Hearts Walking

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 28
Dear Friend, In his remarks at the prayer vigil held December 16 in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama quoted Elizabeth Stone:  "Making a decision to have a child – it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." That has been one of my favorite sayings for a long time. It makes no difference how old you are, how old your child may be, whether your child is alive on this earth or with our heavenly Father. Your child is indeed, your very heart, walking around outside your body. The mystery of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - is that while they are “one,” they are also three distinct persons. On Christmas day, God the Father knew what it is to have a Son “walking around” as did Mary, the mother of Jesus. So we know immediately the depths of anguish of the families in Newtown today and the depths of anguish felt by many families following the birth of Jesus, “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.” Matthew 2:16* The very darkness of the world in our day and in the darkness of the day of the birth of Jesus makes the words of the prophet Isaiah and of the Apostle John incredibly significant. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;  those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.” Isaiah 9:2 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12 The light is Jesus. Open your heart to him for his heart is open to you. Indeed you are his very heart walking around!
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Living

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 27
Dear Friend, Some years ago Bob Oerter, then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Boulder, Colorado, led a retreat in which I heard him say, “Learn to live with the load of the unfinished!” That phrase has stuck with me ever sense. His point was no matter how much you and I do there is always more to be done. The society we live in has become ever more manic, ever more driven with a sense that we have to, “get all of this stuff done.” Bob’s point was not to get all the stuff done but to learn to live with reality of the unfinished and to deliberately take time to be with our Lord and with those we love. Life isn’t about finishing the do list. It is about getting on with our relationships. Jesus certainly lived a rather busy life. At one point Mark describes what was going on around Jesus this way, “For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” Mark 6:31a* Clearly Jesus knew what the load of the unfinished felt like. In the very midst of this crazy time with no time even to eat, Jesus said, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” Mark 6:31a May you learn to live with the load of the unfinished in your life this Advent season and take the time to center yourself on the Lord who loves you and the people God gives you!
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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The Voice

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 26
Dear Friend, Late one afternoon I was jogging around a high school track and let's just say I wasn’t exactly flying around that oval. On the other side of the track the high school track coach was working with one student. I could hear the coach holler to his runner: "Square your shoulders!                 Lift those knees and step higher!                                 Lengthen your stride!                                                 Pick up your pace!" I suddenly realized I was flying around the track at a terrific rate of speed (for me)! I’d squared my own shoulders, was lifting my knees and stepping higher, lengthening my stride, and picking up my pace. The voice of the coach prodded me into action! The Voice of the Spirit of the God is prodding you in a similar way: “Seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13                 “Come to me, all you who are weary and                       burdened.” Matthew 11:28                                 “Therefore let all the faithful pray.”                                        Psalm 32:6 May you hear the Voice of the Spirit prodding you to draw near to the Lord who loves you dearly and who has already drawn near to you!
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NIV
To view archived issues and to subscribe: www.buildingoneanother.org