Michelle Layer Rahal's Blog, page 3

The Best Valentine Gift

Remember  the former things, those of long ago;

I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me.

Isaiah 46:9

 

I find it strange how some religious holidays have morphed into mainstream culture with no resemblance to their original intent. For example…

In the early part of the 8th century, Pope Gregory III established All Saints Day to honor the saints known only to God. This holiday was to be officially observed on November 1—between All Hallow’s Eve on October 31 (a day to remember the dead) and All Souls Day on November 2 (a day to pray for the those who are in purgatory awaiting admittance into heaven). Today, few people recognize October 31 as a holy evening, which is the meaning of hallow’s eve. Instead, Halloween is highlighted by masks and costumes, tricks and treats, skeletons and vampires. I’m sure Pope Gregory would be appalled.

 

Then there’s Christmas. In 336 A.D., Pope Julius I chose December 25 as the date to commemorate the birth of Jesus. This date coincided with the winter solstice that was already celebrated in various ways by other cultures. Rome had Saturnalia, a week-long food and drink-fest to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture. Germans hid from the god Oden, who made nocturnal flights to select people to prosper or perish in the new year. In Austria children were taught to hide from a sinister elf who doled out punishment for bad behavior. And in Scandinavia people celebrated Yule by setting large logs or entire trees on fire—often inside the house. Merge these and other traditions together for our current Christmas holiday with roaring fires, elves, and a flying Santa who looks for good boys and girls.    

 

And then there’s Valentine’s Day. At least ten saints are named Valentine, so it’s unclear if the patron saint of lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers is actually one and the same person. Legend hints that a priest named Valentine secretly performed wedding ceremonies during the 3rd century to prevent Christian men from conscription into the pagan army. Valentine may have also initiated the practice of gifting loved ones with paper hearts. Pope Gelasius I established the holiday to commemorate the saint who supposedly was martyred on February 14, 269 A.D. By the 17th century, Valentine cards were being mass produced so that the prim and proper classes could share their true feelings without having to speak a word. And the tradition continues.

 

I have nothing against any of these holidays. I like holidays—especially when they’re accompanied by a paid day off! But how did our Christian holidays become so commercialized? It reminds me of the story of Josiah in 2 Kings, chapter 22.

 

In the 18th year of his reign, Josiah sent his officials to the high priest to retrieve the money that would be used to pay for temple repairs. In addition to the funds, the high priest handed over the Book of the Law, which apparently had been missing for more than 50 years while the people worshipped false gods. When king Josiah heard the words from the book, he tore his robes and gave this order to the priest: “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book. They have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us” (2 Kings 22:13).

 

We don’t know the exact passage King Josiah read, but perhaps it came from Deuteronomy 28. “If you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees … all these curses will come upon you and overtake you … The Lord will plague you with diseases until he has destroyed you … fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew … The Lord will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder … The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies… Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth … Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat none of it … The sights you see will drive you mad.” You get the picture. It's rather devastating.

 

I don’t believe our loving God will punish us for celebrating Valentine’s Day with bouquets of roses or by overindulging on chocolates, but I do believe we injure ourselves when we forget to honor the giver of all good gifts. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

 

This morning, I gave my husband a mushy Valentine’s Day card (Hallmark will not go bankrupt while I’m alive), and in it I wrote, “I thank God for you.” I wrote some other stuff too, but I wanted to give credit to God for the wonderful marriage we share. “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

 

Instead of going out for a fancy dinner tonight, Greg and I will attend an Ash Wednesday service. It’s not often that these two holidays fall on the same day, but what a way to celebrate God’s love for us and our love for each other.

 

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is ,Love Has a Name by Jesus Culture.

Favorite lyric: “Love has a name: Jesus.”

 

Pressing On

I press on  toward the goal to win the prize

for which God has called  me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14

 

(Be forewarned: I don’t send Christmas cards, but this reads like a Christmas letter with just a hint of blog-ness.)

 

In my mind’s eye, 2023 resembles a roller coaster ride.

 

It started as a slow, controlled climb, sprinkled with anticipation. Dad had recently moved to a new assisted living facility, which provided me and my siblings with a renewed sense of peace; Greg and I had an incredible experience with family and friends on a mission trip to Mexico; I was joyfully revising the chapters of my second book; and my pastor and I were co-teaching a new round of confirmation classes. My eyes were looking up, and God’s presence was palpable.  

