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Presidential Love |
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Monday, 19 January 2009 |
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Mr. President,
I have decided to love you. Not because you are lovable - although you sort of are. But because the Living God makes it very clear that I must. The reason this is difficult for me is that we differ so greatly on the issue of life. Many years ago, I believed the lie of abortion and have endured the consequences ever since. Additionally, there is no intellectual integrity in resolving the issue this way: "I think it's wrong for me, but I can't tell some one else what to do." If something is wrong, it's wrong. And, baby, abortion is wrong. So, that's why I never even considered voting for you. No hard feelings, I hope.
In my attitudes, in my speech, I hope you'll see love. Love being patient, kind, not easily angered, rejoicing in the truth...all that love is as outlined in 1Corinthians 13. Praying about all this, about our country, about you, our new president, I think God said this:
"Remember, it's LOVE that wins people to me."
He's right:
-Norma McCorvey (the Jane Roe in Roe v Wade) falling to her knees, acknowledging her need for a savior, and accepting Jesus Christ as the Way, the Truth & the Life after being loved consistently, irrationally, and deeply by her bible believing neighbors.
-Me, taking my first pathetic step of faith towards a righteous God only after He demonstrated His goodness to me for YEARS through the loving actions of His people
-The Venbergs packing up lock, stock & barrel & living amongst the people of Doh- rejoicing in the one soul God brought into fellowship with Himself.
It's his LOVE. The Living God is willing and able to change hearts.
How beautiful to think that our first black president is surely here in this place and in this time because of the passion and obedience of the Christians who began the civil rights movement. God's love transforms people, situations, the world. I believe this. I've tried to guard my heart, to hold something back because the disappointment of (what I perceive to be) unanswered prayer hurts way too much. God has shown me this is a lack of faith and is wrong. Hence, I'm done with that B.S. I either have to believe God or get out of the game. I'm in. I am praying for you, Mr. President. I'm praying you will have a miraculous change of heart about the Pro Life issue - so much so that you gets all sorts of crap from the left. But I am praying you don't weaken, that your gifts of persuasive speech will be used for God's glory and the preservation of life.
I am praying that God's Spirit will move in a mighty way amongst His people. I pray God will raise up a Daniel or a Joseph who has the king's ear - a man or woman who follows God and will have influence with our president. I pray that this trusted man or woman of God will remain strong - no compromise and full of God's Spirit and love.
Call me on it when I am discouraged or unloving - and it will happen. And I might get annoyed for a second - but do it anyway. I want to love by His power and have that love matter for the Kingdom.
Love you,
Susan
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2009: The year of living mindfully |
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Monday, 05 January 2009 |
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I'm thinking the whirlwind that is the Christmas season blew through your lives the same way it did ours: swirling with alternating moments of chaotic joy, minor trauma, & delighted surprise on top of the gentle, receding tide of knowing that it is all going too, too fast. In doing some reading last night, some sentences by Charles Spurgeon about the importance of ending one's day with a time of prayerful reflection, strengthened my resolve to live more mindfully in the year ahead.
"It is fitting that we should set apart a peaceful season before the day has quite
ended... to leap from day to day like a mad hunter beating the bushes is an omen
of being delivered over to destruction. But the solemn pause, the deliberate
consideration, these are means of grace and signs of an indwelling life....
Each evening it would be well to traverse the boundaries of the day and take
note of all that it has brought and all that it has seen."
There. No grand, sweeping, idealistic new year's resolution for me! I'm old enough to admit the best changes , the lasting changes, come when I approach them with a humble "one day at a time" effort. This year, the mindfulness is about priorities. It boils down to a phrase heard from my wise pastor, John Wile, years ago, "Remember - people, not projects." Amen. Seems like a no brainer, n'est ce pas? After all, most of these projects are to help people, right?Sometimes, one may get so wrapped up in one's vision, so swept away by the magnificence of the concept, that it doesn't become about the people anymore. In fact, the people might feel any or all the following: puzzled, abandoned, neglected, overwhelmed, inadequate, disillusioned, or lonely. How would I know this, you ask? Well, let's just say I should have started living mindfully years ago - please don't make me go there - to the dark place, the place of knocking myself out and then feeling under appreciated & put out even though NO ONE asked me to construct an entire rainforest for a two day church event.
And then there's the slaving over a hot stove..... It's not pretty . I'm anything but proud of the times I proceeded in doing what I thought people needed without stopping to think or even ask what it was they wanted. So, more focused on others. More listening. More reflecting on what works, what is pleasing to God. More grace & mercy. More love.
Quick idea: Take a minute to write a quick note - just a sentence or two about your family time together this past holiday. Then tuck it inside the last Christmas box, or even your stocking, before storage. It's a simple thing that you'll be so touched to read in the years to come - an unexpected grace note - like finding a five dollar bill in the pocket of a rarely worn jacket (Am I the only one out there that purposefully leaves money in my pockets so I'll have a happy surprise? Oh well) Those little moments joy make life richer, more meaningful.
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