Transfiguration: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

When I read through the lessons appointed for the Transfiguration of our Lord, one phrase jumped out at me.  It jumped out in a quick and startling way.  It's from St. Paul's second letter to the Corinthians and is the very first sentence in the Epistle lesson, "Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness,...." (2 Cor. 3:12)  And I wonder:  How has the church acted 'with great boldness' recently?  How has my own congregation acted 'with great boldness' recently?  Lest I be accused of letting myself off the hook:  On a personal note, how have I acted 'with great boldness' recently?

And how can we proclaim the Word of God if we're not acting boldly?

Theresa was a high school friend of mine.  She was a devout Christian.  She was so devout, in fact, that when I invited her to spend the night at my home one weekend, she refused to do so.  You see, Theresa knew that my home was not a Christian one.  She was aware that we were not a family that prayed--together or as individuals.  She understood that we were completely unchurched--and had no interest in changing that.  When she refused my invitation, Theresa explained that, although she liked me very much and appreciated my outreach, she chose not to surround herself with people who "didn't know Jesus."

I was, not surprisingly, completely taken aback by her refusal.  It really signaled the end of our friendship, as far as I was concerned.  I felt as if she judged me inferior, simply because I didn't go to church.  And who wants to be friends with someone who is always looking down on you?

As a Christian adult, I have mixed feelings about Theresa.  On one hand, I admire her willingness to 'act boldly' as she sought to build and strengthen her faith.  She was not afraid to honor her Lord, even if it meant losing my friendship.  On the other hand, however, I can't help but wonder:  If she'd chosen to come to my home and model a faithful life of prayer and scripture study, mightn't that have been an equally bold act through which she may have introduced others to Jesus?

I sometimes feel like a terrible pastor.  I get so tired of hearing people explain why they choose not to share their faith 'with great boldness.'  They don't want their children to feel pressured.  They don't want their neighbors to be offended.  They don't want to be rejected.  If I were a better pastor, would I have more sympathy/empathy for these people?

I'm also a bit jealous, right now.  I'm tired.  I'm tired of standing in front of a congregation boldly proclaiming Jesus' saving love, and sensing no response.  I'm tired of always--always--being the lightning rod when it comes to sensitive issues.  I'm tired of feeling like the only one who can see the light and love of Christ shining through our sisters and brothers in the other ELCA congregations in town.

I'm jealous, I suppose, largely because I don't get to choose.  There are times when I'd love to be a 'pew-warmer' who shows up on Sunday for worship, tosses an envelope in the offering plate, and returns home with no expectation other than to be present the following Sunday.  Even better, let me be part of the Christmas and Easter crowd (which, by the way, is shrinking considerably in my area).

Nope.  I don't have that choice.  I have to be present on Sunday morning, prepared to teach and proclaim God's word with boldness.

I know, I know.  It's not just a "have to," I actually get to tell others about Jesus.  There are a lot worse jobs.  At least I'm sharing Good News on a regular basis unlike, say, an oncologist, who spends her life diagnosing and treating a deadly disease.  Even when I know that my proclamation is going to make others anxious, God gives me the boldness and courage to do it.  Sunday mornings are, usually, the best part of ministry--I get to tell others about the love and grace embodied in Jesus' saving death and resurrection.  Because I have been transfigured by the love of  Jesus, I have what I need to act boldly.

Still, I get discouraged from time to time.

St. Paul says, "Since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart."  (2 Cor. 4:1)  Sigh.  If only that were true.

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Somehow, all of these ramblings are feeding into Sunday's sermon.

Jason Did It!

 

 The envelope for Daddy's Valentine's Day card.  I wrote "Daddy" on a piece of paper and this is what we got when I asked Jason to copy it.  Not bad for a four-year-old with motor-skill delays.

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five: Staving off the Gloom

Over at RevGals, Sally writes:  Candlemass is past, and Christmas is well and truly over, here in the UK February looks set to be its usual grey and cold self. Signs of spring are yet to emerge; if like me you long for them perhaps you need ways to get through these long dark days. So lets share a few tips for a cold and rainy/ snowy day....

1. Exercise, what do you do if you can't face getting out into the cold and damp?  Confession:  Not much, but my son has just learned to play "Tag".  Many recent afternoons have found our entire family chasing one another around the house.  It's been fun, and counts as exercise!

2. Food; time to comfort eat, or time to prepare your body for the coming spring/summer?  I'm still doing Weight Watchers, but not simply in preparation for summer (though it will be nice to fit into shorts that haven't fit for a few years).  Mostly, I'm hoping to lower blood pressure and sugar.

3. Brainpower; do you like me need to stave off depression, if so how do you do it?  Seasonal Affective Disorder hits every winter.  This year, I bought a sun lamp.  It really has brightened our home--and my spirits.  I also pray for sunshine.  Around here, sunshine means very cold temperatures, which causes many people to complain.  Not me, though; as long as the sun is shining, I've never complained about the cold!

