(Please read Matthew 5:13)
"You are the salt of the earth,"
he said.
What curious words ...
what can he mean?
And then I remembered
the teachings of
my grandmother.
"Anna, always say
'Yes ma'am' and 'No sir.'
Say 'I enjoyed my supper;
may I be excused?'
Say 'Please pass the salt.' "
And now I understand
the curious words.
He is reminding me
to "Please pass the salt!"
(c) 2011 anna murdock
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
"Perfect Provision"
Too often,
I look to the heavens
for the decade’s
greatest snowstorm
of blessings ...
and pray
for an accumulation
in amounts that
are astounding.
Oh God,
thank you for my friend
who said,
“Look down
at the blessings
that have softly fallen
like manna
all around us….
fallen silently
like a dusting of snow,
to be gathered in amounts
of Perfect Provision
for this one day.
Amen.
(c)2011 anna murdock
I look to the heavens
for the decade’s
greatest snowstorm
of blessings ...
and pray
for an accumulation
in amounts that
are astounding.
Oh God,
thank you for my friend
who said,
“Look down
at the blessings
that have softly fallen
like manna
all around us….
fallen silently
like a dusting of snow,
to be gathered in amounts
of Perfect Provision
for this one day.
Amen.
(c)2011 anna murdock
Sunday, January 30, 2011
"Blessed is she ..."
(Please read Matthew 5:1-12 "The Beatitudes")
Ahhhh, the Sermon on the Mount. So many of us picture Jesus standing on the mountain, shouting down to the crowds of people who had begun to follow him from town to town. As I read the Scriptures, I’m sensing something different than what I had once envisioned. Could this be an intimate moment of teaching between Jesus and his disciples on the mountainside, with the crowds of people not yet hearing these words of hope? Could Jesus be telling his disciples of this kingdom-on-earth-and-in-heaven thinking that was being ushered into the world, even as they walked among the meek, the mourning, the peacemakers, the poor in spirit, those who hungered for righteousness as deeply as any starving person would hunger for a morsel of food? Jesus might have pointed to the crowds and whispered to his disciples, "Look into their eyes. These are the eyes of the blesseds.”
This week, as so many of us read the Scriptures that we have grown to know as The Beatitudes, as we read of Jesus teaching the disciples of this upside-down thinking (or is it a rightside-up thinking?) I overheard, "Blessed is she, for she has witnessed the holy.”
Allow me to share with you this holy moment that I witnessed on Tuesday …
The man's hair was grey and straggly. His shoulders looked as if they were carrying the weight of the world on them. Perhaps they were bearing the weight of HIS own world. He had tried to walk across the busy road with a garbage bag filled with crushed soda and beer cans. He didn't make it. His bag broke and out spilled his treasure of crushed cans. The traffic was rush-hour, going-home traffic. He stood on the curb, out of danger and watched car after car drive over the cans and around the cans. And then it happened. A car stopped. Emergency lights were turned on. A man in a dark suit stepped out of the car, held his hands up to stop the traffic and together a man with the grey straggly hair and a man in a dark suit picked up cans.
I shared this moment with a friend and he quoted Matthew 25:35-36 with a minor addition: “… for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me. I was broke and you picked up crushed soda and beer cans.”
Blessed is she who witnessed Jesus in a dark suit ... or was it Jesus with grey straggly hair? Blessed is she, either way! Blessed is she, for she has witnessed the holy.
anna
Ahhhh, the Sermon on the Mount. So many of us picture Jesus standing on the mountain, shouting down to the crowds of people who had begun to follow him from town to town. As I read the Scriptures, I’m sensing something different than what I had once envisioned. Could this be an intimate moment of teaching between Jesus and his disciples on the mountainside, with the crowds of people not yet hearing these words of hope? Could Jesus be telling his disciples of this kingdom-on-earth-and-in-heaven thinking that was being ushered into the world, even as they walked among the meek, the mourning, the peacemakers, the poor in spirit, those who hungered for righteousness as deeply as any starving person would hunger for a morsel of food? Jesus might have pointed to the crowds and whispered to his disciples, "Look into their eyes. These are the eyes of the blesseds.”
This week, as so many of us read the Scriptures that we have grown to know as The Beatitudes, as we read of Jesus teaching the disciples of this upside-down thinking (or is it a rightside-up thinking?) I overheard, "Blessed is she, for she has witnessed the holy.”
