Healing Rays of Righteousness

Look to The Heavens

One of my favorite places to relax and reorient my thoughts, especially when experiencing difficult, troublesome days, is the glider on our back porch.  As I gently swing, my eyes take in the quiet beauty of God’s wonder-filled creation surrounding me.  And the slow setting of the afternoon sun awakens my thoughts to God’s goodness in caring and providing for me and my family.

While lingering with these good thoughts the evening darkness settles in and I remember that my worrisome situation has not changed.  But as I lift my eyes and look to the heavens, I see a canopy of brilliant, twinkling stars dancing above me.  Slowly my perspective shifts from my very present troubles to my very present God, who is the creator and sovereign ruler of both the heavens and the earth.  I remember that he created and lovingly named every twinkling star.  Even more amazing and heart-throbbing is to remember that he also created me and knows my name.

In Isaiah 40, the prophet is writing to his people after they had experienced years of exile and many had given up hope of ever returning to their homeland.  They had suffered so much adversity and were so beaten down by life that they were beginning to think that God had abandoned them.  Isaiah knew it was difficult to keep a right perspective about God when facing life’s difficult challenges and disappointments.

For this reason, Isaiah believed it was important for his people to remember the grandeur and majesty of the God they served and his awesome power.  And so he speaks God’s words of comfort to them, and in verse 22, reminds them that their God formed the heavens and that “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.  He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”

And to help them regain a Godly perspective on life, Isaiah speaks the voice of the Lord in verse 25, asking, “To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal?”  He then encourages them in verse 26 to look up and consider the heavens filled with stars.  “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:  Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

At this point the prophet asks a very crucial question in verse 27, “Why do you complain, Jacob?  Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’?”

Isaiah then argues against any remaining doubt by declaring in verses 28-29, that by observing God’s magnificent creation, one sees the power, strength, and loving care of God.  “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, and Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Having reaffirmed God’s glorious attributes to his people who were discouraged, beaten down, and worn out with life, Isaiah now offers them renewed confidence and hope, with these words in verses 30-31, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

When you look at the circumstances of your life, what do you see?  Are the current problems facing you so overwhelming that it seems there will be no end to the struggle?  Do obstacles in your path prevent you from imagining what might be possible tomorrow?  Do you despair of any hope for real and complete healing to happen?  Are you feeling alone and powerless?

If so, Isaiah says to you, “lift up your eyes and look to the heavens” and rejoice that the Creator of the universe knows your name, sees your situation, and hears your cries.  The ever-loving God knows and understands your fears, your hopes, and dreams.  Look up and know that God’s wisdom is unsearchable, and God’s power is unmatched.

Look up and remember that more than the stars in the heavens, more than the flowers of the fields, or the birds of the air, God dearly loves you.  Look to the heavens and receive the gift of Godly perspective.  God is so big, and you are so small, yet God is holding you in the palm of his strong hand, protecting, planning, and providing for you.  Be at rest in his holy, loving presence. Blessed be his name!

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – June 24, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

I do not like confrontations of any kind and seek to avoid situations of disagreements and conflicts. I admit to placing a high value on maintaining good relationships with others and tend to be extremely careful not to do or say anything that would dampen or strain those relationships. However, I must also admit to frequently silencing my own understandings, perspectives, and convictions, rather than attempting to be a peacemaker like Jesus.

That is why the words in Psalm 34:12-14, “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” prick and challenge me every time I read them.

Furthermore, Jesus surely affirms the psalmist admonition to “seek peace and pursue it” by saying in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

At the conclusion of his Sermon on the Mount Beatitudes, Jesus clearly stated to his disciples that his intentions for them is to be “peacemakers” involved in God’s kingdom activity of bringing reconciliation and peace into the world for all of humanity. He wanted them to understand that just as he taught and modeled a lifestyle of peacemaking while he was with them, he intended that they would do the same after he left them.

These two texts tell me that the “joy of life” as it was meant to be experienced was to be found in peacemaking involvements at the center of trouble. I love life and seek its joy and these two texts challenge my tendency to avoid getting involved as a peacemaker in conflictual situations. I am hearing from Jesus that Christian peacemakers belong in the middle of explosive situations to diffuse and to heal.

