"Costly"

Those early-morning psychic commercials are on TV again (they drive me nuts). $1.00/minute phone calls. This morning, a woman who had made the call was so excited ... "She (the psychic) gave me hope and a purpose for my life!"

I couldn't help but think of the quote of William Barclay that Ken Broman-Fulks (Sr. Minister of First Presbyterian Church in High Point, NC) shared with me yesterday. "There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why."

The "day that we discover why", as revealed by God, is more costly than $1.00/minute for it requires something from us yet it is wondrous to be sure. It is far more hope-filled than any psychic reading could ever be. And there is no guessing on God's part as to who we are and whose we are.

The best conversations are with God!

"Alone in a Hospital Waiting Room"

Alone in a hospital waiting room

for any length of time,

a person might sense

the tears and fears,

the anxiety and worries,

the praise and release

of those who had

been there 

hours and days and weeks before.

As I sat alone 

in the empty waiting room,

lingering emotions of others

who had once sat in this space

were almost palpable.

Me?

I felt swaddled in prayers

and calmed 

in the words of 

“My peace I GIVE to you.”

But still,

the waiting room was empty

and I was alone

and, at times, I wished

for family to be with me.

It was then when I heard,

“Sir, what is your last name?”

A weary black man, 

struggling to walk and talk,

mumbled, “MURDOCK.”

My head turned at the sound

of my last name.

He slowly sat down.

No longer

was the waiting room empty.

No longer was I alone.

I smiled

for I had sensed

the presence of others

who had come and gone,

I had allowed for the

swaddling of prayers,

I had reached out

for Jesus’ peace 

(it was a promise given),

and at the mumbled response

of “MURDOCK” by this man

who fell into his chair,

I realized that

we are all family.

Prayers were answered

and God’s Presence was felt

in so many ways.

"Prayers For My Friends Who Are Pastors"

Prayers for my friends who are pastors ...

for those who are remembering the stumbling blocks in their call ...
for those who are facing adversities ...
or those who have health issues ...
for those who love much, rejoice much and weep with us ...
for those who find joy and for those who wonder ...
for those with a shepherd's heart whose hours
 seem to be filled with meetings ...
for those who have served well.

'Tenacity' is tightly clinging to something.
They have held tight and continue to hold tight to you, O God.
I pray for their continued grasp (and for yours as well).

Yes, prayers and thanksgiving for the shepherds this morning.

"A Good-News Gift"

Long ago, I discovered that my writings joyfully and painfully brought people in and out of my life. There are times when I have found that it is incredibly hard to delete an e-mail address because of a death. My reluctance is part of my release, I guess. Less than a year ago, one such friend, Paula Morse, died of cancer (3-9-16). She was a UMC licensed local pastor who had served churches in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. She was an encourager to me and one who prayed for me from afar. Paula was also a potter and a person who took every opportunity to tell others that they were indeed beloved children of God. She reminded me of that truth often.

Yesterday, I received a box in the mail from Paula’s sister. It contained a small pottery angel (about 2 1/2" tall) that Paula had made … an angel holding a heart. As if I didn’t already know and hadn’t been reminded over and over again by Paula and others that I am a beloved child of God, this special gift made by the hands and heart of a pastor and generously given by her sister reminds me of this once again. I never tire of that good news.

May I continue to find words and ways to share with others what Paula knew with all certainty and passed along so lavishly … that you and I are beloved children of God. In our days, may we look at others through the eyes of the One who calls us “beloved”. Perhaps then we will truly see one another.

"These Are the Makings of Magi"

(Matthew 2:1-13)

As I look back, it was one of those "should have" moments. Quite a few years ago, a young acolyte, seeing that no one was dressed as magi for Epiphany Sunday, turned to me and whispered, "Where are the magi? Are there no wise men today?" My answer (with all of the “grand knowledge” of the worship team leader) was, "Nope, not today. Not this year." Her question echoed within me as I sat on the pew during the worship service that day and all I could do was to shake my head in dismay at my own answer. Why did I say that to her? I should have said, "I am looking at one when I look at you and you are looking at one when you look at me. To follow the star, to not only look heavenward but to travel with others in our faith and questions, to ask where Jesus can be found, to bow in worship in the presence of our Lord, to present the best gifts of ourselves to God … these are the makings of magi."

Our Epiphany-thinking so often is centered around the details of the story found in Matthew … details that are both quite obvious and omitted. It seems important for me to add verse 13 to the story of the Visit of the Magi. With it brings a darkness that has never really left when the cries of the Christ-child first pierced the night air. The world is still a world that finds itself in darkness. Herod somehow still creeps into the outskirts of the sweetness of our Christmases. For all that the magi brought with them on their journey and for the perseverance of their searching and seeking and traveling "moor and mountain", for carrying precious gifts, they were also following the Light that shines in the darkness. These are the makings of magi.

I can take a deep breath and remember the first time that I smelled the strange, sweet fragrance of frankincense or the heavy, foreboding fragrance of myrrh. My eyes might gleam at the sight of gold. I wonder, at times, if the gift canisters of the magi were encased with jewels or if the dust of the journey ruined their robes. Did the camels (and naysayers) spit on them? Were their bodies aching to the point of exhaustion? I can search for the details not found in the Scriptures but what leads me to the Christ-child once again is the Light in the darkness that keeps us focused and moving forward.

God is exceptionally good at Star-hanging and Light-giving, you know …. and each of us has the makings of magi within us!

"The Holy Innocents" (Matthew 2:13-18)

 (Matthew 2:13-18)  

Why, O God,

must we remember

the words

of the slaughter

of the Holy Innocents

today?  

Just days ago,

we sought the Christ-child.

The heavens exploded

with joy

and proclamation

and we raised our candles

as if they were

the soft twinkling

of stars in the

Bethlehem night sky.

We heard once again

the story

of shepherds running

from their flocks,

to the very place

where Love was born

and our hearts

were filled with their

excitement.

We are now looking East,

toward the horizon

for magi

bearing gifts

and we wonder

what gifts

might we also bring.

Why, O God,

must we remember 

these Holy Innocents now

when we have knelt

at a manger 

to witness Love

first-hand?

It is 

less painful

and sorrowful

for us

to close 

our eyes

to all of this.

Is it because

there are still

Innocents today?

In South Sudan or Aleppo ...

or in our own streets?

Nameless and named?

Is it because

there are still

Innocents today ?

Hungry

and cold?

Nameless and named?  

Is it because

there are still

Holy Innocents today?

Battered and bruised

in the very place

they call home?

Nameless and named?  

Why, O God,

must we remember

the Holy Innocents?

"Because, my child,

there are Innocents

in this world today,

and 

mothers

weeping and

refusing to be

comforted.

There are still

Herods who

have both 

great power and

great fear

within them.

You must not forget

and you must not

look away."

(c) 2016 revised   anna murdock

"Preparation"

(Sung to the tune of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel")

Oppressed, they once cried out, "O LORD, how long?"
And we now pray, "O God, Thy kingdom come."
Expectancy and hope is in the air.
Prepare the manger, for the time is near.

(Refrain)

Make soft, our hearts -
A place for you to dwell.
O come to us
Emmanuel.