Even Though The Storm Rages... He Is In The Eye of the Storm

If anyone has ever been through a difficult storm such as a hurricane, a tornado, a blinding blizzard, they know that in the middle of the storm there is often a place of peace or a moment of calm before the storm begins to rage again. In a hurricane, it is called the eye of the storm. Even in blinding blizzards, there is often a lull and then another wave of storm.

It amazes me at times how nature gives way to humanity almost as if we need a breather, a chance to catch our breath. I believe it is God's way of speaking to us, letting us know that He is there, even in the fiercest of circumstances. He is there to help us through.

I can think of many storms in my life where I didn't think I was going to make it through to the other side of the storm. I remember driving through a horrific, blinding blizzard. It was like driving with roller skates on sheer ice. It took us five hours to travel 100 miles. Normally, it would have taken 90 minutes, but the storm was so bad that everyone was travelling very slowly and we could barely see the car in front of us. There were cars in ditches. We couldn't pull over to the side of the road because we were in the mountains and the nearest town was 100 miles away. Even the tractor trailers were having difficulty with the journey. Yet, I knew, as my roommates slept, that someone bigger than me was travelling with us keeping us all safe.

When we got to the next town which was out of the mountains, there was a lull in the storm, so I drove on through another three hours, finally to the end of the storm. One of my roommates suddenly woke up and asked if I wanted her to drive. I said, "yes." As soon as my body hit the passenger side, I fell into a deep sleep. My roommates said I could not be awakened for the next 500 miles. I had driven us through the most difficult part of the trip... the blinding. They slept through it, but we were not alone. It was the middle of the night, but I, the driver, was not alone. He was there in the eye of the storm. He kept me awake, alert, and safe. I'll never forget it.

There are so many other kinds of storms we experience in life... times when things happen beyond out control, yet He is there with us even if we cannot see His sustaining hand.

(c) 2007, RamyB

Forward Motion on the Journey

Today, I received word from my professor that I had passed my final clinical for my master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. This has been two years in the waiting. My expression was an elated YIPPEE!!! My children were excited and I laughed as my daughter stated VERY clearly, "Mom, make sure you finish the second master's degree before you start the third one." Of course, this is the first one and I am working on a second one already.

They must really know me. Today is such a momentous day for me. It feels as though I have been let out of the race gate and I have finally crossed the finish line. The race was long and tedious, but well worth the effort. There were hardships along the way; some that I thought would literally crush me... at one point, I critically understood how it felt to have a dearly, loved child taken from me and held in a facility that was unjust and unkind to him. I learned how to advocate for him; how to believe in him; how to visit him and remind him that he truly was and is a son of God and God Himself would act on his behalf. Some of these things I can talk about, some I can not talk about, but it caused me to delay my final clinical. Some of these events caused me to rethink my journey over and over and over again.

The most difficult hardships have pressed me to become a better therapist. Some of the things I walked through prepared me for part of my current practice although I did not see that when I was going through the hardship. There were times when I felt like I was being crushed in a wine press, or an olive press... when every part of my dream was being brought into question and every part of my character was being inspected, but in the end, on the other side of the severe hard pressing life circumstances, there has come a sweet oil that only Christ has been able to bring through me. In the end, the journey deepened my faith like no other.

Hardship is something we do not invite into our lives. In fact, most of us run from hardship, but when hardship comes, it is our perspective and our faith that will get us through to the other side... to the day when the sun begins to shine again. Eventually, the vineyard owner opens the wine press and cleans the olive press. When the pressure eases, the flawed parts of our character are mashed into the pulp of the wine... or the pulp of the oil. Then, the impurities are strained out. Wine and oil have symbolic meanings in Christendom as they both have healing properties. They have been used to represent spiritual things such as the very presence of the Living Christ and the Healing Balm of Gilead and the anointing of the priests.

Even today, red wine contains tannins that kill parasites and oil keeps parasites from moving or entering the skin. There are so many different applications to just these two substances...

Yet, here... in this place, the pressing and the hardship purified my life. I believe it further qualified me for part of my occupation and ministry. It caused me to be much more sensitive to those who are falsely accused. It caused me to understand how a child can go through imprisonment in an unjust system, endure hardship and how God can move to deliver him from it. It caused me to understand the pain that people undergo who endure public humiliation or gossip. It caused me to remember that we are all just flesh and we require the very presence of a very Living God to sustain us. It is by grace that we live and move and have our being.

Then, without our even noticing it... we have moved forward on our journey. We have touched countless lives along the way by our humanity, our faith, our realities, our joys, our sorrows, and our songs. In reality, there are several races we are called to run... how we run those races, no matter how difficult determines our outcome. If we will choose to STAND in faith believing in our Heavenly Father's ability to carry us through; if we choose to WALK through the circumstances; if we choose to FOCUS our eyes on the truth; if we choose to WORSHIP and PRAISE in the midst of something we simply cannot understand even though our emotions are screaming another language, then we will RUN and NOT WAIT and we will FINISH the RACE... and receive the rewards that are intended for us. Some of those rewards are the very relationships that were forged along the way... other rewards we cannot yet see, but at the end of our life we can hope and pray that we have been wine and oil to all those around us and wear a crown fit for kings. And in the midst of the journey, we have sojourned with the Divine Creator of the Universe... and learned more about what LOVE is... becoming LOVE to a world that is desperate for our forward motion.

