Stain Glass Lens of the 21st Century

Tag: Christian

  • Notes Of Humility

    Notes Of Humility

    Picture by Patrick Hendry/Unsplash

    There is a new rule in our house; no news after 7:00 p.m. !

    The last time I watched the 11:00 p.m. news I didn’t sleep a wink that night.  The softness of my bed and the quietness of my room carried me back to the underground garages where Ukrainian families slept on damp cement floors covered by thin blankets.    

    As  I tossed and turned my thoughts returned to the father standing outside a train as it pulled away holding his son’s toy car with tears rolling down his face; he sent his family away to safety while he stayed to fight for his country.  My prayers began to rise throughout that long night.

    I began to ponder, “What is power?”  Certainly from the news we can easily make the mistake of thinking missiles, bombs and instruments of war define that which power is.  Putin and his kind seem to have the upper hand, their brute force leaving us all feeling small, useless and vulnerable.

    Jesus knew what it was to feel vulnerable.  He lived his final days with the knowledge of what lied ahead; the fickle crowds, misled leaders, and the unimaginable pain of nails hammered by the hatred of humanity.

    Despite this he demonstrated the ultimate act of humility. Everyone except Jesus was caught off guard. With a basin of clean water and an ordinary towel he knelt down and washed the feet of every disciple; even washing the feet of Judas, knowing all the while that Judas was going to betray him. 

    Over 2000 years later this humble act remains an example of how to reach great heights by kneeling low to help others. As Saint Augustine writes, “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes humans as angels.”

    Such an angel is Davide Martello who traveled 5000 miles to play his piano for the Ukrainian refugees.  This man knows a thing or two about what is truly powerful.  He traveled from Germany to the Ukrainian-Polish border with his piano where he played music to bring peace and hope to the refugees. He understands the power of beauty and melody to carry people out of the ugliness of war and to help soothe anxieties.   

    What a vision he created; sitting there at his piano defying the bombs, the soldiers and the devastation that surrounded him. His humble act of love and beauty has lifted the spirits of many around the globe.

    We each can do our part to add to the peace in this world; each bowing down to pray or reaching out to help.  We can share our resources; the Red Cross is accepting online donations as are most denominations.  Humbling ourselves to lift others up is the most Christ-like act any of us could ever do; it connects us to an eternal power that brings life out of seemingly dead situations.

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

  • Lost To The World

    Lost To The World

    Photo by Bruno Martins/Unsplash

    I have a friend; we will call him George, who is completely lost to the world.  Unfortunately this wonderful and brilliant man now has a form of cognitive decline and often is not aware of his surroundings.  The last time we had a visit he believed himself to be at the bank. The time before that he welcomed me to sit with him at the coffee shop as he waited for a fresh cup of java; both times he was safely in his room.  

    This last time, as he explained how he was waiting for the bank teller to return, I purposely got out my bible and turned to the first page, a picture of Jesus, and turning the picture toward George I asked, “Hey, do you know who this is?”

    He paused, smiled his big signature smile and said, “I know him!  He is my friend.” 

    “Yes” I said, “And he said he would be our Shepherd.”

    George nodded his head and started, “The Lord is my Shepherd.  I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…”.  Together we recited the 23rd Psalm.  Once done, while holding the picture of Jesus up again I said, “Your friend has also taught us how to pray.”

    “Oh, yes.  He did.” Said George, “ It goes like this, “ Our Father who art in heaven….”.   Together we recited the prayer. 

    Partway through the prayer, to my utter surprise, my voice caught on the lump that had formed in my throat.  Tears had formed in the corners of my eyes.  I paused realizing this divine drenched moment had moved me to tears.    

    When we had completed the Lord’s Prayer George smiled and said, “That friend never leaves me and he has been there for me through so much.”

    This is a man of great faith, an enduring faith.  He was always involved at his church carrying with him the compassion, joy, wisdom and love of God.  Everyone who knew him knew he was a Christian.  This never left him, even when he seems lost to the world, he isn’t lost to Jesus.

     We are each being welcomed into an eternal relationship with the one who will lead us into life abundant.  A life abundant with meaning, joy, purpose, hope, accompaniment and grace upon grace. We are being invited to follow the one who knows our hearts, our stories, our failures, what grieves us and what gives us joy.  This God offers us a sustaining faith to carry us through this life and to the life beyond. 

