The Law of Love

 “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24)

Several years ago Carol and I took a trip to Scotland. It was an amazing experience. We loved the culture, the countryside, the cities, the trains, the accents, the food, the ale, the whisky. 

One of the things that caught my attention was the quirky signage that was posted everywhere. I don’t really know how to explain it, so let me show you a few examples.

In the U.S., we would probably just say, Danger: High Voltage. In Scotland, they put a picture of a guy getting zapped, with the wording, “Danger of Death. Keep Off.” Good thing they were so vivid, because otherwise I would be tempted to climb the electric pole.

I was worried about walking across something that was labeled as a “Weak Bridge,” but I felt more at ease when I saw that the weight limit was 18 tons (or tonnes, as they say in Scotland).

Evidently, they have an issue with dogs. Or, more precisely, they have an issue with dog owners. Clearly, it has reached the point of a public health hazard.

Sometimes I got the feeling that the officials were trying to catch our attention by being cute. Mission accomplished.

This wasn’t technically a sign. But it just goes to show that the Scots aren’t afraid of being blunt and to the point.

Finally, I didn’t know if I was supposed to watch out for elderly people because they are slower in crossing streets and prone to fall, or was this sign warning me about a particularly dangerous class of people? 

++++++++++

All joking aside, the signage has a purpose – to warn us of danger, to guide us in the right direction. The signs are there to protect us, to ensure our safety. They encourage behavior that not only protects the individual, but also makes the community a better, more hospitable place.

When I talk to people about the Bible as my authority in life, it is not unusual for them to look at me with suspicion, as if I am about to take a Bible and hit them over the head with it. A lot of folks think that the Bible is just a bunch of “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots” that are meant to suck the joy out of life. You know, thou shalt not drink, dance, or play cards – things like that. BTW, you won’t find any of those commands in the Bible. But still, that’s how a lot of people think of the Bible. 

But that’s not the way I see the Bible at all. As God’s word to us, the Bible is not about sucking joy out of life, but the exact opposite – it is about guiding us to live life to the fullest emotionally, physically, spiritually. God gives us “The Law” because God loves us and wants us to have an abundant life. 

 

“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.” (Psalm 119:66)

Sometime you should read through the chapter of the Bible that is probably the most eloquent affirmation of the life-giving nature of God’s word: the 119^th Psalm. It’s 176 verses long, so don’t expect to read through it too quickly. But verse after verse is full of praise for God’s law and a personal commitment to live by God’s law, because God’s law is good. God’s law, truly, is an expression of God’s love.

Life can be confusing. How do I know which way to turn, how to react, what to do?

I don’t know about you, but I need all the help I can get. 

“Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.” (Ps. 119:33-34)

The Longest Night (part 2)

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; 
        those who lived in a land of deep darkness – 

        on them light has shined." 

(Isaiah 9:2)

 

Can you spot the conjunction?

I want to pick up where I left off yesterday. Darkness is real, and we would do well to acknowledge the heavy toll that darkness takes on the human soul.

 

But darkness, real and agonizing though it is, is not the reality that defines us. Darkness is not God’s ultimate intent for us. You don’t have to go any farther than the third verse in the Bible to know that darkness is not what God intends for us, for the very first words God speaks in all creation is “Let there be light.” So while we acknowledge the darkness that is common to all human experience, we also affirm that God breaks the darkness with the light of his glory and love.

 

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2) The words of the prophet Isaiah are affirmed and underscored by the apostle John when he speaks of Jesus in this way: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5) The Good News that we proclaim in the darkest season of the year – and in every season, for that matter – is that in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God answers the darkness with light. 

 

Light, which dispels the darkness. 

Light, which guides us through the darkness. 

 

And darkness did not, has not, cannot, nor ever will conquer the light. Not ever.

Yesterday was the winter solstice, the longest night. Last night was also the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the convergence of Saturn and Jupiter. So, of course I had to go and take pictures. As the sun set, the two planets began to appear side by side on the southwest horizon. And as the night became darker, the two planets appeared even brighter.

 

In the darkness, light was shining.

 

An interesting tidbit that I learned from this weather guy I follow on Facebook: Jupiter is 550 MILLION miles from earth, and Saturn is one BILLION miles from earth. Think about that for a second. The light we see from Jupiter and Saturn travels through hundreds of millions of miles of darkness to get to us.

 

The light shines, and the darkness did not, has not, cannot, nor ever will conquer the light. Not ever.

 

Light is the answer to darkness. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world – and the Light of the world – is God’s answer to our sorrow, our suffering, our broken hearts, our misery, our pain.

 

Not even the longest night can keep the light from coming to us.

It never has, and it never will.

Monday: What Will Be Your Guiding Light This Week?

Your word is a lamp for my feet,

     a light on my path.

(Psalm 119:105)

It’s Monday, O God.

Another week is ahead of me.

A new week, a new beginning.

A new opportunity for me to walk in your Way.

Your word is a lamp for my feet,

     a light on my path.

I need your light to shine

and show me the way I should go.
I need your light to go before me,

that I may see your Way,

and walk in it.

If I let your word be written upon my heart,

then I will carry your light with me,

and I will know how to live.

If I let your word be written upon my heart,

then the path I take 

will be the one you have shown to me.

Your word is a lamp for my feet,

     a light on my path.

It’s Monday.

For the week that is ahead of me,

I pray that I will be guided by your word.

Speak to me Lord.

Show me the way.

Open my eyes and my heart to your word.

Let your word be the light that I follow.

Let the path I take this week

be illumined by your precious word.