Allow me to share with you this holy moment that I witnessed on Tuesday …
The man's hair was grey and straggly. His shoulders looked as if they were carrying the weight of the world on them. Perhaps they were bearing the weight of HIS own world. He had tried to walk across the busy road with a garbage bag filled with crushed soda and beer cans. He didn't make it. His bag broke and out spilled his treasure of crushed cans. The traffic was rush-hour, going-home traffic. He stood on the curb, out of danger and watched car after car drive over the cans and around the cans. And then it happened. A car stopped. Emergency lights were turned on. A man in a dark suit stepped out of the car, held his hands up to stop the traffic and together a man with the grey straggly hair and a man in a dark suit picked up cans.
I shared this moment with a friend and he quoted Matthew 25:35-36 with a minor addition: “… for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me. I was broke and you picked up crushed soda and beer cans.”
Blessed is she who witnessed Jesus in a dark suit ... or was it Jesus with grey straggly hair? Blessed is she, either way! Blessed is she, for she has witnessed the holy.
anna
Friday, December 24, 2010
"The Heavens Exploded"
(Please read Luke 2:8-14)
Too long ... it had been too long since the words of the prophets had been heard. It seemed too long since they had heard promises of a Messiah. Could anyone remember the last time word spread of angel visitants or God speaking to one of their own? The town of Bethlehem was filled not only with those who still longed for and looked for the promised Messiah but also with those whose hope had dwindled. Those who continued to look to the heavens and those who lowered their heads in weariness and near hopelessness both cried out, "How long, O God? How long must we wait?" The wait continued in their darkness. Their hope, no matter how great or small, peered through this darkness for the Promised Light. With a gulp of first-breath and the piercing of the night air with infant wails, God said, "The wait is over."
Just as with Mary, God sent greetings - one angel initially sent to the shepherds. God knew that what was about to happen would have "scared the shepherds to death" if they had not first heard "do not be afraid." For you see, God was about to part the heavens for a glimpse of God’s glory in a way that had never been witnessed. The heavens exploded and suddenly a great company of the heavenly host poured out in unbridled song. The angels knew “who” was in the manger. They knew that Jesus, the God Almighty Incarnate, had come from his throne in heaven to the wandering people below for the salvation of mankind. They knew that this was the Lord's plan from the beginning and God has now said, "It is time." How could they keep from singing?
Yes, the heavens exploded with all honor and praise and majesty given to God Almighty. The heavens exploded with the highest of glory to God sung by the angel choirs. The heavens exploded because the angels knew that this newborn was the promised Savior - the fulfillment of the ages. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. They knew and they flooded the night sky with their joy and song. They sang the highest praises that they had ever sung because God's power and love, faithfulness and mercy and justice all reached God’s highest expression with the birth of an infant in a stable. They could do nothing other than sing in full voice and glorify God in the highest ways possible for they knew that this baby, the Infant Jesus, is the promised One … the looked-for, the long-for, and the prayed-for Messiah.
The heavens exploded that night - the glory of the Lord burst through in revelation and the Light of Jesus Christ pierced our own darkness forever. God comes into our world with God’s plan of salvation. Emmanuel. God-with-us. The angels could not contain themselves. Oh my, we should be no different! How can we keep from singing? How can we keep from glorifying God? How can we not live with a song on our hearts and words to share on our lips?
SING WITH EXULTATION!
anna
Too long ... it had been too long since the words of the prophets had been heard. It seemed too long since they had heard promises of a Messiah. Could anyone remember the last time word spread of angel visitants or God speaking to one of their own? The town of Bethlehem was filled not only with those who still longed for and looked for the promised Messiah but also with those whose hope had dwindled. Those who continued to look to the heavens and those who lowered their heads in weariness and near hopelessness both cried out, "How long, O God? How long must we wait?" The wait continued in their darkness. Their hope, no matter how great or small, peered through this darkness for the Promised Light. With a gulp of first-breath and the piercing of the night air with infant wails, God said, "The wait is over."
Just as with Mary, God sent greetings - one angel initially sent to the shepherds. God knew that what was about to happen would have "scared the shepherds to death" if they had not first heard "do not be afraid." For you see, God was about to part the heavens for a glimpse of God’s glory in a way that had never been witnessed. The heavens exploded and suddenly a great company of the heavenly host poured out in unbridled song. The angels knew “who” was in the manger. They knew that Jesus, the God Almighty Incarnate, had come from his throne in heaven to the wandering people below for the salvation of mankind. They knew that this was the Lord's plan from the beginning and God has now said, "It is time." How could they keep from singing?