    What an amazing invitation!

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel   

  • What’s Your Excuse?

    What’s Your Excuse?

    Photo by Brett Jordan/Unsplash

    My excuses have been many and varied.  Certainly I have used this pandemic as an excuse for many months and lately I have had the convenient excuse of the terribly cold temperatures.  One of my more plausible excuses is the condition of my left knee with a loose knee cap and a fascinating clicking sound with each step. 

    About 5 weeks ago I was challenged to help with a project that is very near and dear to me.  I was asked to help raise funds to keep Spiritual Care in the local hospitals.  Setting aside all my excuses I began each day pedaling my exercise bike to the rhythm of some of my favorite tunes.  Each ride ended as soon as the knee pain became unbearable.  At first I could only manage 3 miles at a time, then 5 miles, and twice I pushed it all the way to 10 miles but both times I paid for it terribly.  Now, I can safely ride up to 7 miles at a time and I completed a 60 km challenge for the fund raiser.   

    By leaving all my excuses behind I have discovered a renewed energy, a happier attitude, weight loss, and best of all, my achy knee doesn’t ache as much!

    It reminds me of the un-named man in the Gospel of John who spent 38 years sitting daily by the pool of Bethesda waiting to be healed.  Jesus came along and asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  Surprisingly the man doesn’t answer by saying “yes”; instead he answers with excuses placing blame on others.

    Jesus takes away all this man’s excuses by healing him; Jesus commands, “stand up, pick up your mat and walk!”  Now, the rest of this man’s life is up to him.  Does he find other excuses for not engaging life or does he embrace this second chance? The scriptures do not tell us.   I had a professor at seminary that taught whenever there is an un-named person in a biblical story we are to imagine it is us.  We become that person and their story becomes our story. 

    So, what excuses are you using for not engaging fully in the life you want?  How do you want the story of your life to go?  Perhaps now is the time for you to “stand up, pick up your mat and walk!”

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

  • Dead Water Revived

    Dead Water Revived

    Photo by Kevin Garcia/Unsplash

    Do you know the difference between dead water and living water?  

     I learned about dead water from one of my sons who had worked for the local Conservation Authority.  One of his duties was to run tests on remote creeks and waterways. If they proved to be “dead water” then a crew would work to revive the creek back into “living waters”.

    Simplifying the terms my son explained that some creeks may look lovely with clear and sparkling water but these creeks cannot sustain life, nothing lives in them and as such they are classified as “dead water”.  In order to have “living water” there must be rocks, boulders and rocky pathways for the water to travel.  It is healthy and helpful for there to be barriers that impede the water’s pathway, because having a not-so smooth pathway causes oxygen to get into the water and this oxygen changes “dead water” into “living water”, making it possible for fish, frogs, and turtles to live in the water.

    There needs to be twists, turns, rocks, bumpy pathways and big boulders to restore “dead water” into “living water” and that is the same in life.  It is when we know sadness, disappointment, struggles and all the other twists and turns that life brings that we are ready to receive “living waters”. It is in experiencing hardships that we are able to value a life sustaining relationship with God. 

    The woman at the well in the Gospel of John knew difficulties, she had 5 husbands, was an outcast from the Jewish faith simply by being a Samaritan and as a woman she was marginalized in the patriarchal society that she lived.  She knew hardship and it prepared her well to receive God’s gift of living waters.  She not only receives this living water but is so changed by the experience she cannot keep it to herself.  She runs back to her village and gathers everyone together so they too can receive this living water of hope, joy, and new beginnings.  

    I suspect many of us are seeking this living water right now.  This week we will arrive to the midway point of winter. For many this has been a difficult season due to days of isolation caused from COVID-19 restrictions and the deep freeze that has settled in.

    So, next time you are frustrated over something that seems too difficult to overcome; stop and remember to wrap that difficulty in prayer and hand it over to the God of healing and life sustaining waters.  As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “…knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”(Romans 5:3-5)

    May you have the courage to ask for the living water that only God can provide.