 

Spring and summer rolled in, marked by a handful of thrilling highs that left me grateful and giddy. There was the long-awaited trip to France with friends, confirmation Sunday with nineteen students professing their faith, a reunion with the members of my old praise band whom I love and missed, a family wedding in Ohio, and a high school graduation in Tennessee.  

 

A few sharp turns threatened to throw the cart off its tracks. Cancelled plane reservations. Publishing setbacks. My first bout of COVID that left its mark with brain fog. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The unexpected bumps weren’t pleasant but just part of the journey.

 

I didn’t exactly coast through the fall. Rather, careful planning helped things fall into place. My book was finally published. My coaching friends and I hosted a successful summit for aspiring authors. I participated in a new study group with old friends. My family celebrated on Veterans’ Day when my father received the South Korean Medal of Peace for his service in the Korean War. And my husband and I hosted a joyful sit-down Thanksgiving dinner for twenty-seven relatives.

 

December surprised me with its sudden arrival, and I found myself exhausted heading into 2024. I scrambled to buy Christmas presents while yearning for solitude. Then a reconnection with a lost friend presented an escape. She offered me a few days at her Virginia Beach house where I could relax, reflect, and recalibrate. I gratefully packed my bags. The end of the ride was in sight, and I looked forward to coasting into the station.

But then came the steep drop.

 

Dad took a nasty fall that landed him in the hospital and then hospice. My favorite uncle died. A week later my father passed away. Then a dear friend died, followed by another friend a few days later.

 

Not one of these deaths should have surprised me. My father and uncle were both in their 90s and had lived good lives. My friends had both been battling terminal illnesses. But when all four died within a matter of weeks, I was blindsided. I felt like my train had derailed.

 

I wasn’t prepared for the tears that came with no warning, for long forgotten memories to resurface, or to find myself physically weak in the middle of the day staring into space. I have known grief before, but I had forgotten how unpredictable it is. The 2023 roller coaster had passed the exit without letting me deboard. “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” (Psalm 13:2)

 

And so, 2024 has started like a runaway train. What are my options? I could bail out, jump off and take my chances. Or I could cower and hide. Or I can lean in and experience the highs and lows of the entire the ride. I choose the latter because I know the conductor. I may not like the current route, but I trust the one who controls it.

 

Author and theologian C.S. Lewis once wrote, “There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” Therefore, friends, do not lose heart. “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

 

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is ,Don’t Lose Heart by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Favorite lyric: “These afflictions that are only temporary are gonna turn to glory beyond compare.”

The Gift of Gifts

There are different kinds of gifts,

but the same Spirit distributes them.

1 Corinthians 12:4

Last week, my husband asked me to buy him a new pair of gray socks. “How quickly do you need them?” I asked.

“By Christmas,” he answered.

Is that what he wants for Christmas? I wondered. Socks? Something cheap, practical, and desired?

“Is there anything else you’d like for Christmas?” I asked.

“Nope,” Greg answered. “Just socks.”

I waited to see if Greg would ask me what I wanted for Christmas. If he did, how would I answer?

I could ask for a new car since mine is ten years old. Or a new cell phone with telephoto capabilities. Considering Greg’s request, it might be better if I asked for a new pair of black leather gloves or some dishtowels. What did I really want though?

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:31, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” He wasn’t talking about cars or cell phones. He was referring to spiritual gifts: prophecy, teaching, healing, helping, administrating, and speaking in tongues. Not one of which could be purchased, wrapped, and placed under the Christmas tree.

Jesus said, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)

My friend Lira has the gift of visions. (Her story is in chapter 3 of Are You Listening?) I asked her if this was a gift she always possessed. “No!” she told me. “I asked for it.”

Lira not only asked for it, she prayed for it, fasted for it, and submitted herself in obedience to God to acquire it. In other words, she aligned her desire to the glory of God and he blessed her with this greater gift.

How many of us are willing to do the same? To align ourselves to the glory of God?

Many years ago, in a state of desperation, I fell to my knees and prayed, “Lord, I submit to you. Empty me of myself and fill me with your Spirit. I’m done living for me. I want to live for you.”

