Words of Fire Blog

Black Thursday?

11/29/2014

This past Thursday, by my calendar, was Thanksgiving. I was blessed to open my home to my family for the annual harvest celebration. I set a formal table each year, thanking God for those who sacrificed so that we can dine in style. But more than the elegant display, nothing replaces the joy of those moments: the shared laughter, the occasional tear and, of course, the dancing.

I had allowed my college freshman niece the responsibility of organizing the playlist for our meal. (I am brave, at times) When we had had our fill of feasting, my niece cranked up the volume to the stereo and began to dance through the living room. My other niece and I joined the impromptu party, laughing, rejoicing--giving thanks for all we were worth.

After my house emptied of family, I watched the evening news and sadly contemplated those people who had spent their day of thanks--not in hunger or pain or want--but in a retail sales line, waiting for the doors to open. One happy woman told that she had come to the store at 10 a.m. to be the first for the 6 p.m. sale. Thanksgiving, it seems, is now "Black Thursday."

Many in the long lines lamented the shift in the culture and were sorry to have missed their time with family and friends.

Black Thursday? Not for me: My home, my joy, my heart gave thanks this past Thursday--and I danced.

When Your Wednesday Comes on Tuesday

5/21/2014

"Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore." Psalm 113:2

"Carpe Diem"

This is my niece's last week of high school. Over the past several years, I have taken her to school each Wednesday. It helped her parents, and we had time in the morning to connect, to talk about her classes, or just to laugh and be silly.

Because of her parents' schedules, I had to take her to school this Tuesday--thinking that the following day--our Wednesday, would be our last. But my niece finished her exams on Tuesday, and had no reason to return to school the following day. So our last day became Tuesday, even though I did not know it at the time.

I hadn't really planned anything special--but I was looking forward to our one last Wednesday together: to connect, to talk, or to laugh.

I must learn to take my days as they come; to welcome and to enjoy each moment, each hour, and each miracle: even when the Wednesdays come on Tuesdays.

Surviving Mother's Day

5/12/2014

My Granny held on to me then. I hold on to her memory now.

Some days are harder than others. For some of my friends and loved ones, this past Mother's Day was part of the difficult journey we call mourning.

For two of my friends, this was the first Mother's Day they spent without their mothers. For others, it represented a painful reminder of loss.

I am surprised, stunned even, by the facile and insensitive platitudes that are popular with many: "She's not suffering anymore." "She's in a better place." "You have to keep living."

We seem prone to ignore the reality of pain, of loss, of suffering. We want to minimize grief, and thus, to forget our own humanity.

But I'm taking a stand. I don't believe the hype.

I've decided to eat when I'm hungry; to drink when I'm thirsty; to rest when I'm tired, and to cry when I'm sad.

I'm human. I'm frail, and some days are just harder than others.

Friday's Fire: Every Praise

5/9/2014

"Every praise is to our God. Every word of worship, in one accord.
Every Praise, every praise, is to our God."

The story sent chills up my spine and tears down my cheeks. A nine year old
boy was abducted from his front yard—taken by someone who meant him harm.
...ordered by his captor “not to say anything.”
...instead of speaking, the child begins to sing a song he heard in church.
    . . . the boy sings.
      . . .the boy continues to sing.
         . . . he sings for three hours.
            . . . he sings until his captor lets him go, unharmed.
    When he was interviewed on the Arsenio Hall Show, Willie Myrick—now 10 years old—said that he never doubted that God would deliver him.   His song was an expression of his young, but strong, faith.
     What songs do we sing when we are held captive by doubt, by fear, by disappointment? Do we allow those forces that abduct our joy, our happiness, and our contentment to have their evil way?  Like Willie, we may have to sing our way out of bondage.
    If so, let us sing, and let us continue to sing for as long as it takes.
Let us give God every praise.

Sing Hallelujah to our God. Glory hallelujah is to our God. Every praise, every praise, is to our God!

Praying for Prayer: Together, in Love, At the Table

4/30/2014

"True, whole prayer is nothing but love."