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

  • Buoying Boredom

    Buoying Boredom

    Photo by Skyler Ewing/Pexels

    Boredom had set in.  Between the provincial COVID-19 lock-down, working from home (again) and days of frigid temperatures I had become tremendously bored. By week’s end I had tried three new recipes, planned every worship service through to the end of Lent and despite it only being January I had reached mid-June in my Read –The-Bible-In-a-Year Chart!  But nothing was working; the world just seemed differing shades of grey.  

    Then, the most unexpected thing happened.  Their arrival was marked by the strangest noise on the other side of my front door.  I opened it slowly to find at least 70 to 80 of them all over my front lawn and filling the bare maple trees. This hungry crew had only one thing on their minds; filling their bellies with the berries of the Euonymus Bush that grows up the side of my house, from the garden to the roof, taking in all two and a half floors. I stood in amazement listening as their chatter filled the air, a most charming melody.   

     I slowly closed the front door then quickly ran to the living room bay window.  The white polka-dotted plumage of these European Starlings added a certain jovial touch to the already fascinating scene. If it were not for the thin piece of glass that separated us I could have touched their fluttering wings and cupped their tiny feet in my hands; I stood among them as though I too was filling up on this feast. 

    There were about 30 Starlings fluttering mid-air waiting to dine, and as their turn arrived they would dive into the bush while others filled the hydro lines overhead.  I wasn’t the only one taking in this remarkable event; two cars had stopped and with windows rolled down they too were mesmerized by this flock of hungry birds. 

    Then, just as quickly as they arrived they were gone.  As if on cue they formed a large ink blot in the sky and flew out towards the bay.  As I watched them depart I noticed my spirits had lifted, I was no longer weighed down by boredom but filled with awe.  

     It is as though I had slipped into a mid-winter slumber and it took the unexpected arrival of a flock of birds to undo the spell.  Since their visit I have made a major discovery.  Boredom isn’t a situation we find ourselves in but a state of mind, an attitude we choose.  Nothing in my life changed, I was still working from home, the temperatures remained arctic cold and yet, my attitude is entirely different.  I am wide awake now, noticing the smell of bread baking, the ribbons of colour with each sunrise and sunset, admiring the shadows the full moon casts over my backyard, tasting the comfort of  bread pudding and appreciating the warmth and glow of the fire each evening.

    I am deeply grateful for a God who refuses to leave us alone but instead holds before us daily reminders of fresh starts and a glorious kingdom.  As it is written, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

    May you also find finger prints of God’s presence in your daily life and may they be reminders of the glorious presence that never leaves you nor forsakes you,

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel   

  • Contented Christmas

    Contented Christmas

    Photo by Taryn Elliott/Pexels

    Do you recall the children’s game Snakes & Ladders?  It is a square game board with 100 squares on it with the first one starting in the lower left corner and ending with 100th square in the upper left corner. The game is easy, just roll the dice and move your game piece that many spaces.  If you are lucky you land on a square with a ladder and it moves you upwards but if you are not so lucky you land on a square with a snake and you slither downward losing the ground you had gained.

    On our board there was a long snake on the 97th square that slide all the way down to the 13th square.  If you landed on it you were sent back to almost the beginning of the game.  It was that snake that came to my mind last week when the COVID case count went above 4000 cases daily in Ontario.  We began  December with wonderful plans and why not?  We had gone weeks with little to no new COVID cases in Grey-Bruce Counties; we had every reason to be excited.  Then we landed on the 97th square and slid all the way back down to the beginning. Now there are Government restrictions on how many can gather inside, outside and in stores. Theatres are canceling their shows and those who had travel plans are now staying put.   

     And yet, it isn’t exactly the same as last December because we’ve been down this road before and we know more than we did a year ago.  For example we know that to end the spread we have to do some simple things like wash our hands, distance ourselves and wear a 3 ply mask.  We also know this won’t last forever; this 5th wave will flatten out just like the 3rd and 4th waves did.  Like Maya  Angelou writes, “Every storm runs out of rain.”  

     I did despair for a few days; the days we returned many of the Christmas gifts, downsized the menu and began to figure out ways to ZOOM with family members.  Then I decided to try another approach to this Christmas; the approach the Apostle Paul teaches, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…”(Philippians 4:12). So, I am calling this my Contented Christmas.

    This Christmas I am disciplining myself to be contented with whatever may be.  And, once I settled into this contented mindset some amazing things began to happen.  First, we went for a lovely evening walk through the woods under a star filled sky.  We slowed to enjoy the silhouetted trees against the moonlit sky and to count the stars; the peacefulness of that walk seeped in and left me soulfully grateful.

