"Attuned to God's Timing" (Luke 2:22-40)

There are several reasons why I’m sharing this week’s Gospel readings with you …
1.) To share Rachel Hackenberg’s weekly prayer prompt
2.) To share a little story about what a kid perceived as the meaning of my name
3.) To share the glorious work of John August Swanson, called “The Presentation”

The scriptures are of the presentation of the Infant Jesus by Mary and Joseph in the temple.  Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was guided by the Spirit into the temple where he took Jesus into his arms and praised God, saying “… my eyes have seen your salvation.”  Then, a prophet named Anna (84 years old and a widow who never left the temple, but worshiped and praised God day and night), came to them and immediately recognized the Christ-child as the redemption.  It’s a wonderful account of Mary and Joseph presenting their firstborn to God “according to the law” yet their firstborn (Jesus) being recognized and proclaimed as salvation.  Again, please read the scriptures!

One Sunday, a group of young people in our church were talking about what their names meant.  I was standing by the kids and said, “Do you know what my name means?”  One said, “Yes … an old woman who hangs around the church all of the time!”  Ouch!  But later I was pleased that he knew the scriptures (somewhat) and that my hope is that I might recognize Jesus whenever and however he might be presented to me.  So, aside from the “old woman” comment made by the young boy (surely, he needs glasses), I’m OK with his perception of what my name might mean.

This morning, Rachel Hackenberg’s email prayer prompt really brought home the “active waiting” portion of how these scriptures might speak to each of us.  As we close out 2017 and step into 2018, let us consider her words:

(Rachel Hackenberg’s prayer prompt 12-30-17)

When the time came ... guided by the Spirit, Simeon came to the temple and took the child Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, "Now you are dismissing your servant in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared without secrecy among all people. (Luke 2:22-32, excerpts)

Simeon came to the temple at just the right time, having disciplined his spirit to attune itself to God's timing and not to his own impatience.

We all live with a bit of expectation: waiting for a new day, waiting for a new year, waiting for a better political climate, waiting for a long-awaited joy or a much-needed relief or a nail-biting resolution. As you wait, pray for your spirit to find peace in God's timing.

(Thank you, Rachel Hackenberg)

"Yes, You Can!" (in memory of Rev. Ruth Dudley)

Ruth Dudley, an encourager of mine who lived in  Australia, has died. I learned about her passing this morning, on her birthday (12-28-17)

Crutches were her constant friends as a child as was a wheelchair in her adult years.  Physically, her life was difficult and filled with pain.  Living into her calling was as well.  Ruth wrote a poem called “Inevitably Hers” about the pain that she went through between the time of her calling (1953) until the day that she was allowed by the Anglican Church of Australia to be ordained (1992).  To hear her tell about those last months before the Church allowed it to happen was filled with hurt.  She and a few other women were to be ordained (the first group in Australia).  They arrived for the ordination only to find out that the Church had put it on hold once more.  And from an Anglican priest’s mouth, she heard him say that it would be more fitting for a dog to perform the sacraments than a woman.  Oh, what hurt and yearning these “pioneer” women endured. 

Ruth was the first person to befriend me when I joined a lectionary discussion group years ago.   Ruth encouraged me in expressing myself through writing, took me under her wing, and surprised me with a book of her own writings/poetry.  When others said "No you can't", Ruth shouted "Yes you can!" 

This morning, I give thanks for an amazing woman of strength (even in her weakness), of faith, and of calling ....  and, in turn, give thanks for all who have answered God's call.

anna
Here is her poem ("Inevitably Hers") about the wait between calling and ordination.   I have had it on my office wall for years.

INEVITABLY HERS

Long ago it had seemed
like a wisp of cloud peeping over the horizon,
shaping and unshaping,
full of exciting promise,
yet somehow ominous
for it carried the threat of storms and thunder
and fierce pain.

For many years it seemed to come no closer.
Then the wind picked it up
and, gathering momentum
it moved relentlessly toward her.

She feared it.
How she feared it!
It was not of her choosing
yet it was hers –
inevitably hers
and she longed to own it
and to have others own that it was hers.

Heavily it hung above her
heightening her sense of foreboding,
stretching her pain,
sharpening her longing.
Bowed under the oppression of denial
she waited.

Then the first drops fell.
Raising her eyes to heaven
she saw God smile as cleansing drops
of possibility and affirmation and encouragement
rained upon her.

No longer bowed, she waited –
for inevitably
it was hers.