St. Augustine

I am drawn to prayer as others might be drawn to food. I need it to survive, to thrive, and just to get up in the morning. I need to be nourished: in my body, with food; in my spirit, with prayer.

But eating is not just about taking nourishment. Most often, I eat alone. However, there are occasions when I want to share a meal. I don't want to have a meal for one, a meal that just nourishes my immediate desires. It is at these times when food is not just about satisfying physical hunger. Rather, I dine with others because I want fellowship and connection. At those tables, I am welcomed, I am loved and I am a part of another's life.

On this, the National Day of Prayer, we are called to sit together at the banquet table. We are called to hunger for fellowship, for connection and for each other.

Today, let us pray, let us feast, and let us connect to each other through the God who loves us.

"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world."

Karl Barth

It's Friday, But Sunday's Coming

4/18/2014

…Look around you:
Winter is over;
The winter rains are
over, gone!
Spring flowers are in
Blossom all over.
The whole world’s a
choir—and singing!
Song of Solomon 2:10-11 (The Message)

Spring is coming, I’m sure it is. It’s almost here. I keep believing that it will be here. I keep believing that the winter is over and then I get disappointed. Another winter storm. Another icy morning. Another sudden frost grips the earth.  During this winter, I was afraid to believe in the spring.

I wanted to look forward to blooming flowers, budding trees—green lawns. I wanted to remember picking the first daffodils of spring but I couldn’t. There were days this winter when I doubted spring’s existence, when I doubted that I would ever see another jonquil or flower in my accidental garden. Apparently, my plants had more faith than I did.   Even though the snow fell and the cold gripped what should have been many a spring morning, my plants never doubted that Spring would arrive. My plants continued to push through the cold, the snow and the frost towards the coming spring.

I wish I had the same dogged snow-covered faith; I didn't:  because every time the cold seemed to stop and the snow melted, another storm was on the way.

But isn’t life like that? We know that spring is coming because, well, spring always comes. We know that our lives will face winter storms, icy days and cold nights. We know that the snow will cover the ground, but we also know that spring is on its way.

Spring means resurrection, doesn’t it? And even though on Good Friday everything seemed bleak, cold, dark and forlorn--Sunday’s coming. Resurrection is on the way, and winter will, at last, be over.

Single At Christmas

12/17/2013

My dog doesn't look any happier than some singles do at Christmas.

This past week, I got the chance to speak with Carla Thomas, hostess of madstyleandgrace.com, about the struggles singles face during the Christmas season. I've been surprised by the blog posts I've read on the subject, and humbled that I would be able to speak to my single brothers and sisters about the difficult emotional valleys that this season of celebration so often produces.
Here are some of the things Carla and I discussed. I believe that the pain of the season can be addressed by looking at, and attacking the four "p's": People, Prayer, Praise and Presents.

People. Don't try to go it alone this season. Actively seek fellowship opportunities, and spend time with family and friends, particularly those who understand your struggle and will encourage you. Feeling down? Get a kid fix. Borrow one of your nieces or nephews or godkids and see the season from a pint sized point of view. It's very difficult to be sad when you're around a kid at Christmas. Enjoy the wonder and the excitement that only children have.

But if people sap your energy, then avoid them. Take your Bible and a journal and spend the day--yes, I am saying this to singles--alone. Find a retreat center and concentrate on listening to God for a change, not jingle bells.

Prayer. Let God open a window to the world through your prayer life.  Pray over our cities, our country, your family or the persecuted church.

Praise. Christmas is about celebrating the joy of Christ's birth, but not everyone celebrates in the same way. If you are part of a liturgical tradition, why not visit a charismatic church?  On the other hand, if you're used to a more lively worship experience, check out a midnight mass or a Christmas cantata.  Either way, you can see how the other half gets its praise on!

