My Squirrel Friend and St. Francis: Franciscan I Am Not (or am I?)

I have always loved the legends and folklore that surround St. Francis of Assisi, who is not only synonomous with a concern for the poor, but also the patron saint of ecology. Who knew that one day I would become just like him? Thanks to a friend and colleague for pointing this out on Facebook.

This afternoon, while at the playground with my kids and neighbor, this little guy made his way towards us. I did what anyone else would do- I ran into my house, grabbed two oven mitts, and welcomed "Francis" on our neighborhood pilgrimage.

Then I realized it may be best to put him back in the tree. I certainly don't think it would have been good idea for me to put him in my son's tricycle trunk and bring him home.

But Francis may disagree.

Maybe I am not as Franciscan as I thought.

"As a friend of the poor who was loved by God's creatures, Saint Francis invited all of creation – animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon – to give honor and praise to the Lord. The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples."

---Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace 1990

Notes:

*Greek icon of St. Francis above is on acrylic, by Kris Larsen.

**The mural is on the wall of St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, an urban minsitry I encountered in 2010. From website: "We are a Franciscan, Eucharistic community called to minister with the poor and homeless of Philadelphia. Formed in the spirit of the Gospel and inspired by the life and compassion of Francis and Clare of Assisi, we try to meet the immediate daily needs of the people we serve with food, clothing and hospitality."

 

What's a Good Devotional? Contemplative Resources for Youth Spiritual Formation

I am frequently asked by youth and parents, "what's a good devotional?" They are eager to engage in some sort of sacred rhythm of prayer, meditation, and readings of Scripture and so consult the person whose paid to collect and occasionally write resources for discipleship. What they don't often realize, or maybe they do, is that asking this question will often lead to an invitation to check out my personal library. I love to have these conversations and provide guides for personal formation and contemplation.

I have even created a few of my own.

Imago Dei Youth Ministry annually gifts to confirmation youth and graduating seniors some sort of resource to aid them in their spiritual formation and pilgrimage of faith. I am pretty picky and border-line snooty about the resources I hand out. There are a lot of really bad devotionals out there.

There are also a lot of really good ones.

Here are a few things I consider before giving or personally using a "devotional" or some sort of daily guide for spiritual formation. There are also links to several of my favorites that I regularly consult or have recommended to youth and adults alike.

What Makes a Good Devotional?

1. Inward-Outward Journey: The trend in pop-Christianity is to look for a devotional that is all about "Jesus and me" or personal life application. While it is pivotal to have the personal relationship with Christ and to grow as an individual disciple, a good devotional propels the individual to engage the communal. We are formed inwardly to love outwardly, embodying in the real world the ethos of the particular prayer, scripture, meditation, etc. A great devotional speaks into our lives so that our lives speak into the world.

2. Move Beyond the Intellect: Often devotionals become brief studies of passages, words, theological concepts, or historical contexts. While there may be a place for this in a devotional, it's place is rather small. Personal devotion is not for the purpose of intellectual ascent. Instead, we engage in the daily ritual of devotion to rest in the presence of God, contemplate the person and work of Jesus, listen for the whisper of the Spirit, and allow Scripture to read us as we are then sent from the text read or prayer prayed. In fact, the best devotionals frequently have no commentary whatsoever.

3. Consider Ancient Disciplines: We are a people used to independence and self-direction. Yet, the practices of early and ancient Christians, especially those who lived/live in monastic communities, can be significant spiritual directors in personal formation. They are tools for ordinary saints interested in being set free of distraction and centered on the divine presence and call. Centering Prayer. Lectio Divina. Examine. Imaginative Prayer. These are just a few that I use in my personal formation and youth ministry retreats.

4. Freedom and Flexibility: Personal devotion should not leave you feeling guilty or behind if you miss a day or two...or seven. While it is important to maintain a daily rhythm, spiritual formation should lead neither to a guilt complex or make-up work. If you neglect the day's discipline, you should feel free to simply pick up fresh the next time you do engage the particular resource or practice. Anything else can lead to burdensome idolatry. Remember, Jesus said, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

5. Can Be Used Privately and Corporately: Recently one of our pastors gave the staff a daily devotional that many of us have been using quite regularly. What has been beautiful is you will occasionally hear colleagues pass each other in the hall and chat about what they prayed for that day in light of morning mediation. "Did you pray for Antarctica?" "I didn't like that Psalm." "That Scripture sentence really spoke to me this morning." It's also great when a particular devotional can be engaged at the same time and in the same place, moving through the contemplative disciplines together.

I have found that there is not one single devotional that works for everyone. It's also true that devotionals have lifespans; they tend to be seasonal. I often use one for a while, tire of it, then try something new, only to possibly return to an old favorite down the road. Nonetheless, I am quite convinced that some sort of resource is helpful.

