Like this newsletter? Tell your fellow United Methodist Church members to sign up here.
Faith, trust and the total solar eclipse
Today the sun will go dark in many places. The rare event reminds us that even when we cannot see the way before us, we know God makes a path.
Photo Creative Commons, CCO via pixabay.com
The 2017 solar eclipse serves as a reminder that we act not only on what we see, but also what we know by faith.
Faith, trust, and the total solar eclipse, A UMC.org Feature by Joe Iovino*
Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.
Hebrews 11:1, Common English Bible
On Monday, August 21, 2017, “everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse” (NASA). For those nearest the path of the total solar eclipse, it will appear as though the sun is disappearing in the middle of the day.
Those who have experienced a total solar eclipse in the past, tell us the event can be confusing to animals and insects. Many of them will begin their evening routines as the skies grow dark and the air cools ever so slightly. Crickets may start chirping. Birds may find their nests and settle in as if for the night. Our dogs may circle and curl into those tight balls they lie in when they sleep.
The 2017 solar eclipse will be seen in all of North America and portions of South America, Africa, and Europe. Image credit: Sky & Telescope diagram / source: Fred Espenak. Click to enlarge. Of course, it would be weird if the people living in Idaho Falls, Idaho—one of the cities in the path of the total solar eclipse—brushed their teeth and changed into their pajamas at 11:00 a.m. as the eclipse nears totality. We know the darkness won’t last very long, so we do not react to it. We instead act on what we know.
A solar eclipse occurs when Earth’s moon lines up between us and the sun, hiding the sun from view. It is a spectacular sight, but be sure to have special solar eclipse sunglasses that allow you to look directly into the sun safely.
The whole thing will last less than 3 hours from start to finish, and the darkest times of total eclipse only 2 minutes. It would be silly for us to act on what our senses tell us and get ready for bed. Instead, we trust what we cannot see but know to be true.
Faith is comfort and call
In the book of Hebrews, the author talks about faith as “the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see” (Hebrews 11:1 CEB). As people of faith, we find comfort in knowing there is more to life than what we perceive with our senses.
Hebrews 11 recounts the stories of many from the Old Testament who learned by faith of God’s presences in their lives. Noah knew God would save him and his family through the flood. Abraham and Sarah believed that God would make a great nation from them, even though they were old and childless.
The passage also mentions the faith of others like Rahab, David, Samuel, and the prophets. All of these believed in the promises of God, even when life appeared dark.
Their faith in God comforted them, but it was also a call. Each acted on God’s promises before they had come to fruition.
Noah built the ark before it started raining. Abraham and Sarah trusted God and moved before they knew the final destination, and (eventually) trusted that God would provide them with a son.
From start to finish, the eclipse will last nearly 3 hours in some places, with totality lasting only 2 minutes. Chart from eclipse2017.nasa.gov. Click to enlarge.After listing people of faith from the past in Hebrews 11, the twelfth chapter begins with a call for each of us to live by faith. “So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us,” the scriptures continue, “since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.”A spiritual eclipse
There are times when many of us experience what we might call a spiritual eclipse. Something gets in the way and we struggle to see the light of Christ we know is always there.
During those times, it can be easy to be fooled into reacting to the darkness of our circumstances, like the animals getting ready for the night during the solar eclipse. Our faith in Jesus calls us to live differently, beyond our senses.
Even during the darkest times, we know by faith that God puts a path before us and calls us to follow. By faith, we also know that we do not go alone. We are surrounded by “a great cloud of witnesses” that includes those named in the faith hall of fame of Hebrews 11 and the saints who have influenced our spiritual formation.
As we experience the solar eclipse on August 21, or whenever we experience a spiritual eclipse, let us remember to act not only on what we experience with our senses, but at all times and in all circumstances to live by faith.
*Joe Iovino works for UMC.org at United Methodist Communications. Contact him by email or at 615-312-3733.Read a reflection
A prayer for the classroomAs a new semester begins in many places, we can try to make that transition easier by praying to God and giving thanks for the people in our schools. Watch the video or read the prayer.
Watch video
Can your work bring you closer to God?
John Wesley had a legendary work ethic and believed his work was part of God’s greater plan of redemption. Do you see your job as a way you serve Christ too?
Photo by Kathryn Price, illustration by United Methodist Communications
As people of faith, we remember to glorify God in all of our work.
Can your work bring you closer to God?, A UMC.org Feature by Joe Iovino*
Serving Christ in our work is not defined by what our job is, but by the way we do it. Photo by Brett Danielsen, Creative Commons 0.Large portions of our lives are spent at work. Some go to an office each day while others labor outdoors. Some work in 12-hour shifts to provide our food, keep us safe, and heal our wounds. Others travel near and far to sell, build, consult, and transport products and people. Still others teach children, cook meals, clean, and provide other services for our communities.
