“What Our Hearts Are Made For” – Sermon on Nov. 25, 2012
November 25, 2012
Scripture
Mark 8:5-8 – Jesus asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
Mark 14: 22-24 – While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
John 11: 39-44 – Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Sermon: What Our Hearts Are Made For
by Rev. Doreen Oughton
I want to talk some more about the idea I raised in the children’s message, the creative power of our thoughts and words. Our book group has been reading a book that has really captivated me. It touches me on a level that I can’t really describe, can’t put into words, but I often find myself crying a bit as I read. It is called “Conversations With God,” and I’m pretty sure you’ll be hearing about different parts of the book over time in my sermons. There is a lot to the book, but one important assertion is about who we are and why we were created. According to the words God spoke to Neale Donald Walsch, all of creation exists so that God can experience Godself. We are each and all, every bit of creation, parts of God, souls that have taken on matter, that have incarnated if you will, to have encounters that will help us to remember who and what we are, remember our primal connection is with God, to remember that we are truly one with God. Because we are truly one with God, we, like God, have the ability to create. We, like God, are creating constantly. We are creating events and situation, we are creating energy, and of course we are creating things – tools, art, books, music, stuff.
Sometimes we understand we are creating and we are intentional about it, but sometimes we are creating events and situations and stuff that we don’t consciously desire, that don’t serve us, that don’t help us get any more aware of what and who we are, that in fact block us from that awareness. Now one of the main things that helps us be more aware and intentional about what we create is an attitude of gratitude. Now this is not a new idea, is it? Don’t we all know how important it is to count our blessings? Haven’t we seen how people seem to block themselves from happiness by always focusing on the negatives? You’ll find this advice in almost every self-help book, in folk wisdom, in child-rearing advice, in hymns. Look on the bright side. Give thanks and praise. So, how do we do with this?
You know, one way this book challenged me was in its assertion that choice was in some way at the very basis of what our lives were like. After years working as a psychotherapist, and trying to be introspective, I had begun to wonder how often people were actually making choices. It seemed to me that they were often at the mercy of forces they could not control. They were who they were, and I wasn’t sure how much power they had to be different. I thought I was blessed to have been naturally inclined to be a positive person, to see the glass as half-full, to recognize the many blessings in my life. I wasn’t willing myself to be that way. I just was. So I thought. And I am that way about some things, but not about everything, and not always. We hosted the Thanksgiving dinner at our house, and I confess that I was terrible. I was not positive and grateful. I was resentful and moody, insecure and critical. I’m reading this book, and I’m recognizing that I am NOT being the person I wish to be, and still I couldn’t quite get myself out of it. Still I don’t have a lot of insight into why I was being that way. Now that may seem like it supports my sense of lack of choice, but it was clear to me that my lack of insight does not mean there wasn’t a choice involved. My hope is that owning it, not blaming anyone else for it, will make a little more space for me to more consistently make choices to be positive and grateful.
But let’s face it, there are some things we don’t want to give thanks for, and couldn’t with any integrity. I am not thankful for the extra 10 pounds I am carrying. I am not thankful when I catch a cold. I am not thankful that my tire leaks and I am constantly having to put air in it. And that’s just the small stuff. I would like all of those things to change. But it is easy, it is easy when we try, to shift focus to something I can be grateful for in any of those situations. I can be thankful for my body, for all the ways it serves me, and that might lead me to treat it better – to exercise and eat better. In being grateful, I can create something that better expresses who I want to be. In focusing on what I want, I only create a sense of inadequacy. When I catch a cold, I can be grateful for Zicam that knocks it out of me, or thankful for the chance to rest, or for the loving concern shown by others. I may find that my cold is actually serving me, providing a chance to rest, or a chance to be cared for, and see that I may have chosen it. When I am putting air in my tire, I can be grateful that I get to be outside for a few minutes, do something simple. I can be grateful that the car itself runs well, and that I have the means to get around. I can be grateful for such a small inconvenience. In being grateful I create a peaceful heart, a sense of abundance, an increased awareness of the larger transportation others might have. Perhaps that will move me to help someone out.
And there is so much going on in the wider world that I can’t be grateful for – poverty, racism, crime, war, disease, and pollution to name just a few. In those situations, though, God tells Mr. Walsch, we can be grateful for the opportunity to speak or think or act in ways that express who we are or who we want to be. We can know something about ourselves by knowing what bothers us, what offends us, what we cannot tolerate without trying to do something. And in that, we can find something to be thankful for. Those of you who are in my e-mail address book received a request from me last week asking for your help with this sermon. I asked people to share what they were thankful for, not in terms of what they have, but in what they are. I asked them to think of a characteristic or quality in themselves that they appreciate, and of a quality in a loved one that they value. I am so grateful to the five people who responded. And whether you tell me or not, I invite all of you to consider this question for yourself. Here is what people shared about their own traits:
“I’m thankful for my sense of humor because if you don’t have a sense of humor you are a boring stick in the mud that no one likes. I have friends because I can be funny and joke around. If I couldn’t, then I probably wouldn’t have as many friends as I do.”
