A great conductor, tired of the excessively familiar New World Symphony by Dvorak, asked his orchestra to reseat itself on stage so as many players as possible were placed next to an unfamiliar instrument. For example, the first violinist sat next to the timpani, an oboe player amongst the violas, a horn in the cello section and so on. The purpose was to reveal new sounds and textures the musicians would not hear when seated in sections where musicians played the same instrument as they did. The change in Dvorak’s piece was revelatory.
I think this is a marvelous illustration of the importance of diversity in life. We travel in circles where people see things the way we do. People increasingly place their children in schools where the values and perspectives of the other students are like their own. The same could be said of our faith community. Imagine if we worshipped with people who saw their faith exactly as we see ours. We would certainly miss out on a new vision of life and faith.
I marvel at the diversity of Jesus disciples—fishermen, a tax collector, and a nationalistic zealot. They were hardly a homogeneous group. As difficult as this might have been Jesus knew that his teachings would have to appeal to a larger crowd whose values, lifestyles, and experiences would all be very different. So, he recruited people who would understand that kind of diversity. What a difference it made in the broad appeal of the gospel message.
This is one of the reasons I want to travel and see different cathedrals and the communities that grew up around them. Each of them will tell the story of a variety of people and paths of faith. They will tell the story of doctrinal unity and diversity—harmony and controversy. These cathedrals and the communities they spawned comprised of the artisans that constructed them will remind me that we ignore diversity at our peril. A church, a real church requires people of all ages, stages, viewpoints, status, race, and ethnic origins bound together by the mystery and wonder of God and guided by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We certainly have a ways to go in some areas, but if we can see the strength diversity will bring us and the new ways God will speak to us, we’ll move even closer to the church God wants us to be.
Prayer
Gracious God, I thank you for the blessings of the different. If I have become too comfortable with the life and faith I am composing, seat me next to someone who sees it differently so I might grow in grace to the glory of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
P.S. I am taking the summer off from my weekly articles. See you in the fall.
C. Mac Hamon, Senior Pastor
Castleton United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Value of Taking Risks
The great cellist Gaspar Cassado used to say to his students, I’m so sorry for you; your lives have been so easy. You can’t play great music unless your heart’s been broken. I would say the same of great composers, great poets, great preachers, great parents, great business people, etc. Getting one’s heart broken is all about taking risks. That is how we come to understand grace—owning the risks we take in a world that is by and large immune to our control.
The compassion Jesus had for others came from having his heart broken. He took the enormous risk of recruiting relatively uneducated and self-absorbed people to follow him. On so many occasions his heart was broken when they fell asleep while he prayed, eyes glazed over at his parables, and doubted after they had witnessed one of his miracles.
A life that is well lived is risky. Marriage is risky. Venturing into a new area of business that is filled with the unfamiliar is risky. Taking the time to make a new friend is risky. Having children is risky. Deciding to care for animals that have been abandoned is risky. Volunteering in an unfamiliar area is risky. You can and will get your heart broken and face disappointment. But you will also experience unparalleled success. The new friend will introduce you to new ideas. The business venture will open up new possibilities. Volunteering will expose you to another world. Having children will make you humble. Marriage will teach you a new kind of love—deeper than you thought possible.
Christians are called to be risk takers especially as we live the message of the gospel in the world. Jesus speaks about this throughout Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. The risk is seeking to live by what the world deems as unconventional. Yet, I dare anyone to try any of these teachings of Jesus and see if the risk does not result in a richer, more compassionate life. Yes, we will get our hearts broken, and life will not always be easy, but we will to know how great living a life of faith can be.
Prayer
Precious Lord, take my hand and lead through the risky paths of faith. Show me the great joy of a deeper love and a greater capacity to care that my life might more reflect you to a world that thinks it can live without you. Amen.
