the Redeemer and the Pig

Years ago, during a mundane, yet particularly stressful day of  teaching in Wichita Falls we heard a ridiculous noise.  This noise possessed a rather screechy quality to it, almost like fingernails on a chalkboard meshed with a broken fog-horn.  Cutting and repetitive, it proved difficult to ignore.

"What is that?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," my friend replied, "but at this point I am hoping it's the trumpets."  She laughed nervously.  We found out, soon after, that the Lord has not chosen to return on that day.  Instead, a fellow teacher's rambunctious pot-belly pig was making an appearance for a Science lesson.

Life seems to overflow with the in between times.  Waiting is common.  During times of tension and stress, or even in periods of boredom we often find ourselves in a holding pattern.  The rhythms of life are woven into intervals of hurry up and wait.

We may be tempted, or even encouraged, to look for something new on the horizon.  Greener pastures are always near.  As Christians, we hold a long-standing tradition of teaching on this prayer filled watchfulness.    The Old Testament is full of long awaited redemption tales, as well as tastes of what is to come in the new beginning.  In some circles there is a temptation to want to fast forward to those trumpets sound and sing," When the Roll is Called  Up Yonder".  Those trumpets will be an odd and glorious sound.  And certainly, we should look forward to the days spoken of in Revelation when, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (21:4).

At the same time, our commission to act as  in the Way while we wait still stands.  There is work to be done.  The stakes are high.  We wish for Jesus to break open the clouds.  We often miss Jesus on the face of the sick, the widowed, the orphaned, or the homeless.  Paul gives instruction to the Colossians: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful"  He asks for them to be open waiting, ready for service in this life, not just the one to come.   True church growth(and growth of the soul) starts here.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'                                               Matt. 25:34-40

 

Can't Hear You

One word describes my day today:  LOUD.  The alarm broke through the peace of slumber and I haven't had anything close to quiet since.  Children argued.  Babies teethed.  School was thunderous.   Volume controls seemed stuck at eleven.  Today has held nonstop noise.

After a work day described as boisterous at best.  I returned home to loud wii games, and sweet, loud children.  I set about cooking a pork roast and trying to quiet my mind; still my spirit.  Before I knew what I had done smoke alarms blared.   The pan was too hot, and lime pepper was smoking fervently.  I grabbed a towel to fan the fog and promptly set it ablaze.  Nice.  Alarms rang louder.

I put out the flames without an issue.  Next to tackle: the problem of all that noise.  By this point all three kids were crying and hiding under their favorite blankets.  I tried to be light-hearted to put them at ease.   I  stood,  singing and making jokes while I tried to find a switch on the alarm.  Have I mentioned the decibel level creeping higher by the minute?

I called my dad and screamed into the phone, "Could he please help?"  He came over and joined the cacophony of sound that surrounded us.  We had to yell to hear each other.  Broomsticks banged wall units.   Breakers surged on and off.  Fans wobbled.    Ladders clanged underfoot.  The dog ran back outside to find peace.

Finally, we discovered the trick to stopping the vicious assault on our senses; one small button at the back of the house.  We closed the windows.  We put away the brooms and ladders.  We stopped the fans. Blankets returned to beds.  The house became still again, for a few moments.  Ian fell asleep on my shoulder in record time.  Abi giggled.  I breathed it in deeply.  Ben threw his arm up and remarked, "Yea, all the sounds are gone, now we can hear!"

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
       let them ever sing for joy.
       Spread your protection over them,
       that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

                                           Psalm 5:11

The loudness of life points to need of a refuge, a shelter.  Some days present that assault on our senses, on our faith, on our outlook.  We need that place of safety  where all we hear is the certainty of His guidence.   We need the noise to leave, so we can hear the One ever present amongst all the sound of life..