February 9, 2007
Quiet Graces at a Loud Conference
Last year at the National Pastors Convention, Dallas Willard spoke at an early morning Bible study gathering. Unlike the main sessions the Bible study had no music, no flashing lights, no massive screen. There was nothing remotely worshipful or stimulating about the physical setting. Still, I recall feeling most blessed and caught up into something divine during that simple lesson by Dr. Willard.
Yesterday morning I had a similar experience. For the second year I have been blessed by a soft-spoken, gray haired sage. This morning it was Eugene Peterson. In the same bland ballroom Peterson opened the Bible to share his reflections on prayer. There was nothing spectacular about his presentation, but it carried the gravity of a godly life.
Peterson spoke about the prayer he begins every day with as he walks the quarter mile from his front door to retrieve his newspaper. Living amid the natural beauty of Montana, Peterson greets the squirrels and the deer as he recites the words of Zachariah in Luke 1:68-79.
The first eight verses of this prayer focus most heavily on what God does, he said. There are ten verbs that speak of God’s actions, and there is only one verb to describe ours, “serve.” Peterson said this helps clarify our identity—God does ten things and we do one.
In verses 76-77, Zechariah speaks of his newborn son, John:
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him;
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins.
Most interesting is that while reciting these verses Peterson inserts his own name for “child.” He reminds himself that our calling as pastors is to be a prophet—one who speaks God’s word into our world—to prepare the way for the Lord. We are not the Lord, and we do not accomplish what he accomplishes. All we can do is prepare people to encounter the Lord. The outcome rests in his hands, not ours.
The final verse of the prayer speaks of Jesus coming as the Sunrise, or Daybreak. Peterson often says these verses as the sun peaks over the Montana horizon flooding the landscape with light. He says it reminds him of the sight of God over all things. Everywhere we move we are within his Kingdom.
These are simple ideas, but what I cannot capture in a blog post is the poise and substance of Peterson as he spoke. He taught as one whose inner spirit has been shaped by the prayer he cited. I suppose that is what the people meant when they marveled at Jesus’ teaching—he taught as one with authority, not like the other scribes (Matt 7:29). It is the intangible authority of an integrated life.
Conferences like NPC are billed as action-packed events, gatherings to acquire skills to impact your ministry, and a place to have an invigorating and energetic experience. Fine. But what isn’t publicized are the quiet moments of inspiration. These moments are not prepackaged or choreographed. They are not projected onto huge screens or screaming to be heard. They are the unassuming pockets of God’s grace content to stay hidden amid the commotion, but longing to be found.
I suppose these graces don’t only exist at conferences. They must be strewn throughout my days. Sages like Dallas Willard and Eugene Peterson have inspired me to search more expectantly for them.
Posted by Skye Jethani on February 9, 2007
Comments
So well reflected Skye...This idea of finding these graces "strewn throughout my days" is such a good reminder. This is why the practice of daily reading sacred poetry has been so beneficial to my own spiritual journey...i.e coming alongside a poet who has looked-up and is unveiling "quiet moments of inspiration" within the commotion of our days. Here are two of my favorites that often draw my attention to living well and in the mundane...a practicing the presence of God if you will. Both poems are by Christian men and the sense of wonder they speak of, I believe, can be interpreted as the gratitude that must center our Christian faith...
“Encounter” by Czeslaw Milosz in Bells in Winter - 1936
We were riding through frozen fields in a wagon at dawn.
A red wing rose in the darkness.
And suddenly a hare ran across the road.
One of us pointed to it with his hand.
That was long ago. Today neither of them is alive,
Not the hare, nor the man who made the gesture.
O my love, where are they, where are they going
The flash of a hand, streak of movement, rustle of pebbles.
I ask not out of sorrow, but in wonder.
"Evening" by G.K. Chesterton
Here dies another day
During which I have had eyes, ears, hands
And the great world round me;
And with tomorrow begins another,
Why am I allowed two?
Posted by: dthaase at February 9, 2007
I sat in the same room yesterday and felt exactly the same thing from Peterson's teaching. May God use all of us in the same powerful manner as we make ourselves students of His Word and available for His service!
Posted by: Kevin Womack at February 9, 2007
Reminds me of a favorite old chorus:
"In the morning, I see His face,
In the evening, His form I trace,
In the darkness, His voice Iknow.
I see Jesus everywhere I go."
Posted by: Melody at February 9, 2007
Skye, thank you for gathering the words to capture that experience so beautifully. I am blessed by your writing (as a writer and a journalist who pays attention to words) and the message it breathes.
If it has always been difficult for people to hear God's still, small voice, think how hard it is these days when even our "worship" is an assault on the senses.
I pray God will bring us to our senses and calm the whirlwind with more quiet moments of his breath in our lives.
Posted by: Beyond Words at February 11, 2007
Good to know we don't have to have "lights, camera, action" to get the message across.
Posted by: Bob at February 12, 2007
Thank the Lord for quiet graces and gentle moments at national conferences. While I love and appreciate these jam-packed events, it is hard to find more than a minute or two to be still and hear His gentle voice. Times of solitude aren't part of the schedule of events ... we have to carve out substantial moments to process all that we are experiencing ... and to hear God tell us how He wants to enfold new truths deep into our hearts.
Posted by: Linda at February 12, 2007
"The gravity of a godly life." A treasure. Made me think of several such people. Thank you for this - I'm going to pray those verses right now.
Posted by: Donna-Jean at February 13, 2007
Thank you for the lovely thoughts, I am also reminded that luke was written before the cross or before petecost,and that we are his body [ the church ] he said geeater works than theses will you do . Amen
Posted by: anna marone at February 13, 2007
Thank you for the article. In addition to the reflection itself, I appreciated the stripped down format that you heard it in and it's cool that you thought to mention that.
I'm all for media, powerpoints, laser shows, neon crosses that arise from the stage powered by hydrolics but thought there must have been so much beauty in all that simplicity of that moment - to listen to wise believer in a very real and raw form. I hear that's how it always used to be but being a Gen-Xer, I find it hard to believe.
Posted by: Tim at February 14, 2007
Skye, thanks for you awesome reflection. I think the idea of Jesus coming as the Sunrise or Daybreak is such a profound image. I love the quiet of the morning just before dawn breaks. It's incredible.
Posted by: Katie-Lee at February 19, 2007