C. Mac Hamon, Senior Pastor
Castleton United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
The compassion Jesus had for others came from having his heart broken. He took the enormous risk of recruiting relatively uneducated and self-absorbed people to follow him. On so many occasions his heart was broken when they fell asleep while he prayed, eyes glazed over at his parables, and doubted after they had witnessed one of his miracles.
A life that is well lived is risky. Marriage is risky. Venturing into a new area of business that is filled with the unfamiliar is risky. Taking the time to make a new friend is risky. Having children is risky. Deciding to care for animals that have been abandoned is risky. Volunteering in an unfamiliar area is risky. You can and will get your heart broken and face disappointment. But you will also experience unparalleled success. The new friend will introduce you to new ideas. The business venture will open up new possibilities. Volunteering will expose you to another world. Having children will make you humble. Marriage will teach you a new kind of love—deeper than you thought possible.
Christians are called to be risk takers especially as we live the message of the gospel in the world. Jesus speaks about this throughout Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. The risk is seeking to live by what the world deems as unconventional. Yet, I dare anyone to try any of these teachings of Jesus and see if the risk does not result in a richer, more compassionate life. Yes, we will get our hearts broken, and life will not always be easy, but we will to know how great living a life of faith can be.
Prayer
Precious Lord, take my hand and lead through the risky paths of faith. Show me the great joy of a deeper love and a greater capacity to care that my life might more reflect you to a world that thinks it can live without you. Amen.
C. Mac Hamon, Senior Pastor
Castleton United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
Monday, May 9, 2011
Waiting
How long, O Lord! Will you forget me forever? How long
Will you hide your face from me? —Psalm 13:1
I just had the privilege of leading another small group on understanding and practicing discernment. As a part of our last session we reflected on one of the most important disciplines about discernment — waiting. Waiting is not valued in our culture. When we want something, we want it now. I think of the commercial frequently seen on television where people, sticking their heads out from a variety of windows, yell, “It’s my money, and I want it now!”
If we want something we jump in the car and get it now. (Although this may be a lot less frequent given the current price of fuel.) When we are sick, we want the magic bullet now that will get us well. Years ago when we wanted to purchase a new car, we had to order it and wait six to eight weeks. The automobile industry caught on quickly that they could sell more cars if they kept a large inventory. We soon learned that when we wanted a new car, we didn’t have to wait. We could have it now. In this social networking age we can give our opinions now and get a response now.
Many of the Psalms deal with lament. They usually begin with something like, “How long O Lord.” Then they are followed by what the psalmist desires and the frustration of waiting for it. I have written about this before, but the Bible indicates that there is a right time for everything. It refers to God’s time. If we are willing to wait rather than rush it, God always has something better.
Alas, many us would rather have it now and settle for less. That is why so often our grieving is cut short; we marry too quickly; and we divorce even more quickly. Isaiah reminds us that they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will walk and not be weary. They will run and not faint (8:17).
Prayer
O God, guard my life. Do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Amen.
—Psalm 25:20-21
C. Mac Hamon, Senior Pastor
Castleton United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
Will you hide your face from me? —Psalm 13:1
I just had the privilege of leading another small group on understanding and practicing discernment. As a part of our last session we reflected on one of the most important disciplines about discernment — waiting. Waiting is not valued in our culture. When we want something, we want it now. I think of the commercial frequently seen on television where people, sticking their heads out from a variety of windows, yell, “It’s my money, and I want it now!”
If we want something we jump in the car and get it now. (Although this may be a lot less frequent given the current price of fuel.) When we are sick, we want the magic bullet now that will get us well. Years ago when we wanted to purchase a new car, we had to order it and wait six to eight weeks. The automobile industry caught on quickly that they could sell more cars if they kept a large inventory. We soon learned that when we wanted a new car, we didn’t have to wait. We could have it now. In this social networking age we can give our opinions now and get a response now.
Many of the Psalms deal with lament. They usually begin with something like, “How long O Lord.” Then they are followed by what the psalmist desires and the frustration of waiting for it. I have written about this before, but the Bible indicates that there is a right time for everything. It refers to God’s time. If we are willing to wait rather than rush it, God always has something better.
