Learning to Walk

I have been participating in our granddaughter, Hannah, learning to walk this summer.   I use the word, participating, because it is far more than simply idle watching.  It takes a combination of two things.  First, giving her enough freedom to make mistakes, fall, and get back up to try again without trying to control her attempts.   Second, picking her up when she does hurt herself in a fall, putting on bandages when necessary, all the while giving constant encouragement.
This has reminded me of our role with each other as we all learn to be followers of Jesus Christ.  It is important to allow others the freedom to make mistakes, fall, and get back up without trying to control their efforts.  Additionally, it is important to be a healing presence when people are hurt.  Over all of this, it is vital to be giving constant encouragement.  As I’ve watched Hannah grow from one or two faltering steps to running I have also become aware that we are all learners.  We are all in need of the freedom to fall, the need for healing from our hurts, and constant encouragement.
Have you thought of yourself as participating in others growing in their faith in Jesus Christ?  Have you thought of others participating in your growing in faith in Jesus Christ?    I believe this is what First Thessalonians 5v11 is describing: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...”
May you participate in building others up and be built up by others.   May you discover Jesus Christ as the One who empowers us to be participants with each other in growing in Him.

Trees Clapping

I recently heard an interview with acooustic ecologist, Gordon Hempton, on the public radio program, On Being.  Gordon Hempton says that silence is an endangered species. He defines silence as presence — not an absence of sound, but an absence of noise.  He invites us to become better listeners of the earth in places unspoiled by noise pollution.  He describes earth as a "solar-powered jukebox".
As I listened to him speak and to his recordings of unspoiled nature I was reminded of Psalm 98, “Let the sea resound and everything in it .....let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy” and Isaiah 55:12, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands”.   I am reminded again of how deeply I experience who I am in God and who God is in me when I am immersed in the quiet of nature, without the noise pollution of human electrical, mechanical, or other creations.  Gordon Hempton says that quiet is a “think tank of the soul”.
This summer I encourage you to intentionally and regularly take time to be in nature away from human created noise pollution - to simply listen to what God is speaking to you through the trees clapping their hands and the hills bursting forth in song.  May you hear God speaking His love into your life empowering you to go out in joy and go forth in peace.

Here is the link to the interview soundtrack: http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2012/last-quiet-places/