Politics Aside...

I simply could not allow the most recent set of political events to go without some sort of comment. It seems that my friends, of all sorts, are very much on both sides of the fence in this season. One thing that I am excited about, whatever the motivations, is that this will be a historic election regardless of who wins.

And for that I am grateful. While the United States in only one of a world of countries, it is the one that God gave me to be a citizen of, and for that reason alone, I want to be a good participant in our governmental system. Which means educating myself on where the candidates stand on the issues that are important to me.

I am a Christian first and foremost. My religious freedom is tantamount in any thoughts that I will have in considering a candidate. Which of them will protect that right for me?

I am a single woman. I have to make my own living, earning money and paying taxes on it. Which candidate will consider that real issue for me and so many others like me?

My brother is a military man, currently not active. Which candidate will care about him and has the experience to understand the realities of military life?

My parents are aging. Which candidate will care about their needs for health care, their home, and their protection from identity predators? Which one will understand that they fought for this country during a time when the entire world seemed to have gone crazy, my mother with less rights than I have now?

I have five nieces and nephews. Which candidate is going to take into consideration their futures as it comes to not only education in basics, but also in the arts, athletics, journalism and domestic life (both boys and girls)? This was a problem when I was in high school, hard to believe that it still is now.

Most importantly, which candidate will be able to work with a congress that traditionally splits itself along party lines, regardless of the actual legislation? How many laws have not gotten passed and things have not gotten done simply because one party didn’t like the fact that the other one came up with the idea?

All things to consider, but one more thing I will say… don’t tell me how to vote, and I won’t try to influence you. All that I ask is that you vote, for someone… in doing so you earn the most important right of all, that of the ability to complain…

Sound a little odd? Maybe, but more gets done when someone complains than when things are left as is, just ask anyone who has ever worked in customer service of any kind. It does have to be done in a respectful and honoring manner, but the comments do need to be made. So, earn the right, vote, and then make as much noise as you like.

In the meantime, I want to be about the business of sharing Jesus with everyone. While I will be praying for this election and all of the candidates, I will not take a political stand, only to say this, that in this as in all things, God’s ways, not ours.

When God Says 'Wait'...

The postponement of the Godspell opening brought a situation to mind that happened back in 1992.

His name is Stephen and he was one of the pastors at Christ Church in Nashville. I had only been in town about a year and he led the young adults group (known as 20/30 Vision) in which I participated.

Stephen had a problem. He had a recurring brain tumor that needed to be removed. The surgery had taken place in another state and his wife had brought him home to recover, but he wasn’t healing well.

At the same time, I was a first time member of the Christ Church Choir. When I joined the choir, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, until we were invited to back up Dolly Parton on the Country Music Awards. Needless to say, I was excited about participating in a live TV broadcast, although I have to admit being slightly overwhelmed by it all.

These two situations came together early in the same week and God used it to teach me something. The show was scheduled for Thursday and we were to have a rehearsal with Dolly at the Opryhouse on Monday night. If we didn’t make that rehearsal, we were not going to be allowed to sing for the broadcast.

Meanwhile, Stephen was getting sicker. I didn’t know how ill he had gotten, but had been feeling nudges all day long to go to their home and pray for him. This is where I got in my own (and God’s) way. I wasn’t sure in my friendship with them and didn’t feel comfortable approaching the subject. ‘He had lots of people to pray for him, he doesn’t need me,' I thought, 'besides, there’s not time, I have to be at the rehearsal at 7:00.’

That was when the phone calls from my choir section leader, Jackie, began.

Phone call #1.) Dolly lost her voice, but we’re still on.
Phone call #2.) It’s off, but don’t change your plans.
Phone call #3.) It’s not going to happen, enjoy your evening.

Now, no longer having an excuse, I thought maybe God was trying to get my attention. But I was still nervous about approaching Stephen and his wife. Finally getting past myself, I picked up the phone and called the house. To my surprise, the person who answered the phone was Stephen’s mother-in-law. In a bolder move that I was used to at the time, I asked about Stephen and told her about the sense I had to pray for him.

“Honey,” she said, “If Jesus is telling you to come pray, you get your rear end over here and pray!”

I love directness.

So, I began to put my recently kicked off shoes back on and to get ready to go out the door. Just before I left, the phone rang again. It was my choir section leader.

Phone call #4.)“Dolly got into the studio and was able to record her part in case she loses her voice completely. We need you in an hour!”

Now committed praying, I was not going to back out. The Lord had caused the delay to give me time to actually obey the leading He was giving. And so, I went to Stephen’s house.

Much to my surprise, another choir member was also there, a young man named Bob. We arrived within minutes of each other and both went into Stephen’s room with his wife. She leaned over and told him that we were there and asked if we could pray. Weakly, he said yes. Bob and I knelt on either side of the bed, each taking one of Stephen’s hands. He squeezed mine so tightly that it began to hurt, and I realized that he was much sicker than I’d previously known.

And so, Bob and I prayed, asking God for healing and strength for Stephen, and for wisdom for his family. It was only a few minutes, but we both knew that something had to happen. We comforted each other, and Stephen’s family, and left, not knowing what the outcome would be. I remember crying all the way to the Opryhouse, a good 30 minute drive from where we were.

The rehearsal happened during which I was distracted and often thoughtful. But there was a peace that I didn't really understand. Later on that night, I found out that Stephen’s wife had taken him to the hospital only a few minutes after Bob and I had left. It turned out that he had contracted meningitis and was going to have to remain in the hospital for several days. Stephen survived the ordeal with all glory to God and I had learned a valuable lesson in obeying the Lord the first time He asks.

And three days later, when the Christ Church Choir backed up Dolly Parton on the Country Music Awards, just as scheduled and with me in the second row, Stephen was cheering from his hospital room.

When God says ‘wait’, He has something better in mind, and we do well to obey and not resist Him.

“For I know the plans that I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Beat Poetry and Gifts from God

I try to think about God and sometimes I realize that He has not only shown up, but has been there for quite a while.

I was driving home from work on one of our rainy New England evenings, thinking about the day, avoiding traffic and trying to relax. I had something on my mind that I had found on-line (wonderful thing, the Internet!). It was an audio file of some songs and poetry by a person whose work has become interesting to me lately. While no longer in the land of the living, some of his work does live on.

One thing that he did well was beat poetry, something for which I have acquired an appreciation. His stuff is good, but it doesn’t lift the Lord or in many ways, my spirits very well. So, the thought crossed my mind, what if this guy had done beat poetry that did praise Jesus?

My already active imagination began to work, and in my mind, I began to ‘hear’ this person’s voice doing beat poetry…

‘Praise God, praise God, praise God,
Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, He is Lord, Indeed!’

I knew that I would never be able to write down what I was hearing, but it was so good! I wished I’d had a recorder with me, but in the moment it would have been a distraction. Then I realized, this was a gift for me, only me, and only for the moment.

I relaxed and began to enjoy my private ‘poetry reading’. Just then, I turned a corner, being careful of the rain covered highway. I glanced up into the gray clouds and was greeted with the largest rainbow I had ever seen! Now, wishing for a camera, I tried to stay on the road while enjoying the view. And then it became clear again, this was a gift, only for me and only for the moment.

I found myself grateful to and for my God, who not only supplies my needs, but shows His love in such tender ways as well. Those moments are times when I experience worship.