With love,
RamyB

Safe Harbor

Oil Painting by John Poon

(c) John Poon

This painting called, "Safe Harbor" by John Poon, who lives in Wyoming with his wife and five children and family pet, Sven, is one of the best depictions of safe harbor that I have seen in a long while.

The phrase "safe harbor" is used commonly when referring to periods of sanctuary from any storm. That storm can be a physical storm, spiritual storm, emotional storm, verbal storm, etc. There are many applications for the phrase "safe harbor." But safe harbor most often draws me to the place of sanctuary from a physical storm or emotional storm. Every seafarer, airplane traveller, hiker, skiier, family member, etc., knows what it is like to experience a very traumatic physical or emotional storm. There is nothing like the experience of coming into a safe harbor, either, during the storm, or after the storm has passed.

For some people, the storm has torn up every normal piece of surrounding and there is literally no way for someone to catch their bearing. In death, most of the relatives and friends leave a couple of weeks after the funeral and the bereaved one remaining is left to pick up the pieces totally alone. For this person, a trusted friend can choose to become a "safe harbor" for the one who is experiencing loss. It is no understatement to note that in order to be someone else's "safe harbor" you must also be safe yourself. You must have anchored yourself well in the balance of life. As you can see from John Poon's picture, the fisherman tethered his boat to the pier to keep it from floating away. This particular pier looks like it has stone underneath it, that means it is more securely anchored than a floating pier. The fisherman knew which pier to anchor his vessel.

In the midst of a great physical storm, it can be difficult to find the place to securely anchor one's self especially if the storm tore to pieces the house, the church, the family, the marriage, the hillside, or any other part of life that had to go through the tulmult. Yet, there is one sure anchor. In the Psalms, King David wrote his enemies were all around him and war was breaking out in every region around him, he was being slandered and people were bringing false accusations against him, he chose to not be afraid. Why? Because He knew he could trust in the God of his fathers to deliver him. Psalm 27:5For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (New International Version: Used with permission) King David knew that Father God would hide him in His dwelling (the Temple - which is where God's presence dwells) and the shelter of the tabernacle (which is the place of worship) and during his time of duress even though the storm raged, Father God would give him the highest vantage point on a secure footing, a rock, from which he could see how to defeat his enemies.

Now, in the New Covenant, we know that Father God chooses to live in our Temple (which is our earthly body) by the presence of the Holy Spirit and His son, Jesus Christ, when we dwell together with Him in worship and through worship and by worship. In His presence, we are hidden safely from all harm. Even though physically, there is no physical building around us, worship happens the moment we turn our eyes toward heaven and begin to thank the Creator, Father God for allowing us to have life, breath, limbs, love, bread, children, money, cars, etc. As we move into worship and thanksgiving, we enter the "safe harbor" and become anchored to the rock, which is the Christ, Jesus Christ, who is immovable, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then elevates us to a position above the storm whereby we can see the path out of the wreck that the storm has created.

There are moments... when we are called to enter into worship corporately and become safe harbor for one another. These are the times when it is necessary for the one who is able to carry the one who is broken into the place of worship, just as the one who was too sick to see Jesus was lowered into the place where Jesus was. By being Jesus to others, we become the presence of Christ that shelters others from the storm when they are unable to enter in on their own accord. Together, then, we are able to walk into the very presence of a very loving God, who desires nothing more than to love on His creation and restore them back into fullness of being.

This then is the true meaning of safe harbor. In that place, we all have the capacity to become vehicles of calm and transcendence of God's presence into a broken and torn apart world.

What kind of harbor are you?

With love,

RamyB

(c) 2007, Ram's Horn Ministries, with exception of photo of painting which belongs exclusively to John Poon.

Balancing on the Balance Beam of Life

Sometimes these days I feel torn between all of the demands prevailing upon the few hours that I have each day available for personal endeavors. Most of my day is committed to raising my children. Then a greater part of the next segment of my day is spent finishing my clinical for my Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. It seems like I don't have any time for anything else, let alone eat, sleep, wash the clothes, walk the dogs, and breathe.

One of the things I am trying to force myself to do is find ten minutes each day to sit on the side of the road and meditate on balancing my life and what that would really look like. I believe that it starts with focusing my strength and energy on worshipping a very living God who loves the Universe, yet, that focus must also have a practical reach in that if I spend all of my time up in the clouds, I will have no earthly value. Yet, if I take what I learn in the clouds and dispense it to those I interact with not so much with my words, but with my actions, then I will definitely have the value that is needed to make a world impact.

