Guest post by Michael Tate--The Lenten Lighthouse

Phare de la Jument, France

In my effort to bring guest writers to this blog space, I am happy to introduce a second writer this Lenten season: Michael Tate. You can find his writing on his Facebook page. 

I invite you to read this piece that he posted today, allowing it to be a Lenten reflection. 

What do you glean from these words?

Me? I glean hope.

Rev. Deb

-----------------------------------------------------------

The Lenten Lighthouse

I have stood for more than a century.  Shining my light of both warning and safety for generations of mariners.  Even as many of my brothers and sisters fell into disrepair and deterioration I stood fast.  For those of us who remained, I was one of the lucky few who warranted automation because of the treachery of the rocks below.  Even with all of their modernization, those mariners needed my help.

And yet I stand a forgotten sentinel.  Too  far for visitors and too electronic for a keeper.  I remain vigilant in deafening silence.  My light silently screams of the danger still.   Yet I feel I have become that which has been given up.  Would they even know if I just stopped?  Would they know if I gave into the waves?  

Perhaps that is what I shall give up.  I may not have eyes with which to see a calendar but I mark the seasons and the passing of the phases of the moon.  My memory is long and I remember the joy of my keepers.  I heard the words of lent and sacrifice and return.  I embody the first two but no one returns for me.  So perhaps I shall give them up, all those who have forgotten me.

Then a twinkle strikes my glass.  A bright star, freckled upon the ebony sky, winks at me.  From its impossible distance it sees me standing here alone.  It reminds me of the other words I have heard.  The sacrificed stood alone.  Betrayed and abandoned.   Hurt and broken and bleeding.  Lifted up above a sea of people becoming at once a beacon of hope in a rocky cursed world.  

This lamb made no noise the words go.  He did not protest His fate nor did He give those up, even those who had forgotten him.  These words echo through the spirals of my stairs and strengthens my foundation.   

Then I hear another sound in my memory.   The laughter of the keeper's children bounce lovingly off my walls.   The innocent smiles and caring hands that once filled my days all combine with the story of the One who died and yet lived just as the horizon darkens.

I choose to give up fear and doubt and self loathing.  Not just for weeks and days but for all of my time whatever that shall be.  My light shines brighter as I choose to shine as a beacon of truth and home.  I am the symbol of the word salvation as I illuminate a path through the dark to the safe harbor.  

The lenten lighthouse stands shining its solitary light for whosoever will see it and seek its safe harbor.  Don't give up shining your light even if you feel as if you're the only one.   Some lost ship being tossed by storms can only see one light and it is yours.  Without you, they may not find their way to safety.

~Michael Tate 

(Photo posted on his FB page, French lighthouse)

Last week's lectionary lesson-- Salt and Light

I preach the lectionary.  Or, more often, the lectionary preaches to me.  Each week I dive into the Scripture passage hoping to come out with a message to share with the congregation(s) I will be with on that particular Sunday.  Some weeks are more difficult than others for that message to be birthed.  For those who are living into this calling, I imagine you know what I mean.

There are so many times that I find that the Scripture passages are reading me and the message too.

This past week was no different.

There have been several things that have happened, allowing me to reflect further on the themes of salt and light.

First, on Saturday, we had a planning and visioning meeting at one of our churches in the parish and had a guest speaker.  During his time of sharing with us he spoke about the church being a lighthouse in the community.  The picture on the front of the bulletin for Sunday included a lighthouse. I like it when things weave together.

Our speaker also spoke about people in the community being thirsty.  They may not know what they are thirsty for, but we, as the church (people, not building) can provide the answers they seek.  In the message for Sunday, I spoke about salt having three properties: it flavors, it keeps things fresh (preserves), and it creates a thirst.  There were two connections on that Saturday morning.

As I preached the sermon twice on Sunday morning, it preached to me.  I encouraged us to "Be Salt and Light" to those around us.  I mentioned that in being the light, we are bringing light into a broken and wounded world that needs healing.  Often, that broken and wounded world starts with us.  Just like a stained glass window, the light can shine brightly through broken things.  Or, just like a glow stick, we can shine brightly through brokenness.

The passage in Matthew 5:13-20 tells us that we are worth nothing if we lose our saltiness.  I addressed how we can sustain our saltiness and brightness through the means of grace taught by John Wesley.  We recently had a study on the Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition and the means of grace were most recently shared then.  But they got shared again on Sunday, as a way for us to remain salty and bright.

Means of Grace:

Instituted means of grace

[evident in the life and teaching of Jesus]

[inward holiness, works of piety]

·        prayer (private and corporate)

·        searching the Scriptures (reading, hearing, meditating)

·        Lord's Supper

·        Fasting

·        Community

Prudential means of grace

[developed by the church]

[outward holiness, works of mercy]

Service focused toward individual needs--

·        Doing Good (do no harm, do good, stay in love with God)

·        Visiting the Sick

·        Visiting the Imprisoned

·        Feeding & Clothing those in need

·        Earning, Saving, & Giving all one can

As it was the first Sunday of the month (meaning we would share in Holy Communion), we were participating in every means of grace in the first section, except fasting (to my knowledge).

It isn't easy to remain salty and bright.  It takes work.  I am reminded that our saltiness and brightness is for the sake of others.  We are to share with those around us, so that they will see the love of God and be drawn into relationship.

Sunday afternoon I was in the grocery store gathering a few groceries and I noticed someone down the aisle that I recognized, but couldn't place in the moment.  He seemed to recognize me too.  I didn't want to seem rude, so I kept moving, but acknowledged him with a hello or smile.  I don't remember.  As we passed one another, he turned around and asked me, "Do you know me?"  I turned back and responded that I did and suddenly his name came to me, so I gave it.  Then we started talking.  I reminded him how I knew him (horses and horse birthday parties) and we talked for a little while.  Our conversation went into church (his lead) and God.  It was definitely one of those opportunities to be salt and light and to share the good news of God's love.

Preaching isn't just something I do.  It's who I am.  It's a part of my life, lived out for the good of the kingdom and the glory of God.  I am changed constantly by the good news as I seek to live, love, and lead in the way of Jesus.

Another thing this week was that I was asked to do a funeral for a family I don't know.  This was the first time for me to do this.  I have done one funeral for a church member's family member that I didn't know, but not a funeral for folks I didn't know.

It had already been a busy two weeks with church families of dying, grief, death, and funerals, but I felt led to say yes to this family.

I was blessed tremendously to be able to walk alongside this family, to get to know their loved one who shone brightly throughout life despite hardships.

Walking with others through life in community is a means of grace.  It helps us keep our saltiness and brightness.

There were songs on the radio that brought me encouragement during the week, comments from friends and colleagues, prayers, etc.

I don't know what you are going through on your journey, whether you are on the top of the mountain or in the valley. What I do know is that the means of grace will strengthen and carry you as you live, love, and lead (we all lead in one way or another).

Be salt.  Be light.  Shine in the darkness for those who need to find their way to safety.

Blessings on your journey,

Debra