I have a confession to make.
A few weeks ago, I attended
a meeting of the Synod’s Deans and Ministry Directors, and I acted outside of
my usual demeanor. Don’t worry I did nothing embarrassing or illegal. Typically,
I participate with a mostly-sunny demeanor, active in the conversation, moving
ideas forward, and arranging information into actional items. This did not
change, however, there were agenda items that spiraled away from the item at
hand, ventured outside of traditional operating procedures, were confused with
inaccurate and unknown information, and challenged core values. Needless to
say, throughout the three days, most of my buttons were pushed.
And yes,
uncharacteristically, I forcefully interrupted, articulating my frustration and
redirecting the group to the focus of the work. Included in the rant, was institutional
information, a call back to Synod’s mission and vision, a reminder of important
values of a Lutheran way of living, and a good dose of leadership acumen.
My buttons were pushed.
You would think that it was the
topics or my colleagues who were pushing my buttons… while true, something else
was happening.
My buttons – the times where
I acted outside of ‘my regular’ – were moments that revealed passion;
specifically my passion. The passions are those that have grown around character,
personality, skills, talents, and God-given gifts in me. It wasn’t the topics
or my colleagues pushing my buttons – it was the Holy Spirit.
It was the fire and wind of
Pentecost, sparking and poking.
It was a reminder and a
prodding to be about the tasks -the vocation- the specific items that continue
the list from Corinthians, that the Holy Spirit has empowered me to articulate
in action in the community of faith and beyond.
What pushes your buttons? What
causes a strong reaction or emotion in you?
That is passion. And somehow
that passion is connected to the specific gifts you have been given by God. Passion
is a compass to help you direct, focus, and articulate the gospel. Acting on your passion is living the good news.
Moments of feeling passionate – is the Holy Spirit pushing your buttons – directing
you to action.
Passion is the fire and wind
of the Holy Spirit present in your life and anxious to be put to work in the
community of faith and beyond.
On the day of Pentecost, the
Spirit came in a sound like the rush of a violent wind. At the sound - and the spoken word in other languages – a
crowd gathered. The crowds, according to the story in Acts, bewildered asked: How
is it that we hear in our own languages?
Notice that the text uses
the verb “hear.” How is it that we hear…
The biblical readings in the
Easter season spoke of the telling of the gospel – the story of Jesus’, Jesus’
death and resurrection. The women run from the tomb to tell the disciples. The
couple on the road to Emmaus run back to Jerusalem to tell the others, who in
turn tell of their encounter with the risen Jesus. Stephen testifies by
witnessing via speech to those accusing him. Peter and the other Apostles, tell
about Jesus, preaching in the streets, and teaching in people’s homes. The
story of Jesus is told. It is shared with words.
50 days with a focus on
telling, now changes to a focus on hearing.
I hear
I have heard the biblical Jesus’
stories my whole life. I can retell them from memory. I have heard other Jesus’
stories through my time as pastor; and can retell them. I hear … and in the same
breath I will confess that I don’t hear. I am sure that some of you have had
the experience of not feeling heard, and it may even have been me who didn’t fully
hear you.
What I mean is that one can
listen and physically hear, being empathetic or sympathetic, and hold the
confidence – pray for a person, be pastoral, and then rest there. Listening is presence.
Listening is a gift each has the capacity to do.
Hearing is more. Hearing is
attuned to the unique gifts and passions given to each person. The Holy Spirit
weaves her way through ordinary life, pushing peoples’ buttons – arousing passion.
Hearing is an activation of the specific qualities and characteristics that
have been entrusted to you to give back into the world.
We pray on most Sundays, Hear
us O God, or Lord hear our prayer. There is an expectation when we
pray that God, in hearing our prayers, will act. That our prayer will activate
God’s passion for humankind. There is something in the hearing that is active
and Spirit-filled. If we have this expectation of God hearing and responding,
does the same not apply to us? As we corporately pray the prayers of the
people, the Lord’s prayer, the liturgy, we pray (telling or asking), and we
also hear via the praying aloud by those around us.
It could be a prayer, or a
reading, a line from a Psalm, a question from the sermon, an antidote in the
kid’s corner, a troubling hymn – that pushes one of your buttons – that is the
Holy Spirit at work activating passion. Passion is the stirring up of your
particular God-given gifts.
Tanzania Lutheran pastor and
educator, Wilson Niwagila, wrote the hymn Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading.
We are singing the hymn as our hymn of the day. I draw your attention to
the words of the last two verses. We sing for the Spirit to come and ask specifically
for: Not mere knowledge, but discernment…
Keep us fervent in our
witness, unswayed by earth’s allure / Ever grant us zealous fitness, which you
alone assure.
Discernment is difficult. Discernment
is the ability to choose and determine a course of action, when the answer is
unclear or there are a variety of options. Discernment is difficult because
options can all be very good options. How does one choose? As a faith community
we pray for direction and guidance. As individuals in a congregation, we have
barriers to hearing the Spirit among us – barriers of the fear of making the
wrong choice, being paralyzed by ‘what ifs,’ holding onto control, and avoiding
risk.
In discernment processes –
the Spirit weaves through the gathered community – pushing peoples’ buttons. It
is in the bursts of passion that direction is given. It is in expressions of passion
that we hear the Spirit’s direction.
The hymn ends with an ask
for God to ever grant us zealous fitness. Zealous fitness speaks
to me of following and living out our passions. Passions are intense, deep, and
driving forces filled with emotions, grown from knowledge, beliefs, faith, and
values. Passion keeps faith communities fit
– active - living out God’s grace and unconditional love.
I shared my confession with
you at the beginning of the sermon because some of the buttons that the Spirit
pushed, I had not identified as anything but very loud pet-peeves. Upon reflection
I realized that each reaction and rant was connected to a passion. And yes, with
each passion, I have the acumen, knowledge, skills, and gifts to tell, hear,
and act the good news of Jesus Christ into God’s world. And further to that, at
this time, in the wider church, I am uniquely gifted for those specific tasks.
You too are uniquely gifted and have the responsibility of passionately
contributing to God’s kindom. Hear the prodding of the Holy Spirit and act.
Keep us fervent in our
witness, unswayed by earth’s allure. Ever grant us zealous fitness, which you
alone assure. Amen.
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