Practice Precedes Progress

 "The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers.  A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything.  They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them.  Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity.  They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47

In a seminar I attended years ago, Dr. Stanley Ott told a story. He had gone for a walk with his son.  Being  drawn to a  large puddle off the path, his son quickly ran to it. “It’s moving!” the boy exclaimed.  As they looked, the pond was filled with thousands of tiny tadpoles.  His son asked if they could take some home, and Stanley agreed.  They scooped up several dozen in a clear plastic container and kept them in a place that they could watch them change into frogs.  They kept the water fresh and fed them fish food every day, but nothing happened.  After a few weeks, they returned to the puddle to see how the other tadpoles were doing.  Much to Stanley’s surprise, the puddle was empty. That’s when he noticed hundreds of tiny frogs hopping nearby.

He asked a scientist friend why his tadpoles didn’t change into frogs.  The answer? “It matters what you feed them, Stanley.  Not everything they eat will make them grow.”

 If we want to be disciples, it matters what we feed our spirits.  Would we expect to eat only ice cream and doughnuts 6 ½ days a week and eat vegetables once a week and be healthy? Of course not.  Neither should we expect to fill our minds and hearts with all sorts of junk during the week and have Sunday morning make everything alright. 

  The early believers spent their time doing specific things.  They learned about Jesus from the apostles. Christian fellowship,  praying together, and having communion occurred whenever they met.  They demonstrated sacrificial giving, worship every day, shared joy and praise, and extended hospitality to others within their homes. (Acts 2:42-47)

They were growing in grace through the practice of spiritual disciplines. We do not become disciples overnight, but it takes time for our lives to more closely reflect Jesus. Practice precedes progress.

Miss Mary Lou Couch taught me piano for about 6 years through instruction and by example.  Mostly, she taught me through making me practice.   Thirty years ago, I promised Mary Lou and my mom that if I quit taking lessons, that I would continue to play and learn. I grew in my ability to play by spending time sitting at a bench. Practice preceded progress.

  We, too, are instruments that have been created to play a song for others that reflects the love and grace of God.  But not all of us are pianists;so, what can we do?  God offers us many different ways to grow as disciples, but we have to take the time to work on them – to practice – to allow the Holy Spirit to shape us over time.

Being a disciple doesn’t happen by magic, it happens as we live the faith we believe.  We cannot just dress up, attend worship, and grow. We have to allow Jesus to change us daily to be like him.  

I received a beautiful, antique harmonica that is prominently displayed in my office.  You might think that I am quite a gifted player if you see me hold it.  I have not, however, taken the time to practice. Holding a harmonica does not make me a player. Sitting in church does not make us disciples. 

 I am not saying that what we do makes us Christian.  No, only knowing Christ makes us Christian.  Think of being a Christian like being married.  Once we say vows, we are married. Once we profess our faith, we are claimed by Christ.  Whether that relationship is a good one depends on the effort we give to growing in that relationship.  Works do not save us.  However, spiritual disciplines do draw us close to the heart of God.

 If we are faithful to practice, God will grow us in grace.  Practice precedes progress.

Why I Don't Fold My Underwear

I know; I know. It's a terribly provocative way to start my blog.  The title seems far too personal, but it's something that has me thinking about the way I choose to discipline my life.  

A few months ago, I was listening to a time management person talking on the radio.  She was sharing various hints to cut corners and save time where we can. "And for another thing," she said, "I never fold underwear; it's just a waste of time." She explained that our underwear is rarely seen (I might amend, should not be seen), and even if it were, who could tell whether or not it had been neatly folded in a drawer?  Folding underwear is just one of those activities that consumes our time without producing measurable results. We should spend our valuable and precious time doing those things that matter most.

So, I don't fold my underwear anymore. I wish that I could say that in all my life I have lived by the same motto, but I have fallen far short.  The Scripture reminds us that our life is short and fleeting -- that we should make the most out of the few moments that we have. In the words of the Psalms..

“Let me know my end, Lord.  

    How many days do I have left? 

    I want to know how brief my time is.”
You’ve made my days so short;
     my lifetime is like nothing in your eyes.
     Yes, a human life is nothing but a puff of air!

