This is the second commentary on the Can'tForgive.Com series which is slated to end on All Saint's Day. These reflections have been entitled "Rocks" and Pastor Bill threw around a few this last "Olah" service. I was so proud I had been faithful in completing the assignment, so I brought my rocks to show Pastor before the service. I had my Lava rock marked with an "S" for the rock I was carrying from my past employer and I had my wife's rock, the smooth, bu broken, river rock, approximately 3 lbs., labeled with an "E" for that person who had burned her badly. (There are stories which go with each of these of course, the Lava rock reminding me of Elihu-another story, and the broken, river rock which we'd decided stood for an individual, but after we thought about it,"Everybody"-yet another story).
As you recall, 'Olah' refers to burnt sacrifice and that's what this service was all about: scarring the masterpiece which is both ourselves and those around us. Pastor Bill lost no time in recognizing those who had brought rocks but he warned, "One person brought two rocks and we only want one". I had just gotten burned. He hadn't given me time to mention the second rock was for my wife and since we were "everyday missionaries" just like Adam and Eve, and I was helping her out, (just like Adam helped Eve, a lesson we still haven't learned). But the rocks kept flying around as his (pastor's) wife softly corrected him"it was the Pacific, not the Atlantic" and he covered himself immediately with "but it wraps around". At 'Olah' EVERYBODY gets burned! The point is, that even if we don't intend to hurt someone, we "unintentionaly do" scarring their sense of self-worth turning their invaluable Mona Lisa masterpiece, into a 'moaning Lisa' by committing a crime which can't ever be forgiven, except of course, by THE Rock.
Pastor Bill related a personal experience where a coffee waitress had so many crimes committed against her that she didn't value herself as a person at all, only a piece of property that tolerated crime after crime against her accepting this as her destiny. Of course, this is an old story, which began when Adam said, "She made me do it".
Next week, since all these crimes have been committed, we rebel! We become the plaintiff in a court of true justice where theplaintiff does not become the victim. We are taking our case before God Himself and we will have a workbook to sort it all out, simple step by simple step. I'm excited! I've been burned so many times and now I can have my say, just like Elihu in Job. Except, unlike Elihu, I'm learning, but have not yet become....to even comrehend, much less believe... in the miraculous, power of God. Thank you, Pastor, for a most invigorating journey!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Rocks
9/11/10...nine years after 9/11/01...there is a large rock on the alter; we are beginning a new series, on forgiveness. This is also connection "Sunday" so besides the "Olah", burnt offering, atmosphere with the candles, communion, offering chest, band and prayer tables, the sanctuary is surrounded with tables. There are tables to connect with ministries, education and spiritual activities.
Pastor Bill quickly begins our journey on understanding and participating in a forgiveness that takes us to the country beyond, that to which we have not previously been brave enough to travel. We have learned, of course, that forgiveness is turning the other cheek, but now we are confronted with several propositions and the idea that God does NOT turn the other cheek. He judges and disciplines, accordingly.
We also quickly learn that for us to forgive those circumstances, people or experiences which have scarred the masterpiece, which is ourselves and will always remain a scar throughout life, is to empower our own victimization. Wait a minute, we must pause to think about this: what I heard or understood, is that if we even "truly" forgive another, that we are all the more the victim (take the time to check out how Webster defines "victim"). Here is a good place also, to point out that the purpose of the "Olah" service is to disrupt.
I had a little trouble with this until I recalled the words of Robert Frost: "I'm going out to clean the pasture spring; it won't take long, I'm only going to clear the leaves away, and stop to watch the water clear, I may; it won't take long, you come too". Explaining, Frost said, "I like to rumple up people's minds and then stand back and watch them clear".
The assignment for the week is to find a rock, write the name or circumstance, which was the greatest crime ever committed against you, on the rock and place it somewhere where you will constantly be reminded of it throughout this series. The big rock on the stage reminds us first, of the rock, Jesus Christ, and if one can imagine what it would be like to carry this around all week, what would become of us. No wonder we must somehow discover a true forgivenss which can lift this burden. Now, the trick here, is to follow the assignment, otherwise the true change will not come over us. James reminds us, '"do not merely listen to the word, but do it" otherwise you will just merely continue on the journey from whence you came. RJ
Pastor Bill quickly begins our journey on understanding and participating in a forgiveness that takes us to the country beyond, that to which we have not previously been brave enough to travel. We have learned, of course, that forgiveness is turning the other cheek, but now we are confronted with several propositions and the idea that God does NOT turn the other cheek. He judges and disciplines, accordingly.
We also quickly learn that for us to forgive those circumstances, people or experiences which have scarred the masterpiece, which is ourselves and will always remain a scar throughout life, is to empower our own victimization. Wait a minute, we must pause to think about this: what I heard or understood, is that if we even "truly" forgive another, that we are all the more the victim (take the time to check out how Webster defines "victim"). Here is a good place also, to point out that the purpose of the "Olah" service is to disrupt.
I had a little trouble with this until I recalled the words of Robert Frost: "I'm going out to clean the pasture spring; it won't take long, I'm only going to clear the leaves away, and stop to watch the water clear, I may; it won't take long, you come too". Explaining, Frost said, "I like to rumple up people's minds and then stand back and watch them clear".
The assignment for the week is to find a rock, write the name or circumstance, which was the greatest crime ever committed against you, on the rock and place it somewhere where you will constantly be reminded of it throughout this series. The big rock on the stage reminds us first, of the rock, Jesus Christ, and if one can imagine what it would be like to carry this around all week, what would become of us. No wonder we must somehow discover a true forgivenss which can lift this burden. Now, the trick here, is to follow the assignment, otherwise the true change will not come over us. James reminds us, '"do not merely listen to the word, but do it" otherwise you will just merely continue on the journey from whence you came. RJ
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