That little prayer changed everything. There were no flashing lights or heavenly chorus. Rather, as the days and weeks rolled out it began to feel as if I had stepped off the commuter train and was now riding the Polar Express. I began to see God’s handiwork everywhere and feel his presence in the strangest of places. Instead of immediately judging people and situations, I found myself asking God how he viewed who was in front of me and how he wanted me to respond. My spiritual eyes and ears sharpened as my worldly desires lessened.

The psalmist wrote,

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:3-4)

I can’t change the course of history, bring about world peace, or end human trafficking, but I can take delight in the Lord and ask him to give me the desires of HIS heart. After all, God has already provided us with the greatest gift of all by sending Jesus to earth as a helpless babe to show us how to love God and each other.

So, while a new car or cell phone still sounds desirable, what I want most this Christmas is a closer relationship with God and quality time with loved ones. But if my husband asks what I want, I will tell him, “World peace … and a pair of black leather gloves.”

From our house to yours: MERRY CHRISTMAS!

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND

is Fall Like Rain by Passion/Rachel Halbach.

Favorite lyric: “Knowing you is everything, so I let go of lesser things.”

Go BIG

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more

than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

In the weeks leading up to my book launch, a friend of mine shared a message with me that she said came from God. “Go big!”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she answered. “That’s all I heard.”

I take orders from God seriously, and my friend is reliable. If she says God told her to tell me something, I believe He did. (I even wrote a chapter on listening for God’s voice through other Christians.) But what exactly did God mean?

I wrote Are You Listening? for three groups of people: those who have hit a wall in their faith journey, those who don’t take time to acknowledge God daily, and those who live out their faith in their heads rather than their hearts. Though this covers a rather large group, most of the people who fall into one of these categories would not be actively looking for a book to change their situation because they probably don’t recognize their situation as problematic. Therefore, my potential audience was limited. How could I go big if the pool of potential readers was small?

In addition, Are You Listening? is a short book. It has only 146 pages. I didn’t know how thin it was until my author copy arrived in the mail. Then I wondered if pages were missing—but they weren’t. How was I supposed to go big with such a little book?

I’m not famous. I don’t have a huge platform. Nor do I have an assistant or an agent. It’s just me. How do I go big with that???

The apostles may have asked themselves a similar question.

Both Mark and Matthew write about the time a crowd followed Jesus to a desolate place where he had compassion on them and healed the sick. When evening came, his disciples came to Jesus and advised him to send the crowd into the villages to buy food. Jesus answered, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37).

I can imagine Peter saying, “How are we supposed to do that?” No disciple is named in Mark’s account, but someone does ask (rather sarcastically I might add), “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”

Jesus responds with a question. “How many loaves do you have?” (Mark 6:38) The disciples had five loaves and two fish. They were not empty-handed. They had something to contribute. Jesus took what little they had, multiplied it, and fed five thousand men and their families.

I, too, had something to contribute.

I had a small book, faithful email subscribers, and twelve-thousand followers on Instagram. I took what I had and offered it to God.

My small book launch team willingly shared quotes from Are You Listening? with their friends and family. I sent multiple emails to my subscribers asking for their support by making a purchase on a specific day. I bumped up my number of Instagram posts and boldly asked my followers to purchase the book. I went big with what I had and, faithfully, God multiplied my efforts.

Not only did my following increase, but people with larger platforms than mine approached me when they learned I had a new book coming out and asked how they could help share the news. People came to ME asking how THEY could help!

Sales for Are You Listening? spiked, driving it to the number one spot on Amazon for New Releases in two categories. Though it didn’t stay on top for long, it remains in the top 100 for those two categories: Religious Faith and Christian Faith.

Last Friday, my Instagram following was stuck at 14.9K. That is an impressive number, but I dared to ask for more. “God,” I prayed, “could you make it an even 15K by next Sunday’s book launch?”

God didn’t wait till “next Sunday.” Two days after my request, my following hit 16.1K. Instead of a hundred extra followers, God gave me a thousand.

I am reminded of Ruth from the book of the Bible that bears her name. In a manner of days, she went from being a poor widow gleaning the owner’s field to becoming the owner of that field. How is that possible? “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). God is able when we are not, and he can turn things around quicker than we ever could.

