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Palpable

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For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit,
and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:5 (NRSV)


It was the Thursday before the Washington DC Metro Area blizzard of January 2016. I had led Covenant Bible Study at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, and afterwards, I was going to my friend Luke’s house to play a little guitar. It had started snowing shortly before I left the church, but no one had predicted more than a dusting. So, I made my way over to jam for an hour or so. When I left Luke’s, it was clear that the predictions were off. The ground and roads were totally covered and, as I was soon to discover, very slick.

As soon as I noticed how slick the roads were, I decided I’d take Bladensburg Road to Highway 50 to avoid a few overpasses, but soon realized there had been an accident as traffic was backed up near Benning Road and not moving. So, I took back streets, slipping and sliding along the way. I eventually made it to Highway 295 where I crawled along at about 25-30 mph to Highway 50 where I continued the quite slow pace while crazy people continued to fly by – some of which slid off the road.

Just east of Landover Road on US-50 (just outside of DC), there is an S-curve before reaching the Beltway. Even though I was taking my time, all of a sudden, I found myself going sideways, headed towards the concrete pillar holding up an overpass with nothing I did making a bit of difference.

“Oh, expletive!” I shouted out loud and in fear, and in that moment, it literally felt like Dad, who had died almost a year before, was sitting in the passenger seat. I heard him say, “Pop it up into neutral,” which I did. My car immediately straightened out. I incredulously said out loud, “Thanks, Pop!”

Now, some hearing this story will say, “Your dad is your guardian angel! That’s so cool,” which honestly, I don’t know that I buy as I really don’t know that I believe in angels like that. Others will say, “No, you just remembered what your Dad had said to you in a similar situation years ago,” which he definitely said to me when driving around on sleet-covered roads while I was in high school. And yet, the palpable sense that Dad was right there with me was way more than just a memory.

But my point is not to argue the mechanics of what happened. My belief is that the angels we have loved and lost are still somehow with us. Whether in some spiritual way or vividly in our memories, they are never far away. And though I would prefer being able to play music with him again or sit and talk with him again the way we used to, I’m thankful for these occasional moments when I still feel Dad and other loved and lost angels with me.

My hope and prayer is that, for each of you who have also loved and lost an angel, you can find moments of their ongoing presence and that this will bring you comfort, peace, and hope.

One More Time With (or without) Feeling – A Sermon

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This is a sermon preached at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church on Sunday, October 18, 2015, and this is the introductory article from the eNewsletter before that service:

You may have heard the story before. A man is complaining to his wife saying, “I don’t feel like going to church today.”

His helpful wife retorted, “But you have to go to church today!”

“Well, why do think I have to?” countered the man.

“Because you’re the pastor, that’s why!”

In the first few months we attended CHUMC back in the spring of 2012, I felt in a state of limbo. So much of my perception of my identity before moving to DC was wrapped up in being a full time clergy person teaching, organizing, and leading educational / nurture and mission ministries. I had yet to do much here at CHUMC, and in some ways I felt a bit useless.

On more than one occasion, I thought to myself on a Sunday morning, “I don’t feel like going to church today.” However, I knew Sandra and Micah really wanted to go, so I’d keep my mouth shut and go.

Every time, when I got into worship and heard that phrase, “no matter what you’re feeling or just not feeling,” in the welcome statement, I was reminded that I was welcomed by God here – as you, the congregation welcomed us. And I was reminded that when I didn’t feel like being here, that was when I most needed to be here. And each time, I was glad that I came. Eventually, I could just relax and worship – something a clergy person doesn’t always get to do (though I’m glad to be here!).

Listen to it here:

Right-mouse-click to download audio.

Romans 8:24-30
24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.  (NRSV)

Matthew 6:5-8
5 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  (NRSV)