Rest

I don't think Americans are particularly good at rest...at least I'm not. I recognize that a solid work ethic is a good thing and I am thankful for that but as I get older I have found it more and more difficult to actually rest. What is interesting is that I long for rest and I know I need rest and yet it still seems elusive. I remember when I was in kindergarten we used to have to rest. We would all roll our mats out on the floor and lie down. Here we are at the holidays. This is a time where most of us have at least some time off to spend with families and rest. If you are like me you have been looking forward to it. And now we are here. Are you resting? Here at Christmas it seems we have created quite a few musts. Here at the Coffey house we must have a Christmas tree. We must have presents and a scavenger hunt to find the presents. We must have a family feast on Christmas afternoon. I love these musts. I think we should add another. We must rest. I think we should have Christmas mats with little trees and wreaths and pictures of tiny little mangers. I think at a certain time each day during the entire holiday period we should roll them out on the floor and have a mandatory rest. I think Jesus would like that. I have been thinking about the verse, "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am gentle and meek and you will find rest for your souls." Rest is one of the things God knew we needed so when he sent Jesus he made it part of salvation itself. This Christmas go ahead and enjoy the wonder and mystery of the incarnation. Enjoy all the musts your family does. Eat the feast. And don't forget to rest. God loves you. He sent his Son. The heavy lifting is over. The price has already been paid for you. Roll out your mat and rest and worship with your eyes closed and your heart open.

Jose

My wife and I were married while we were in college. We had many of the same classes so while we saw plenty of each other we were pretty far below the poverty line. One night we decided to go to a concert on campus. The singer was Randy Stonehill. At one point in the concert Randy started talking about Compassion International. Compassion International supports impoverished children around the world. Karen and I were both touched and decided to support a child. His name was Jose Martinez and he was 2 years old. We taped his picture on our refrigerator and reworked our budget and began to send $30.00 per month to Compassion to help little Jose. We would receive letters with crayon drawings and updates regarding how Jose was doing in school. Each year we would replace the photograph on the refrigerator as Jose got older. In 1985 we went to Bolivia, South America for a 6 month stint and had the chance to meet Jose and his mother. We took some pictures and talked through a translator. In 1995 we received word from Compassion that Jose was old enough to matriculate out of the program and our obligation had run its course. For the last 15 years whenever I have heard about Compassion International I have thought about little Jose. Last week I received an email from Jose Martinez asking if I was his "godfather" who had supported he and his mother throughout his childhood. He said he had been on our website and compared the picture of me to the photo he still had from 1985 and he was sure we were one and the same. Jose is living in Spain now and wanted to get back in touch and tell me what a difference we made in his life. Little Jose Martinez had made his way out of terrible poverty, was now living in Spain, has access to a computer and is savvy enough to find me after all these years. When Karen and I decided to sign up for Compassion we didn't have any idea where we would get the money. God touched our hearts and we responded. Now 30 years later we can't think of a single thing we missed from giving $30.00 a month. Sometimes you never know the difference you make in someone's life. And then every once in a while God gives you a little glimpse and it makes every little thing worth it. May God give you glimpses of the miracles you have participated in and may it humble you and give you great joy this Christmas season.

The Gift of God- OH-IO

I am learning to like the weather in Ohio more and more. Sometimes I think we are disrespectful to God in the way we talk about the weather. There is a beauty in every season and every day of every season. The snow has been falling in heaps and the other morning I was out early shoveling. There must have been about 8 inches on my walkway. My breath came out in plumes of mist. It was just me and my shovel and snow and it was still falling gently on my shoulders. A car passed by and I looked up. It went by quieter than a car should. The snow had fallen and covered the earth like a blanket and like a blanket deadens the sounds around so the whole earth had become more quiet. I stood and stretched my back and let the quiet sink into my soul. My world is full of noise. God knows it is too much noise so this day here in northeastern Ohio he sent me silence and pushed me outside so I could hear it. I realize winter has just begun and I may feel differently in early April but I think we should all be careful. The God of the universe made northeastern Ohio and he allows us to live here. When he finished creating Ohio I think he stepped back and said it was good. Each season of the year laden with gifts for us. Winter has just begun, that is true. The gifts of this season are just beginning as well. Listen and look, smell and touch, for the King of Kings created it all and put you here. Your joy and noticing the gifts he has given gives him joy. Joy to the world, the Lord is come.

Bless the Lord O My Soul

I have been on a little bit of a reading binge. It has been great. I read a book titled, "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus". It is a book about the jewishness of Jesus. There were several good insights in the book but none that has hit me like the Jewish prayers called "Berakhot". They are prayers of blessing that are said throughout the day to remind yourself of the gifts that God is giving you all the time. If you remember "Fiddler on the Roof" Tevia asks if there is a blessing for a sewing machine. The rabbi thinks and then says that there is a blessing for everything. That is the way of Berakhot. The traditional blessing over food is this, "Blessed art thou Lord God who brings forth food from the earth". The blessing over food is the one we have continued to use but it is only one of dozens. I have started to try to pray these prayers and it has brought joy and gratitude into my day. I will list out a few.
When you first wake up in the morning:
Blessed are you O Lord who gives sight to the blind for I have opened my eyes once again and I see.
As your feet hit the ground:
Blessed are you O Lord who makes the lame to walk.
When you put on your clothes:
Blessed are you O Lord who clothes the naked.
When putting on your shoes:
Blessed are you O Lord who provides for all my needs.
When you hear thunder or see lightening:
Blessed are you O Lord whose strength and power fill the world.
When you see a beautiful woman:
Blessed are you O Lord who fills the earth with such as these.
When something bad happens to you:
Blessed are you O Lord for you are the true judge.

There are dozens more. Indeed there are blessings for everything. I am learning to say a blessing as I step into the shower in the morning, sip my coffee, see my children, walk to get my paper. And what I have found is the more blessings I say the more blessed I am. Blessed be you O Lord who gives me blogs such as these.