Juggling for Dummies (a Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

When most of us think of juggling, we picture someone tossing several differently-shaped objects into the air, possibly while riding a unicycle, possibly exchanging those objects with another person riding a unicycle.

We think juggling is complicated.

But that's not how real jugglers learn the craft. They start small, with two or three balls. Or better yet, with ball-like bags that don't bounce away when they aren't caught. Which --the not being caught part-- happens a lot when beginners are learning the craft of juggling. Still, most people can learn to juggle three small, equally-sized objects. True, its not automatic, and, true, it takes practice.

But it's not complicated.

The complicated stuff comes later ... much later. Jugglers must first become really good at getting those three, relatively small things to do as they should. Once they master that beginner level, then, and only then, should they consider taking on more complicated routines.

Few of us are going to progress to the chainsaws-juggling level. A few will; a few always do. But they invest a lot of time and diligent practice ---years of practice--- before they can confidently juggle the most difficult (and, quite possibly, most dangerous) things.

In this week's Lectionary scriptures, we read in the book of Micah, where, somewhat rhetorically, he wonders how someone shows proper respect to God. He asks if special, and increasingly difficult sacrifices would be required to impress God? What kind of sacrifice would be big enough, dangerous enough, meaningful enough to cancel out a person's sin?

But Micah already knows the answer, and it's not that complex. In fact, it is surprisingly simple: "God has told you what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Sure, there are people ---a few--- who are called to do much more complicated and dangerous things in this life. But that's not most of us.

The challenge before most of us God-followers: to begin with a few, relatively simple actions, and ---most importantly--- to not skip over the beginner level. We need that beginner stage. It may well be that we are called to transit our spiritual journey with the basics, to spend all our time keeping just those three balls in the air. For most of us ---the overwhelming majority of us--- that is all God is asking.

To consistently act justly, to consistently be merciful, and to consistently walk humbly in God's presence, all at the same time: you may find, as have I, that there's plenty of challenge in that.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/lections.php?year=A&season=Epiphany

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (January 29, 2017)
Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12
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I hope you can join us Friday morning at Lectionary Breakfast. We're still at the Waco "Egg and I" restaurant, reading scripture, praying, eating, and laughing from 8:00 to 9:00. Sometimes we're in the meeting room in the main restaurant (you can see us), and sometimes were in a room at the back of the building. If you're not sure, ask.

Jugglers welcome (but juggling not required).

Blessings,
Steve


* As far as I know, there is no such book as Juggling for Dummies. However, there are many excellent juggling books and tutorials around. Google "basic juggling" and you can find several training aids, both free and for sale.

Triple Crown (a Lectionary reflection by Steve Orr)

There are thousands of horse races every year, all across the planet. And while several countries have Triple Crown competitions, it is the U.S. Triple Crown that the world follows in the media. Many of us recently thrilled at American Pharaoh's win at the Belmont Stakes. Having already won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, the Belmont win made American Pharaoh the 12th Triple Crown winner in U.S. history, and ended a 37 year drought.

It's a competitive sport; and Thoroughbred Racing, though a smaller subset, is the most competitive part of that sport. Riders and horses train intensely for a period of years. Before the Derby, several horses are considered favorites. But when the Preakness is run, the Derby winner is the most favored horse in the race. The other riders know they must outperform the Derby winner if they are going to take the Preakness. And should the same horse win both the Derby and the Preakness, the competition for the Belmont is intensified by magnitudes.

Like all competitors, the owners, trainers, and jockeys understand that, regardless of the horse's physical abilities, they must win the mental competitions before the physical ones. For sake of discussion, let's call those mental competitions "races."

RACE ONE - Recognizing that there is a greater performance level: I like that Robert Browning quote for this "...a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" The competitor must understand there is a gap between where s/he is and the greater performance level.

RACE TWO - Recognizing that there is a challenge to seek that greater performance level: Simply knowing there is a greater performance level isn't enough to bring about a win. The competitor must desire it and work toward it. They must accept the challenge.

RACE THREE - Recognizing there is a means to accept that challenge & bridge the gap through instruction and preparation: In short, it's a process and you have to start somewhere. Why not start with an instructor/trainer who is best qualified to lead you where you need to be in order to win? This is where the real work begins.

But wouldn't it all seem a bit absurd if people raced alongside those horses? Strange as that sounds, God calls us to do just that. This week's Lectionary selection from Mark 4 has within it a reference to a challenge in place between humans and God: how some people can understand enough of God's ways to rise above, to bridge the gap between God and humans, to be able to be imitators of God in their dealings with other humans.

Responding to Jeremiah's complaints that good things keep happening to bad people, God says, "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?" (Jeremiah 12:5 English Standard Version) God uses a proverbial expression to help Jeremiah understand that his complaining reflects spiritually immaturity. There is more, much more, that God needs from Jeremiah. He really is calling for the young prophet to step up to a higher level, to "compete with the horses." But if he can't handle the day-to-day, then how will he handle larger truths? It's RACE ONE.

Jesus raised the very same concept when he asked "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ NKJV). Jesus is tossing down the gauntlet, issuing the challenge to seek the higher things. They need to accept the challenge to be more than they are. RACE TWO.

Finally, in this week's selection (Mark 4:33-34), we see that Jesus spent much of his ministry speaking in parables, and only in parables, to most of his audiences. Why? Because it's what "they were able to hear..." BUT, to those He had challenged, to those whom He expected to strive for that greater spiritual maturity, his disciples, "he explained everything in private."

We are called to be more, to know more, to do more; but we are not expected to just arrive there. Nor are we expected to strive toward that alone. Just as did Jesus' disciples, we have an instructor who will explain to us so that we may, in turn, help others to understand. RACE THREE.

The race is on. Are you in it?
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Proper 6 (11) (June 14, 2015)
1 Samuel 15:34 - 16:13
Psalm 20
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
Mark 4:26-34
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Eric is away this week, so the mice will play! :-) Please join our Lectionary Breakfast group Friday morning at 8:00. We're still at the Waco "Egg and I" restaurant and it's still the best hour of the day.

Enjoy the week!
Steve