The Invisible

I was about twelve when my mother broke the news to me that Santa --the one who came around our neighborhood the week before Christmas --would not be bringing me a gift. Of course, I knew he wasn't the real Santa, but it still hurt. The years were passing, my body was changing, but I didn't feel old enough to get dissed by the local Kris Kringle. To make matters worse, a miscommunication days later revealed to me that even the real Santa wasn't real. I'd looked at my dad's unshaved face (not sure what was going on there; typically, he was Brylcreemed and baby-faced) and in response to his whiskers called him "Santa." His response was, "Who told you I was Santa?" Huh? All the innocence of childhood shattered in two prosaic conversations. But I've made it; I've lived quite a long time without Santa or his other imaginary benefactors. And it's been quite some time since childhood. There are those, however, who might claim I'm just as foolish, those who have derogatory names for the One in Whom I do believe. They might say I'm a special kind of stupid to worship The Invisible...

...unless He exists. 

C.S. Lewis famously said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." Of course, Lewis wasn't talking about believing that Christianity exists or that real Christians walk the land; he was alluding to the validity of the beliefs and tenets of Christianity as given in the Word of God and walked out by Jesus Christ. Lewis believed in the truth with enough wholeheartedness and passion to pursue The Truth. He allowed it to transform his life and the way in which he saw everything. And that is both the difference between belief in the imaginary and the evidence for the invisible God.

Those days of believing in Santa, his fairy friend and cotton-tailed counterpart were times of imagination; not because their fetes were so incredulous, but because their existence was so manageable. We could send them wish lists, leave them empty vessels to fill with exactly the items we craved, stick useless body parts --okay, teeth under our pillows and be assured of the desired result. Almost. For the greater part of the year, these were unheard of, awaiting summons on some island of imaginary patrons. A month before Christmas, a week or two prior to Easter, and the second our tooth began to wiggle, our parents trotted them out with warnings to be good. As if that would regulate our behavior. Absent their generosity and absent any more baby teeth, they were of no consequence to us whatsoever. They changed nothing. Our deal was done; their obligation was fulfilled, and our fealty fell away. There was no relationship.

Despite the mockery of others, however, I have no need to give argument for belief in Jesus versus belief in Santa Claus. I will instead draw comparison between belief in the gods of this world and belief in such things as comprise the heroes of childish traditions. 

In 1 Samuel 5, we read that the Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant upon which the presence of God rested. They took it to the temple of their god, Dagon, hoping to harness its power like some sort of amulet. Instead, the following morning, they found their statue of Dagon face down before the Ark of the Covenant. So, being good little worshipers, they helped their god up, dusted him off, and stood him in his place. The next morning, it was worse! Dagon was face down before the ark, only his face was in one place, still attached to his head, but his body and hands were severed. Did the Philistines break out the glue gun and get to work? I don't know, but I do know that was only the beginning of their troubles. And all for a god who needed the help of men to pick his face out of the dust. The god they worshiped could not talk or walk or think or create or save himself, much less save or judge human beings created in the image of God. Any god unable to stand, any god who can be coerced out of retirement by a tooth, any god who can be manipulated into doing as I desire is no god at all. 

We make spouses our gods, jobs our gods, money our god, status and "LIKEs" and homes and education and food our gods. We can even make our church god. We put these things before everything else because we are getting something from them; they are filling some empty place within us. But when we run out of teeth? When the god is too small for the emptiness or too broken to stand on its own? When we have to keep grinding and giving to feed our god that it might feed us, where is the peace? Or when the god can be tossed out with the candy wrappers or given away like the bike we've outgrown, when we impute our god with worth, what sort of god is that? Or when the god sits silently in our wallets or hangs in an 11x14 frame on our wall as our character and our relationships burn to the ground, how can that be a loving god?

I'm not going to argue the existence of God. He is alive and He is God. But I will encourage you to question those things that have your attention. Can you say your character has been permanently, positively transformed because of them? I will encourage you to evaluate the fillers of your empty. How often must they be fed? I will ask you to inventory the activities, the relationships, the possessions you hold tightly and determine whether they are earthly treasure or eternal treasure. I will urge you to fall on your face before the One True God, and if your gods fall with you, leave them there. By the power and truth of the Invisible, the insufficiency and folly of gods crafted by human design is made visible all year long. 

The Extravagant Suburbanite

Enemies Abound. But Not Where You'd Expect.

So, I don't usually post long passages of Scripture like this, but Summer is coming, prices are soaring, and it's never a bad idea to reconsider the hassle and chaos of a family vacation. (Are they ever really a vacation for those making all the preparations?) The fact is, I can't say it any better than Scripture presents it; and, if you're planning to leave the house at all, there may be some things besides bridge tolls and passports to consider. 

