DUET

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24

 

In the days leading up to the 2018 midterm elections, the political landscape is filled with attack ads, partisan rhetoric, and just plain snarkiness. This year’s election will surely be remembered as one of our nation’s most contentious campaigns. We cannot turn on a television without being bombarded with messages about how the other candidate is a jerk. Many of these ads are misrepresentations; some are outright lies. “Truth telling” segments are often broadcast to help us sort it all out. Why can’t everyone just be nice?

 

On CBS a couple of weeks ago, Steve Hartman (Feel-Good King of the Five O’Clock News) relayed a story about Lucy Rogers (Democrat) and Zac Mayo (Republican), engaged in a highly competitive race for a state house seat in Lamoille County, Vermont. Each believes in his/her own party’s platform. They both want to win. Each is knocking on doors—all 2000 plus in the county. But there is one very different “vibe” between these two candidates: the both love music. At the end of a debate recently, both candidates began moving furniture and took out their instruments to provide a short concert. Zac played his guitar and wrote a song for the occasion. Lucy played her cello and sang harmony.

 

Wait, what?!? How can the word “harmony” appear in a description of a candidate debate these days? Don’t these candidates know that campaigning has become a blood sport in this “partisan politics” atmosphere? Reaching across the aisle has been soundly replaced with shouting, blaming, and insulting! But here were these two opposing contenders not only making beautiful music together, but seemingly enjoying it and being one hundred per cent civil about it. It was enough to get my attention, and I expect God looked down with approval as well.

 

In Romans 3, we are told (again) that there is no difference between us. Not between Jew or Gentile, man or woman, right or left or in between, Democrats and Republicans and Independents. Can we remember that when we go to the polls this time around? Please?

 

Father of All, we pray for civility in our daily exchanges with all of Your children. Amen

 

Meg Blaine Corrigan is the author of three books: Then I Am Strong: Moving From My Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child; Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist; and Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of New Mexico and has over thirty years’ experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, war veterans, and other trauma survivors.  Her books may be purchased through her website, www.MegCorrigan.com or from www.amazon.com .

SPIRITUALITY OF IMPERFECTION

“How can you say.., ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Luke 6:42

 

Members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) seek to live by the Twelves Steps, each step building on the one before. Step 10 says, “…continued to take personality inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.” By the time the AA member gets to Step 10, she has already worked through (but not necessarily perfected) the first nine steps, including Step 4, making “a searching and fearless inventory of ourselves.” Step 10 is a “mini Step 4,” providing for an opportunity to evaluate and correct one’s behavior each day—maybe even many times a day.

 

When reading today’s Scripture, I wonder if Christ’s listeners really heard the message the way He intended. At first glance, Jesus’ teaching may seem quite harsh. He calls His listeners “hypocrites,” and seems angry because they are blind to their own faults while being keenly aware of the faults of others. It is such a human thing to do, to regularly pass judgement on our friends, family, neighbors and especially strangers who are “different,” and to completely miss our own shortcomings which may be even worse than those of others.

 

A passage in the Alcoholics Anonymous book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, gives new insight on Christ’s lesson. In the chapter on Step 10, we read, “When a drunk has a terrific hangover because he drank heavily yesterday, he cannot live well today.” The chapter then cites another type of hangover: “the emotional hangover: the direct result of yesterday’ and sometimes today’s excess of negative emotions.” Ouch! This hits close to home! I am certainly aware how awful I have felt in the past (just yesterday…) when I let a few things bring me down: anger, fear, jealousy, resentment, fill-in-the-blanks. And I have stumbled around in this “emotional hangover” until I take a good hard look at myself if the mirror and say, “You brought this on yourself, Sweetie. Now say you are sorry!” That plank in my eye? It really hurts! Praise God for grace.

 

Wise Teacher, help us to see ourselves in Your lesson about specks and planks. Amen

Meg Blaine Corrigan is the author of three books: Then I Am Strong: Moving From My Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child; Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist; and Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of New Mexico and has over thirty years’ experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, war veterans, and other trauma survivors.  Her books may be purchased through her website, www.MegCorrigan.com or from www.amazon.com .

DENY MY GOD?

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

 

Mia (not her real name) was a survivor of ritualistic sexual abuse and trafficking. She lived half a world away. A friend connected us through email because Mia wanted to educate the law enforcement in her country. I had experience training police officers in my home state of Minnesota. By way of introduction, I emailed Mia a short version of my story, how I was raped in a forest by a stranger with a gun who tried to chain me to a tree. I cried out, “In the name of God, please don’t do this!” The man visibly recoiled from my words. “Don’t talk about God!” he yelled, slamming the chain into my head. He then fled, and I was able to escape. Much later, I realized I had witnessed a divine intervention, and I gave my life to the Lord.