God may have called me to “go big” because my book was launching, but I think he calls each one of us to go big for him every day. What are you holding back that you could bring to the table?

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is More than Able by Elevation Worship.

Favorite lyric: “And can you imagine, with all the faith in the room, what the Lord can do? It’s gonna happen. Just let the Way Maker through.”

Rest and Surrender

Jesus stopped and called them.

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

Matthew 20:32

I don’t feel like writing. I don’t feel like reading. I don’t feel like talking or doing much of anything—even cooking, which I normally love to do. Yet even though my energy is depleted, I keep trying to push through.

This morning I tested positive for Covid for the eighth day in a row. It’s the first time I’ve experienced this virus, which may have something to do with why it’s hitting me so hard. I’ve been drinking lots of tea and taking Sudafed, but resting is difficult. I don’t do it well. Therefore, I’ve been calling out to Jesus for quick healing, which worked well for a blind man.

When Jesus passed a blind man sitting by the road to Jericho, the man called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38) Jesus responded by asking the man, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41) The man knew his answer. He told Jesus that he wanted his sight, and Jesus healed him.

Unfortunately, I think God’s answer for me is closer to Paul’s who pleaded with Jesus to remove the thorn from his side. “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

Truly, God has been showing me just how weak I am and just how much I need Him. My own strength and my abilities to control the things around me have been waining lately.

In addition to having Covid, our water heater decided to go on the blink. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. In just the last week alone, both my husband and I have experienced what it feels like to be lathered in soap when the hot water stops running. The repairman came yesterday but apparently, he didn’t fix the problem because there was no hot water again this morning.

Nonetheless, I decided to wash the sheets. (After all, you don’t need hot water for laundry, and there’s nothing like a clean set of sheets when you’re sick!) But halfway through the cycle, the washing machine decided to go on the blink. (Yes, I’m serious.) Instead of draining properly, the sheets are now sitting in a big tub of cold, gray water. This is what my husband the engineer will have to look forward to when he gets home from work.

I feel like my patience is being tested, and I’ve been thinking about how I would answer Jesus if he asked me now, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Would I say, “Get me out of quarantine,” or “Make the hot water heater work,” or “Fix the washing machine”?

Probably not.

At this moment in time, I’d be more apt to ask for world peace, an end to human trafficking, or for Jesus’ return. But I think Jesus would respond to any one of those requests in the same manner he responded to James and John, the sons of Zebedee, when they asked for the seats of honor—one on Jesus’ right and the other on his left—when he came into glory. Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking” (Mark 10: 38).

The question “What do you want?” must be important because Jesus asked it multiple times: of two blind men (Matthew 20:32), of Andrew and John (John 1:38), and of an invalid (John 5:6). But that same question was also asked of Jesus. An impure spirit in a synagogue in Capernaum asked, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (Mark 1:24), and a man filled with demons in the region of Gerasenes asked, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Luke 8:28).

Upon reflection, in these moments of weakness when life is not going my way, when the hot water isn’t running, and the washing machine has stopped working, perhaps the question and the answer need to be the same. When Jesus asks me, “What do you want?” I need to answer, “What do you want with me?”

I can’t say for sure how Jesus would respond, but I think it may have something to do with rest and surrender. So, if you don’t hear from me for a while, you’ll know why.

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is What You Want by Tenth Avenue North.

Favorite lyric: "You're changing my heart to want what you want.”

To Speak or Not to Speak?

There is neither Jew nor Gentile,

neither slave nor free,

nor is there male and female,

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

One of my Instagram followers recently asked how I felt about women leading men in Bible study. This question made the hairs on the back of my neck bristle, which was an indication to me that the answer would make a great blog post. So here it goes...

I was raised in the Catholic church where priests were men and the best a women could aspire to become was a nun. For a while, I thought of becoming a nun, but that was before the age of 10 when I hadn’t yet developed an attraction to boys.

As a teen, I participated in weekly mass by playing the guitar and singing in the folk group. In my self-centered mind, this made me as important as—if not more important than—the “altar boys.” (Spoiler alert: today girls are allowed to assist on the altar.)

There was no question as to roles in the church. There were certain things boys were allowed to do and certain things girls were allowed to do. Period. End of story. But this didn’t sit well with me.

