Servant to Friend

From Servant To Friend

What slave when his master tells him to do something, would ever be so proud as to say “Why?” The Lord keeps His counsel and his plans to himself. They become clearer if he does his duty, if he does well, if from being a servant he becomes a friend, as the Lord Himself said: “ I will o longer call you servants, but friends.” (John 15:15)Perhaps he will also learn his Lord’s plans; meanwhile, before he knows the plans, let him willingly carry out the decisions. (St. Augustine, Sermon no. 296)

When I first came home from the hospital after the birth of our daughter, I nursed her for about eight months. One night when she woke me at the usual time, I seemed to see the figure of Jesus standing near my bed. I could hear the baby crying and so I got up and walked toward the nursery next to our bedroom. It seemed as if the figure of Jesus walked with me, and I was not afraid, but wondered. In the nursery I sat down with the baby in my arms, while the figure of Jesus remained in front of me. When I attempted to nurse my daughter on the right side, I found that my nursing bra wouldn’t open, no matter what I tried. Finally I thought, , “Jesus doesn’t want me to nurse on this side.” I changed to the left side without difficulty, and the baby was satisfied. I looked up and the figure of Jesus was gone. I had been groggy from sleep, but I determined that for some reason, I should continue to nurse only on the left side, and so I did that for a few weeks, finally giving it up and nursing on both sides .

In the eighth month of nursing I discovered a lump in my right breast. The doctor sent me to a surgeon, who said he would perform a lumpectomy unless the lump was malignant, and in that case it would be a mastectomy. When I woke up from the surgery I knew it had been the latter, and the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. I believed that my night time experience with the figure of Jesus had not been a dream, but a genuine protection for my daughter. I have no explanation for this appearance, but it deepened my faith, and my sense of purpose in all of life. In the hospital the figure of Jesus returned, holding my breast, and I felt confident that it would be returned to me some day.

I never thought of asking “Why?” but I felt deeply that I did, and do, have a “friend” who came when I didn’t even know that I needed Him. My daughter has never had breast cancer.

Love in Him,

Prue

When I was quite young my father used a straight razor to shave. I had seen him shave many times and asked questions. He was generous with his answers. Once when my grandparents were visiting for an overnight I hurried to their room in the morning, and found Grandpa shaving with an electric shaver. I had never seen one before, and was fascinated. “ You don’t have a beard,” he said, “so I can’t share this with you, but hold out your arm, and I’ll shave your arm for you.” He shaved my arm, and I stared at it.

I kept this incident to myself until after Grandpa left, and at first I quietly mentioned to my father that Grandpa had shaved my arm. I felt as if I had entered the intimate lives of grown ups and now existed on an elevated level of understanding, and even belonging. It hadn’t happened to any of my siblings, each of whom asked me, “How did it feel?” I never forgot this incident, and it brought me pleasure every time I thought of it. I never lost the sense of somehow being favored by Grandpa.

When Jesus saw this (people with children turned away) he was indignant. He said to the disciples, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:14-16)

This passage appears in more than one Gospel, and it is mentioned from pulpits occasionally, but seldom is the faith of a child considered a model for adults. Jesus clearly valued the simplicity and receptiveness of children and even saw in them the requirements for entrance into God’s kingdom. In a complicated world, and ours is certainly that, children are often seen as burdens.

We can’t avoid, however, the truth that God’s son on earth came as an infant. It was foreshadowed by the miraculous birth of Isaac, and prophesied by the prophet Isaiah: Unto us a child is born. (Isaiah 9:6) The children who left Egypt with their parents at the Exodus spent most of their lives eating manna and witnessing the cloud and the pillar of fire of God in their midst. These are the “Children of Israel” who lived to enter the Promised Land, and fulfill God’s plan for His people. Their parents never made it. Jesus came as a child, that we might all become children of God.

Love in Him,

Prue

When I was part of a group of friends who played the recorder (instrument ) together, we sent out a notice in the church that we would welcome new players for our “chamber music” group. To our surprise a harpist called and asked if she cold join. We were delighted to have a harp with us, and we found that she had recently started harp lessons, and would appreciate simple pieces, much like most of ours.

