When my children were in school it was necessary whenever they were out to send a written note with them explaining why they weren't in school. This went on their record as an 'excused absence'. If I failed to send a note it was unexcused and they couldn't make up the work they'd missed. So no grades for those days when they'd missed school, which hurt if they were not doing particularly well in that class.
This past week I began reading a Grace Livingston Hill book, Katharine's Yesterday. The second story in that book is titled, "An Excuse for Christ" and deals with a new young pastor who has lost heart for his Wednesday night prayer meetings due to the low attendance. Only three or four faithful old parishioner's show up. Listening to his sister-in-law tell his wife how their Christian Endeavor group required 'excused absences' to remain a member, the pastor has the idea of trying something similar.
The following Sunday he announces that anyone who doesn't attend the Wednesday night prayer meeting needs a written excuse stating why they couldn't come. The church was very nearly full come the following Wednesday night because no one could think of a good excuse for not being there!
I was reminded of all this last Saturday when our Rabbi stated that our youngest member had called to state that he'd be unable to come due to a bad head cold...We appreciate this young man very much but he had no particular duty to perform last weekend other than to fill his spot of the pew. I think it's admirable that he feels he must give a reason for his not being there and he always does. I can't say that it's a habit of mine! I'm far more inclined to just assume my reason for missing out on service is my own.
What if we made a habit of giving an excuse each time we needed to be out during our Sabbath day services? What if we were graded only for those days when we had an excused absence? What if we received a 'Zero' for every day we missed that wasn't excused? What excuse do you think Christ would see as a valid reason for not being there?
Oh these are the questions I've struggled with over and over this week as I've thought of this young man's example. I am sure there are valid excuses. Gracious, we don't want to spread germs if we are ill. And certainly there are days when we might be called away by family duties of importance, or work (not everyone is able to skip the Sabbath day as a work day). I believe there are even times when we just need to be alone with God at home and dwell with him without the distraction of family or order of service. I think most pastors could understand that, but it certainly imparts a need to keep our word and actively seek out God doesn't it?
But what about those lame excuses we give ourselves (and don't dare mention to anyone else!) of wanting to sleep in, wanting to 'have fun for a change', etc.?
What if we stopped and asked God if our absence might be excused first? Wouldn't that be a radical thing to do? To ask God where He might want us to be?
I think this young man has given me a great deal to think about in the future when I think I don't need to be present in my congregation's service.
What about you? Will your absence be excused?
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Happy Personal New Year to Me...
I am 52 today. If you were to ask me how old I am right at this moment I'd probably tell you I feel ageless in many ways, neither old nor young. My kids tell me that physically I'd pass for 10 years younger than my age. What is my secret? Good genes help tremendously to be true, good health doesn't hurt, but I'd say at least 75% of it is good attitude. I feel at peace, happy and content.
I learned a long time ago that many people are offended by that last word, "content". They claim that anyone who is content has settled into a rut and wants nothing more. They suggest that the only ones who are content are cows in the pasture and what do they know, they are just a step away from being slaughtered. A few have even suggested that contentment is equated with boredom, nothing new ever happening, nothing ever going to change (we're back in the rut, you see).
From the limited wisdom of 52 years let me say this about feeling content: contentment comes when we are striving towards a goal we've set for ourselves; work, rest, and play in good measure; have learned and live the serenity prayer; wake each day excited to see what the day might bring even when the tasks before us are mundane; are willing to forgive others; strive every day to change and grow and gain wisdom. Contentment, in short, comes with living well.
If that sounds smug and all wise and rose colored glasses, then I do apologize. I do not mean to give an overall picture of absolute and total bliss. There are days that are very hard. Days when I am challenged to remember that serenity prayer and triply challenged to wrangle myself into submitting to it. Days when I wake up and want nothing more than to roll right back over and blot it all out. Days when I am bored beyond tears. Days when I'm so overtired from work and lack of rest and play that I can barely gather the energy to yawn. Days when I bang up against a mountain I've been marching around and around like Moses in the wilderness. Days when I have murder in my heart and dreams and loving words are likely to begin to gasp for breath for want of air.
Some days I lose sight of contentment. Yet it hasn't gone anywhere at all, I just need to wait for the fog to lift to realize that it's still there.
I celebrate a variety of New Years: the annual Roman calendar New Year; my birthday; my wedding anniversary; Yom Kippur, the Jewish New Year. All these New Years remind me to focus, just in case I haven't been lately, to check my path, to take my contentment temperature and determine if I'm where I want to be and where I might stand improvement in my life. Today's temperature read well. I've been working hard the past six months to make my days count for something. Since the Roman calendar New Year I've stayed abreast of my resolutions in most areas (one or two need a bit of wrestling...). I've been working harder at giving my writing work the attention it deserves once more. I'm more committed than ever before to proving my theory that one can live frugally and well. I'm healthy and have only very minor ailments. No great drama or stress to deal with of late. This new phase of empty nesting is beginning to wear rather well. My children are doing well. I've played and worked and rested in good measure. Contentment shines like the sun pouring into the windows of my living room at present.
It seems an auspicous way to begin another New Year doesn't it? Happy New Year to Me!
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