It is so easy these days to get things out of balance. But if we are faithful to ourselves and to our Creator, He will help us find the true center that keeps us in balance and in touch with a practical reach. I know that the very next time I start to feel overwhelmed with the things of this life, I will remind myself that I have lost my focus and inevitably lost my effective reach. To this end, the only way to get back into focus is to get back to that ten-minute time slot where I can afford to seek my Father in Heaven and get His perspective... sometimes to be honest, I end up spending more time than ten minutes, but somehow, the rest of the day comes together in a perfect array.

After all, if the Creator of the Universe knew how to create such vast and enormous heavenly creations and create you and I, then how much more can He help us with our every day, mundane lives.

My best to you,
RamyB

Merry Christmas!!! from Nashville, TN

Wow, it is CHRISTmas Day! Amazing... the gifts are unwrapped, the meals consumed and relatives across the world are gathering to celebrate one of the most important "holy days" (Rambo-McGuire, 2006) of the world. There are families gathering to celebrate together and individuals who are alone all over the world.

As I was logging on to read mail this afternoon, I noticed the headlines of world news. "Ethiopian jets bomb Somalian airport," (Associated Press, Yahoo News, 2006). As I read the news of the day, my heart was bothered by the fact that not all of the world was at peace today. I am so very well aware that there are those in our country and across the world, who do not have all of their needs met. There are those who are homeless, those who don't have anything to eat, or clothes to wear on their bodies. If only more cared to reach out to those who are less fortunate.

There are some people who believe that the poor have no right to blessing during Christmas, yet their attitude is one of essential scrooginess. The writer to the Hebrews in the first Gospel, Matthew, stated Christ's words, "the poor you will always have with you, but me you do not always have." (Matthew 26:11, NIV, used by permission). I am so keenly aware of how blessed I am, in comparison to many who have much less than I do. My children and I are so very blessed this Christmas. I pray for those who are on the streets who have need of blankets, food, clothes, and shelter from the cold. I ponder if there are enough angels to help these often forgotten members of our global community. I am also so keenly aware of Christ's presence today in my life.

Two-thousand, plus years ago, the divine Father made His second imprint on humanity. He overshadowed the Virgin, named Mary, to impregnate her with His seed, Jesus Christ, out of love so that the world might be reconciled to Himself. The first imprint was creating humankind in His own image, with all of the characteristics of the Godhead available to humanity. The second imprint was the gift of love that provided a way for humanity to find its way back to relationship with the divine.

Jesus Christ was born in a humble stable, not in palaces, or castles (McGuire, 2006). He came in a contrary way to what the religious establishment of the day desired. Isn't that so true of most of the religious world today? In many ways, religion seeks to box Christ in, to put parameters on who can and who cannot come into the Kingdom of God. Yet, Christ's work was complete. By becoming man and living a sinless life on earth and by enduring a humiliating experience on a wooden cross, He provided the perfect means by which humanity can come to the Creator of the Universe. Yet, even though He gave His life in such a free way, there are those who desire to put markers on humanity. There are those who wish to exclude individuals from the Kingdom. My question is this: Who has the audacity to raise themselves up to the position of judging humanity's eternal position? That place is reserved for God Himself and Himself alone. It amazes me how many people, in America, in foreign countries, in churches, make choices of hatred towards one another. Even in Christian families, there is often discord around the holidays; discord that often severs blood ties. This ought not be so.

Jesus Christ came that we might live an abundant life... this is often mis-interpreted to mean "abundant provisions." What I believe He really meant was that we would find abundance in His very real presence in our lives. That as we daily seek Him, we will find wisdom to walk out our daily lives and the ability to live in peace with all humanity. This Christmas would not be Christmas if it did not contain the word "Christ." The world would not be the same without this very special, Holy day! (Rambo-McGuire,2006). The name Christ, means "the anointed one," hence, Christmas literally means that this day is a Day of Anointing. It is totally possible to imagine that all who exist on earth could find themselves anointed for peace this day. Anointed for love, anointed for kindness, anointed for reconciliation, anointed for beauty, anointed for abundance, anointed for harmony, and anointed for the healing of their lives. It is also a day for anointing the lonely with companionship.

So this CHRISTmas Day, I challenge you to be aware of what you are being anointed with... is it reconciliation? is it peace? is it love? is it benevolence? I hope that today, you will find more than anything, peace and warmth for your soul.

Merry CHRISTmas!!

With love,
RamyB

Resource:
McGuire, D. (2006) Christmas Eve Sunday morning sermon: live comments. The River at Music City, Nashville, TN. www.theriveratmusiccity.com

Rambo-McGuire, R. (2006) Christmas Eve Sunday morning sermon: live comments. The River at Music City, Nashville, TN. www.theriveratmusiccity.com

Yahoo News (2006) Ethiopian jets bomb somalian airport. www.yahoo.com/news