Yes, the heavens exploded with all honor and praise and majesty given to God Almighty. The heavens exploded with the highest of glory to God sung by the angel choirs. The heavens exploded because the angels knew that this newborn was the promised Savior - the fulfillment of the ages. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. They knew and they flooded the night sky with their joy and song. They sang the highest praises that they had ever sung because God's power and love, faithfulness and mercy and justice all reached God’s highest expression with the birth of an infant in a stable. They could do nothing other than sing in full voice and glorify God in the highest ways possible for they knew that this baby, the Infant Jesus, is the promised One … the looked-for, the long-for, and the prayed-for Messiah.
The heavens exploded that night - the glory of the Lord burst through in revelation and the Light of Jesus Christ pierced our own darkness forever. God comes into our world with God’s plan of salvation. Emmanuel. God-with-us. The angels could not contain themselves. Oh my, we should be no different! How can we keep from singing? How can we keep from glorifying God? How can we not live with a song on our hearts and words to share on our lips?
SING WITH EXULTATION!
anna
Saturday, December 18, 2010
"... And you shall give him"
(Please read Matthew 1:18-25)
He awoke from his dream
having heard words
that spilled into his life
and disrupted his plans.
Yet, in the midst
of this unsettling holy mystery
came the very settling words
“…and YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
The father of this
soon-to-be-born child
had given the one
who would be the infant's
earthly father
this joy, and right
and privilege
and responsibility,
“…and YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.
It was a first gift given
with a Great Love.
The gift tag read…
“From father
to father,
with love.
Yes, YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
The gift tag continued …
“There is a righteousness about you,
and tenderness and compassion.
There is strength in your humbleness,
and obedience that doesn’t hesitate.
There is hard, honest work in your days
and character in your life.
Yes, YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
A father lifted an infant
high to the heavens
and to the world
and declared,
with all authority,
“His name is Jesus.”
He then kissed the face
of his newborn son,
realizing
that in this gift of love,
from father to father,
this would truly become
his own journey of love.
anna
He awoke from his dream
having heard words
that spilled into his life
and disrupted his plans.
Yet, in the midst
of this unsettling holy mystery
came the very settling words
“…and YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
The father of this
soon-to-be-born child
had given the one
who would be the infant's
earthly father
this joy, and right
and privilege
and responsibility,
“…and YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.
It was a first gift given
with a Great Love.
The gift tag read…
“From father
to father,
with love.
Yes, YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
The gift tag continued …
“There is a righteousness about you,
and tenderness and compassion.
There is strength in your humbleness,
and obedience that doesn’t hesitate.
There is hard, honest work in your days
and character in your life.
Yes, YOU shall give him
the name Jesus.”
A father lifted an infant
high to the heavens
and to the world
and declared,
with all authority,
“His name is Jesus.”
He then kissed the face
of his newborn son,
realizing
that in this gift of love,
from father to father,
this would truly become
his own journey of love.
anna
Saturday, December 11, 2010
"The Face of Advent JOY"
I was reading the Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:46b-55 lectionary Scriptures this morning and found that I so wanted to revisit someone in whose face I have seen Advent Joy. As I reread what I had written about this gentlemen, I realized that the reflection of his joy was the very same as Mary's. They both looked back to what they had heard and knew and understood to be forthcoming through the words of Isaiah. They looked in the present and saw the radical possibilities of bearing Jesus into this world of ours. And they both hummed and sang the most beautiful songs of praise in their hope of the foreverness of the Lord's reign. I have enjoyed picturing this gentleman and Mary, sitting across the table from each other, putting God's puzzle pieces into place ... and then both bursting into a duet of songs from their souls when the picture is revealed. I can hear Mary saying what this gentleman said to me ... "Isn't God grand!"
(Please read Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:46b-55)
On a December day in 2007, I found myself in Duke Chapel, beginning my own Advent time of waiting and worship with the Chapel choir’s offering of Handel’s MESSIAH. I could spend my morning sharing with you those glorious hours. The Chapel is breathtakingly beautiful. The voices raised in song and proclamation filled the sanctuary with God’s promises and victory. The orchestra lifted the words even higher. And yet, all of these proved to be secondary to my looking into the face of "Advent Joy".
As I sat in the sanctuary, an elderly, very distinguished gentleman sat beside of me. The first thing that I noticed was that he had a ready smile. Well before the music began, we began to talk of God and Jesus. We spoke of writing and poetry and of those God-placed friendships in our lives. And then, the face of Advent Joy began to appear on this man’s face in such a way that is almost beyond description. He opened his program and, with great joy, said, "May I show you the incredible mix of Scriptures in the MESSIAH?" This gentleman pointed to the combination of Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures, intermingled in such a way that God’s love, promises and intentions would radiate throughout the music. With a twinkle in his eye, he smiled and said, ‘Isn’t God grand!" The face of Advent Joy began to glow in a very special way.
