CLICK IT OR TICKET

Reading: Proverbs 16.24

A whole lot of people chafe at the idea of seat belts. Perhaps it’s our belief in our own immortality, or the curmudgeon that seems to reside within so many of us. “Don’t tell me I need a seat belt!“ can actually be translated, “Don’t tell me how to run my life!”

Long before there was “click it or ticket” there were people promoting the faithful use of seat

belts. Early in our marriage my wife Dianne went on a campaign to get her husband to use a seat belt. “You have a college degree and now have a 4.0 in seminary. Surely you are smart enough to know seat belts are good for you.” Well, I knew broccoli was good for me, but for the longest time I didn’t want to see it on my dinner plate. I used to tease that Dianne believed in those Highway Patrol movies, You know the gory ones they used to show in driver’s ed, so bloody and so realistic that CSI would never dare to broadcast them on network television.

One day I she asked me to take our four year old Christopher to Nursery School. I was running late, so I scooped him up, deposited him in the passenger’s seat of our Pinto, reaching over to snap his seat belt into place. Then without thinking, I snapped on mine as well. Christopher’s mouth dropped open and then he said, “You put on your seat belt! Now you are safe from harm like Mommy, Christi, Michael and me!” Ouch!!!

It was about then that I began to surrender to the notion of seat belts, but I confess even 30+ years later, I tend to click it at the end of my driveway instead of when I get into the car. I guess I do think I am immortal, or am just an old curmudgeon after all.

"Pride goes before a crash." - Proverbs 16:24 loosely paraphrased

RESTING AND RELAXING

Reading: Genesis 2:2

"Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something pointless." - Calvin and Hobbes

Although as a pastor, I work weekends, I have to agree with the eminent philosopher Calvin on at least one level. People need to learn to relax. They need to allow themselves to enjoy what Ken Prunty used to describe as freescence--permitting yourself to do what the rest of the world might consider unnecessary or frivolous. Our wholeness as persons is enhanced when our lives are more than obligation. Tim Hansel has another way of saying it, "People are human beings, not human doings."

I am always reminded that in the Genesis account of creation, God did not work for seven days. He did all that was necessary in six days and on the seventh day He rested. It is in the design of our Creator for us to take time out to rest, refresh, and renew. Relentless activity, particularly relentless work goes against what it means to be created in the image of God.

People seem obsessed with activity and take far too much self-worth from busyness. I know in a world shaped by the Protestant work ethic, and the secular performance culture - that no one wants to be a slacker. Yet as my friend Ed Rosenberry once said in an ordination sermon, "Whether you rust out or burn out ... out is out."

One of the reasons that Christians practice Sabbath is to honor the wisdom of our Designer. Although many of us make a point of worshiping God as a community on that day, we do so by choice. Marva Dawn calls worship "a royal waste of time." Waste equals pointless to a person who does not have a relationship with God, yet we recognize that what others consider pointless actually frees us because we are being who we are- "People who rest in God's grace." We do not live by the creed of the world that says that weekends are for working at your play or getting in more hours of work so we can have more things. "Come unto me all who are burden and weighed down," says Jesus, "and I will give you rest."

I once was knocked down by burnout. A friend sent me to his lake cottage to recover. It took me several days to get past the guilt of not working and being "productive." But laying in a hammock with no schedule, no obligations, and no particular place to go, I found myself experiencing the beauty sketched in the clouds of the blue sky above. I felt the refreshment of breathing easily. I started experiencing the peacefulness that ultimately would restore me to a life of fulfilling freedom instead of destructive obligations. I slowed down and let God remind who I was instead of trying to simply maintain who I had become.

But that road to wholeness began with the freedom to be pointless.

RESTLESS LEGS

Reading: Psalm 31:1-7

I suffer from an excruciating condition known as restless legs syndrome. My sister, who also suffers from it calls it crazy legs. I have some other names for it, but as a pastor I should not even think such thoughts let alone speak them.

Doctors still don't know a lot about the condition, just the chemicals that manage the symptoms. When restless legs hit it's like a thousand electric snakes wiggling around underneath my skin. There is pain, but pain that grows from discomfort - extreme comfort - comfort to the ninth power. At its greatest intensity, you simply cannot sit still - in fact, you cannot sit. Every iota of your attention is drawn towards the offending appendage and there are times you seriously think about amputation. So intense is my condition, that I find it difficult to carry on an conversation because the discomfort takes my breath away. A man of many words, I can easily be reduced to speechlessness.