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony; and the people of Isra’el moved out in stages from the Sinai Desert. The cloud stopped in the Pa’ran Desert.

So they set out on their first journey, in keeping with Adonai’s order through Moshe. In the lead was the banner of the camp of the descendants of Y’hudah, whose companies moved forward; over his company was Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadav. Over the company of the tribe of the descendants of Yissakhar was N’tan’el the son of Tzu‘ar. Over the company of the descendants of Z’vulun was Eli’av the son of Helon.

Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the descendants of Gershon and the descendants of M’rari set out, carrying the tabernacle.

Next, the banner of the camp of Re’uven moved forward by companies; over his company was Elitzur the son of Sh’de’ur. Over the company of the tribe of the descendants of Shim‘on was Shlumi’el the son of Tzurishaddai. Over the company of the descendants of Gad was Elyasaf the son of De‘u’el.

Then the descendants of K’hat set out, carrying the sanctuary, so that [at the next camp] the tabernacle could be set up before they arrived.

The banner of the camp of the descendants of Efrayim moved forward by companies; over his company was Elishama the son of ‘Ammihud. Over the company of the tribe of the descendants of M’nasheh was Gamli’el the son of P’dahtzur. Over the company of the descendants of Binyamin was Avidan the son of Gid‘oni.

The banner of the camp of the descendants of Dan, forming the rearguard for all the camps, moved forward by companies; over his company was Achi‘ezer the son of ‘Ammishaddai. Over the company of the tribe of the descendants of Asher was Pag‘i’el the son of ‘Okhran. Over the company of the descendants of Naftali was Achira the son of ‘Enan.

This is how the people of Isra’el traveled by companies; thus they moved forward. (Numbers 10:11-28 CJB)

Can't you just sense the anticipation, the camaraderie, the structure and security of a well-planned itinerary? Read on:

So they set out from Adonai’s mountain and traveled for three days. Ahead of them on this three-day journey went the ark of Adonai’s covenant, searching for a new place to stop. The cloud of Adonai was over them during the day as they set out from the camp. When the ark moved forward, Moshe said, 

“Arise, Adonai! May your enemies be scattered!
Let those who hate you flee before you!” (Numbers 10:33-35 CJB)

May Your enemies be scattered! Like traffic pulling to the side as you zip down the turnpike unaffected by left-lane campers and jack rabbits. Or fellow tourists pinning themselves against the walls of the Louvre, allowing you and Mona Lisa uninterrupted moments of eye contact. Or, like the Red Sea parting. Maybe Moses had that in mind as he spoke these words. Whatever the imagery, the prayer was that armies and contenders would bow the knee before the God of Israel as He moved His people unimpeded to their new home.

Numbers 11:1, But the people began complaining about their hardships to Adonai. That didn't take long. 

Numbers 11:4, Next, the mixed crowd that was with them grew greedy for an easier life; while the people of Isra’el, for their part, also renewed their weeping and said, “If only we had meat to eat!" 

And, even Moses himself took up the lament: If you are going to treat me this way, then just kill me outright! — please, if you have any mercy toward me! — and don’t let me go on being this miserable! (Numbers 11:15) 

Enemies abound. The truly sad fact is the enemies weren't up ahead. They weren't lurking behind rocks or lying in wait at the next oasis. They were in their midst. The enemies were in God's people. Distrust. Fear. Jealousy. Greed. Weariness. Love for a past life. Insolence. They were all right there in the camp. And they multiplied, spreading from one tent to another, from one day to the next.

May Your enemies be scattered! And by Your grace, as we cooperate with Your Holy Spirit, may they be cast far from us. 

This season, as we prepare to spend more time with our family and others as we vacation, may we be mindful of the enemies we have within us. May we confess them and surrender them before the Lord that we may walk unfettered and unchecked wherever He may lead.

Midweek: Can Anxiety and Gratitude Co-Exist?

It's Wednesday, and for a couple of weeks we have been talking about anxiety. I want to be clear: anxiety can be caused by physiological abnormalities, medications or their dosage, genetics, and other disorders. Causes can be environmental as well; trauma, stress, and other external stimuli. Sometimes it is necessary to seek professional medical intervention, but there exists the opportunity to conquer anxiety before it reaches that point. Science seems to indicate, gratitude is an excellent method! 

The folks at Neurolaunch write: 

Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. It’s a persistent and often overwhelming sense of fear or apprehension about future events or situations. The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” 

Persistent, overwhelming, characterized by tension and worry. This is anxiety. Not a temporary nervousness about a presentation or a driving test, but something with which one has been living for a period of time. Imagine, however, living with gratitude. Neurolaunch says gratitude recognizes and acknowledges the positive aspects of life, and shifts focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering a sense of abundance and contentment. This shift in perspective can be particularly powerful in combating negative thought patterns often associated with anxiety and depression. The patterns of negative thought are defeated by new patterns; those of thankfulness. A study by Zahn et al., 2008 (cited in Positive Psychology) states, Gratitude can change neural structures in the brain, making individuals feel happier and more content. Feeling grateful and appreciative triggers the “good” hormones and regulates effective functioning of the immune system. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to be "rewired"; as it may have been once wired in the negative by trauma or negative experiences, it can be rewired by gratitude!