 Psalm 39:4-5

  As a United Methodist pastor, I stand in a long line of people who have all been given John Wesley's terribly clear instructions to clergy: 

Be diligent. Never be unemployed for a moment; never be trifingly employed. Never trifle away time; never spend any more time at any place than is strictly necessary.

--John Wesley

Many times we keep doing those unimportant things, not because of a conscious, intentional decision, but because we have always done them. The phone rings while we are eating dinner with family or friends, and we cannot help ourselves.  We answer the call, or at least look to see who is calling.  

Instead, our mission, our true call, is to "seek first the kingdom of God." (Matthew 6:33).  Our time and effort should be spent so that we "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." (That's the mission of the United Methodist Church, by the way : www.umc.org.) Anything else should be questioned and set aside if deemed non-essential to our mission in life. 

The problem is that we are so used to doing certain things in certain ways that we no longer know why we do them.  It's just what we do.  It's tradition.  It's written in stone.  If you don't believe me, then try to avoid doing some of those expected "time wasters" and see the response -- sometimes from yourself, but also from others.

Just a couple weeks ago, I had someone over at the house who was offering to help straighten and organize.  Since we are still recovering from our recent move, I gladly accepted help.  "Would you mind folding that basket of clothes?" I asked. "Oh, but, when you see my boxers, just set them to the side in a pile.  I don't fold my underwear."

A look of shock and disbelief crossed the face of my kindly helper.  After a few minutes, I looked over to see a pile of neatly folded underwear.  "I'm sorry. I just can't pile them up.  I'm just not used to leaving things in a mess," she said meekly.

As we seek to be faithful to God's mission, many people will try to distract us with the "tyranny of the urgent" (a phrase I remember from Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People).  Just because something feels pressing, does not mean that it is important. It is difficult for people to deal with change in any form, even if that change is necessary.

Again, I do not always live up to the Wesleyan directive, but thanks to God's grace, I am still a work in progress.  With God's help, we can focus more of each day doing those things that reflect who Christ is in our lives.

And at least for now...I won't be folding any underwear.

Grace and Peace,

WARNING:Somebody Changed the Weights at the Y!!

The few weeks have been quite chaotic, but exciting, as we have moved to a new community and a new church family.  It has been difficult to find the same rhythm that 8 years in one location allows you to experience.  Today, after a month or so of neglect, I returned to the YMCA.  On the surface, everything looked the same -- the check-in station, the locker room, the pool -- even the equipment appeared to be the same...

...appeared to be the same until I started to use them.  In the fall, I met weekly with one of the trainers at the Y to get myself on a regimented wellness program.  She taught me many exercises, both on and off the machines.  One of the things we did was carefully note the exact position for every seat, bar, and lift on the weight equipment. We also indicated the exact weight and number of repetitions that I would do on any given workout.  I knew exactly how difficult each piece of equipment was and how tired that I would be when I had finished my workout.  This is how I know that someone must have changed the numbers on the weights at the YMCA during my absence -- putting the lower numbers on the heavier weights.

I began my workout as I always did.  I noticed that the leg press machine fought me much more than was typical.  My arms screamed as I pushed handles above my head.  I double-checked the weight; it was exactly where it was supposed to be. It made no sense.  As my workout progressed, I discovered the obvious conspiracy to change the numbers on the weights so that I would have a more strenuous workout...

...except that isn't what happened.  After weeks of missing my regular workout schedule, my body is no longer accustomed to the workout I used to do several times a week.  My muscles have gotten lazy.  They have to be re-trained.  They lack the discipline they once had.

This made me think about our spiritual lives.  Participating in worship, serving in mission and ministry, giving generously, practicing spiritual disciplines (like Scripture reading, prayer, devotion, and fasting) are not "heavy lifting" -- if we are used to it.  Once out of the habit, our spirits get lazy.  We have to be re-trained; we need to rediscover the joy of discipline.

The Good News is that we can have a new beginning at any time.  Grace abounds, and in our weakness, God is strong.  So, the weights were heavy today, but later this month they will grow lighter.  Before long, those sneaky folks at the Y will change the numbers on the weights back to where they are supposed to be.  As I stay disciplined, my body will respond accordingly, and God will bless my faithfulness through good health.

In our walk with Christ, we can only start where we are.  Each day, through discipline, the weight gets a little lighter, until we simply experience the joy of the ongoing rhythm of a life in faith.

Grace and Peace,