Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Williams, Wesley, and Mayer

I had prepared some thoughts around the idea of the 'tortured genius' but I haven't shared them. In light of the passing of Robin Williams and the struggles he faced, I think it's important for us to remember his genius and the darkness that often accompanies it.

Here it goes: 

John Wesley was a weirdo.  John Wesley also changed the church and the world.  Weirdo/Genius - These two often go hand in hand.  When we look at Wesley he holds a special place in our hearts.  But I bet that if we ran into him on the street he might make us feel uncomfortable.  He probably had a bit of social awkwardness about him, most geniuses do.  He was thinking of things that we rarely think of still today.  He was a contemplative that drew from the traditions of the past while making it real for the need of the people of his day.  Living in the Holy Club mentality while being a social reformer at the same time equals weird.  It’s a tough line to walk.  He did it. 

Geniuses are not great at everything though.  What about a Wesleyan view of marriage or parenting?  He can’t really help us in these areas, at least not from his own personal experience.    Remember – John Wesley was a weirdo.  He did strange things.  How about preaching on top of your dad’s grave because you weren’t allowed into the pulpit that day?  Begging for alms for prisoners on a cold Christmas Eve is not something many ‘normal’ people do.  Wesley did it, but he wasn’t normal.  He was a genius.  You can call him a ‘folk-theologian’ all you want, but I think his true wisdom is revealed in the awkwardness of his ordinary parts of life.  I am fine with Wesley’s lack of normality.  I need him to be weird.   

I got to thinking about this idea after I saw John Mayer in concert.  I am a fan.  Most of the time when I mention that, someone responds by saying something about a not-so-recent-scandal that Mayer had.  He said some foolish things to reporters a while ago and he hasn't always made the best decisions publicly.  When he realized that he was throwing his career away, he fled the public eye and moved to Montana to refocus and restart.  He writes very beautifully about this in his song Shadow Days.  John Mayer is weird when it comes to relationships and the normal parts of life.  Why?  John Mayer is a genius.

Not so sure?  Go watch him play.  This is his gift, his sanctuary, his place in the world. He was made for this.   I appreciate his ability, range, musicality, stylistic creativity, and lyrics.  Why do we want geniuses to be everyday people?  Let Wesley be his reforming self, let Mayer be socially inept and awkward too.  Let Einstein have his crazy hair.

I was in the hospital room visiting with a church member whose child was very sick.  The doctor came in and he had terrible bed-side manor. When the doctor walked out I could tell that the mother was not comforted.  She wanted comfort and the doctor didn't give it.  I want that doctor. As a means of providing comfort to her, I told her that he was the kind of doctor that would get the job done.  He was a genius.  He probably spends so much time thinking about science that he doesn't have the time to pick up on social cues.  This is the kind of doctor that I want when my child is sick.  I don't want a Jerry Seinfeld or a Santa Claus.  Give me the awkward genius every time.  This is the same way I feel about the ‘Johns’- so gifted in their area that some other areas may lack.  I am not a genius and you aren't probably either, were just too normal for that.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Transition and Generosity

Generosity.

Generosity is the ability to anticipate a need and the courage to meet it.

Like many pastors in the United Methodist Church I am in a season of transition. I have said goodbye to a wonderful and generous congregation and I am looking forward to saying hello to the next.  Any anxiety about the transition was eased as I experienced another great outpouring of love and generosity from the new congregation.  Each day as boxes surround us there is a knock on the door with a friendly face bringing us a meal.  It is a simple yet powerful act of generosity.  We look around our world and so often see and focus on the harm we cause to one another.  What if we found the good and focused on the healing and help that we can also bring to one another? How can we be more generous?

First, it is important to remember that this is a gift from God and that certain people excel in it more than others.  In the movie Good Will Hunting, the main character uses a great metaphor to explain his uncanny natural ability to understand organic chemistry.  He is able to “just play”.  When Mozart or Beethoven saw a piano they were able to just play while others may see a box with a bunch of keys.  I think that when it comes to generosity, some are able to just play more than others. 

Generosity is the ability to anticipate the need … To be more generous –

1.     You have to see the need. 
It never fails that when I am trying to find something it’s been under my nose the whole time.  Sometimes we just don’t see very clearly.  We see as dimly in a mirror (1 Cor. 13:12), things are foggy and we just can’t see it.  However, our ability to see has been tampered with because we have closed our eyes to the need.  I admit that I change the channel whenever I see the ‘Feed the Children’ or ‘ASPCA’ commercials.  Images of others hurting changes us and affects us in ways that we don’t always enjoy.  Open your eyes to the needs of those around you. 

2.     You have to anticipate the need.
If you are willing to see then you can live an anticipatory life of generosity.  This is different than just hearing about a need and helping.  This is a type of generosity that anticipates the need.  You are always looking and ready to move when needed.  It’s like a great baseball outfielder who anticipates where the ball is going to be based upon pitch count or even the sound of the bat.  This type of generosity can also be described in the ‘radical’ part of hospitality that we United Methodists like to talk about so much.  Hospitality or generosity is one level, anticipatory generosity or radical hospitality is another.  Don’t wait for the need, anticipate it and move. 

Generosity is … the courage to meet it.   To be more generous –

1.     You need courage to act.
There are those who are able to see and even anticipate, yet fail to be generous. Good intentions are not enough in this world. Courage is needed in a world that craves generosity.  People actually want to be caring and kind, they are just afraid.  We are afraid of exposing too much of ourselves, or enabling one’s behavior and creating dependency.  We have come up with all sorts of phrases to keep us kind yet not very generous.  True generosity means extending yourself to a place of the unknown or even fearful.  To do something that is so beyond your capacity and frame of reference puts you into the Realm of the King.  This is Kingdom work, here folks.  We get to see moments of God’s Kingdom here and now when this happens.  All it takes is a few seconds of courage.  Muster it up and be truly generous.  Then – enjoy the ride. 

2.     Spend time with people who are generous.
I used to think I was generous until I spent time with actual generous people.  You know what happened – my stinginess didn’t change them, but, in fact, they rubbed off on me.  Their warmth, love, and natural care inspired me to be a person who looks and tries to see now.  I start to think with their mind rather than my first reaction.  If there is something that I am afraid to do, I think about how they would react in this situation.  Sure, it makes me uncomfortable at times, but I also get to experience moments of courage and generosity. 

In the end – what is the real cost of generosity?  John Maxwell said, ‘Be a river, not a reservoir.’
See it.
Anticipate it.
Have the courage to act.
Be generous today.   







Sunday, June 8, 2014

Sending of Disciples


Matthew 10: 1-20

Jesus sends out the Disciple

Penteocst Sunday

 


Check out this episode!

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Abraham's Trust


Sermon Series - Abraham

Genesis 22 - 

Abraham & Isaac

The Binding of Isaac


Check out this episode!

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Abraham's Laughter


Sermon Series - Abraham

Genesis 17

Abraham & Isaac 


Check out this episode!

Monday, May 19, 2014

True Freedom


Guest Speaker - Stephanie Ruff Hogan

Titus Women's Ministry - Francis Asbury Society

John 20-21

Experience God's Freedom! 


Check out this episode!

Monday, May 12, 2014

Mother's Day


Mother's Day Message - Rev. Michael P. Smith

Romans 8: 15-18

The spirit of adoption... 


Check out this episode!