the symbol of the cross marked on my forehead this Wednesday will ever be enough to teach, correct or remind me of the immensity of His love. Just like three years ago it wasn’t about a cross that I carried in my pocket. I need to drive in, park, turn off the engine, take in the experience and meditate on His promises. I need to live, worship and turn to the One who paid for my sin and allows me to receive immeasurably more than I think to even ask.

I followed the directions Palm Sunday 2015; I saved the lush green palms we received at our service. I stuck them behind mirrors, in picture frames, tucked on shelves and even taped them to a wall. These thriving, enthusiastic branches, worthy of lying on the pathway before a King became dry, brittle and crusty throughout the year. My children asked when I would throw them away. My husband thought it was time to discard them before we had a hundred people to our house this summer. I’m sure a few guests thought they were an odd decoration or just another quirky element of the Tarjeson house. I told them all, NO Pastor Shultz said we should keep them up. Quietly, they reminded me of just how fragile we can become; just how in need of that Sovereign King we really are. As the sign of the cross was placed on my forehead this week, with the oil and ash from similar palm leaves, I was once again reminded that without that Savior I am dust and ash but with him I have HOPE of so much more.

Let’s see if I can find and hold that HOPE over next 30 days, shall we? 

Forgive the 3rd Grade English Lesson

Day 30: So what have we learned about People of the Resurrection?

Last night I had a dream, or maybe it was this morning,  I'm not sure. Anyway, I had a dream that I was in a college classroom and was about to walk out on the lecture when the professor asked a question using the word INTEGRAL. For some reason this question made me stop just outside the door. I came back into the room and taught the class about the word INTEGRAL. I professed about what it was like to be IN something. In this dream, I gave the example of when someone walks into a room and the feel of who you are shifts based on the culture of the room. "Like when you walk into a dance club, you physically, mentally, socially and emotionally shift to a light swagger. To be an integral part of something is to give in to that shift of that which surrounds you," as least that's what I said in my dream.

I thought about this all day and realized I may not actually know what the word integral means so I looked it up.   Definition of INTEGRAL - 1a) essential to completeness, 2) composed of constituent parts 3) lacking nothing essential. I guess I was pretty close.

I know it's dangerous to think that God may speak to us through some crazy dreams of ours, but I am pretty certain that this was a time God decided to speak to me. Interestingly enough, he gave me these words by using me in this dream as his voice. I have been wondering how to wrap up this 30 Day Blog and summarize the experience of intentionally living as People of the Resurrection. But starting with this dream, I think I've got it.  

Living as People of the Resurrection has everything to do with prepositions. A preposition is a word that indicates location:  In, Under, Over, Above, Around. All day prepositional phrases floated through my mind, starting with my dream and IN. Living as People of the Resurrection means you are IN the body of Christ, IN the Word of God and we are invited to ask for blessings and forgiveness IN His name.  

This 30 day journey has also reminded me that we are UNDER sin. To be "UNDER sin" means that it entraps us. It is a type of imprisonment. Before we became People of the Resurrection this emprisionment UNDER sin left us with little hope. But UNDER His protection and UNDER his wings we will find refuge (Psalm 91:4).  

People of the Resurrection live with the Lord OVER them. Not just as a sovereign and powerful God, but as a constant shelter from the chaos of the stormy world. When Christ is the Lord OVER your marriage, finances, family and friendships he will bless you abundantly. Let him guide you, and wrap himself AROUND you, so that you can experience an abundant life this side of eternity.  

So if God brought this dream to me last night, than I certainly have to say this . . . To live as People of the Resurrection you must strive to live an integral life with Him. He is essential to completeness. He is what completes all of your halfwitted parts. With Him IN your life you will lack nothing essential. So allow yourself to shift, to bend, to fall INTO this eternal dance with him. Give in to the shift of that which surrounds you.  

BTW: We only have two of the 5 crosses left that we started with, but it was never really about the cross in the pocket anyway, was it?