Right now, my church is starting over. We are launching in to a new time after our 60th Anniversary Celebration plus the renewal of church life after our time worshiping separating thanks to a world-wide pandemic. It’s a time to invite friends to church, both members we haven’t seen in a while, or new folks who are searching for a church home.
You know…
Evangelizing! 🙂
In this time of starting over, our rector is sending out an email a day–a reflection from a few members of our congregation to help us all with starting over. You may even see a few of mine on here in the upcoming weeks as I share them.
But, for today, I wanted to share the one that popped in my inbox. My sweet friend, Karen, contributed this piece. It struck me hard. Especially the last paragraph before her poignant question at the end. I asked myself, “How often could I have done things differently?” and “How often have I said the wrong thing?”
But, most importantly, her words inspired me to be different, speak different, and love different. Incorrect adverb usage and all.
I love y’all!
| The Right Words “Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me—that is my petition—and the lives of my people—that is my request’.” (Esther 7:3) Queen Esther thwarted a genocide against the Jewish people. And she saved her people without an army or battle armor. Her only weapon was her words. Esther was justified to be outraged. The Jewish people were under attack. Haman had convinced the King (Esther’s husband) to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jewish people throughout the land. Instead, Esther inserted herself into the dialogue and made the argument personal. She appealed to the King for the lives of her people and herself. There is plenty to be outraged about in our own time. When an injustice has been committed, it is easy to be outraged. And in true Spinal Tap fashion, our outrage is always dialed up to 11. But if I shout at you and you shout at me, who hears anything? Who is listening? Our outrage should be a call to action; a means to right a wrong. And we can’t do that if we’re not using our words diplomatically to further negotiation. We know how to weaponize our words to humiliate, divide, bully and offend. But can we use our words to solve problems, to make peace and unite? There probably won’t be many situations where we individually will be able to stop a genocide with our words. But maybe with the right words we can start a dialogue and that dialogue could change the world. Is there an issue in your life that could resolved using more diplomacy and less outrage? ~This reflection was written by a sweet friend who is one of the kindest people I know. |
I enjoyed our friend Karen’s piece that you so graciously placed on a plate before us… However, in spite off its delectability, I waver somewhat on a minute morsel… although I understand the latent intent in the words: “… Her only weapon was her words.” I contend that ‘her words,’ was merely the catalyst that delivered the potent ‘weapon’ of TRUTH… it was this unvanished… undiluted truth, that turned the tide, and brought deliverance to a People trapped in the machination of one steadfast in his need of evil… coupled of course, with the unerring will of God, that was at play…
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Hello, my friend! I have missed your wisdom around here. God’s truth is surely power. And, He is in control of all things. If Esther didn’t speak up, do you feel God would have found another willing and vocal vessal? Or, would He have allowed things to turn out differently? 🤔
I have just been around the corner Michelle… taking a peek at what is going on in your neck of the woods… speaking only when I think I have something to say…
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You bring up three points in your comment:
1) He is in control of all things.
2) If Esther didn’t speak up, do you feel God would have found another willing and vocal vessal?
3) Would He have allowed things to turn out differently?
No. 1 cancelles out both 2 & 3
Since God is in control of All Things, NOTHING can surprise God…
No. 2 presuppose that God was on the edge of a seat, waiting with bated breath for Esther’s decision like her father…
No. 3 the Bible speaks of the analogy, that a day to God, is a thousand years to man… so God knows all possible scenarios… whatever God wants… IS… differences does not come in the equation…
Therefore:
When a gardener tends his garden, he plants flowers, and has to contend with weeds…
In God’s garden, flowers are the Chosen People… and although other people in the garden (weeds) try to choke them, they are not able to, because God as built a bulwark around them to protect them… Esther, and her father were Chosen People… and all God’s chosen people were chosen for a specific purpose… and planted at a specific time, and place in the garden… for as the Christ said in John 17:6 …thine they were, and thou gavest them me…
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My daughter and I are reading a devotional devotional book and this week’s chapter is about being “suited for your story” and speaks about how God created each of us for a certain role to play in His Kingdom before we were even born. Your words mirror our theme this week! “All God’s chosen people were chosen for a specific purpose…and planted at a specific time…” I am brought so much peace by this. Knowing that God placed me right here, right now for His glory is awe inspiring. He always knows the plan.