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< December, 2001 >
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Fox Hole Prayers and the Baby in the MangerBut were these only foxhole prayers? When people crawl out from underthe current crisis, will prayer and faith once again get lost in therace to keep up with bills and Jodi's soccer schedule? Why does it takea crisis to get people to think about the really important things inlife? Why does it take a crisis to bring out the best in people?We tend to discount or look down on foxhole prayers. But I suspect thatGod honors any sincere prayer no matter whether you pray once a year oronce an hour. God is bighearted that way. But, a prayer uttered inpanic when in deep crisis is not the way to develop a deep andlong-lasting faith. It's like expecting to have an excellentrelationship with a person you only talk to once a year. That doesn'twork. You may have a relationship of sorts-but it's not as close asthose relationships where you connect with people daily or weekly.But this gets us to the issue of, is God real, anyway? Does Christmasmean only a brief nod to some baby in a cradle? Do the rituals meananything? Take, for instance, communion, or the Lord's Supper. Forthose who don't know exactly what communion is, in the Christian faithit's a periodic ceremony or special part of the worship service where aminister, after brief words of meditation, serves each one in thecongregation a small piece of bread or communion wafer, and then a sipof grape juice or communion wine. This is done in memory of JesusChrist's last supper when he was on earth, eating with his followers.Jesus and his disciples were actually observing the Jewish Passovertradition, as they were Jewish. Jesus asked his followers to observethis special meal of bread and wine in his memory. I have often thought about how odd and ritualistic this ceremony mustseem to a newcomer. It could appear like something out of the darkages-and indeed it stems back to 2,000 years before the birth of Christ,at the Exodus out of Egypt. So is this just a comforting, familiar ritual for Christian believers,that produces a sense of well-being, a feeling of community, and innerconnection with God? Or does it mean something?If we go back to its roots, taking communion was far from just a nicelittle thing to do in a service of worship. Instead, it was a radicalact. It meant casting your lot and your life with a radical leader whowas so despised and untrusted by some in authority that later that samenight he was arrested, tried and executed. Pretty risky business tobreak bread with this leader. Much more than just a comforting ritual.It had real meaning.And therein lies the key to making faith mean something in our lives. Ifit is just something where you are going through the motions: go tochurch, pray, give a dollar in the offering plate, smile, sit, rise, andshake hands on cue, then religion is empty.But if you pay attention to what the actions, activities and statementsmean-it can revolutionize your life. If we follow Jesus' non-violentexample, it can even lead to death. Being ready to die for what youbelieve-not in the extreme kind of way the terrorists did-is theultimate test, and thankfully, one most of us won't have to take. Butthat's what it means to be a person of faith. Faith without commitmentis like, I don't know, maybe like trying to play in a pro-football gamewithout any kind of preparation. You ain't gonna get very far. It'sfool-hardy.This Christmas, may the events of the last couple months, and beingconfronted once again by the sight of the prince of peace born in amanager, lead us to a deeper, everyday faith.
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Contributed by Melodie Davis from her weekly columnANOTHER WAY (http://www.thirdway.com/aw/).For information on using Another Way in a local newspaper, contact:ANOTHER WAY, 1251 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22801-2497; or call1-800-999-3534; fax at 540-434-5556; or email me at:Melodie@mennomedia.org |
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