Presents. As the song says, you can't "beat God giving."  Don't try. But you can give to God's Kingdom and to His people. If you can earn overtime pay during the holidays (perhaps by taking a married person's shift), use the extra cash for your church's capital campaign, adopting a foster child for Christmas or helping a foreign mission.
    If you don't have the cash, try to make the time: take a senior to lunch or volunteer to drive to the grocery store.
    Christmas celebrates the most amazing miracle of our faith: that the infinite Divine would want to connect with us. Why not use this time to connect with people, in prayer, or by giving praise or a present? I cannot promise that the pain that you may have will go away, but I can tell you that you will be glad you didn't miss the party.  I know I won't. Hope to see you there, or if not, I'll catch you around the throne.

Need more resources?   Check these out:
    Carla Thomas.
        Twitter: @flycarla
        www.madstyleandgrace.com

    Single Roots.com Great blog posts for Christians about singleness.

    The Singles Network Ministries
       Energizer Bunny and singles' conference speaker Kris Swiatocho knows  about and has information about singles ministries here and in Europe. She is also the author of Jesus, Single Like Me.

    In the Baltimore-DC area? These churches have vibrant singles ministries:
    Celebration Church WOW (Walking In Our Wholeness) Ministry
    First Baptist Church of Glenarden Singles Ministry
    St. John Singles For Christ
    Mount Moriah Baptist Church L.I.V.E. ("Living in Victory Everyday") Singles Ministry.
    M.O.V.E. ("Motivated Optimistic Victorious (men and women) Eager") Singles Life Changing Ministries

Friday's Fire: Stealing Christmas

12/13/2013

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation."
Psalms 51:12

    It's ironic, isn't it? Christmas, the celebration of Jesus' miraculous birth, brings out the worse in people: instead of peace on earth, crowds jostle and customers are trampled in WalMart. Instead of goodwill towards all, we have to watch our purses and set our alarms. Instead of shopping with anticipation and excitement, we are urged to look under our cars and store shopping bags out of sight.
    So I shouldn't have been surprised by the local news story about a new sort of Christmas thief:  he and his accomplices follow UPS trucks and steal the packages left on front porches.
    Has it been like that for you?    Has someone followed the delivery truck intended for you and stolen what was supposed to bring you joy?
     Don't stand for it.  Don't let it happen. Don't allow your gifts to be plundered. Fight for your joy. It's too precious to waste. Ask God for the strength you need for this battle. It's one that I don't want to lose.
    I will chase the thief; I will take back what's been stolen, and I will enjoy all that God has for me.

Rest in Peace, Madiba

12/4/2013

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Howard Thurman

In Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg, 2012.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela died today at the age of 95.

He spent 27 years of his life behind bars, but he united a nation.

He suffered unspeakable cruelty at the hands of his own government, but he fought for reconciliation and renewal.

He did not turn his back on hope, possibilities, freedom or change.

I wonder what kind of world we would have, what kind of legacy we would leave, if we did the same?

Wednesday's Word: Give Thanks

11/27/2013

"...Give thanks in all circumstances."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

    Every time I read this scripture, I wonder whether there must have been the equivalent of a typo in some ancient manuscript. But Paul does not seem to give any restrictions. He says we are to give thanks in, not some, but in "all" circumstances.

But Paul does not tell that believers to give thanks _for_ everything that happens: For some, giving thanks "in" and not "for" is a distinction without a difference.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. Many will gather with families and loved ones to feast and give, well, thanks. Seems pretty consistent with Paul's scripture, doesn't it?  I'm not so sure: I have been especially sensitized to Paul's admonition to the church at Thessalonica in the aftermath of the typhoon in the Philippines. As of the time of this writing, 1,000,000 persons have no shelter; over five thousand persons are deceased or missing and presumed dead.

Give thanks? That's what we are expected to do on Thanksgiving, right?  But I don't give thanks _for_ this natural disaster.  I give thanks for the compassion of strangers: persons who have donated their time, talents and treasures to help those on the other side of the world.  I give thanks for scientists who have a renewed commitment to reversing the effects of climate change. I give thanks for that cup of cold water from a volunteer; that penny from a broken piggy bank; that tear shed in front of the television screen.

I give thanks in circumstances that show me a world that cares.

<<Previous