Otherwise, you probably never will practice the presence, only get lost in your own thoughts.

And for me, that's an all too frequent practice.

Suggested Resources (send other favorites my way)

Seeking God's Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year (my personal favorite; gave out this year)

The Life with God Bible by Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Walter Brueggemann, and Eugene Peterson

Devotional Classics by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith

Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers by Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

Christians at the Cross by N.T. Wright (for Lent)

Eighth Day of Creation by Elizabeth O'Connor

Enjoy the Silence by Maggie and Duffy Robins

The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle

A Prayer for Mother's Day: Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice; Weep with Those Who Weep

Creator God, we are reminded today that new life and everlasting hope are found in you, the one who birthed all of creation and continues to care for all within it. We give you thanks for your on-going invitation to be co-laborers with you in this world you made good and beautiful.

We are grateful on this day that as a mother cares for her children, so also have you extended compassion towards us and cared for us as your people. May your Spirit enable us to extend the same love and concern towards others in their seasons of joy and sorrow. Help us to laugh with those who laugh. Weep with those who weep. And rejoice with those who rejoice.

On this day, we especially lift up to you all those who are mothers. We pray for those who know the joy of new life coming into this world and faithfully love and care for their families as you love and care for us. We pray for mothers who have adopted or are in the process of adoption, extending their families to children in need of a place to call home. We are reminded that in the same way you claim us as your children and call us to make our home in you.

God of comfort, your Word reminds us that creation groans as though in the pains of labor, waiting for the world to be made right. We continue to await the day when all will be made right. Until then, we grieve this day for all those who long to be mothers but for whatever reasons, known and unknown, have yet to see that day come. We pray for those who have battled endlessly through infertility, miscarriage, and reproductive technology, knowing all too well that pregnancy is never to be taken for granted. We pray for those who have lost children to a world still muddled with chaos. We pray for the children throughout this world who long for someone to call mother. Make a way for them to enter into a family and a home, even through your church. We pray for those who also have lost mothers and grieve the passing of other loved ones. Make your compassion and concern known to all for whom Mother's Day is no longer a day to celebrate.

Jesus, you are the one we call brother and friend. We are grateful that in your life, death, and resurrection we discover new reasons to hope and the ability to trust God’s promises that are to us and for the whole world. Remind us over and again- we are your people and nothing and no one can separate us from the love you have for us. In that light, continue to form us as your children, so we may be your light into the world. Walk with us towards the day when you will make a home among us and all the families of the earth will be united forever. Amen.

 

Bangarang: The Return of Kickball, Run Home Jacks, and #NerdAlert Thelogical Reflections

It's early Thursday evening when I pull up to the parking lot at Oakbourne, lace up my golf spikes, do a few stretches, and walk towards my fellow competitors.

No- these are not tee-time rituals for a late-night round of nine. I am about to play kickball.

I wear golf cleats because the grass is slick and I refuse to buy "equipment" to play the great playground pastime. Also, the league commissioner said I could not wear my metal baseball spikes from college. It had something to do with the possibility of popping the playground ball or Ty Cobbing my opponents.

We are still early into season two of Run Home Jack's quest to attain WAKA immortality, but we are 3-1 and at the top of the standings. It's quite intense- maybe too intense- but I believe we got a legit chance to dethrone the black team and start our own dynasty that would rival any third grade collection of gym class All-Stars.

And yes, our team's and the entire leagues nemesis dawns black uniforms. Cliché, I know. And yes, we have uniforms (t-shirts). We get 15% off our post-game bar tab when we wear them out (my friend to the far right made a rookie mistake and left his WAKA gear in the car).

This year the Jacks are Philly red. Last year we were kelly green. The newest team to join the league, because they signed up first, stole our colors. Our team captain, second from right above, is quite bitter. But we beat them last week. We should have played them for the right to wear kelly green.

I was at a meeting the other day with a few Presby friends of mine, all who are interested in fresh expressions of the church. They asked one of my colleagues and good friends what we do to foster community with the younger adult demographic. We acknowledged the difficulty posed by packaged church programs and intensive studies through books that do not resonate with our generation.

"We play kickball," said my friend, colleague, and (most importantly) teammate.

I think those gathered around the table thought we were kidding.

"Seriously, it's been the most effective means to foster community with younger congregants and members of the West Chester area. It's also awesome."

I am increasingly amazed at how a much more structured, competitive, and officiated rendition of recess can generate so many opportunities to learn the names of your local neighbors and laugh alongside those who are racing to the park just after their nine-to-five.

It's also provided quite the platform for some sacred...stop laughing...reflections I call, "Theology of Kickball."