Who made these rules? Men. Who enforced the rules? Governments and churches comprised of men. Women were required to go along with whatever they decided. It was for their own protection. It sounds so simple, but it wasn’t. It was oppressive.

In the beginning, “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). God created both male and female in his image. And here’s the next line: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground’ ” (Genesis 1:28). God blessed them, and told them to be fruitful.

So, when did women become the second-class gender? I think the answer is more anthropologic than historical. While women were busy having babies, men hunted for food. It was an appropriate division of labor. Each gender fulfilled a role that the other was not equipped to execute. Under this arrangement, the genders survived and thrived as equal partners.

But over time, women lost their voice. As humankind moved out of the cave and into towns, “man” slowly assumed power over women in the name of God and wrote laws that masqueraded as protective necessities.

I am ever so grateful for the suffragettes that obtained for women the right to vote with the certification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. I’m ever so grateful for the Equal Pay Act of 1963 that ensured that workers in the U.S., regardless of their sex, were entitled to receive equal pay for equal work. And I am ever so grateful for the mainstream Protestant churches that ordained the first female pastors beginning in 1956.

And yet, some people still believe women have no right to speak in church, and they cite scripture, such 1 Timothy 2:11, as their reason. This is where Paul wrote, “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.”

Let’s start with the cultural context from which Paul spoke. During the first century, women were not allowed to study the law of Judaism. Since they hadn’t studied, they had no right to teach. That’s understandable. Who among us wants a novice telling us how to drive?

It was also a time where the word of God was hotly debated. Men would gather, someone would read scripture, and then the banter would start. Paul is warning women not to adopt this kind of behavior. As Christians, we (men and women alike) should be calm, humble, and gentle.

Let’s not forget that some of the first Christian leaders were women. Remember Lydia, a businesswoman who dealt in purple cloth, who initiated the church in Philippi. (See Acts 16:13-15.) Then there was Phoebe, “a deacon of the church in Cenchreae” (Romans 16:1). Paul also commends Priscilla and her husband Aquila whom he calls his “co-workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3).

I could write several pages about how Jesus treated women, but that’s a blog for another day. The bottom line is this: Jesus invited everyone to follow him, and he encouraged everyone to share him with the world. Everyone.

Today I am a practicing Presbyterian. I am grateful for the leadership of both female and male pastors who serve at my church. Through them, my faith has grown wider and deeper due to the diverse yet complimentary perspectives they have shared about God and Scripture.

Several years ago, one of the female pastors at my church asked me if I was going to write a second book. I told her I thought God was calling me to do so, but I wasn’t sure I was equipped. Her response was this: “If God has called you, you must be obedient.” He did, and I was.

Who are we to judge whom God calls to speak on his behalf? Be it male or female, black or white, young or old, rich or poor, free or imprisoned … the list goes on … God will choose whom he will choose, and his selection will always be perfect.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is I Speak Jesus by Charity Gayle with Steven Musso.

Favorite lyric: “I just wanna speak the name of Jesus.”

Aging and Shedding

The Lord said to Moses, “What do you have in your hand?”

“A walking stick,” he said.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

So, Moses threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake. He ran away from it.

Exodus 4:2-3

With great excitement, my husband asked, “Want to see a snake shedding its skin?”

“Sure,” I answered with as much interest as I could muster. I wasn’t particularly keen about viewing such a spectacle, but because Greg was apparently fascinated, I wanted to give him my support.

Since Greg had been outdoors mowing the lawn, I suspected that the shedding serpent had been spotted somewhere near the tree line behind our house. I was wrong. The snake had chosen the heat of our back deck on which to shed his skin. We found him half-naked, coiled next to the door that opened onto the screened-in porch. Much too close for comfort.

“Isn’t it cool?” Greg asked.

“GREG,” I yelled, “GET RID OF IT!” He looked at me perplexed, as if I had totally missed the point of the experience, which was to watch a snake shed its skin.

“I’M SERIOUS!” I yelled.

Reluctantly, and rather slowly, Greg turned toward the shed while I watched the slippery creature pulse its long shaft to extricate its outer skin. It wasn’t pretty, but it was interesting.

