Stacking Stones
Sometimes all it takes is one person to start, and then get out of the way.
There is an adult class at our church Claudia and I have attended sporadically, and now I wish we had been there for every week. We have a leader, of sorts, as Doug is more of a conductor. You see, the upshot of the class is people telling their stories. That’s it. A person or two each week is asked to let us hear more about who they are and how their faith informs their life, and it is tremendous. Doug's idea is that since we are called to love one another, we must know each other first. Simple and profound.
In church, folks are scrubbed clean and act politely and surface relationships are the flavor of the day. This class is different. It remains a place where friends get to know friends better as we hear their story. Real women and men talking about life and faith and failures and fears and triumphs and crushing defeats, and of how Jesus intersects with their journey and the struggles they encountered along the way. The expectation is simply for folks to be seen and heard and valued as they reveal as much as they want to, and the atmosphere is accepting. The stories have been filled with honest retelling of lives, warts and all. One long-time church guy who has seen and led much told me this is as good a class he can remember.
A bit ago, a husband and wife shared some chapters from their lives. I have known them for over 35 years, but never really got to know them. That morning they opened up and let us see another glimpse of what true faith looks like in the midst of real life. I learned more of them in that hour than I had in all the years before, and respect them all the more for how they live their faith. Refreshed, is the word that came to mind when the class ended. Story after story underlines the truth that we are all doing the best we can as we navigate unsure paths but guided by a faithful God.
On that particular week, the wife used an interesting set of verses out of Joshua as a frame to recall and explain how God worked and still works in her life. The passage describes a scene from just after the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and finally into the land promised to them a generation before. Listen to this:
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, "Choose 12 men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place you stay tonight."....to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, "What do these stones mean?" tell them [what God did for you]. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.
She proceeded to outline her story by remembering the stones along her way that showed her God's hand throughout her life. These stones of remembrance encourage her to keep pressing on in her life, since he was there for her before, why imagine he would not be there now? Just like with the Jews so long ago, who would return generation after generation to retell the stories of God's faithfulness, this friend used her God-history to inform and challenge her present and lean into her future, and we in the class benefited
As for you, think back ... way back to the beginning of your faith journey. Now, sift through your mental photo albums looking for times when Jesus photo-bombed your life and times. Collect these just like the guys hefting stones from a river bed and assemble your own monument of God showing up. Some of these may be dramatic and others might look coincidental, but if you look hard enough, there he is in the background.
This is your stack of stones to tell of and to return to for strength, comfort, and courage. Then, just like with the Jews, we tell others and the next generation all about a Savior who knows all about us and is still crazy in love with us. It's about the Father, who has shown up in your life and led you through deep water, Jesus today who stands with us in the midst of all your adventures, and the Spirit inside you will guide you and prompt you and encourage you for all of your tomorrows. So, we look back to look forward.
If God has a car, "Faithful" could be a bumper sticker on the rear window. Read, again slowly, lyrics you may have sung most of your life. Look them over with eyes that remember his faithfulness to you, and your stack of stones.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
January brings the gift of more hours indoors since the outdoors are often inclement. Perhaps, use some of these times to gather your thoughts on how God has shown up and been faithful to you. Label them in your mind. Collect them from the streambed of your days and stack them up. This is your God story, told in key moments.
Then, when you inevitably feel wobbly in the face of the next challenge, return to your stack and take heart. God is right with you.
Music for the week:
And a funny or two for the road ahead...
Little boy 1: "So your family got a new house! How do you like it?"
Little boy 2: "It's terrific! I have my own room, John has his own room, and Rachel has her own room. But poor Mom has to share with Dad."
__________
A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat:
"I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced.
Then, he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed.
"Strike one!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again,
"I'm the greatest hitter in the world!"
He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down he swung again and missed.
"Strike two!" he cried.
The boy then paused for a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more,
"I'm the greatest hitter in the world!"
Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed.
"Strike three!"
"Wow!" he exclaimed.
"I'm the greatest PITCHER in the world!"