No matter the nature of the work, our jobs are an opportunity to serve Christ every day. The Bible instructs us, “Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 CEB).
How we work
Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, had a legendary work ethic. He traveled hundreds of thousands of miles on horseback, preached tens of thousands of sermons; and, oh yes, started a global movement, to which United Methodists are heirs.
Wesley was famously fruitful in his labors, in part because he was disciplined, but also because of his conviction that his work was part of God’s greater plan of redemption.
Some of Wesley’s admonitions about work are published in our United Methodist Book of Discipline and read at each ordination service. Wesley tells us to be diligent, punctual, and not so much in debt that we are an embarrassment (Book of Discipline para. 336). He preached that we “ought to gain all we can,” but not work at the expense of life or health. He said that we should not throw our precious talent away, “in the sea.” Then after we have provided for ourselves and family, Wesley goes on to say that we should give all we can (Sermon 50: “The Use of Money”).
Serving Christ in our work is not defined by what our job is, but by the way we do it. This includes the motivation and character out of which our work flows.
Serving Christ in our work is not defined by what our job is, but by the way we do it.
TWEET THISIf we radiate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—the fruit of the Spirit—we are attending to God. We can do this in any occupation.
Lynette Tanyaradzwa Regede shares this message with the youth and young adults she serves as an advisor in the Harare West District of the Zimbabwe West Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Lynette Regede participates at a church communications training at Africa University in June, 2006. File photo by Mike DuBose, United Methodist Communications.Describing her job, Regede insists, “It’s not about having money.” Instead, she invests herself in others, a trait she passes on.
“I was with them in camps, sports, choral competitions and all activities,” she remembers. Those times “gave me an opportunity to be one-on-one with them, to know them outside the church premises and to observe when their guard was down.”
Regede reports that many of her former students are now “in all disciplines: pastors, lawyers, doctors, teachers, artisans, engineers and different officers in government departments to name a few, and I feel humbled to have them in my life.”
Our work affords us opportunities to give ourselves for the sake of others, and to show that there is more to life than the acquisition of money and things.
Relying on God to get us through difficulties
In Matthew 11:29 Jesus tells us to take up his yoke and learn from him. What many of us don’t know is that Jesus is inviting us to take up his training yoke, which is different from the usual yoke farmers use.
When a farmer plows, the normal yoke ensures that the load is shared equally between two oxen. However, when the farmer wants to train a young animal, he employs a training yoke. This yoke is designed so that the young ox learns from the more experienced one who carries the entire load. The only thing the young ox has to do is walk beside the senior animal. So Jesus is saying to us, “Just walk beside me. I’ll carry the burden. I’ll provide the power. I’ll guide you down straight paths.”
When we bear heavy loads or are faced with seemingly impossible tasks at work, we have God’s promise that Jesus will not only be there with us; but, in his graciousness, he will carry the load.
Jerry McGuire is the chief financial officer of a family-owned construction company. He began attending church for the first time 14 years ago, at Desert Spring United Methodist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jerry McGuire, who works as a chief financial officer, found strength in his faith when work was difficult. Photo courtesy of Jerry McGuire.“One of the big things I’ve gained, having spent a long time in business without God or the church, is coming to a realization for myself—and hopefully to share with others—of how much more there is to life.”When an economic downturn deeply affected Las Vegas and McGuire’s work became extraordinarily difficult, he leaned on his faith.
“We were focused on residential work,” McGuire says of his company, and “they basically didn’t build houses here for 4 years.” During that time, “I would think about other people… How are they making it through every day?” McGuire remembers. “I couldn’t imagine it. I don’t know how I would’ve done it.”
“To know that you have a higher purpose, or you’ve got gifts, or you’re called to do something else that’s just not for you but for other people,” he explains, “that was very important.”
McGuire uses his gifts to do things for others at work and in the church. He serves as lay leader of both his church and the North District of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, positions he deeply values.
Giving all our labor to God
We might be tempted to separate our work into categories—some tasks for God and other just work. The Bible calls us instead to do everything to the glory of God.
As people of faith, we give thanks for all who work and recommit ourselves to do our jobs in ways that glorify Jesus.
*Joe Iovino works for UMC.org at United Methodist Communications. Contact him atjiovino@umcom.org or 615-312-3733.
Freelance writer Kathy Armistead contributed to this story.
Originally published September 3, 2015.Read more
Finding faith in the shadow of North Korea
United Methodist Bishop Hee‑Soo Jung grew up on a small island in South Korea with a view of the heavily armed border. He shares his own moving story of converting to Christianity and working for peace.
View video
FOLLOW US!
United Methodist Communications
The communications agency for The United Methodist Church
810 12th Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
No comments:
Post a Comment