I sometimes wish I could shed my outer skin with its growing number of age spots that don’t respond to anti-aging creams and wrinkles that seem to evolve overnight. In my brain, I’m only 40, maybe 50, but the mirror doesn’t lie. Neither does my body. I’m 62 and painfully aware of my body’s physical decline.

Snakes, I’ve come to learn, shed their skin a few times each year, whenever they outgrow it. Their skin doesn’t stretch with them like human skin, and the entire molting process can take one to two weeks to complete. Understandably, it can be stressing for a creature to endure. But when it’s over, it looks like a new snake!

That’s not how it is with us humans. We dye our hair to look younger, work out to maintain muscle, and try to stay current with fashion trends … but we never look like new humans. At best, we look like hip senior citizens.

King Solomon wrote about aging in Ecclesiastes as he looked back on his life.

In old age, your body no longer serves you so well.Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen.The shades are pulled down on the world.You can’t come and go at will. Things grind to a halt.The hum of the household fades away.You are wakened now by bird-song.Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past.Even a stroll down the road has its terrors.Your hair turns apple-blossom white,Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body.Yes, you’re well on your way to eternal rest,While your friends make plans for your funeral.

Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over.Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends.The body is put back in the same ground it came from.The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. (12:3-7, The Message)

I can’t say I find this passage comforting, but I do find it accurate. Solomon appears to have regrets. Do I? I wonder if given the opportunity to live my life over again, would I take it? Would I shed this skin and start anew? Would I trade in the wrinkles and gray hair for a younger version of myself and give up the wisdom I’ve acquired in return?

Greg returned from the shed with a hoe. I shuddered to think of him chopping the snake’s head off, if indeed that’s what he planned to do. Snakes are useful. They eat insects and rodents, and there were plenty of those in our backyard. Also, this snake was struggling to get out of a suit that no longer fit; he was vulnerable, weak. How many times had I put on a dress that no longer fit and wiggled uncomfortably to get it off?

Without taking my eyes off the serpent (who also hadn’t taken his eyes off me), I told Greg to put the hoe away and grab me a pair of gloves. I would take him to the woods. He was big. He was old. He was a snake with a history. I identified with this snake. If it had hair, it would be completely gray. Proverbs 16:31 states, “Gray hair is crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”

Growing old is not for the weak. It’s hard. Since I can’t shed my skin, I’m going to lean into the aging process, let my hair go gray, take life one day at a time, and surround myself with family and friends who look beyond my age spots and wrinkles. And I pray I won't get thrown into the woods.

FULL DISCLOSURE: The photo above is a year old. I returned the snake to the woods last summer. So far, there has been no sign of him in our backyard this year.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Perfectly Loved by Rachael Lampa with TobyMac.

Favorite lyric: “Who said that you weren’t beautiful and that you didn’t belong in your own skin?”

Who's Your Boss?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

“I think I missed my calling,” I announced to my husband.

With a perplexed look, he asked, “What do you mean?”

Since graduating from college with a master’s degree in education, I moved from one job to the next like a monkey swinging from one vine to another—not quite sure of the direction I was going, just grabbing onto the next bough. I went from teaching elementary school to writing lessons for an online education company to working for an education contractor with the U.S. Department of Education to Assistant Director of Testing for a large school district to writing national reports for a private education company to becoming the Family Ministry Director of my church to serving as the Interim Youth Director. Along the way, I wrote a book and claimed the title of author.

I applied for just two of the jobs listed above. Every other job found me. I guess you could say I made a career of stepping into positions whenever they were offered.

In retrospect, I see that I was always ready to move on because I was never content with where I was. Moving to a new job every couple of years held the prospect of job satisfaction and often a pay increase. It’s true that my bank account grew as well as my skill set, but the joy in my work did not. I lamented along with the writer of Ecclesiastes who wrote, “What do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless” (2:22-23).

Meanwhile, I watched as my husband thrived in his job. Greg had decided at an early age that he wanted to be an astronaut. As he got older, he settled on aerospace engineering and has worked in this field since graduating from college. In fact, for more than 25 years he’s been with the same company.

Unlike me, Greg has enjoyed his work and valued the stability it provides. He works late when needed, takes on extra tasks if asked, and brings his computer home on weekends in case an issue arises. Every job has its downside, of course, but Greg is consistently grateful that he gets to do what he loves to do.

