Reflections on 2015

I stole this listicle of questions from Annie Parsons' blog. It was actually a great way to reflect on 2015 and think about the year ahead.

Being thankful for having less

Ok, November we think about being thankful so this is no surprise that I've been thinking about gratitude this month. Sometimes, a topic will strike us in a new and different way so here are some thoughts.

First, it's easier to be thankful with less. Wait, huh? Let me explain. If you have ever been on a long camping trip or vacation to a place with more rustic facilities, you are so grateful when you get back to your own bed and clean toilets. Any food item that you designate to yourself as a treat and only have once in a while becomes a bit more special when you have it. I think we are more thankful when we have less or have thing less often because you are more appreciative of life's luxuries when you have them. And let's face it, most of us enjoy quite a number of luxuries most of the world doesn't.

Second, it's easier to be thankful when you are around others that are thankful. I would like to think I'm independent enough to not be swayed by other people's attitudes and emotions but I am highly influenced by level of gratitude in those around me. That means I am probably influential on others in the way I choose to be thankful.

Third, it's important to remember the source of blessings. For example, when I am thankful for a safe trip, I can remember to be thankful for the men and women serving our communities to maintain order, keep streets clean and safe, street lights functioning, the car manufacturer and mechanics that make sure my vehicle will work properly, musicians that provide me with entertainment to keep me awake, etc. There are so many factors that make a road trip from point A to B possible. And ultimately, all those blessings come from God.

So what does that mean for me? Right now I'm thankful for less. I live in a small studio apartment. I don't eat out much. I don't have cable tv. And I'm really thankful for it, it has helped me see how much I have. I also resolve to be more thankful not only internally, but externally, sharing my gratitude with others. Lastly, I want to be more aware of God, the giver of all good things, in all circumstances.

Happy Thanksgiving!

How do we engage our culture and still have balance?

Over the past two years, I have been part of a men's group at my church. We have been going through a curriculum called CLC (Christian Leadership Concepts) that covers a variety of topics that pertain specifically to men. It's been a great journey with a great group of guys. The last unit in the curriculum is called "Engaging Our Culture" and talks about serving and witnessing while being rooted in biblical truths.

Looking back, my ministry life has been a bit of a pendulum when it comes to engaging the culture around me. At times, I am eager and passionate to connect with many types of people, and to participate in art, music, sports, technology and sharing of ideas. At other times, I find myself retreating from the world of entertainment and culture, and try to limit my influences and narrow the group of people I spend time with. I see time periods in my life where the I've swung far to one side or the other.

Watching too much tv around World Cup time

Maybe this is ok. Often I think I'll achieve the right balance in many areas of my life "at some point." But I think the truth is, we never really reach a perfect balance. We tend to have seasons of being more social and other seasons of being more reclusive. Sometimes I watch too much TV, and other times I go on a media fast and am extremely careful about what I watch, read and listen to. I don't think there is one right answer. God wants us to be diligent and wise, but he also wants us to get out of our shell and live and engage with those around us. If you have ideas in this area, please feel free to share.

Maybe I need to adjust the lens

I am no photographer. I enjoy taking pictures, absolutely. But I don't have the skills of knowing how to compose a shot or check the light levels. Sometimes I consider taking a class or reading a book but the notion usually passes, and I go back the simple pictures and selfies I normally take.

I recently went on a 4,000-mile roadtrip across the country. I started at Lake Erie, drove south to Kentucky, across the plains to Denver, and through the mountains and desert of Colorado, Utah and Nevada. It was a fantastic trip and much of the entertainment was simply enjoying the incredible landscapes of this immense country.

I took a lot of pictures. Digital photography is great because you can take a lot of terrible pictures and know immediately whether you need to try something else or just give up. I played around with different ideas and got to know my camera better just from trial and error. One thing I was struck by was how much my life felt like I was viewing it through a camera lens lately.

When I am in a very busy season or focused on one project, it is much like taking a close-up picture of an object like a flower or a fancy door handle or something like that. You spend a lot of time trying to get it framed just right and focused so the details stand out. But it can be very easy for me to stay in a "close-up" mode and miss what is happening around me.

It took an epic road trip across 10 states for me to "zoom out" a bit and get some perspective on life. There are so many people living lives that are so unlike mine in places that are so different from my everyday experience and I just plain forgot because I was so wrapped up in my own life. I needed to adjust the lens at which I was viewing life.

