Captain Obvious

I selected the daily Bible reading for today from the American Bible Society, and this is what I found.

ACTS 27:1-38 (GNT)

Paul is sent to Rome so that his case can be heard by the Emperor. Paul is put aboard a ship with other prisoners. 

1When it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they handed Paul and some other prisoners over to Julius, an officer in the Roman army regiment called “The Emperor's Regiment.” 2We went aboard a ship from Adramyttium, which was ready to leave for the seaports of the province of Asia, and we sailed away. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 3The next day we arrived at Sidon. Julius was kind to Paul and allowed him to go and see his friends, to be given what he needed. 4We went on from there, and because the winds were blowing against us, we sailed on the sheltered side of the island of Cyprus. 5We crossed over the sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia and came to Myra in Lycia. 6There the officer found a ship from Alexandria that was going to sail for Italy, so he put us aboard.

7We sailed slowly for several days and with great difficulty finally arrived off the town of Cnidus. The wind would not let us go any farther in that direction, so we sailed down the sheltered side of the island of Crete, passing by Cape Salmone. 8We kept close to the coast and with great difficulty came to a place called Safe Harbors, not far from the town of Lasea.

9We spent a long time there, until it became dangerous to continue the voyage, for by now the Day of Atonement was already past. So Paul gave them this advice: 10“Men, I see that our voyage from here on will be dangerous; there will be great damage to the cargo and to the ship, and loss of life as well.” 11But the army officer was convinced by what the captain and the owner of the ship said, and not by what Paul said. 12The harbor was not a good one to spend the winter in; so almost everyone was in favor of putting out to sea and trying to reach Phoenix, if possible, in order to spend the winter there. Phoenix is a harbor in Crete that faces southwest and northwest.

13A soft wind from the south began to blow, and the men thought that they could carry out their plan, so they pulled up the anchor and sailed as close as possible along the coast of Crete. 14But soon a very strong wind—the one called “Northeaster”—blew down from the island. 15It hit the ship, and since it was impossible to keep the ship headed into the wind, we gave up trying and let it be carried along by the wind. 16We got some shelter when we passed to the south of the little island of Cauda. There, with some difficulty we managed to make the ship's boat secure. 17They pulled it aboard and then fastened some ropes tight around the ship. They were afraid that they might run into the sandbanks off the coast of Libya, so they lowered the sail and let the ship be carried by the wind. 18The violent storm continued, so on the next day they began to throw some of the ship's cargo overboard, 19and on the following day they threw part of the ship's equipment overboard. 20For many days we could not see the sun or the stars, and the wind kept on blowing very hard. We finally gave up all hope of being saved.

21After everyone had gone a long time without food, Paul stood before them and said, “You should have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete; then we would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22But now I beg you, take courage! Not one of you will lose your life; only the ship will be lost. 23For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship came to me 24and said, ‘Don't be afraid, Paul! You must stand before the Emperor. And God in his goodness to you has spared the lives of all those who are sailing with you.’ 25So take courage, men! For I trust in God that it will be just as I was told. 26But we will be driven ashore on some island.”

27It was the fourteenth night, and we were being driven in the Mediterranean by the storm. About midnight the sailors suspected that we were getting close to land. 28So they dropped a line with a weight tied to it and found that the water was one hundred and twenty feet deep; a little later they did the same and found that it was ninety feet deep. 29They were afraid that the ship would go on the rocks, so they lowered four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. 30Then the sailors tried to escape from the ship; they lowered the boat into the water and pretended that they were going to put out some anchors from the front of the ship. 31But Paul said to the army officer and soldiers, “If the sailors don't stay on board, you have no hope of being saved.” 32So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the boat and let it go.

33Just before dawn, Paul begged them all to eat some food: “You have been waiting for fourteen days now, and all this time you have not eaten a thing. 34I beg you, then, eat some food; you need it in order to survive. Not even a hair of your heads will be lost.” 35After saying this, Paul took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, broke it, and began to eat. 36They took courage, and every one of them also ate some food. 37There was a total of 276 of us on board. 38After everyone had eaten enough, they lightened the ship by throwing all the wheat into the sea.

REFLECTion

     I am a fan of the "Captain Obvious" commercials for Hotels.com. Perhaps this is because I have been given the same title at times. It is both funny and reasonable to state the obvious. As a minister of the Gospel, it is a spiritual discipline to keep in mind what is the obvious path or the reasonable conclusion. (How else can you recognize a miracle or divine activity?!) This, of course, can also lead to some interpersonal frustrations or sarcasm.

     Considering this Bible story for today, Paul speaks into the tension between obvious and mysterious. Only God could see where and how they were traveling. Danger seemed to be everywhere. Yet, there was a obvious and clear path. It is terribly frightening and inspiring to realize that you are in the hands of God and everything around you is falling apart. Trusting and keeping faith in the midst of a strong storm (literal and figurative) can be incredibly difficult. I pray that this reading gives us guidance to hold fast when God gives us clear and obvious directions. When God is piloting, we will not get lost.

PRAY

Jesus, Savior pilot me, guide me in the path that I should go. Be with all those who are working and traveling,... Help and continue to give signals and guidance for those that are lost and need to find their way. Use me in whatever way you see fit to be a light for those in darkness. Shelter and keep watch over us all. In your everlasting Name, we pray. Amen.

