What I Learned at VBS

What I Learned at VBS

“Help me slow down, Jesus.

Hheellpp mmee ssllooww ddoowwnn JJEEUUSS.

Hhheeelllppp mmmeee ssslllooowww dddoowwwnnn, JJJEEEUUUSSS.

Hhhheeeellllpppp, mmmmeeee, sssslllloooowwww ddddoooowwwwnnnn, JJJJEEEEUUUUSSSS.” —“Bible Story Teller” in Rolling River Rampage: Experience the Ride of a Lifetime with God! (Cokesbury VBS, 2018).

My friend, Mary Manning, and I were the storytellers at St. Mark’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) for many summers. I have been the storyteller at VBS at the other churches I served, but I always did it alone. It was so amazing to have a partner. Mary is a retired schoolteacher. I am a former teacher of medical school students, residents, and fellows, but Mary had a lot to teach me. I had decided how to tell the story for each group. At our first meeting, Mary suggested we do it another way. She was so right. I keep thinking what a disaster it would have been if she had not been there.

Now I understand why Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs. At my late stage, I am learning that almost any ministry is better with a partner, or even more, if possible. We learn so much from each other’s experience and expertise. Sometimes, our grandchildren helped us, which was even better.

This prayer for today about slowing down was our favorite from the story of Mary and Martha. I try to say it several times during the day.

I learned one more thing at VBS. Mary and I were with each group of children for only twenty minutes. We told stories about Jesus calling the disciples, Mary and Martha, Zacchaeus, the Last Supper, and Jesus sending his disciples out with the assurance he would be with them always. Before telling the new story each day, we would review the previous day's story. I was amazed that the children in each group, even the four-year-olds, remembered so much of yesterday’s story. Of course, each story was reinforced through crafts, music, and games.

VBS taught me that what we teach and say can be like seeds planted to germinate in children’s hearts for some later date. I am reminded of my VBS teachers, who taught me about God's love through stories. I am still learning from them through Mary.

Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/

Fog

Fog

“We mostly spend our lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do. Craving, clutching, and fussing on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual, and even on the religious plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest, forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in the fundamental verb, to Be, and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of the spiritual life.”— Evelyn Underhill in  The Spiritual Life.

 I rise early on our first day at the beach in over six months to a fog so dense we can barely see in front of us. The mist lifts slightly. A pod of silent pelicans flies by so close I can almost touch them. They take my breath away. Their majesty is stunning. I spy dolphins at a distance and follow them across my visual path. Finally, the fog clears just enough to see an osprey high above the water, looking for breakfast.

fog clearing

This is the story of life. Most of the time, we live in a fog, never knowing our direction or path completely. We have moments when the fog clears briefly, and we receive insights. The dolphins, the pelicans, and the osprey are like those insights that majestically fly by. If we are not alert, we will miss them. We treasure those moments and wait patiently for the next ones.

 As I write, I have lost the dolphins. It is a lesson. If we are not constantly alert, we will miss the insight. But being observant cannot happen continually. We want to hold on to our brief insights and capture them for future reference. But we must always be careful not to worship the insights. This could be like the disciples wanting to make booths for Elijah and Moses at Jesus’ Transfiguration.

One more observation. As I stay alert, any pain and anxiety I have go away. I learn that being mindful and living in the present moment is a way of surrendering my life to God. It is a place of peace.

Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/

Prayer Lead to Service, Service Leads to Prayer

Prayer and Service

“Prayer and service can never be seen as contradictory or mutually exclusive. Prayer without action can grow into powerless pietism, and action without prayer can degenerate into questionable manipulation.

If prayer leads to deeper unity with the compassionate Christ, it will always give rise to concrete acts of service. And if concrete acts of service lead us to deeper solidarity with the poor, the hungry, the sick, the dying, and the oppressed, they will always give rise to prayer. In prayer, we meet Christ, and in him all human suffering. In service, we meet people, and in them, the suffering Christ.” —Henry Nouwen in You Are the Beloved.

Martha Mary

Our prayers should always lead us to service. That is why I am part of our Daughters of the King, who serve as a model of prayer leading to service. As deacons, we are called to servant ministry, leading others to servant ministry. We may be pulled in so many directions and forget about prayer. There is such a great need that we sometimes forget to pray before we start.

We may pray constantly as we try to see Christ in the people we serve or in the people we lead to serve. We strive to bring the needs of the world to the church, but they become overwhelming. Prayer helps us recognize the most pressing needs at various times in our world. Prayer helps us direct the needs of the world to others, hearing that call to serve.

mary and martha

As deacons, we stand beside those serving the world. We stand beside our bishop, our priests, the laity, and those serving the needs of the church and the world. Prayer is the glue that connects us and supports others who also serve the needs of the world in God’s church.

I think I have some good ideas, but I have painfully learned that when I don’t offer these ideas in prayer, I travel down paths that do not lead to fruitful ministry. Our prayers give us the words to say as we minister to others. Prayers give us the words to say to lead others. Our prayers remind us that we are not lone rangers, but are led by one who is always beside us as we serve alongside others.

Joanna joannaseibert.com.