The music began. His eyes were closed and a faint smile emerged, as if he knew something that perhaps I didn’t. Scriptures of joyous glad tidings were sung and his smile couldn’t have become any larger. He even chuckled at the words of Isaiah, knowing full well that they would come to pass. He cried tears of joy in those places where hope in the face of death was so beautifully sung. As we stood for the "Hallelujah" chorus, he looked to the heavens for a while and then bowed his head in prayer. And as the last chorus was sung, "Worthy is the Lamb", he sat with his hands folded in his lap, tears streaming down his cheeks.
The music stopped. He threw his arms around me and hugged me saying, "Wasn’t this marvelous? I have loved hearing God’s words in this music and I have enjoyed sharing God’s words with you." Then he disappeared into the crowd, but not before I noticed a countenance of praise on his face that was gentle and beautiful and radiant beyond description. I had looked into the face of Advent Joy.
How do you tell someone else about an encounter such as this? I search for words. And I search for those who might understand what I am about to say. I walked away from those hours in Duke Chapel not quite sure "who" I was sitting beside. I voiced this to a pastor and he reminded me of Hebrews 13:2. The man seemed angelic as if he had been afforded special holy glimpses. Perhaps that is what Advent Joy is about … being filled with the words of Isaiah as we wait for and pray that the Christ-child be born anew in us … being filled with the promises of God as we wait for the coming of Jesus once more … being filled with Jesus in such a way that our soul, too, magnifies the Lord as did Mary’s … and being willing to become a servant of our Lord, for God’s radical change in this world
Oh, that we too might have the face of Advent Joy, the heart of a lowly servant and the songs of praise of the both of them within us.
anna
(Please read Isaiah 35:1-10 and Luke 1:46b-55)
On a December day in 2007, I found myself in Duke Chapel, beginning my own Advent time of waiting and worship with the Chapel choir’s offering of Handel’s MESSIAH. I could spend my morning sharing with you those glorious hours. The Chapel is breathtakingly beautiful. The voices raised in song and proclamation filled the sanctuary with God’s promises and victory. The orchestra lifted the words even higher. And yet, all of these proved to be secondary to my looking into the face of "Advent Joy".
As I sat in the sanctuary, an elderly, very distinguished gentleman sat beside of me. The first thing that I noticed was that he had a ready smile. Well before the music began, we began to talk of God and Jesus. We spoke of writing and poetry and of those God-placed friendships in our lives. And then, the face of Advent Joy began to appear on this man’s face in such a way that is almost beyond description. He opened his program and, with great joy, said, "May I show you the incredible mix of Scriptures in the MESSIAH?" This gentleman pointed to the combination of Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures, intermingled in such a way that God’s love, promises and intentions would radiate throughout the music. With a twinkle in his eye, he smiled and said, ‘Isn’t God grand!" The face of Advent Joy began to glow in a very special way.
The music began. His eyes were closed and a faint smile emerged, as if he knew something that perhaps I didn’t. Scriptures of joyous glad tidings were sung and his smile couldn’t have become any larger. He even chuckled at the words of Isaiah, knowing full well that they would come to pass. He cried tears of joy in those places where hope in the face of death was so beautifully sung. As we stood for the "Hallelujah" chorus, he looked to the heavens for a while and then bowed his head in prayer. And as the last chorus was sung, "Worthy is the Lamb", he sat with his hands folded in his lap, tears streaming down his cheeks.
The music stopped. He threw his arms around me and hugged me saying, "Wasn’t this marvelous? I have loved hearing God’s words in this music and I have enjoyed sharing God’s words with you." Then he disappeared into the crowd, but not before I noticed a countenance of praise on his face that was gentle and beautiful and radiant beyond description. I had looked into the face of Advent Joy.