Alas, many us would rather have it now and settle for less. That is why so often our grieving is cut short; we marry too quickly; and we divorce even more quickly. Isaiah reminds us that they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will walk and not be weary. They will run and not faint (8:17).
Prayer
O God, guard my life. Do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Amen.
—Psalm 25:20-21
C. Mac Hamon, Senior Pastor
Castleton United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Jealousy
. . . for love is strong as death, jealousy fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. —Proverbs 8:6
I know that jealousy is one of the seven deadly sins and I think, at least in part, it is because we so seldom confess it either to ourselves or to another. Jealousy is corrupting and raises its ugly head in so many ways. I watched part of the royal wedding between “Will and Kate,” and noticed all of the women wearing hats. I saw some of the women so subtly glancing at the hat of the woman in front of and around themselves. Were the glances jealousy or admiration? A promotion granted someone else to a position we had desired and thought we deserved—will it be congratulations or covetousness? Another person’s house or successful child—will it be admiration or envy? A pastor appointed to a larger congregation—will it be jealousy or joy? Someone else driving a car we have always wanted—jealousy or feelings of joy for them?
Heraclitus said, "Our jealousy lasts longer than the happiness of those of whom we are jealous. Jealousy can eat us up long after the person’s success about which we are jealous has faded." I think that was the point Jesus was making when he encouraged us not to be anxious about what we eat, drink, or wear. Will our worry add a single hour to our span of life (Matthew 6:27). Likely anxiety driven by our desire to keep up and pass the person next to us will only shorten our life span.
I think of the jealousy that arose within King Saul that led him to try and kill David. Saul, this once first and great king of Israel, was ruined by his jealousy. The jealousy over the influence of Jesus’ ministry led to some Pharisees and Sadducees deciding to get rid of him.
Life is too short for us to be eaten up with some jealousy over what another person has or has achieved. As the Proverb says this jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Prayer
Heavenly Father if there is envy or jealousy in my heart this day remind me of your love for me that I might once again return to the joy of being your child and thus genuinely rejoicing with others in their success. This I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord. Amen
C. Mac Hamon, Senior Pastor
Castleton United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. —Proverbs 8:6
I know that jealousy is one of the seven deadly sins and I think, at least in part, it is because we so seldom confess it either to ourselves or to another. Jealousy is corrupting and raises its ugly head in so many ways. I watched part of the royal wedding between “Will and Kate,” and noticed all of the women wearing hats. I saw some of the women so subtly glancing at the hat of the woman in front of and around themselves. Were the glances jealousy or admiration? A promotion granted someone else to a position we had desired and thought we deserved—will it be congratulations or covetousness? Another person’s house or successful child—will it be admiration or envy? A pastor appointed to a larger congregation—will it be jealousy or joy? Someone else driving a car we have always wanted—jealousy or feelings of joy for them?
Heraclitus said, "Our jealousy lasts longer than the happiness of those of whom we are jealous. Jealousy can eat us up long after the person’s success about which we are jealous has faded." I think that was the point Jesus was making when he encouraged us not to be anxious about what we eat, drink, or wear. Will our worry add a single hour to our span of life (Matthew 6:27). Likely anxiety driven by our desire to keep up and pass the person next to us will only shorten our life span.
I think of the jealousy that arose within King Saul that led him to try and kill David. Saul, this once first and great king of Israel, was ruined by his jealousy. The jealousy over the influence of Jesus’ ministry led to some Pharisees and Sadducees deciding to get rid of him.
Life is too short for us to be eaten up with some jealousy over what another person has or has achieved. As the Proverb says this jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Prayer
Heavenly Father if there is envy or jealousy in my heart this day remind me of your love for me that I might once again return to the joy of being your child and thus genuinely rejoicing with others in their success. This I pray in the name of Jesus my Lord. Amen
C. Mac Hamon, Senior Pastor
Castleton United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
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