But doth suffer a sea-change...

Today the Church remembers Katarina von Bora: “A Roman Catholic nun who left the convent, made her way to Wittenberg and in time became the wife of Protestant reformer Martin Luther, Katharina von Bora became the quintessential pastor’s wife and ministered in many ways to her tempestuous husband. Although Luther married her more for practical than for romantic reasons, he grew to love her deeply and to depend upon her emotional stability and good common sense.”1

She died on this day in 1552. I wanted to lift her up to you today because of the momentous change that took place in her life as she tried to follow where God was calling her. Going from being a nun to being Martin Luther’s wife is a big change! You could even call it a sea change.

Have you heard this term before, ‘sea change’? It means a significant transformation – think of it like a paradigm shift. For Katarina to understand God’s call on her life to be a married Reformer as opposed to a Roman Catholic nun is quite a paradigm shift!

It was William Shakespeare who coined the phrase ‘sea change’, in his play The Tempest: In referring to someone who had died he pens the following,

“Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea-change, into something rich and strange”.

My friends, 2020 has been a sea change for all of us. There has been a great paradigm shift, the size of which we have not yet fully realized.

As we look toward 2021, I encourage you to savor every good thing that returns to our corporate life together over time. Gathering in public. Not having to wear a mask everywhere you go. Feeling safe.

Yet, even as you enjoy these gradual improvements in our common life, know that things won’t be the same as they were. Instead we have been forever changed.

But fear not. As long as we follow where Christ beckons us, no change is too great for us to handle. Rather, we will move from strength to strength and grace to grace. With Christ by our side, there is nothing that we as His Body cannot overcome. Amen.

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1 Feldmeth, N. P. (2008). In Pocket Dictionary of Church History: Over 300 Terms Clearly and Concisely Defined (p. 27). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.

Those Who Watch for the Morning

After the longest night of the year on December 21, we get the light and hope of Christmas, then a New Year. With all that, plus good vaccine news this week, I’m feeling hopeful today.

And still, lengthening days and a new calendar year aren't always enough to buoy us out of the depths. This year, many of us have lost people, places, life events, income, health, security.

With so much change, it’s easy for us to also lose touch with ourselves. Take a moment to check in with your body, your heart. Where do you find yourself today?

Don’t judge yourself for how you feel; just notice it.

No matter where you find yourself in this chart, do one thing to reach out for support. Yes, right now! Call or text a friend. (Maybe when you reach out, you’ll empower them to share their own needs.) Write your thoughts in a journal entry. Ask your spouse for a moment to chat. Call your primary care doctor and make an appointment about your mental health. Take a few deep breaths and pray. The closer to red you found yourself, the bigger the action you should take.

If you find yourself in the red zone, skip all those things and go straight to the pros. Here are some quick ways you can access professional help right now:

1. If you're having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call 911.

2. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7. Call 1-800-273-8255.

3. If you're a youth or young adult, text LISTEN to 741-741. If you're a parent of a child/youth, call 211 from a landline or 1-800-203-1234 from your cell phone.

4. If you're a veteran, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.

Save these numbers in your phone, or put them on your fridge. You never know when you’ll need them—for yourself or someone else.

Reach out when you need help. (Notice how I said when, not if?) Caring for our mental health is a crucial step in attending to our spiritual health. As you read part of Psalm 130 below, remember how deeply our souls long to be near God.

Psalm 130:1, 5-6

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in [God’s] word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord

more than those who watch for the morning,

more than those who watch for the morning.

Amen.

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More resources at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) CT website: https://namict.org/find-support/crisis-resources

The above chart is adapted from the scientific article linked here.

A People Out Of Time

“O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, Wie treu sind deine Blätter!“ O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how loyal are your needles (a literal translation of the German)! Have you put up your Christmas tree yet? Traditionally, Christmas trees went up on Christmas Eve and stayed up for the 12 days of Christmas. These days though, family traditions hold sway. Rev. Jill and I put up our tree on the weekend after Thanksgiving. That is the earliest we have ever done it. After the ravages of 2020, it seemed like we needed to start the Christmas cheer early this year.

There is a valid point to be made, however, about not having your tree up too early. Prior to Christmas Eve we are in the season of Advent. It is a season of anticipation, not celebration. The festive nature of a Christmas tree is out of step with the intent of Advent. That does not stop us from putting it up in our homes though...mine included.

I used to think there was a dissonance in having your Christmas tree up at home but being firmly in Advent at church. It struck me as a lack of harmony; a siloization that was clearly inferior to living harmoniously across all areas of our lives.

These days, with a few more laps around the sun on my body's odometer and many more gray hairs on my head, I've changed my mind. As followers of Christ, we do not only live in the present moment. We live in the past, present, and future...all at the same time.

We proclaim this in a myriad of ways. To pick just one, consider what we affirm as we prepare to receive Holy Eucharist: Christ HAS died. Christ IS risen. Christ WILL come again. We are a people who have a touchpoint with this world in this moment, but the fullness of ourselves is outside of this time and not of this place.

So enjoy your Christmas tree at home while you live out Advent at church. Heck, hang an Easter egg on your tree if you want...although I'd prefer you find an empty tomb ornament...but that's a story for another day. Blessings my friends.