Two Halves of Life

Observation: Because I didn't get my daily Bible text in my email inbox, I'm trying something different. Today I'm reflecting on a devotion from the blog of Father Richard Rohr. Today's post was written by a guest writer, the Jungian psychologist James Hollis. Hollis writes that there are two distinct halves of our lives. In the first half we seek security, the ability to support ourselves and develop our own identity apart from our parents. The second half of life is more about discovering who we are on a spiritual level, apart from career, ambitions, or material gain. In the first half of life we ask, "how can I establish myself?" In the second we ask "what does my life mean?"

Application: I'd say I'm in the thick of the "first half" of life. I've never been obsessed with material gain (if I were I'd have chosen the wrong line of work!) but I do find myself very preoccupied with success, whether it's one of the rare times when my definition of success matches up with my reality, or it's the vast majority of the time when it doesn't. Either way, my identity as "Pastor", "Dad", or "Husband", is often center stage in my mind. Too often it's hard for the three of them to share the spotlight. And I find my sense of contentment is wrapped up in how well each of those roles is going, and what I can be doing, should be doing, should have already done yesterday, to make them go better.

But I have done ministry with a lot of folks who have been through all that and come out on the other side. Slowly but surely, our career responsibilities, our day to day parenting responsibilities, and if we live long enough, even our role as a spouse, will reach their conclusion. And we will be asking God, "who am I now, apart from these roles I've played?"

My hope is that when and if that time comes (and in some sense it almost certainly will), I will have begun the conversation with God, and learned about the soul God made, apart from anyone or anything else.

Prayer: God, I need to remember I am more than my obligations. Help me find time alone with you, to begin the lifelong process of individuation. Amen. 

2 Samuel 7:4, 8-16

2 Samuel 7:4, 8-16 (NRSV)

⁴But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: ⁸Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; ⁹and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. ¹²When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings. ¹⁵But I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever. 

Observation: When David resolves to build a "house" for God in the form of a permanent temple, God says that isn't necessary yet. Instead, God promises to establish David's "house". God will not abandon David's family line the way God did to Saul. Come what may, God's favor will continue with David's descendants: "I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."


Application: Early Christians were quick to point out that Jesus of Nazareth, through Joseph's family, was a direct descendant of King David. The title, "Messiah," is Hebrew for "anointed". Anointing a king's head with oil was part of the coronation ritual. From the very early days, we have anointed with oil the heads of newly baptized people, reminding them that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ--the anointed Messiah--forever. At certain points in our lives, it can be helpful to receive prayers for healing and wholeness, and to re-trace that cross in oil, reminding people that they are part of a royal family that will reign forever. Jesus is Lord, over the earth, and even over death itself.


It so happens that I received some olive oil in the mail yesterday, from the grounds of Augusta Victoria Hospital, a ministry of Lutheran World Federation in Jerusalem--the city of David. I was able to pull together some donations from friends to support this important healing ministry. As this oil goes out, we will remind those with whom we share it that they belong to the King, Jesus the Messiah.


Prayer: God,you reign forever, and one day you will reign completely. I trust that your kingdom is coming--a kingdom of life, healing, wholeness, and justice--whether I pray for it or not. But I pray today that it may come in ways that I can see it, and take part in it, today. Amen.

Romans 10:8b-13 The Word is Near

Observation: Paul is writing to Roman Christians, and quoting the Torah, in which Moses says, "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart." Paul makes the claim that the "word" is the word of faith, the very first Christian creed: Iesous Kurios. Jesus is Lord.

Application: A lot of times this text is presented as a "minimum requirement" for salvation from a Christian perspective. It's taken to mean that unless you confess, out loud, that Jesus is Lord--YOUR Lord--you will burn in hell for eternity. But being "saved" is a lot more wholistic than where we spend eternity when we eventually die. To be saved is to be saved from yourself: from feeling as though the weight of the world  is on your shoulders, that everything hangs on your tiniest decisions, and you'd better not screw it up. To say "Jesus is Lord" is a theological statement, yes, but it's also a personal statement: that I've tried every which way of running my life on my own, and it always leaves me in frustration and despair. I need help.

I do believe that Jesus is Lord of this world, whether I think so on any given day or not. I believe, not just that love will win the day, but that it already has. I don't think this text has some veiled threat to make, about anyone's eternal damnation should they never get around to saying the magic words, "Jesus is Lord." I personally don't believe that's how God works.

Instead, this text is meant as a meal for the hungry, and air for the suffocating: that you don't have to figure life out on your own. If the weight of your life is too heavy, you can give up control. You can ask for help.  Maybe you should try. The word is so near you can taste it.

Prayer: Jesus, you aren't just "my" Lord, you are Lord. I believe that in you, heaven and earth meet and are reconciled. Help me use my own words and my own heart to share this news today. Help me give up trying to control everything to my liking, and let you lead me and save me. Amen.

Acts 7:30-34 Telling the Story Again

Observation: When Stephen, an early Christian, is asked to explain his faith, he retells basically the whole story of the Hebrew Bible in a nutshell, with his witness to Jesus at the end. This portion retells the story of the call of Moses, as originally found in Exodus 3.

Application: In the first few centuries of Christianity, there was a teacher called Marcion, who taught that the Hebrew Bible, or "Old Testament", should be rejected, and Christians should only read the New Testament. To him, it seemed like two different Gods--an angry, wrathful God, and a kind, loving God. Most Christians ultimately rejected this teaching: you can't really get to know Jesus unless you know about God's faithfulness to Jesus' ancestors. Right here in Acts, you have confirmation that the very first disciples treasured the Hebrew Bible.

Today, that makes me think about how we kind of "edit" our own story, depending on the audience. There are some chapters of our lives that even those very close to us may never hear. But that doesn't mean they didn't happen. Maybe as you look back on your whole story today--the good, bad, and ugly--it's a good time to thank God for those who have supported us enough so we feel safe telling them the real, unvarnished truth. In the Bible, God has done the same for us.

Prayer: Oh God, for truth tellers, and for those with whom we can share our whole truth, we give you thanks. Amen.