When we got to know Linda we liked her and learned that she had had a serious heart attack, and was retired from her previous job. As soon as she retired she invested in a full size harp made in Italy, and signed up for lessons. I couldn’t help asking if she had ever wanted to play the harp before her brush with death, and she replied, “No, I never thought about it at all.” “Any other instruments?” I asked. “No”, she said; she hadn’t had time to play an instrument.

Linda was quite faithful in her practicing, and I admired her perseverance on the harp. I couldn’t get the idea out of my mind, though, that there was somehow a connection between her heart attack and the harp playing. In my imagination I thought she might be preparing for her entry into heaven by being able to play the harp. She never mentioned such a thing, though. We played together for a short while until some members moved away and we disbanded.

I believe that for many people the thought of dying and heaven is muddled with impressions from our world. Once I asked a class of women what they thought heaven was like and none of them had a happy thought. They could not imagine a place or a condition that could in any way be an improvement on their lives here on earth.

On the night that Jesus was arrested he talked to believers, his disciples, about remaining close to him, and then said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10) He makes it clear to us (not always to the disciples) that his return to the Father would enable real and joyful reunion with him in heaven. “ Joy” is the operative word and Jesus speaks of his and our condition after death. After his resurrection the disciples began to understand his words, and spent their lives sharing the good news. Eternal life is impossible to fully comprehend, but Jesus’ departing words were full of joyful hope. Now we have only glimpses that eternity is joyful, but the Spirit of Christ continues to remind us that eternity with the Father is pure joy, even without a harp.

Love in Him,

Prue

Sometimes Christ speaks to us through the words of a child. Many times he speaks through his church, in its teaching and preaching and in its traditions and rituals, and certainly in the the Scriptures, which are not a literary relic , but through which Christ speaks all the time. (paraphrase from the Spiritual Diaries of Pope St. John Paul)

When we reach the time when we no longer critically analyze Scripture, but we begin to drink it, we begin to hear his voice more and more clearly. One of the most famous examples of this was God’s call to Charles Wesley, who composed over six thousand hymns, including Hark the Herald Angels Sing , and Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, and many more that are still sung today across all denominations.

Charles Wesley was an Anglican priest, and the brother of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. After a disastrous mission experience in the American Colonies, Charles returned to England where he wondered what vocation he should follow. One evening he invited a friend to visit and pray with him concerning his future: “The two friends then prayed together, after which Wesley ‘opened the Book’ for himself. . . and next his eye caught these words: “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord, and put their trust in Him.” (Psalm 40:3) Charles Wesley wrote, “I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in hope of loving Christ.” (The History of Methodism , by W.H. Daniels, pg. 133) It proved to be Charles Wesley’s conversion moment, and propelled his great capacity for writing hymns.

Four days later Charles’ brother John Wesley experienced his “heart strangely warmed” experience at Aldersgate, which was his own conversion. Both men were preachers and teachers of the Word, without fully having accepted Christ until they heard through Scripture the voice of the living Christ.

Our world is very noisy. Never have there been so many voices vying for our attention and even assaulting our ears, yet the voice of the Scriptures is carried by the Holy Spirit to our understanding and to our spirits. Quiet time we spend with the Bible is always noticed by God, and we grow. Charles Wesley had opened the Bible many times before he finally heard God’s voice. In each opening he grew closer until he could hear Jesus himself.

Love in Him,

Prue

I am the grandmother of a fifteen year old and an almost eleven year old; this week I was “carded” in Walmart when I checked out with a bottle of strawberry wine among my purchases. Maybe it was the hat that might have concealed or at least shadowed part of my face. Jack was sure that it was simply routine and that the store’s rules included carding everyone without exception; but for a moment I felt like a sixteen year old trying to pass as an adult. It was invigorating and reminded me of a scripture that has informed humanity for thousands of years: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

When we close our minds against hope, and assume the worst in our world, we move farther away from the source of renewal and strength. Isaiah poured out the sweetness, relief, and even joy of “those who hope in the Lord”: Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ( Isaiah 41:10)

The times in which we live can hardly be compared to the times of Isaiah in terms of lifestyle; but in terms of stress and uncertainty, there are similarities, and in terms of belief and hope, the source of both is eternal. Even before Isaiah, the psalmist wrote, The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him , and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. ( Psalm 34:8) In every generation the message of hope in the Lord has sustained His people. Even in the hardest of times, when His people were actually in exile, God delivered the message through His prophets. Jeremiah reported God’s words: “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Hundreds of years after the the prophets, Jesus focused on the the strong message of hope: “Fear Not, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” ( Luke 12:32) Our world is confusing at best, but there lies a path at our feet that was walked before us by the son of God himself, so that we may have real hope.