How do you tell someone else about an encounter such as this? I search for words. And I search for those who might understand what I am about to say. I walked away from those hours in Duke Chapel not quite sure "who" I was sitting beside. I voiced this to a pastor and he reminded me of Hebrews 13:2. The man seemed angelic as if he had been afforded special holy glimpses. Perhaps that is what Advent Joy is about … being filled with the words of Isaiah as we wait for and pray that the Christ-child be born anew in us … being filled with the promises of God as we wait for the coming of Jesus once more … being filled with Jesus in such a way that our soul, too, magnifies the Lord as did Mary’s … and being willing to become a servant of our Lord, for God’s radical change in this world
Oh, that we too might have the face of Advent Joy, the heart of a lowly servant and the songs of praise of the both of them within us.
anna
Saturday, November 27, 2010
"Today, I Sought Peace"
(Thoughts for the first Sunday of Advent)
Please read Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14 and Matthew 24-36-44
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. And so, with coffee in hand, I sat on the sofa … in the early hours … in the silence … with only small white lights on an otherwise bare tree to break into the darkness of the early morning hour. And it was good.
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. And so, I moved to another sofa, in front of the only nativity I’ve ever known; you know, the one that was bought when my older brother was born, 59 years ago. I remembered days of my childhood, standing on my tiptoes, in “footie”pajamas, with my hands on top of the cabinet, trying to pull myself up to see the wonder of this story of animals and a stable, of shepherds and sheep, of singing angels, of a young mother and a father kneeling with folded hands before a little baby, and of magi and gifts. I felt a bit of the wonder again. And it was good.
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. And so, I began to read the Scriptures. Words of Isaiah … words that say that we shall stream to the mountain of the LORD’s house. Isn’t that a glorious thought … “streaming” toward God? I heard the beckoning. “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” I heard words of promised peace. Swords into plowshares. Spears into pruning hooks. In the twinkling lights of the tree, in the darkness of my morning, I heard “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” And it was good.
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. And yet, I heard “KEEP AWAKE! BE READY! YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE LORD IS COMING!” Such yelling broke into the silence of my morning. Such questioning crept into the feel-good sights of twinkling lights and a nativity that is worn by the careful touch of little fingers and the toll of years. I read of a thief in the night and suddenly realized that Advent is not such a quiet, still or safe time. And it was good.
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. But I heard, “You MUST be ready” and I wondered how many times the Son of Man has come to me … in unexpected places … with a face of the unexpected … at a most unexpected time and in a most unexpected way. I have been brought to a place of unpeace this day before Advent, so that I might seek Peace anew. What is it that you want of us? To be heralds as well?
And it is good.
O LORD, do break into that place where our hearts are housed. Break in, O God, into the darkness, into our complacency, into those places where we are not ready and help us to become ready. Open our eyes and our hearts so that we might recognize Jesus in the unexpected. Teach us your ways so that we might walk in your paths, illuminated by your Light. Amen.
anna
Please read Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14 and Matthew 24-36-44
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. And so, with coffee in hand, I sat on the sofa … in the early hours … in the silence … with only small white lights on an otherwise bare tree to break into the darkness of the early morning hour. And it was good.
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. And so, I moved to another sofa, in front of the only nativity I’ve ever known; you know, the one that was bought when my older brother was born, 59 years ago. I remembered days of my childhood, standing on my tiptoes, in “footie”pajamas, with my hands on top of the cabinet, trying to pull myself up to see the wonder of this story of animals and a stable, of shepherds and sheep, of singing angels, of a young mother and a father kneeling with folded hands before a little baby, and of magi and gifts. I felt a bit of the wonder again. And it was good.
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. And so, I began to read the Scriptures. Words of Isaiah … words that say that we shall stream to the mountain of the LORD’s house. Isn’t that a glorious thought … “streaming” toward God? I heard the beckoning. “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” I heard words of promised peace. Swords into plowshares. Spears into pruning hooks. In the twinkling lights of the tree, in the darkness of my morning, I heard “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” And it was good.
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. And yet, I heard “KEEP AWAKE! BE READY! YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE LORD IS COMING!” Such yelling broke into the silence of my morning. Such questioning crept into the feel-good sights of twinkling lights and a nativity that is worn by the careful touch of little fingers and the toll of years. I read of a thief in the night and suddenly realized that Advent is not such a quiet, still or safe time. And it was good.
I sought Peace, this day before Advent begins. But I heard, “You MUST be ready” and I wondered how many times the Son of Man has come to me … in unexpected places … with a face of the unexpected … at a most unexpected time and in a most unexpected way. I have been brought to a place of unpeace this day before Advent, so that I might seek Peace anew. What is it that you want of us? To be heralds as well?
And it is good.
O LORD, do break into that place where our hearts are housed. Break in, O God, into the darkness, into our complacency, into those places where we are not ready and help us to become ready. Open our eyes and our hearts so that we might recognize Jesus in the unexpected. Teach us your ways so that we might walk in your paths, illuminated by your Light. Amen.
anna
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