And this brings me back to why I thought I had missed my calling.

As a child, I experienced my greatest joy through my creative endeavors of writing, baking, and sewing. Many of my teenage hours were spent penning songs and short stories, baking muffins and cakes using various ingredients from the farm, and sewing unique outfits by adapting patterns to fit my taste. But when I had to choose a career path in college, I didn’t choose one that correlated with my abilities.

“What do you wish you had majored in?” Greg asked me.

Several answers came to mind. Costume design. Archeology. Culinary arts. Graphic Design. Creative writing. Theology.

The minute I said it, I saw the irony. I hadn’t missed my calling at all. I had already arrived, even though the route had been circuitous.

Every day I get to sit down and write about God’s goodness and presence in my life. I may not get paid for it, but it brings me great joy. And when someone responds to one of my posts to say that my words moved him or her in some way, I am overjoyed. “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25).

As I reflect on my convoluted career path, I see one consistent marker: God. Though I was swinging from vine to vine like a capricious monkey, he was the one positioning the branches and setting the course. I may not have always enjoyed the work I did in the world, but God was an excellent boss. He used every situation to mold me into the woman I am today, fully equipped to use my gifts in a way that brings me pleasure and him glory. I didn’t see it then, but I do now.

I don’t normally listen to rap, but this homemade video nailed it!

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is The Lord is The Boss by Dillon Loving.

Favorite lyric: “All day it’s a battle, but my Bible is a sword. Then you better grab your saddle if you’re riding with the Lord. The whole world’s in his hands. The Lord, he’s the boss.”

Prepare for the Worst

"Be always on the watch,

and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen,

and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke 21:36

My mother used to keep a candle in her car during the winter months. She lived near Buffalo, where winter storms threatened to strand passengers in their cars with little notice. Supposedly, a simple candle could provide several hours of warmth in a small space until help arrived.

I live in Virginia, where snow rarely threatens. However, I do keep a flashlight in my car for emergencies and in case my cell phone dies.

It’s in our nature to prepare for worst case scenarios. We buy the car insurance at the rental agency in case of an accident, and we put smoke detectors in every room of the house in case of a fire. We fill our purses with Band-Aids, tweezers, sunscreen and earplugs, just in case someone suffers a cut, gets a sliver, or suddenly finds themselves in the middle of the Sahara Desert or at a Foo Fighters concert.

We spend a lot of time and energy preparing for things that might never happen instead of preparing for the one thing that will: Jesus’s return.

Consider the parable of the ten virgins. All ten knew the bridegroom would come, but they didn’t know when. Five kept their lamps full of oil so they would be prepared if he arrived in the middle of the night. The other five were not as diligent. When the bridegroom’s arrival was announced for midnight, the five foolish virgins scrambled to find oil to light their way to the banquet. Caught off guard, they arrived late and were denied entrance. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42).

The Bible doesn’t tell us why those five foolish virgins had no oil in their lamps, but I speculate it was one of two reasons: either they were distracted by the things of this world, which made filling their lamps a low priority, or they thought they had more time to get it done.

I admit, I am guilty of both. Thankfully, Jesus provided a clear solution on how to stay focused and prepared.

When Jesus faced arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, he told the disciples who were with him, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). First, we are to “watch,” which means to keep a lookout for God. “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (1 Chronicles 16:11). Second, we are to “pray,” which means to stay in communication with God. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

Watching and praying go hand in hand. We watch in expectation of the King’s arrival, and we pray so we're ready to follow him when he arrives. Since relationships take time to nurture, don’t put it off for another day. You may think you have all the time in the world to prepare for Christ’s second coming, but maybe not. “About the day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). If you don’t know Jesus well, how will you recognize him when he arrives?

As I wrote this post, I found myself wondering if the batteries in my car’s flashlight were still good. I couldn’t even recall the last time I had used it! But I guarantee that if I suddenly found myself stranded on a rural road in the middle of the night, I would be praying for the flashlight to work. Much like the five foolish virgins who were found to be without oil, I might find the batteries corroded.

Preparedness in this world is not a bad thing. After all, life is full of surprises. So, buy the travel insurance and put a flashlight in your car. Just make sure you prepare for eternity, too. That’s one banquet you won’t want to miss!