How was your vacation?

There is a classic and true answer to the question, "How was your vacation?" 

"Too short."

Every once in a while, you might have a real clunker of a getaway. I am thinking of the beach trip with flu symptoms, cramped accommodations, and a bad blend of rain and sunburn. I am pretty sure, however that someone on the internet just looked at the sign in their cubicle that says, "A bad day at the beach is better than a really good day at the office."

We might ask ourselves, why is it that the really good things of life seem to flash by so quickly? It isn't just that time flies when we are having fun. It is also that the high points of life are short. Certainly, many chase after the next high or trying to make them more frequent. This can be good in the beginning of a loving relationship or quite destructive as an addiction takes hold. I am also thinking of well meaning Peter in the Transfiguration story, "Lord it is good to be hear. Let's make some tents and stay!" He doesn't even get a chance to suggest an extended stay in the Ascension. Let's pick up the story and close with some reflection after it. 

Luke 24:44-53

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

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There was some time there as he led them out. Apparently there is a better lift off to Heaven from Bethany. It is also possible that Jesus wanted to try to stretch out the joy just a little longer. Even still, at that point, it was over. All the hard work, teachings and healings, conflict and punishment, drama and accolades, "he is not here" and useless cross, ghosts don't eat fish...all of it, a few years of their lives--done. 

Yes, there are times and seasons to give our lives pace and rhythm. Moments come and go so that we cherish and steward our lives and the Creation they grow in.

I hope you also noticed that the ascension "ended" with a tremendous joy that didn't stop. The purpose of Jesus' Ascension was to extend the joy and flip the script of this broken world. The body of Jesus was lifted up so that we can fully be the body--multiplying joy and extending the time and spread of hope.

When something feels over, ask yourself if it is really over or if God has shifted it so that you might see it forever in an "Ascended" way.

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Great God, your love is amazing. You lift me up when I am down. You give strength to the weak and the powerless. Your life brings eternal hope and the building of peace. Guide us to not chase after you, but to know you with us now. You are the eternal now. Build us up to be more fully and faithfully your body moving and serving in the world. Let our hands and feet show and teach love.

We are mindful today of the violence and bloodshed that has erupted between Israel and Hamas. We pray for and end to the skirmishes and the way for peace. Help your people, O God to not live in fear. Be with, we pray the innocents that are caught in the crossfire, as you bring them into your Holy Home.

Heal and embrace all those who are sick or suffering in any way this day...

Strengthen your Church to reach out and give an enlivening hope to its communities. Empower our witness and our presence, our service and our caring, and our welcome and advocacy. 

In your one and only Name, we pray. Amen.

Rewriting the billboards

Romans 14:13-23 

Therefore we must no longer pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean. For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.

So then, we chase after this peace and the building up one another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your sibling to stumble. The faith you have, keep to yourself before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

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It should be tremendously noteworthy that the first verse of this passage is not well known. It should be one of those parts of Scripture that is posted on billboards and hand signs in sporting events. Unfortunately, Christians are often perceived of being judgy and hypercritical. It might be preferable to say that it is a certain branch of Christianity, but this text also points to the extremely personal and relational nature of living as a human being that has been forgiven. If we have experienced Grace, we don't beat one another with it.

There is always a way to say helpful words that heal and help, and another way that is sharp and highlights the wrong. 

A couple of days ago, I corrected someone close to me. It was a violation that I declared against the hard tablet of the Ten Commandments. For them, it was a slight a moment of a slip that they immediately recognized and regretted. My words of judgment caused a separation in our relationship that had to later be worked out. I am thankful that they helped me to know how much my words hurt when they were already hurting.

Such "high and mighty" or "holier than thou" are all too frequent for those who are exploring a faith that is new. Sometimes a simple old habit can become an awkward moment or even a rift that leads the newcomer to declare that they are done with two-faced judging Christians.

I have no doubt that we need to learn this sacred text as a core value which represents the Way of Jesus. Others should see us more clearly working to follow his loving teachings.

I should close with the footnote that of course there are times that we have to speak out and directly against injustices and evils. Those, however, are typically systemic and address corporately and together as a people being built up in the process. This text is about personal relationships and making sure that we are loving and careful with our words. One on one, words can cut a little deeper. Friends, family and co-workers do not benefit from spotlights on their every misstep. If, in the unlikely circumstance, however you have awakened to realize that you are living with a current day Hitler type, you are encouraged to speak to that one for those who have no voice. (You should also make reparations for your complicity before you woke up!)

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Great God of all the people,

you are everlasting to everlasting! We praise you and lift you goodness high. We sing to your wonderfulness. Let all we do and say be faithful to your teachings. Let our actions bring you joy. Let our movements in all ways bring about peace and care for your children. Guide my mouth this day to speak only in love. Enable me to find words that are useful and not stinging in any way. Teach me to consider also what you want me to see in the mirror. Let your Holy Law be a force that drives us to your inestimable love, let it show us how much we need your deliverance. Illumine a path that turns away from attitudes of jealousy, fear, enmity or strife. In the Name of Christ, my sibling and teacher. Amen.