Here we are again. Another Lent. Another wilderness wandering. Another start to reflecting on the world via my very sporadic writings. It seems Lent has been the time I feel most compelled to write. Perhaps because of the introspective nature of the season. Maybe it’s just the experience of taking the United Methodist Photo-A-Day challenge and turning it into a post. All I know is here we are again and here I go again.
Day 30: Bring
Being a preacher is both strange and wonderful.
Strange in that we are called to share creatively, authentically, and with surprising regularity, a message which illuminates, challenges, or comforts (sometimes all in the same message).
Wonderful in that sometimes, probably more often than I realize, the Spirit uses our humble offerings to speak into the lives of people, most of whom are trying to answer complex questions about the whys and hows and whats of life.
When I am able to support another preacher, or participate in receiving their message, my standard encouragement before the preaching moment is a simple phrase…”Bring it!” I am certain I shouted these very words at Doug, the friend I have captured in the picture above as he delivered what I am sure was a powerful reminder that God loves us. (Doug is kinda big on reminding people God loves them.)
Bring the Word. Bring the hope. Bring the passion. Bring yourself.
“Bring it!” is my way of communicating the responsibility and the joy of standing before a people, laying oneself bare, and proclaiming the Good News of God. “Don’t hold anything back that you have been given,” that’s the message I share before the message.
And that’s the Truth of it. All we can bring is what we have been gifted. It’s the fire in our bones we must proclaim lest it burn us up. It’s the Breath that will not be contained. It’s the Gospel and it is meant to be brought, fully and passionately and with all that we can give it as we point people to the God that still speaks.
At least that is my prayer. That what we bring is of the Spirit and filtered through the Spirit. That whatever is unhelpful or untrue or distracting or diminishing of the greatness of God would simply be ignored, go unheard, or fall away as if it was never spoken. SO we bring it, trusting God will use our little and make it just what God needs it to be. Like I said, strange. And like I said, wonderful.
Life is better together,
Shawn
Big Rubber Band Ball 