Dale Cresap's blog

When you go to a restaurant, do you expect to receive a menu and choose from it whatever you please? A cafeteria is a special type of restaurant in which you can pick or pass by individual dishes in a buffet line. You live in a culture in which individual choice is highly prized. Do you see your spirituality the same way, and consider yourself to have the same freedom of action in choosing a church? But your spirituality is an engagement with the transcendent and is not entirely on your terms. Is it on your terms at all? Do you choose your spirituality or does it choose you?

Do you consider yourself to be a sensitive person? Are you more aware of your surroundings and situations than others? Do you see this as a blessing or a curse? Does this make you more sensitive to slights and insults? You may take offense at the statements of others when there was no intention to insult. Can you overlook thoughtlessness in others and say Father forgive them for they know not what they do? This requires a measure of grace but it may serve you better than other approaches. How can you apply your sensitivity for the benefit of others to advance my redemptive purposes?

Are you familiar with the commandment that you are not to seek vengeance because vengeance is mine? I will repay. Do you take comfort in this thinking that I am more capable of executing vengeance than you are? After all, you do have to concern yourself with following the law of the land. But what if the vengeance I perform is not as severe as you would like? What if I am more willing to grant your enemies mercy than you are? Will you be satisfied? If not, then maybe the problem is with you rather than them. My intention for your life is that you become more like me.

Do you ever reason by yourself? Do you ever consider an offense that is disturbing you at length alone and get into an endless loop of what they said and what you said and what you should have said, rehearsing your comeback speech in your mind? Did this leave you feeling righteous and justified? Was it ultimately helpful? What is the alternative to self-justifying thought patterns? In my word I invite you to come and let us reason together. This was presented in the context of forgiveness of sins, but it isn’t limited to that.

Do you have control issues? Do you know anyone who does? Is it easier to recognize in other people than in yourself? Is there a price to pay for having control issues? Does it appear to be something without cost? After all, everything is under control. Yet there is a cost for this, and it is easier to see in other people. Can you see how  they damage relationships, miss opportunities, and generally lead diminished lives, having control over a smaller and smaller domain? This is what happens when you are in control instead of me.

Are you familiar with the idea of sacred space? Sometimes this is called holy ground. People use these terms to refer to church buildings, but the concept is not limited to that. Are you familiar with the concept of safe space? This term applies to places where you are accepted and can be yourself without being threatened or defensive. Do you think of sacred space and safe space as the same thing? They should be, but this depends on your image of me. If you are absolutely certain of my love for you, then you know that you are safe in my presence, and sacred spaces are safe spaces.

Do you see yourself as inclusive and accepting or exclusive and intolerant? These divisions have created warring camps between large groups of people merely by identification with one group or another. But the same principle can be seen on a very small scale as well as on a large scale. Have you ever been in a conversation where some people were excluded because they knew nothing of the topic or terminology? Should you be required to limit conversation to the lowest common denominator?

Have you heard of burning your bridges? Have you ever done it? This implies dealing with an offense in such a way that reconciliation is impossible, not only today, but forever. How do you think I feel about this? You know how I feel about reconciliation. If your brother has anything against you go and be reconciled to your brother before you bring your offering to me. If you must have closure let it be in a positive sense. You do not know what tomorrow will bring. Even if you cannot deal with your brother today, don’t make it impossible to be reconciled to your brother tomorrow.

Do you have a strong sense of identity? What does it consist of? The search for identity is inherent in the human condition. I placed it within you. Have you noticed how many people identify with their favorite team, or fictional characters in stories, or their car, or house, or what they wear, or how they earn their living? Yet all of these things are chosen rather than inherent. Are they expressions of your true identity? All could be altered or done away with. Some are tenuous connections and some are imaginary.

Do you expect to get a reward in heaven? What would you expect? Money? Recognition? There are descriptions of extravagant wealth, but that will not be as meaningful a concept to you there as it is here. What is your reward in this life for following me? Don’t you describe your faith as a relationship with me? Wouldn’t you describe your friendships here as more enriching, satisfying, and fulfilling than anything monetary? Do you see your friendship with me as better than any other? So the relationship itself is the reward, and you don’t have to wait for heaven to get it.