So the question is...do I need to do this more often? Focus and details are great and have their place, for sure, but I feel convicted to build some more time into my schedule to "zoom out." There is so much to see, and even though I realize how small a part of the picture I am, I still feel like I am more in focus because of it.

Can we become dependent on serving?

Recently I haven't been very consistent in going to church on Sunday. Part of the reason is my busy schedule with lots of weekend soccer tournaments, but for some reason, church hasn't been very enjoyable. I've had a hard time pinpointing why I don't enjoy attending a Sunday service.

Image from Flickr-Brian Jeffery Beggerly

For a while, I surmised this was because I don't really know that many people at my church and making connections in Ohio has been a slow process since I moved here. The relationships that connect people to the whole of the church are important for a sense of belonging. The more I think about it, the more this excuse seems irrelevant. I have been going to the same church for 2 years now and know enough people to feel I belong to the community. Then, I thought, maybe I am just not connecting with the messages and my faith isn't growing. Again, it didn't take much reflection to see that my faith has taken some giant steps forward recently and the messages I hear are relevant and convicting.

Image from RightNowMedia.org

So, what is it? Why do I hesitate to spend an hour of my Sunday at church? I am reading Matt Chandler's "To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain." Chandler talks about church as being the "lamest hobby ever," and the danger in compartmentalizing our faith to a certain location or time or setting. I think I've fallen into this trap but I am actually doing the opposite of what Chandler is talking about.

I have compartmentalized my faith walk into my quiet times during the week and my job in ministry and as a result, Sunday has become a day for my hobbies, including attending church. Perhaps I am so dependent on 'serving' through years of church leadership that now I have a difficult time 'just' singing and listening to a sermon. I guess it feels too passive and I feel I'm treating Sunday services as lectures to gather information. I never thought I would disassociate church and my faith, but that is exactly what I have been doing lately. Jesus wants us to live out our faith daily, including when we are at church. What a crazy notion! In my effort to live out my faith in other areas of my life, I forgot to take the time to praise and worship God with the church community to which I belong and make it about Him and not about the Sunday routine or the camaraderie of fellow believers. The great thing is, the more I get it wrong, the sweeter it is when I really rest and receive God's grace and forgiveness.

Are words necessary?

Image from quotesvalley.com

For many years I have loved the quote "Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words." This quote comes in various forms and is often attributed to Francis of Assisi. I think I like this idea because I don't think of myself as being much of a talker, especially with people I don't know well. Over the years, I have learned how to be social and the skill of making 'small talk,' but really, I prefer to be by myself or around people that I know very well.

This month, I have been reading "Teaching to Change Lives" by Howard Hendricks. I was struck by a concept in the book on the communication of the gospel. Hendricks says, "If witness through our lives alone was enough, then everyone exposed to Jesus Christ during his time on earth should have been converted. He was the only person who ever lived a perfect life, yet even he shared his message verbally as well." Jesus was an example everywhere he went, but lives didn't change simply because Jesus came into contact with people. He also needed to speak the truth and share God's plan of salvation.

For me, this is convicting. I would rather not talk to people about Christ or "be annoying" by speaking up with the truth when it is needed. I would rather serve, be busy with activity, try to be a good example, and not cause controversy by being too honest. But this is not the call of following Christ. We must also speak and communicate to others the truth and wisdom that has been imparted to us. My theology shouldn't be shaped only by quotes or passages that fit my personality.

Prayer...why do we minimize it?

Prayer is a funny thing. Often when I pray, I want it to sound good. I want other people to be impressed with my prayers. I want to pray for the right things, but often pray for things that only I care about. And after I pray, I don't let my mind stay focused. I wander right back to the daily distractions and quickly forget about what I just prayed for.

 

Photo used with permission from Sports Friends

I think one of the reasons my prayers can be trivial is because I forget who I am praying to. God. You know, the God of the universe. The God who created everything. The God of 7 billion people on the planet. But this same God also gives me the same caring attention a close friend would when I come to Him to pray. He already knows my needs, worries and desires. What a gift, to be able to converse with God! I need constant reminding of how amazing prayer can be, rather than something to check off my list. I am truly thankful for those who are consistent and diligent in praying for family, friends and their communities.