4. How about a story that lifts your spirits, is there a book or film that you return to to stave off the gloom? I'm a sap for happy endings; just about any movie that ends on a happy note can help lift my spirits.  Old favorites include Top Gun, Dirty Dancing, and Prelude to a Kiss.

5. Looking forward, do you have a favourite spring flower/ is there something that says spring is here more than anything else?  I always look forward to the crocuses, they're our first sign of spring.  My favorite spring flowers, though, are forsythias.  They bloom shortly after the crocuses and their bright yellow faces are much needed 'proof' that Spring is really here!

Bonus; post a poem/ piece of music that points to the coming spring......Because we live in an area where the coming of Spring means kite-flying weather:

Jason's New School

Yesterday was Jason's first day at his new preschool.  We arrived early so that I could register him; Don and I were pleased to see our little extrovert became instant friends with both the teacher and her assistant.  Without hesitation, he told them his birthday and answered every other question they had for him.  Both women were warm and friendly as they greeted each newly-arriving child.

I was surprised, however, when Jason had homework.  Honestly, though I didn't expect it, I'm glad he had it.  He had to trace the numbers one through five and then circle the appropriate number of objects in each row.  Given my son's motor skill delays, such work is not a bad thing!  He had a Groundhog Day coloring page which, though not due until tomorrow, he wanted to finish last night, too.

We also received a weekly newsletter which included the theme for the week, suggestions for parents to help support our children's learning, and reminders of day-to-day responsibilities.  We found the newsletter very helpful--even using the teacher's suggestions to fuel dinner table conversation about different modes of transportation.  ("Fuel" conversation about transportation...am I the only one amused by that?) 

It's only the first day, but I have to say that, so far, we're happy with the decision that we made!

Kicking Myself

For several months now, I've had concerns about Jason's daycare.  Though they've all met the standards for working in a daycare, none of the adults are trained in early childhood education.  Even the woman who is named on paper as the 'director,' also does not hold such a degree.  She's been assigned the title of daycare director because she has a bachelors degree from an accredited university and has the state-mandated minimum number of hours working in daycare.

She's been working at the center (a ministry under the umbrella of the United Methodist Church; the center "provides services to children from age 2 months through elderly adults. Services include a licensed pre-school and daycare; community recreation programs; a licensed personal care home; food pantry; and a  Head Start program.")  for twenty years, beginning as a part-time assistant in the daycare when she was still in high school, and eventually working her way up to the position she currently holds.  Her current position is Executive Director of the entire organization,  In all honesty, I believe that her position is much too large for a single person to manage.

In addition to the fact that they've exposed my son to movies which I feel are inappropriate, despite my strong request that they not do so, the adults (I refuse to call them teachers) at the daycare tend to use negative language with the children.  Even a one-day training in classroom management could help!  It's possible to learn to use positive language.  Simple changes such as saying, "Walk," instead of, "Don't run," or "Keep your hands to yourself," instead of, "Don't hit," make a great deal of difference.  The same message is sent, but one tells the children exactly what is expected of them in positive language.

I refused to acknowledge how hurtful negative language can be.

I've been bothered by the fact that one adult thought nothing of insulting my late-potty-training son by calling him a "baby" in a hurtful tone of voice.  I witnessed it myself and, while I have no difficulty understanding her frustration (and, in fact, sharing it), she violated state licensing guidelines, which expressly forbid using "denigrating language" toward any child or their family.  It bothered me the most, though, when my son told me one evening, "My teacher T hurt my feelings today.  She called me a baby when I had poop in my pants."  Yeah, he actually said that.

I empathized with her frustration and overlooked her insulting my child.

He has brought home countless 'art' projects which were not completed by him (one example).  Rather than allowing him to practice--and build--motor skills as he works on tasks which are difficult for him, the adults complete them.  I really would prefer to see an imperfect project that my son did independently over one that the adults 'helped' him complete 'just right.'  It pains me to know that his self-confidence could be undercut by those adults.

I convinced myself that, as long as he's content and safe, I shouldn't let their lack of training bother me.

I've actually considered the possibility of moving my son more than once during the past year, even visiting two other possible daycare centers.  Each time, I reminded myself, "He's happy there," and chose not to move him.

In the end, Don and I decided that it's not enough for Jason to be happy.  We (I, really) need to know that the adults who care for him will not insult him.  I need to know that his abilities will be celebrated and that his adults will provide ways to strengthen and support improvement in his delayed areas.  I need to know that he is being loved and affirmed.  We (this one really is a we) need to know that he is safely sheltered in childhood. 

Still, I'll continue kicking myself for some time yet.  I really should have pulled him from the daycare sooner.