    Then, Sunday evening the kitchen filled with this otherworldly light, I went to the window and witnessed the most incredible full moon!  It appeared like a perfectly round balloon hovering just above the tree line spreading an iridescent yellow and orange light through my backyard.  We stepped onto the deck to bask in its glow. And, today, as I post this BLOG, it is the longest night of the year; we are at the tipping point.  The winter solstice tips us towards gathering light daily. 

    So, yes, it is true, this isn’t the Christmas most of us had hoped for but despite COVID and its variants the Christ Child will arrive.  The divine mystery of God’s enduring light will continue to shine in the darkness; a darkness that cannot extinguish its glow.  

    May you find a way to enjoy this holy season making the most of Christmas 2021 for it will never come around again!  And may the love of the Creator, the joy of the Spirit and the peace of the Christ child be with you this Christmas and evermore.   

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

  • The Eternal Echo of Smallness

    The Eternal Echo of Smallness

    Photo by Lilaartsy/Pexels

    At Bible Study last week one of the participants asked, “Why can’t God do something as big as the disasters?  The flooding out west, the horrific carnage of the forest fires last summer or this pandemic that has taken over the entire globe.  These disasters cannot be ignored. Why can’t God do something that is so big everyone witnesses God’s power?”

    Her question expressed the true longing of the Advent Season; the longing for God’s kingdom to be realized. 

    Many others around the table nodded their heads in agreement and she quietly added, “I know God is at work.  We hear about those who step up to help and we hear about those who survived against the odds. We hear the heroic stories and know God is busy turning things around.  But why do we always have to look so hard to see the small acts of God?”

    She has a point.  God does do things in obscure places in seemingly unnoticeable ways; a baby born to poor parents in a barn who grows to lead an endless worldwide movement that begun with only 12 followers.  

    As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Corinth Church, “…God chose the small things…Yes, he chose even the things which seem to be nothing. He did this to destroy the big things.” (1 Corinthians 1:28)

    Forest fires are eventually extinguished by each tiny drop of water and each sand bag does its part to hold back the flood.  This is how God’s kingdom works, small and quiet acts that echo for eternity.

    We can help realize God’s kingdom by small acts of peace, respect, and acceptance. What a difference the world would be if each one of us decided to do one small act of kindness every day; imagine the tremendous wave of hope, peace, joy and love that would wash over the world!

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel 

  • A Determined Hope

    A Determined Hope

    Photo by Maria Orlova/Pexels

    (Hello everyone, this is the second time you have received this BLOG this week. When I reread the original BLOG I noticed a big mistake. It is amazing how the positioning of two words can alter the meaning entirely. Perhaps you will notice the change….maybe you won’t! Thanks for joining us at Stainglass Lense!)

    When hiking the trails through Grey-Bruce Counties it is likely you will come across one of the most hope filled images in all of God’s creation, a tree growing out of a rock. With its roots stretching over the sides of the rock and sinking deep into the earth while its limbs reach up to touch the sun, each tree seems to embrace these large rocks.  This image has always encouraged me and I have pondered, is this an image of hope or is it an image of determination; perhaps, a determined hope?

    This is the image that pops into my mind each Advent when the words of the Prophet Isaiah are read, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1).”  In other words, out of a seemingly dead tree new life will emerge with a determined hope.

    Isaiah is speaking of the kingdom which began with Christ and continues to be realized through the Spirit of God. In this kingdom the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, justice will cover the earth as water fills the sea and peace will be maintained between all the nations (Isaiah 11:1-10). 

    Isaiah is speaking to those who know how to deepen their roots around hardship, embracing change while reaching upward.  He is reminding us that with God there is always hope for new life to emerge.

     This coming Sunday we begin our Advent journey.  And, as is tradition we will begin by lighting the candle of Hope.  I cannot imagine a better way to start any journey then with hope.

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

  • Selah.

    Selah.

    Photo by Josh Hild, Unsplash

    The lawn furniture is tucked away; the bird baths wiped dry and the rain barrels emptied and standing upside down.   