Let me clarify what I think Jesus meant by the word “peacemakers.” It has been suggested that since the Hebrew word “shalom” means everything which makes for a person’s highest good, this beatitude could be read as “Blessed are those who make this world a better place for all people to live in.”

Abraham Lincoln stated this as his desire, “Die when I may, I would like it to be said of me, that I always pulled up a weed and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”

There are those who interpret this beatitude only in a spiritual sense, and read it to say, “Blessed is the man who makes peace in his own heart and in his own soul.” I agree that there is an inner conflict between good and evil in all of us, and happy is the person who has given his whole heart and life to God and has received God’s peace in their inner self.

But the Jewish rabbis taught that the highest task which a man can perform is to establish right relationships between man and man. I am convinced that this is the deeper and more complete meaning Jesus intended in his use of the word “peacemaker.”

There will always be “troublemakers” in the world. They are found in almost every grouping of people, and they are doing the devil’s work of dividing and destroying. In contrast to these persons, “peacemakers” are people doing God’s work of uniting and giving life to all persons.

For this reason, Jesus called and challenged his disciples and us to be “peacemakers” by getting involved in situations of conflict and work to build bridges of understanding and heal the hurts of broken relationships.

It is especially important to note that Jesus said God’s happiness is given to the maker of peace, not to the lover of peace, nor the keeper of peace. In other words, what this beatitude demands is not the passive acceptance of things as they are to keep peace, but rather the active stepping into situations of disagreement, divide, and conflict to bring reconciliation and healing of relationships. Peacemakers are persons who stand in the gap between the opposing sides.

Today, the political, racial, and religious divides are being deliberately and aggressively magnified, and peacemakers are urgently needed to listen, clarify, mediate, and open communication between the conflicting parties.

Of course, this is often risky and dangerous activity, and that’s why Jesus continued with another beatitude in verse 10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Even so, I am being challenged to ask myself sincerely and compassionately, what may be the specific things God wants me to say and do as a peacemaker. How can I be a “healing ray of righteousness” in bringing clarification, empathy, and love to our communities and nation?
Shalom to you!

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – June 17, 2020
http://www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley

Respecting Human Dignity

Respect for human dignity has become a disposable commodity in a culture of selfish individualism and gratification. When it comes to affirming and protecting the dignity of others, it seems our society has lost its heart and soul. Many in our society are strong in vocal advocating for same, but extremely weak in practice. Increasingly more of us find it easy and acceptable to cruelly “trash” those we do not like or who disagree with us.

Political campaigns and conversations have deteriorated into such sickening trash talking about opponents that any possibility of learning truthful facts about a person or situation is almost non-existent. Unfortunately, this childish and prejudiced name-calling has become the dark character of our American culture in both secular and religious arenas. And most distressing is that such behavior is encouraged at the highest level of our current government leaders. Shame, shame, shame!

What is the origin of our human dignity and why does it demand our respect? In the biblical record of Jeremiah, God is about to send Jeremiah as a prophet into a culture that had lost all reverence for human life. They were corrupting themselves with the most flagrant disregard for human dignity. To encourage and commission Jeremiah as his prophet, God says to him, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

Our earthbound little minds imagine conception as only a biological event. Yet this verse forces us to rethink the deeper truths regarding the origin and dignity of human life. If God, as sovereign Creator, is present in the process of human conception, then we must accept that the value of human life is wrapped in the wonderous glory of an eternal relationship with him.

The Psalmist knows this to be true and praises God, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13-14).

And there is more. Listen carefully to what God said to Jeremiah. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” I clearly hear God saying that our conception and birth are not our real beginning of existence, nor will death end our existence.

Wow! What a wondrous thought to ponder. Before the day and moment of our conception, God knew us. And God dignified us by calling us into existence. God names you and me in his mind and dignifies each of us with a special purpose, plan, and destiny.