("Inevitably Hers" by Ruth Dudley / Anglican priest / Australia)
Note:  Ruth was in the first group of women in Australia to be ordained an Anglican priest.  God called her to the ministry in 1953.  It was in 1992, when she was ordained.  INEVITABLY HERS.

"What Do I Want For Christmas?

(Please read Luke 2:8-20)

Each year, my family insists that we spend some time making our Christmas lists so that the lists might be shared with each other.  I always have a difficult time with this.  My needs are very practical and not very “Christmasy”.  What I want for Christmas is much different than what any one family member can give to me.  You see, I want to be one of the shepherds!

What do I want for Christmas?  In the midst of what is usually a very predictable Christmas for me, I want to be surprised by angelic announcements.  I want just a glimpse of the glory of the Lord on this silent, familiar-story sort of a night.  I want to be calmed by “fear not’s”.  I want to find myself holding my breath for a moment at the sounds of a heavenly-host chorus.  I want to be one of the shepherds!

What do I want for Christmas?  I want to hurry to Bethlehem, running down the hillside much like I remember doing as a child.  I want to risk running so fast that my feet might outrun my body … running, tumbling, picking myself up and running once more.  Yes, I want to hurry to Bethlehem with spontaneity and anticipation to see the One whose birth the angels sing. I want to be one of the shepherds!

What do I want for Christmas?  I want to kneel at the manger and realize that God has brought me to this place and has asked me to soak in the sights, the smells, the night air, the infant cries, the faithful parents and that first birth announcement.  I want to kneel for a moment in awe, wonder and recognition that God’s long-awaited Promise is before me.  I want to be overwhelmed by God’s love.  I want to squint at the Light that has come into this dark world.  I want to be lost in the wonder of it all.  I want to whisper, “Immanuel” and hear God whisper back, “Yes, I am with you.”  I want to sigh a relieved sigh at this news.  I want to be one of the shepherds!

What do I want for Christmas?  I know that I must return to my “hillside” … to my job and my routines.  But I want to return from looking heavenward, from running to the manger, from kneeling at just the thoughts of being in the presence of the long-awaited Messiah to a different sameness.  I want to return to my world, to my hillside, glorifying and praising God for all things that I have seen and heard.  I want to be so taken aback by it all that I can’t help but share what I know with others.  I want to be one of the shepherds!

What do I want for Christmas?  I want company on the hillside on this most holy of nights.  I want other shepherds with me, privy to the angelic announcement, being offered a glimpse of the glory of the Lord and running toward the manger with me.  I want to kneel with others in prayer and praise and wonder and know that this “Promise Kept” is not just for me but for all.  I want to walk back to our hillsides together, changed forever.  

What do I want for Christmas?  I want to be a shepherd and I would like the company of you!

anna murdock

(“What Do I Want for Christmas?” written December 18, 2006)

Broad Street UMC / Statesville, NC

 Postscript to “What Do I Want for Christmas?” ….

Writing and sharing our words is a bit risky!  Often it is I who becomes a better person as readers share with me their thoughts in response to my offerings.  Just after sending out “What Do I Want for Christmas?”, I received an e-mail from an elderly man named Ralph.  I will always remember Ralph’s response for he has asked me to become more than a shepherd.  He was so excited at the thoughts of being a shepherd with me, but he needed to ask a question first.  “Anna, are you willing to help me?”

Here is what Ralph had to say in response to “What Do I Want for Christmas” …

“Anna, I want to be a shepherd too.  I want to go to the manger with you.  But I wonder if you would be willing to help me down the hillside.  You see, I am confined to a wheelchair.”  

I immediately answered Ralph … “Of course, I will.  It would be my honor. I would love to push you down the hillside with me, two shepherds on the way to the manger.”  It was then when Ralph taught me a great lesson.   “Anna, you don’t understand.  You can’t push me down a hillside.  Hitting any stone or any bump will cause me to fall out of my wheelchair if you push me.  You will have to slowly pull me backwards.  I still want to be a shepherd.  I still want to go down the Bethlehem hillside to the manger with you.  Are you STILL willing to help me, knowing this?”

I am so thankful for Ralph’s e-mail.  He has asked me to go to the manger with him as a shepherd, but return to my life and my world as a committed, trusting, willing disciple.  Perhaps he didn’t know this, but he did.  He has reminded me that discipleship will not always be easy.  Ralph has asked me for a response … yes or no.  For this, I say “thank you” and I say “yes.”

There is a point in our lives when Jesus looks into the eyes and hearts of each of us and says, “Knowing these things, knowing the costliness of picking up my cross daily and following me, are you STILL willing?  Yes or No.”