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Jesus is Coming Back by Jordan Feliz.

Favorite lyric: “We gotta stay awake ‘cause nobody knows the day or time.”

False Identities (King Louis XIV)

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,

not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;

not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:2-3

There aren’t many people capable of running a country all on their own, but French King Louis XIV did it masterfully because his life depended on it.

This future king was only four years old when his father died. Because Louis was too young to rule on his own, his mother, church leaders, and numerous members of the aristocracy vied for the position of regent—a position that would provide power over the country and influence over Louis. As a result, Louis’s young life was marred with manipulation, war, rebellion, and lies. Twice, the prince and his mother fled Paris for protection, and for several years they were held under house arrest. It’s no wonder Louis grew up mistrusting everyone.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Versailles, the hunting lodge Louis turned into a palace when he finally assumed the throne at age 21. While Versailles is indeed extravagantly beautiful on the surface, Louis had it built as a fortress of protection from the inner machinations of the nobility in Paris. Moving the seat of authority to Versailles forced both clergy and parliament to travel more than nine miles to meet with the king, which was no easy feat in the 1600s. An overnight stay ensured that visitors would have ample time to be intimidated by the power Louis wielded at Versailles.

Room after room testifies to the wealth and domination of this young monarch. For example, the paintings on the ceiling in the Hall of Mirrors, which is over 70 meters long, chronicle the political successes King Louis had during the first 18 years of his reign. The War Room, covered with marble panels and decorated with sculptures and bronze weapons, guides visitors’ eyes to the cupola where a painting depicts King Louis as the conqueror of Germany, Spain, and Holland. Then there’s the Royal Chapel, which held mass every morning at 10:00 when King Louis appeared on the balcony. According to travel writer, Rick Steves, “While Louis looked down on the golden altar, the lowly nobles on the ground floor knelt with their backs to the altar and looked up—worshipping Louis worshipping God.” Louis even went as far as to dub himself the Sun King saying the planets revolved around the sun just as France revolved around him.

Though no royal blood courses through my veins (that I’m aware of), I can understand King Louis’s actions. There were people and principalities who wanted him dead. To remain safe, Louis portrayed himself as powerful and divine. It was an image he held to all his life to the detriment of his offspring.

If we’re honest, we’ve all got a little of the Sun King in us. Though we are not in danger of being dethroned, we fear humiliation or embarrassment. So, we embellish our resumes to appear smarter than we are. We hang out with the wrong people to appear more popular than we are. We buy expensive clothes and fancy cars to appear richer than we are. And we tell people we are fine even when we’re miserable in order to appear stronger than we are. The apostle Paul warned, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3).

Several years ago, I served on an interview panel to hire a school executive. Our top candidate had all the attributes we were looking for, but during the final interview, he lied about his experience. He claimed credit for something he did not do, and our panel knew it. Consequently, we could not offer him the job. If only he had told the truth.

Catholic priest and theologian Henry Nouwen wrote, “Jesus came to announce to us that an identity based on success, popularity and power is a false identity—an illusion! Loudly and clearly, he says: 'You are not what the world makes you; but you are children of God.’” All too often, we forget this. Apparently, so did King Louis.

He is remembered as King Louis the Great, but he was a tyrant who invaded other countries, built Versailles on the backs of peasants, persecuted French protestants, and enslaved Africans to work the galleys of his ships. He ruled with an iron fist and left a legacy that was hard for anyone to maintain. His children’s children couldn’t live up to King Louis’s standards. Less than two generations later, the people revolted, and Louis’s great-grandson King Louis XV, and his wife Marie Antoinette, had their heads chopped off.

Using a false identity is never a good idea. As God’s children, we should strive to live up to God’s expectations, not those of the world, our parents, or our church. Remember what Jesus said. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:35-36)

I don’t know if King Louis lost his soul in the process of ruling as a dictator, but I do know that we can learn from his example. The only person we need to please in this world is Christ, and we do that being who God created us to be. Nothing more. Nothing else.

THE SONG THAT COMES TO MIND is Truth Be Told by Matthew West.

Favorite lyric: “I say I’m fine … hey, I’m fine, but I’m not. I’m broken.”