It is so awesome to think that before my mother lovingly cradled me in her arms, God wrapped his greater arms around me and held me close, instilling in me a purpose uniquely designed for me. This wondrous thought infuses me with glorious and eternal dignity.

The psalmist acknowledges this truth in his praise to God, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Ps. 139:16-17).

But, hear ye, hear ye! What God did in bringing us into existence, he did for every human being on this earth. I repeat, What God did in bringing us into existence, he did for every human being on this earth.

It is of utmost imperative that we let this truth permeate our whole being, and into the deepest recesses of our mind and heart. Otherwise, it becomes easy to debate and decide about others based on their usefulness to us, or whether we feel comfortable in their presence.

It is true that many people do not live up to the dignity God instilled in them at their birth. Many do not live up to God’s purpose, plan, and potential. There are many reasons for such failure, but probably the saddest is when it is because they did not receive the affirmation, dignity and respect needed to experience and grow into wholesome personhood.

In my years of ministry as pastor and chaplain, I have encountered individuals in our churches, communities, and workplaces, who struggled with low self-esteem and worthlessness, largely because they seldom heard or felt God’s dignifying affirmation through the human beings that work, play, and worship with them. How sad.

It has also been my joy to see the lives of many of these persons being transformed as they moved into a healing environment that dignified their personhood and treated them with respect as uniquely gifted persons of great worth.

And, I am convinced that our communities, nation, and world can be transformed in like manner if we could agree to reclaim God’s gifting of human dignity for ourselves; and in turn, commit ourselves to dignifying the personhood of all others regardless of their race, religion, politics, or nationality, even as our creator God so graciously does. May God help us to do so!

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – June 10, 2020
 www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley

Proverbial Wisdom for Graduates

CONGRATULATIONS on your well-deserved successful graduation and best wishes for all your tomorrows!  The coronavirsus pandemic has stolen from you, our children and grandchildren, a significant celebratory event of successful graduation from your schools of learning.  I still remember and enjoy the many happy memories of my graduation and sincerely regret that this milestone in your life could not be similarly celebrated.

You missed the heart-throbbing excitement of hearing your name called and walking across the stage to receive your hard-earned diploma.  You also missed the opportunity of hearing from your peers and commencement speakers their challenge for you to allow the classroom learnings and shared peer experiences, that shaped and molded you, to now become a positive influence for good in the world.

And so, I thought to share some proverbial wisdom that I have gathered and filed over the years as common-sense counsel and encouragement that you may find helpful in your life journey.  In fact, they may still be helpful reminders to us living in much longer post-graduate years of life.

Always practice the Golden Rule:
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
We make a living by what we get, and we make a life by what we give.

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
(Proverbs 22:1)
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.

The three essentials of happiness are something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for.
Do not become so busy making a living that you forget how to live.

Our duty is not to see through one another, but to see one another through.
God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
If the eye has no tear, the soul has no rainbow.
When your knees knock, kneel on them.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
(Proverbs 4:23)
Keep your head and your heart in the right direction and you will never have to worry about your feet.
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you must eat them.

There is no tranquilizer in the world more effective than a few kind words.
An apology is a good way to have the last word.

The person who angers you, controls you.
Making peace starts with a smile.

Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.
Horse sense is stable thinking coupled with the ability to say “nay.”

The steam that blows the whistle cannot drive the wheels.
If you growl all day, you are likely to feel dog tired at night.

A bend in the road is not the end of the road … unless you fail to make the turn.
Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.
A genuinely happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

And finally,
Whatever you do, never stop learning, exploring, growing, and challenging yourself to be your best.

Continue growing in mind and spirit.
Keep adding to the goodness and beauty in the world.
Keep developing those unique dreams and talents that make you who you are.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
(Proverbs 9:10)

A hundred years from now it will not matter what amount was in your bank account,
the sort of house you lived in, or the kind of car you drove.
But the world may be different because you were loving and important in the life of a child.

Sincerely,
From we who love you dearly.
May our prayers and blessings follow you into the future.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – June 3, 2020
http://www.geigler13.wordpress.com
Ray M. Geigley