Nov
1
2012
Arms Over Head
Posted in Worship 2 Comments
Today was a first.
Today, I was able to put my arm over my head for the first time since last week.
While the storm raged outside…inside, the house was quiet and still.
Lots of ice…reading…resting.
Just what I needed to help my shoulder heal.
All last week, I had to be creative getting dressed…washing my hair…doing everyday tasks.
The simple movement…of putting my arm over my head…was one I took for granted.
But today…victory!
I began to think.
Arms over head…
A movement to pat yourself on the back?
A movement to praise Him?
There is a huge difference!
I was watching news reports of the devastation from hurricane Sandy.
It was very difficult to watch…much more difficult to experience!
Throughout the hour, the reporters kept asking questions about climate change.
They asked questions about changing weather patterns.
They kept asking WHY?
I do not presume to know WHY.
Why are such difficult things allowed by God?
Theodicy…as defined by Webster…the defense of God’s goodness and omnipotence in view of the existence of evil.
Two common Theodicy questions…
If God is good, why is there evil in the world?
If God is good, why do people suffer?
The entire book of Job deals with this issue.
Job consistently asked WHY.
Why was he suffering?
Why me?
God did not defend Himself to Job.
God does not need to defend Himself to us.
God does not need to explain why He does what He does.
God does not need to explain why He allows what He allows.
What Job really needed, in the midst of his sorrow and pain, was the presence of God.
The immediacy of God.
The nearness of God.
Fragile people…created creatures…cannot begin to understand the WHY of God.
As hard as that is to accept…I’m actually glad about that.
If I understood His ways…He would not be God.
God is totally “other”!
Always was…always is…always will be!
A child panics when he is momentarily lost in a store…until he can see his mother.
We, too, are lost.
In our lost-ness…like a child…we panic.
We are afraid.
We think we want answers to our situation.
What we really want is HIM!
Job asked, “Where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?” (Job 17:15)
After Job laments…which is a correct response to pain and suffering…he sees more clearly.
“My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You.” (Job 42:5)
Watching the reports on the hurricane last night, only ONE firefighter acknowledged God.
He told the reporter how grateful he was to God for His protection.
In the midst of the tragedy, the firefighter did not begin to explain or theorize.
He just gave thanks.
Simple thanks.
Arms over head…in praise!
The goodness of God is infinite…beyond measure…complete.
We cannot begin to comprehend the wonder of it.
The problem of evil is too vast…our human minds cannot get around it.
People need tangible help in the wake of hurricane Sandy.
Food, clothes, shelter…someone to talk to…someone to understand.
Even more than tangible help…we need HIM.
His nearness.
His compassion.
His ear ever turned to His children.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified.
“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.”
“Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly, You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:25-33)
In our humanness, we look at the wind and the waves.
They are big.
They are terrifying.
They are insurmountable.
But then…there is Jesus.
Jesus, who says, Don’t be afraid. It is I.
Literally…I AM!
The Great, I Am.
The answer to every human fear…every disaster…everything Satan can throw at us.
The answer to everything.
I Am.
The Incarnate Son of God.
Jesus.
The answer to WHY…is WHO!
In church we sing a song called “The Great I Am”– this made me think of it. SO TRUE!
I know that song, Janna.
Sometimes, lifting our arms up in worship is the ONLY response!
Gina