Through Christ, who said,

“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers found in the psalms as inspiration for my personal prayers.

Walking the Level Path

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”(Psalm 143:10)

Carol and I went on a quick vacation to Colorado recently. I love the mountains – the cool, thin air; the ever-changing horizon; the awe-inspiring vistas at every turn of the road or trail. One of our favorite destinations is the Rocky Mountain National Park. There are dozens of trails with hundreds of miles of exhilarating and breath-taking sights.

On our fourth day at the park, we were driving along the Trail Ridge Road (the highest continuously paved highway in the U.S.). This year we had Carol's sister and brother-in-law, and a good friend from Texas with us. As we were beginning to make our way down the road back to our cabin, I turned to Bill (my brother-in-law) and said, “You know, there's a trail up ahead that I've always wanted to hike. It will take us all the way down into the park, and Carol can come pick us up in a couple of hours.” Bill said, “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

So we pulled over at the Ute Trail trailhead, and Bill and I got out of the car. We put a couple of water bottles in a backpack, a rain jacket, and at the last minute I grabbed the hat that Carol had put in the back of the car. We told the women good-bye. Then I knocked on the car window, and when Carol rolled the window down, I told her in my most serious dramatic voice, “If anything happens to us, know that I love you.” Carol laughed and said, “Be careful. I love you too.” Then I grinned, turned around, and Bill and I began our six and a half mile hike.

The Ute Trail starts above tree line. For the first two miles of our hike, we were treated to beautiful mountain views on our right, and left, in front of us and behind us. Above tree line, plants and animals have to scrap for life; the fierce winds and the long winters make for harsh living conditions. Nevertheless, we saw some beautiful wildflowers, some of them growing in lush green grass, some of them growing in the shelter of big boulders.

The trail at that point was relatively flat, and was well-worn. For the first two miles, Bill and I were able to walk at a nice pace, given the high altitude (about 11,500 feet above sea level). After a little more than an hour, we could see that the trail would begin to descend at a crest just beyond an outcropping of rock. Then, as the saying goes, it would be all downhill from there.

A picture of me. Just before my trip
Notice that the trail is not flat.
And there are lots of rocks.
Photo credit: Bill Hays

At the outcropping of rock, the trail became less distinct. I was in the lead, with the backpack on my back and my camera hanging around my neck. As I was walking along, I looked to the left and to the right, trying to discern the trail. I should've been looking straight ahead and down at my feet, because I tripped on a rock. I don't really know what happened, but I know that I stumbled a couple of times and then I was propelled head first into a sizable rock on the ground.

Life lesson: When your foot hits a rock that is firmly embedded in the ground, the rock wins. Every. Time. And when your head is propelled into a rock that is firmly embedded in the ground, the rock wins. Every. Time.

There I was, on all fours, at 11,500 feet. I let out some sort of guttural noise (maybe even a few choice words), and grabbed my hand. I knew right away that I had cut my head. Poor Bill, he saw the whole thing, and he got to me just as I took off my hat and exposed my wound.

At this point, I need to say a word of thanks to my Mom. Mom taught me a long time ago to keep a handkerchief in my pocket. So I took my hanky out of my pocket and pressed it on my head wound to stop the bleeding. It worked like a charm.

Bill and I sat there for a few minutes. I know my adrenalin was pumping, and I think Bill's was too. I took stock of my state – no broken bones, no bruised knees or twisted ankles. Just a gash on my head, and that was under control. So I said to Bill, “I think we can make it all the way down to the trailhead where Carol will be waiting for us. Let's go.”

We didn't have any first aid stuff with us (another life lesson, I suppose). So I took off my sweatshirt and tied it around my head to keep the handkerchief on the wound.

Another picture of me. After my trip.
Photo credit: Bill Hays

Dorky, but effective.

Fast forward to the end (because I know you don't want to hear about the entire hike): We met up with Carol a couple of hours later; she took me to the ER in Estes Park (shout out to the fine people there!), where I was in and out in less than an hour. My souvenir for the trip: seven staples in my head, and a throbbing headache. We were back on the trail the next day.

After our return to South Carolina, I found myself at my desk at home during my quiet time one morning. These words of the psalmist jumped out at me:

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”Psalm 143:10

Hint: it's the part about “level ground” that really struck a chord with me. I have learned that level ground is much easier to navigate. It's also easier to stay vertical on level ground.

What is true regarding the paths our feet tread is also true regarding the path we choose to follow in life. You see, if we veer from the way God leads us, we will find ourselves on rocky soil. And we'll trip and fall. And probably get hurt.

God has shown us the way we should go. He has given us his word, the Bible. 

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105) “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)

Even more, God has given us his Word, Jesus Christ. “Follow me,” he says. “Come to me, and I will give you rest.”

Look, I'm not narrowing God's word down to a bunch of rules that say “thou shalt,” and “thou shalt not.” To be sure, those are in the Bible, and we need to heed them. But really, I'm talking about the life-giving nature of God's word. Because the more our lives are informed by God's word, the more we will discover God's love, God's righteousness, God's truth. And God's truth is life. Abundant, everlasting life. Choose the level path that God has made for you.

I learned a little bit about level paths while I was in Colorado. But I also learned of the goodness of God, who delivered me. Even though I stumbled and fell, God got me up and he delivered me to safety. From now on, I'm going to be more careful about the paths I choose to hike.

Listen, I know that sometimes we make wrong choices, and we take the wrong path. And we stumble and fall. But God is gracious and compassionate, and he will pick us up and give us the opportunity to get on the right path again. 

And again. 

And again. 

That's the kind of God we have. His love is everlasting.

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)