 

Mia’s response to my story surprised and saddened me. She emailed, “I must ask you NOT to mention God or religion in any of your correspondence with me. Those words are quite triggering, since the abuse I endured was perpetrated in the name of religion.” I wanted to cry: what had been a life-saving experience for me was equally traumatic and stifling in her mind. I wanted to tell her that God is good, to persuade her that I had found the true answer for healing from trauma. But I could not say those things to her. I knew in my heart that I had to honor what she asked me to do: to be gentle, non-judgmental, and validating to her in her own experience. I prayed that God would eventually lead Mia to see He wanted only good for her, and not harm. But for the time being, I promised her I would not violate her trust.

 

Jesus said the meek (the humble, tranquil, gentle, downtrodden, marginalized) will inherit the earth (have contentment in this world). We must believe each survivor’s own experience dictates her truth about the trauma that occurred in her life.  Each survivor needs our attention, is worth investing in, and deserves an affirming, listening ear. Healing comes by different paths for different people.

 

Lord, hear our prayer for all survivors, no matter their background, persuasion or world view. Let healing begin with our open hearts and gentle hands. Amen

THE TYRANNY OF EXCELLENCE

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and…thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven….For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

 

I once attended a self-improvement seminar entitled “The Tyranny of Excellence, The Freedom of Good Enough.” The session leader challenged a room full of helping professionals to let go of our quest to perform our jobs perfectly and accept that we were doing the best we could. I was younger then, and although the seminar challenged me, I could not imagine at that point in my career that doing less—for my counselees, my boss, myself, and my family—would be a good idea. I was determined to be Superwoman, working sixty hours a week in the counseling center at a two-year college, playing in a band almost every weekend, raising two teenaged girls, with a spouse with a myriad of health issues, refusing to take care of himself. I was writing the book on stress. It wasn’t until my daughters were out of high school that I could see my way clear to leave that marriage and go it alone.

 

It was during that time, following my divorce, a move, and a job change, that I began to understand that living for Christ was, literally, “the freedom of good enough.” God certainly knows that we humans can’t do it all, have it all, and still stay on track for sainthood. There is no “glass ceiling” between this life and heaven; we have been assured of entry into the heavenly realms from the moment we professed our belief in Jesus as the Son of God Who came to claim each one of us for life eternal. Living from an eternal perspective is not akin to climbing the corporate ladder. So striving for excellence, while a noble endeavor from an earthly viewpoint, is not a requirement for following Christ. Knowing His Word and being as obedient as we can is how we grow in His marvelous love.

 

Our real treasure isn’t measured in what we accumulate or how many achievements we chalk up, but in what or whom we invest our time and our passions.

 

Father of All Blessings, compel us to live only for You, and show us the blessings we already have each day. Amen

 

Meg Blaine Corrigan is the author of three books: Then I Am Strong: Moving From My Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child; Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist; and Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of New Mexico and has over thirty years’ experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, war veterans, and other trauma survivors.  Her books may be purchased through her website, www.MegCorrigan.com or from www.amazon.com .

THE ANGEL IN THE STONE

What is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4-5

 

It is said that the great fifteenth century Italian sculptor Michelangelo was asked how he was able to carve King David from a block of stone. His answer: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved to set him free.” The response may have seemed naïve to some, but Michelangelo was a multi-talented man. His works of painting, sculpture and architecture are said to be some of the best accomplishments of any person in history. This great artist showed further humility when he said, “Carving is easy; you just go down to the skin and stop.”

 

I earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and studied the works of masters like Michelangelo. But I am certain I could not be trusted to know when I had “gone down to the skin” in a block of marble. My efforts would likely end in a metaphorical bloody mess. While all great sculptors can certainly draw, not all who profess to be “artistic” can create a sculpture of the magnitude of Michelangelo’s David! God bestows special talents on some people like this famous sculptor. The works of human hands, particularly those done for the glory of God, help remind us how God really does live inside of us and affects our every move. And He rejoices when we perform even a simple task or create a small thing of beauty in His name.

 

My friend and neighbor Kathy decided one day to take up watercolor painting. Before she retired, she had proven herself a knowledgeable librarian, accomplished gardener, innovative interior decorator, and gifted cook. One day, she picked up a paint brush and began to create beautiful renderings of birds, animals and nature scenes. I am astonished at the talent she now displays after only a handful of lessons and the courage to try something new. It reminds me that each of us has the ability to find that “angel in the stone” if we will only look through God’s loving eyes. Where will you find your “angel?”

 

Creator God, move within us to show us our hidden talents so we can create an “angel in the stone” to Your Glory. Amen

Mother’s Daughter to God’s Child; Perils of a Polynesian Percussionist; and Saints With Slingshots: Daily Devotions for the Slightly Tarnished But Perpetually Forgiven Christian. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of New Mexico and has over thirty years’ experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and war veterans, and other trauma survivors. Her books may be purchased through her website, http://www.MegCorrigan.com or from http://www.amazon.com .