Also, Positive Psychology affirms studies which support the connection between gratitude and a reduction of anxiety:

The limbic system is the part of the brain that is responsible for all emotional experiences. It consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and cingulate gyrus. Studies have shown that the hippocampus and amygdala, the two main sites regulating emotions, memory, and bodily functioning, get activated with feelings of gratitude (Wong et al., 2018). This part of the brain includes reward pathways and the hypothalamus, which can boost serotonin and activate the brain stem to produce dopamine, improving mood and making us feel good (Zahn et al., 2008). 

Gratitude can be good for your brain and even increase or preserve gray matter volume (Zahn et al., 2014)! Gray matter is responsible for perception, among other things; faulty perceptions can trigger anxiety.

From healthiness360.com: The brain cannot respond to anxiety and gratitude simultaneously, as it is an “either/or” situation. Studies have shown that gratitude reduces anxiety and depression by optimizing the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and the same neurotransmitters involved in anxiety. Anxiety and gratitude can coexist, but they cannot function concurrently; the presence of gratitude improves body function to the extent its reaction to anxiety is reduced.

What a marvelous machine God has given each of us; but we see the effects of mankind's sin on its function. We see how wrong perceptions, lies we have believed, our own sin, and the turmoil of a fallen world have impacted our health. Anxiety is an issue of health; the health of our minds, our hearts, and our bodies. Scripture exhorts us again and again to give thanks and rejoice, to take our thought life captive, dwelling on what God says, crowding out harmful thinking, and to submit to the Holy Spirit's work as He renews our mind and continues His sanctifying work. Science confirms what God's Word says about emotional well-being. Anxiety and gratitude can coexist, but only one can dominate the moment. Truth will decide the battle.

Answers to Prayer

Scott and I recently attended an auction to raise funds for local projects. The venue was beautiful. The weather was perfect. It was our wedding anniversary. And the vibe was incredibly social. People from various walks of life settled into conversation and people watching, noshing on goodies and taking part in some of the activities. Our hosts did a wonderful job.

Early in the event, Scott and I set our sights set on two different items. We placed our bids and, for most of the evening, they held. About forty minutes before close, however, someone started troubling the waters on one of the two pieces. I teased our bid forward by ten dollars. A minute later, an alert on my phone; we'd been outbid again. "Just wait until a minute before close, then increase our bid," Scott urged. So, we stepped out into the evening air to make small talk, all the while keeping an eye on the time. With three minutes remaining, I pulled the trigger --another five dollars. Another minute later, wheet whoo! Outbid again! I hit the link and pulled up the image. Before I could reason as to how much farther we were willing to go --CLOSED. "We lost it!" I whined. Scott jokingly chastised my impetuosity, "If you'd just waited another minute like I told you, but no, you had to jump the gun." A nearby couple was listening to our exchange. "At least we got The Buckley Homestead," I placated. That's when the woman spoke. "You won The Buckley Homestead!" she exclaimed. When we affirmed it, she introduced the gentleman sitting with her as the artist. The opportunity to thank him for his donation and sharing his talent was truly a privilege, but it got better. As we made our way inside for the closing remarks, a woman spoke over my shoulder, "I think I stole your Song." The woman with whom we'd been locked in a bidding skirmish! She'd been seated just feet away as Scott and I strategized. Again, another privilege; to discuss such a beautiful work with someone who also appreciated it, for her to share with us her plans for it --where it will hang and how it will complement her decor, to wish her years of enjoyment, and to know that all of it was to benefit the community. We walked to the parking lot feeling richly blessed. 

I tell you all of this because in so many ways, this is an answer to so many prayers. My husband, our marriage. The answer to a prayer prompted years ago by someone I loved insisting, "No marriage is perfect; fairytale love doesn't exist." Wrong! Beauty, priorities. The answer to a prayer prayed about the same time; for God to take my life and make me new. He is faithful! Vision, opportunities. The answer to a prayer prayed over worldly assets, that God would show us how to turn them into eternal wealth. In the most unlikely of ways! Diversity, wonder. The answer to a prayer that began with longing for my own point of view, not the one I allowed to be imposed on me by others. There is freedom in Christ!   

Whatever your current situation, whatever your dream, pray. God can open up a world of opportunities and blessings you never imagined. He can exchange your longings for days of gratitude and understanding. He will hear your deepest desires and give you the joy of sharing this life with others. For your good and for His glory!