There is a medication called Mirapex that helps manage the symptoms. I thank God for it daily. It has a half life of 12 hours, which medically means that it does its work for 12 hours and then you need another dose. Actually, it starts wearing off somewhere between 9 and 12 hours. If you simply take it every 12 hours, the condition asserts itself and you are once again in agony. It seems to wear off quickly. Within 15 minutes of feeling any initial discomfort, the situation returns and for the next 45 or so minutes I suffer some of its work effects until the new dose works its way into my system. I really have to guess a bit and take it somewhere before the 12 hours are up unless I am too busy and forget. Some of my anguish can be avoided if I watch the time and take the medicine on time,

There is an anguish that makes restless legs seem merely a nuisance. There is a pain that is so acute that you are easily overwhelmed and desperate. It is the pain of sin in our lives and in our world, and what sin comes close to home, invading our lives; it is easy to be overwhelmed and then desperate.

David knew what it was to be overcome with that pain. He knew what it was to desperate for God's care. He prayed for the Lord's quick rescue. He knew what it was to be afflicted by sin and in anguish in the soul. He also knew that such anguish should drive him closer to God.

We need to feel the pain of the world or we lose our sense of urgency about dealing with sin. But when that pain is beginning to consume our lives, we need to stop and call upon the Lord. We need to let go of our part in that sin and cling to the righteousness of our RESCUER.

A PASTOR AND HIS SOUND MAN

Reading: Acts 13:44

Sunday morning comes. As my friend George Agadis, the pastor is "on the big stage." He has labored long in the vineyard of his study prayerfully wrestling with a text, creating an outline, putting words to paper (and in my case, images to powerpoint), sweating, praying, sometimes rewriting on Saturday night. He has the responsibility to deliver the Word of God to the People of God (and anyone else who finds their way into the sanctuary at the appointed hour.)

The pastor gets up to speak. Every eye turns towards him, every ear is attuned to hear him (we hope that's the case). It's time to speak.

Except that you can barely hear his voice.
Or his voice booms out like a stadium full of roaring Penn State fans.
Or there is a powerful feedback that causes people to cover their ears in pain.

I have often said "the devil is in the electronics" and all of the above can reinforce that feeling.

In those moments, every pastor has a best friend (or a worst enemy). It is his sound tech.

The sound tech is often a quiet person sitting unnoticed in his corner, cubby hole, or cage. If you are fortunate, he knows electronics and loves Jesus. He may not speak to anyone except the pastor on Sunday. He rarely takes a microphone to share his faith or prayer concern. He is too busy making sure the darn thing works. He keeps his eyes fixed on the preacher and his ears alert to any disturbance of the Force. It's probably hard to keep his attention on Jesus. He's too busy, at times, making sure others don't lose their connection.

Yet the sound man is an essential part of worship and proclamation in the modern church. I am blessed with two excellent sound men - Vince and Tim. They have two backups-Mike and Keith and together they make sure that the Message God has given me is proclaimed and heard by those who need a Word from the Lord.

I thank God for these servants of the kingdom. I could do it without them -- but most of you would only see me do it, not hear me do it.

(C) 2010 by Stephen Dunn

NATALIE

Reading: Ecclesiastes 12:1-2

My oldest granddaughter (pictured here Easter morning with her sister Ashley) just had a birthday--her 14th.
Natalie lives more than 600 miles from me and if I am fortunate I see her (and her family) once a year. A budding author, she has generally had a good email relationship with her grandmother, a school teacher who loves encouraging creative gifts. Over recent years, I have spent little time with her, let alone talking with her. I tend to know more about Natalie from Grandma Dunn or the occasional notes from her mother. Early on I knew she loved horses, no, adored horses. Her Dad had turned her into a golfing partner and a ruthless player of the game Risk. When I saw her, it was often with her faced buried in a book or watching her wrestling with her dog, Popper.

But all that changed when Natalie went on Facebook. It was there I learned of her ambition to be a park ranger. (Grandma knew that already). She is a fan of House and plays in the school band. She is a budding entrepreneur and already packs a level of self-confidence that allows her to deal with adults on behalf of adults. She won essay awards from Rotary and has been a snow queen (or princess) for her community.

One day, the "chat with friends" feature on my Facebook page signaled me. It was Natalie. It was a simple "how are you conversation". But in the weeks and now months that followed we have regularly chatted about our lives, the weather, what each of us is doing. Although her Dad occasionally limits her computer time, Natalie and I have begun to have regular conversation. I may still only see her once a year, and speak to her by phone on birthdays and holidays; but I look forward to discovering with Natalie who she is and who I am.

Most of all I want to learn what she thinks about God, her values and faith. I hope to see the wisdom and passion God has already placed in her. And I hope now I can share with her parents in mentoring her about the life God has given her.

Natalie is a precious daughter of God and I am delighted that perhaps we now have a way across the miles to actually have a relationship. Pray I'll be a better grandfather because of this opportunity.