“The quality in myself that I treasure and am thankful for is the ability to just be who I am all of the time. I am not afraid to just be me no matter how “important” someone might be. The reason that this is the quality that I am most thankful for is that only very recently did I realize that I have this quality and what it has done for me – people like and respect me. When I needed it, people have offered me support, comfort, kindness, love but most of all respect and friendship. I never really had a very good sense of self confidence. But all of this love has taught me that my years of being conscious of living my life in the most honest, caring way that I can has touched other people and they respect and love me for it. I truly feel humbled and loved in a way that I never knew I could be. I am so thankful.”
“The quality I am most thankful for is that I am an optimist. This helps me to keep a sunny attitude when times really get trying. If you keep looking for that faint glimmer of a light at the end of the tunnel, God will show you the way.” (See now, how would this person know of this quality unless or until the trying times came?)
“I appreciate that I rarely worry. I attribute that to Romans 8:28 (We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to God’s purpose). That carried me through my spouse’s illness and death and through a move and it helps me care for a loved one.” (How would this person know the blessing of this quality without recognizing it’s opposite and the situations that often engender worry?)
This next person’s appreciation of another’s traits are so closely connected with appreciation of their own. “I have always been so blessed for the love and lessons from my dear grandmother. She could handle a tough situation with a breeze. She never lost her cool and usually ended up smiling. She always looked for the good in everyone and everything. She gave freely of her time and money to others. There was always a warm bed and meal for anyone who needed it. She lived her life in the moment and she never put much value in material things. She had a wonderful sense of humor and it was a joy to be around her. I feel she has had so much to do with the molding of my life as I adored her and wanted so much to be like her.So—– I guess you could say , I’m thankful for so many of my Grandmothers traits that fell off on me!”
One other respondent noted appreciation for a relative that was always nice, never yelling, never rude. Another admired those who are empathetic and able to mediate tense situations. And another talked of how inspirational it was to witness the kindness and caring actions of family members, how this person became more kind and caring because of their example.
And that’s a great example of how gratitude can work. When we look at ourselves and others with kind eyes, with eyes seeking something to admire and appreciate, we are likely to create more of those things, not only in our own minds, but in the world. Do you doubt it? I don’t. Not at all. I am, in fact, thoroughly convinced of the transformative power of gratitude. I am challenging myself to put it into practice as much as possible. If anyone is interested in joining me in this quest, perhaps we can figure out a way to support each other in it. Let me know.
Jesus knew the power of gratitude, and that came out of his confident awareness of who and what he was, in his awareness of his connection with God. I chose these scriptures that record times when Jesus gave thanks. It is interesting to note that he gave thanks even before the fulfillment of his goal. He wanted to feed the crowd on the mountain, and all he had were a few loaves and fishes. Now many of us might not be feeling too grateful at that point, but instead would be worried about how we could ever feed these people with such scarce resources. But Jesus knew that it was already done – that God always provides. He didn’t react with fear, he didn’t hoard or protect what he had. He gave thanks for it and shared it fully aware that there would be enough. And when Jesus gave thanks for the cup of salvation, although this was before his arrest, crucifixion and resurrection, he knew that salvation was already accomplished. God always provides. He gave thanks for this saving cup. And Jesus didn’t hold back on his thanks, waiting to see if Lazarus would come out of the tomb. He knew this resurrection was accomplished already. He knew that God always heard him, always provided, was always willing to join him in bringing about whatever his heart desired. The same is true for us. We can give thanks for what will indeed be created in our lives even before it appears.
I would like to share one final reading on this theme. It is from a beautiful little book called Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness by Brother David Steindl-Rast. Brother David suggests that there are three components to gratefulness – thanksgiving, praise and blessing, that all three qualities add something distinct to the experience of gratefulness. Hear his words: “To bless whatever there is, and for no other reason than simply because it is – that is our raison d’etre. That is what we are made for as human beings. This singular command is engraved in our heart. Whether we understand this or not matters little. Whether we agree or disagree makes no difference. And in our heart of hearts, we know it.
“No matter how hard you strike a bell, it will ring. What else is it made for? Even under the hammer blows of fate the heart rings true. The human heart is made for universal praise. As long as we pick and choose, making praise depend on our approval, we are not yet responding from the heart. When we find our heart, we find that core of our being that is attuned to reality. And reality is praiseworthy. With clear vision the heart sees the ultimate meaning of all: blessing. And with clear intent the heart responds with the ultimate purpose of life: blessing.” May it be so.
