Pioneering: Meditations for Transforming Our
Carlisle
United Methodist Church
Number 25 May 26, 2013
Self-Assessment and
Self-Commitment
Search me, God, and
know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm
139:23-24
Memorial Day is the traditional
time to put away the winter clothes and bring out the summer styles, as I’m
reminded by someone who shares a closet or two with me. Memorial Day was traditionally the day one
could wear white shoes to church.
I’m sure those of us who have
experienced three score or more Memorial Days could tell stories of how this
special day has changed in our lifetimes from a day to pay our respects to the
honored dead of the American Civil War to one more excuse for a long weekend
and an escape to the beach or anywhere away from “here.”
I guess we could divide our
fellowships with the question: Do you feel Memorial Day should be celebrated on
May 30th as originally established (Decoration Day), or as the
federally-established final Monday in May each year? I suppose there are remarkable reasons,
perhaps arguments, for or against each position.
As we move to the creation of
Carlisle United Methodist Church, a lot of questions like this have arisen, and
are bound to rise as we become more deeply immersed in the devilish details of
unification. And I suppose many of us
are left wondering “does anyone care how I feel?”
The simple and honest answer is
“Yes.” But one talent that none of the
Leadership Council has, and one not listed in any spiritual gifts list is the
ability to read minds. So I propose that
the question that answers the previous question is: “Have you actually talked
with anyone about how you feel about something?” More directly, have you talked to someone our
combined church fellowships have commissioned to make judgments about these
matters?
If we won’t talk out our
feelings or our ideas, believe me, they will just fester and corrode ourselves
from the inside. We know this to be true
in every aspect of life. And bottling up
our opinions and not giving them a real airing, and a good self-examination is,
I believe, is one of the best tools in the arsenal of Evil. It’s not that we’re evil, or “they’re” evil,
but Evil grows in darkness; it cannot stand the light. It cannot stand before truth, only in the
shadows.
And that’s why I’m asking each
of us to spend a little time in self-assessment, in self-examination of the
concerns we have and the attitudes we have developed because of them.
I ask you to honestly try. And I’m going to give you the rest of this
meditation to write things down so you can look at them.
What
is bothering me?
Why
is it important to me?
Is
there something more important?
Will
what I want help to build Christ’s church?
What
would I say to Jesus say to me about this?
What
would Jesus say to me about this?
What
am I willing to do?
Common
Prayer. Lord God, grant us the courage to look into
ourselves. Grant us the intellect and
wisdom to examine our concerns. Give us
a way to voice them to someone we trust.
Give us an ear to hear what we are saying; the response our friend gives
us, and the whisper of your response.
And then, when our hearts and minds and souls are settled, let us strive
to do as you lead us. Guard us as we
approach the day of our unification as one church. In Jesus’ blessed name. AMEN.
Transformation
emphasis for the days ahead:
The Pastors; the Leadership
Council; implementing the recommendations of the Communications, Grow, and
Transitional Facilities Focus Groups; forming the new staff; strengthening the
Worship and Connect Pillars; church staff recognition and appreciation; the
upcoming combined worship events.
Thank
you to those who have encouraged me in these meditations. May they continue to be a blessing to you as
they are for me. Send your feedback to
Charles L. Reynolds at papoo99@comcast.net.
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