Love In Him,

Prue

One day when my college friend Pat and I were walking on the beach at Jones Beach, we saw two young boys on a dock looking at a catch of fish hanging on a line from the side of the dock. “That must hurt a lot,” said the smaller boy. “Oh no,” his companion said, “Fish don’t have pain like people do. They don’t feel anything.”

“Yes, they do, “ said Pat quietly to me. She was a biology major. We both stared at the fish and the boys, who ran off down the dock. Pat went on to tell me the reasons that fish experience pain, and I never forgot the lesson.

It came back to my mind years later when Terry, one of my brothers-in-law, and I were canoeing at a family reunion. Terry had been in the Corps of Engineers during the Viet Nam War, and he had been silent about his time there until he started to talk in the canoe. He chuckled and said, “This reminds me of Nam. You know, I was always scared when I was there. I mean always: morning, noon and night.” He paused, and went on, “One day I looked up and a guy from another unit came up to me. We had been in boot camp together. He had just heard that I was here and stopped by, and after that he came almost every day. I don’t know how I would have made it without him. Anyway, we both made it home safe.” I was silent; I had nothing to offer.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:2) Terry and his friend did God’s work in companioning each other in the midst of war.

How easy it is to ignore another’s pain, but the scripture asserts the importance of bonding, both with each other, and with our God. Even a little boy can guess the fish’s pain. Surely God expects us to recognize pain in one another, and to respond as He responded through Jesus, His own son: “And now I give you a new commandment : love one another . As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

Love in Him,

Prue

“Pull in your elbow”, my violin teacher told me over and over again. I always obeyed, but I thought, “I don’t need to do that. I’ve seen violin players that held the instrument lots of different ways; this is just her style, but it might not be my style.” One day when I was practicing, I could ‘t get even close to the right pitch. I remembered my teacher’s admonition to pull in my elbow, and suddenly I heard a sound on the D string that was a rich, resonant G, and it sounded lovely. I had heard it from others, but I had never quite achieved it on my own. It occurred to me that my teacher was not teaching me her style, but she was teaching me to play the instrument that I wanted so very much to be able to play. In fact, she was not teaching me “style” at all; but she was teaching me the basic, elementary methods of just learning to play the simplest pieces. This revelation changed my attitude, my practicing and even my relationship to my teacher. I no longer thought that she was selfishly trying to replicate her own technique, but I began to recognize the gift that she was conveying to me.

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us. ”

Jesus answered : “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

What is it that prevents us from seeing the Father? It is just what prevented me from playing the violin: my foolish belief in myself more than my belief in my teacher. It was awkward to “pull my elbow in”, and didn’t seem easy. It was a preconceived idea of the Father, and the familiarity of Jesus that prevented Philip from seeing God in Jesus. Jesus painstakingly repeated that he, Jesus is “in the Father, and that the Father is in me.”

God doesn’t teach us His “style.” Rather, He extends His heart to us unconditionally in love. It’s a huge concept, and also a reality. Besides all the rules , commands, and the Covenant itself, God is a Person who extends His Character of love to us, who have preconceived and mistaken ideas of Him. His patience is eternal and His instruction renews us. Our obedience is an acknowledgment of our faith in Him. It is sweet, rich resonant music to God; and when we recognize the gift He has for us, we hear that music with Him.

Love in Him,

Prue

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in amity! It is like precious oil poured on the head running.. . down on “Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Herman were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even peace forevermore. (Psalm 133)

When I watch the news on TV, it is packed with eruptions and emergencies around the world. It is complex and various in the opinions of the speakers.
World changing events are reported almost hourly and interpreted variously . I can hardly bear to watch and listen.