    The vegetable garden has been raked bare, the flowerbeds snipped back and the flowerboxes removed. The firewood is stacked; the hearth scrubbed with a basket of new unread books waiting upon it and the fruit cellar is full of sustenance. 

    Our winter sweaters, mittens, toques, scarves and jackets have been aired on the cloth line while our boots now line the back hall. It has been a busy week but never before have we been so ready for the arrival of winter!

    On Sunday, we paused from all the busyness to take a leisurely hike down some familiar trails. As we crested a small hill the wind blew strong enough to loosen hundreds of leaves which rode the breeze in descent; they danced gracefully towards us. We stopped and reached upwards to receive. The leaves fell like confetti around us.

    This awe-filled moment was so brief yet it refreshed us beyond measure; to be able to stop all the busyness and fill up on God’s presence is a divine gift indeed.  These are “Selah” moments.   

    Selah is a Hebrew word with various meanings all relating to pausing long enough to venerate God’s holy presence and to reflect on these holy moments.

    The author of Psalm 46 wrote of Selah, “When the mountains quake and the waters roar, the Lord is my refuge and strength….Selah. (I will pause and reflect on this)!  God makes wars to cease and breaks the bow… the Lord of hosts is with us…Selah. (I will pause and reflect on this)! Be still, and know that I am God…Selah. (I will pause and reflect on this)!”

    May you too have many Selah moments that amount to days enlightened by God’s quiet and beautiful presence.       

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

  • Strange Happenings In a Country Cemetery

    Strange Happenings In a Country Cemetery

    Photo by Scott Rodgerson/Unsplash

    It was a cool and rainy morning following a cool and rainy night.  He arrived to the cemetery just as the birds were beginning their morning song.  As he scanned the cemetery he noticed the lid on the wooden box behind the shed was a bit askew.  This box is used in the winter to hold salt and in the summer it holds large bags of grass seed.  He cautiously approached wondering what it was this time; a raccoon or a skunk that had slipped inside?  What he found was far more shocking!

    If it had been anyone else that opened the box they would have screamed, ran and dialed 9-1-1, but not this guy.  This retired Funeral Home Director, Pete, had seen countless dead bodies over his career, what was one more?

    Thing was, this body, although found in a wooden box in a cemetery, wasn’t dead. As Pete fully opened the box the shoe-less figure stirred a bit but didn’t wake until the one holding the lid said in a rather loud and booming voice, “Hey! What are you doing in there?”

    Startled the young man tried to get to his feet but was jammed pretty good inside the box.  Pete helped him to his socked feet then aided him in getting out of his cramped quarters.  They quickly walked to Pete’s pickup truck where he turned the heat on full blast and began to ask questions, many questions.

    Since retiring up to “cottage country” this Funeral Director had become active on a couple of country cemetery boards and had taken on the role as Grounds Keeper.  It was in this role that he arrived early that morning prepared to cut some grass, trim some weeds and put down new grass seed, instead he retrieved a tired soul from inside a wooden box.

    As the young man attempted to explain how he ended up inside that box Pete turned his truck around and headed for home to retrieve an old pair of shoes and a warm jacket for this wayward guest.  Pete then drove this young man back into town all the while listening to his not so happy tale.

    Apparently, he had been enjoying an evening at the local Pub when a group of guys suggested he join them for a bush party. Young, foolish and feeling a bit adventurous he agreed to join the group as they jumped into a car and headed out.  Before he knew it he was down a country road he hadn’t ever seen before and after a few more drinks he couldn’t possibly find his way home.   The same group of guys decided to head back into town but tired of his company so they took his shoes and dropped him off at a cross road.  He managed to walk as far as the cemetery, found the box, crawled in and the rest, as they say, is history.

    Pete dropped him off at a Tim Hortons while passing him a couple of bucks. The young man thanked Pete profusely before getting out.

    Jesus tells us that when we feed the hungry, cloth the poor and visit the lonely we are feeding, clothing and visiting him.  He assures us that when we serve the least among us we are serving him; what he doesn’t tell us is that these opportunities to serve will, at times, arrive rather unexpectedly.

    That morning Pete may have done more than just cloth and feed this young man but may have also restored this young man’s confidence in humankind; and modeled a loving response to life.

    I wonder, what would you do if you found a body in a wooden box in the cemetery?!

    Happy Halloween Everyone!

    Rev. Heather McCarrel