An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

Happy are those whose  transgression is forgiven,  whose sin is covered. (From Psalm 32 ) One Sunday, after preaching a sermon on sin and forgiveness, a church member said to me, "I'm a nice person and do good things.   I don't' think I sinned yesterday and I know I haven't today. Why do I need to pray for forgiveness? Sadly, when the concept of sin is based on social offences, bad behaviors, or some vice, the concepts of sin and forgiveness are very limited.   Probably none of us has fully loved God with all our hearts, souls, strength, and minds, nor our neighbor as ourselves  And so we pray,  Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in  thought, word, and deed,  by what we have done and  what we have left undone.  Sin is a persistent force in our lives. It doesn't take me much to think of what I have left undone. I don't mean little projects around the house. I mean showing appreciation for something someone...

Desert's Hand, Chile O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land  where there is no water. (from Psalm 63 ) For what do you thirst? Currently I am receiving physical therapy to improve my balance. The therapist works me through a set of exercises designed to strengthen certain leg muscles and sensitize my brain.  After completing some of the exercises, the therapist pauses and asks me if  I need to rest or need water. Usually, I am doing fine and don't need either. The image above suggests to me that we can experience a profound stillness and isolation.  This isn't such a bad thing because the Desert Fathers have shown that stillness and isolation can motivate us to reflect on the things which satisfy our deep thirst. The poet of Psalm 63 says it's his soul that thirsts for God. The poet is looking everywhere to satisfy the thirst and it feels like searching in places where there is no water. Finally...

Remember Ukraine Astico Gardens Acaia, NP  “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. (from Psalm 27 )  I clearly remember the time I told the church I was giving up chocolate for Lent. Immediately after the service a little girl approached me and said, "I hate chocolate!!!"  What followed was an organized effort to have as many chocolate goodies at Coffee Time as possible. Pastor, are you going to yield to temptation? I don't buy into  sacrificing something for Lent that society tells us we need.  Instead, I see Lent as looking at  my spiritual life and asking what needs attention?   Is it "search the Scriptures" through Bible reading and study? Is it acts social justice as Micah 6:8 points out? Our urge to seek the Lord comes from an awareness of distance. We are aware that we haven't fully completed our spiritual journey in to "the house of the Lord." Compare a journey to my physical trials. I have an issue with balan...

Shelter on Sunrise Mt. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. (from  Psalm 91  ) Franklin D. Roosevelt once stated his that “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” He was referring to the attack on Peral Harbor.  For the people in Ukraine and the surrounding countries, it may well feel there is more to fear than "fear itself".  Fear emerges also from real, even serious threats to mind, body, or spirit. Walter Brueggemann said in a Lecture at Luther Seminary, “You gotta have a place where you process your fears, because if you don’t process your fears, they will devour you [and] they will immobilize you.” That processing begins, I believe by speaking to the Lord saying something like: “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” knowing the Lord will provide that  safe space "under his wings."  The process continues by naming our fears like verse 3 indicates in the "s...