In this world, thousands of years ago, when the entire Western Hemisphere was not known to exist, the civilizations of that ancient time were brutal and full of strife, driven by absolute monarchs that had life and death authority over their subjects. They were plagued with tribal and nationalist competition, hatred, and revenge. The psalmist who wrote Psalm 133 lived in those times, and yet found that there was a blessing in the life that came from an invisible source: The God of the people of God. It was a blessing of peace, and brought an exclamation of, “How good and pleasant when God ‘s people live in unity” Whether the psalmist had experienced such pleasure, or had acquired a vision of it hardly matters, for in the midst of division and strife it proves that there is the possibility of vision and hope, unity and peace.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times, and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. The son is . . . sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Isaiah wrote of this oil of joy at a very dangerous time for Israel: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor . . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning.

The oil of joy still anoints our faith in Christ. It releases the fragrance of salvation into our souls and to our world.

Love in Him,

Prue

A few years after my father died, I had a dream in which he approached me as I stood out of doors, and spoke to me. “Your mother is doing everything right for Stephanie” (my daughter) he said, “but I want her to have some of my duds.” Then he held out his hand, and gave me a Good News Bible. He smiled, and turned and walked away.

When I woke up in the morning , I thought, “Stephanie doesn’t own a Good News Bible,and it couldn’t hurt to get her one;” so I went to the Christian bookstore and asked for one, and was shown a lovely embossed leather covered, very expensive Bible. I felt sure that it was not what I wanted. As I turned to leave, I noticed a rack near the door that held a book covered with what looked like dungarees. I asked, “What is that?” “Oh”said the clerk, “That is a Good News Bible it’s the only one left. We carry those for the teenagers. You’d be surprised how many foot-ball players come in to buy this Bible.” “That’s just what I want,” I answered, and bought the book. Stephanie was thirteen years old. I didn’t tell her about the dream until a long time later. She took the Bible and spent time reading it. Eventually when she went to college, she took that Bible with her.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.( Matthew 7:7) Jesus spoke these words to his disciples early in his ministry. When they had walked together for about three years, and Jesus knew that he would be leaving soon, he told them that he would be sending them a gift, an “advocate”who would never leave them: I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. . .you know him, for he lives in you, and will be with you.” (John 14:16&17)

Even before Jesus’ gift to his disciples, the Spirit of truth lived in David, Jesus’ ancestor:

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right. . . the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much fine gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.(Psalm 19:8-10) The Spirit of truth that David knew, and that Jesus gave to his disciples, and so to all believers, can live in human beings, and be found in the pages of the Bible that is in all our homes. He never fails.

Love in Him,

Prue

In the 1938 movie The Amazing Adventure of Ernest Bliss, Cary Grant portrayed a multi-millionaire bachelor who was told by his doctor that his discontent and unhappiness were due entirely to his arrogant, careless lifestyle and isolation from ordinary working people. The movie was filmed in England during the Great Depression, giving our generation a glimpse of life in those hard years.

Ernest made a bet with his doctor that he, Ernest, could disappear, and live entirely by his own labors for one year, or he would pay his doctor $50,000. The jobs Ernest could find included selling stoves, and chauffeuring. One night when he was called to drive the doctor to a patient’s home, the doctor was astonished to recognize his own patient.

Ernest experienced kindness from his landlady, and fellowship with others struggling to support themselves. He fell in love with Frances, a secretary played by Mary Brian, but part of his bet required him not to reveal his real identity, and though she loved him, she was the sole support of her mother and ailing sister, and felt she couldn’t marry someone without a steady income. Ernest came face to face with material shortage, with life lived on the edge of sheer want. It surprised him and deepened him, exactly as the doctor had prescribed. For the first time in his life Ernest was grateful for an offered cup of tea, and for an extension on his rent bill. The layers of reality overlap in the movie in intriguing ways. At one point his landlady says, “Don’t worry, Mr. Bliss. There are those who don’t pay, even when they can, and those who don’t pay because they can’t; and I know the difference.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy,” and he also said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:7 &5) From the friendships he made, and the grace that was shown him, Ernest’s adventure was a spiritual trip to humility , and even meekness.

The Bible asserts, “Now Moses was a very meek man, more meek than anyone else on the face of the earth.” ( Numbers12:3) Both the Old and the New Testaments affirm the importance of meekness in the kingdom of God. It is a quality that brings with it God’s own Spirit. The movie ends happily, and in the end, the Beatitudes are in glorious display.

Love in Him,

Prue