Author: Brad Sheppard

Traveling with the Holy Family

~ Brad Sheppard ~ 1 Comment

On a mission trip to eastern Europe in 2005, I acquired not one, not two but three nativities of the holy family. The clay one pictured above I prized the most and to this day it remains one of my favorites in my collection. When it came time for our group to return to the States I carefully wrapped and packed the holy families in my carry-on backpack. Astonishingly, on each leg of the trip as we passed through security lines and by custom officials I was not even once stopped or inspected despite the fact that others in the group routinely had to open their bags for examination. Afterwards and to this day, I always give full credit to those holy families that traveled with me for getting me home without avail!

Now, as I did here, I always tell this story a bit tongue in cheek! I don’t particularly ascribe much power to these nativities but it certainly makes for a great story! That being said, I do find an important lesson for the life of faith in this humorous coincidence.

When we enter the season of Advent to prepare our minds, hearts and lives for Christmas we often speak of it as a journey. We travel through the season of Advent to make our way to Christmas. Much the same, we think of the life of faith as a journey. Again, we make our way along a path in which we strive to follow Jesus ever dependent on him for guidance and strength. This journey is not seasonal but yearlong and year upon year upon year. It is our life’s work to walk the way with Jesus.

Each Advent season my family places our numerous nativities on display in our home. This task in recent years has been taken up by our son Ian—lover of all things Christmas. We see these various nativities all season long and up to the celebration of Epiphany. Then they are carefully packed away until next season comes around.

But not all of them. There is a very small one piece nativity—composed of Mary, Joseph, the babe Jesus and two llamas that sits year-around on my desk at home. It remains there as a reminder—a reminder of the One I seek to follow and the One who seeks after me. It reminds me that I do not travel the road of faith alone but with great companions. Not only am I reminded of Jesus and all that he did and does for me, I am also reminded of the remarkable faith and tenacity of Mary and Joseph who’s “Yes” to God changed the world. They inspire me to try and say “Yes” to God day after day.

You too can walk the journey with the holy family. As you make your way through Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and the whole year long, may the presence of these three guide and inspire you all the way home.

An Autumn Afternoon

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On Sunday afternoon while the rest of the family were about their various obligations I decided to take in the fall foliage at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton. I knew I could walk among its trees and climb its clock tower for a view of the surrounding area. If I lucked out I would also catch a glimpse of the eagles that nest in the park that lies along the Great Miami River.

I made my way through the park snapping photos of various trees and the natural settings around the park. To my disappointment I did not eye an eagle. I climbed the clock tower and though I appreciated the view I did not find it particularly awe inspiring. I descended the tower, took a few more photos and headed to the parking lot.

I had parked under a row of maple trees adorned gloriously in shimmering red leaves. After having visited the park I nearly snickered to myself as I concluded that the most fabulous fall foliage ended up there in the parking lot! So I decided to take my time under the canopy of the nearest maple tree. I took note of how the light shown through and how the wind gently rustled the leaves. And then I spotted something entirely by chance—the smallest of little beetles perched in the sunlight on a leaf. It quickly gained my full attention. I watched it intently and I moved about to attempt to capture a good photo of it. I felt amused, amazed and awed by it and the moment I found myself in.

I realized later how my full attention had settled on that tiny insect to the point that it was as if it was just me and it in the world. It didn’t take me much longer to realize what a gift that beetle had become to me. In the midst of so much on my mind and so much happening in this world I was able for a moment to just be—the beetle, the maple, the wind and me all surrounded and all infused by the glory of an autumn afternoon.

I had gone looking for beauty and for that perfect fall photo. I had assumed, wrongly, that I would find it in the park or up on the clock tower and not in the parking lot. But, thanks be to God, I looked up as I neared my car to see that beetle sitting just so on a glorious but temporal leaf. For that moment under that tree with the smallest of creatures I am thankful. Long after the leaves are gone I am sure I will still be grateful for the grace of that day.

I Believe…

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“I believe

that I shall see

the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.”

Psalm 27:13

I believe….

It takes a lot to trust.  To depend on another.  To lean into the unknown.  Belief is a confident stance even when the odds seem low and the way unclear.  Belief is bold.  Belief is mighty.  Belief gives life to hope.

…that I shall see….

Vision can be a funny thing.  We can look without seeing.  We can fail to perceive what should be obvious.  We can assume that nothing new will appear among the mundane, the everyday, the familiar.  The blind sought out Jesus.  Not only to see but to believe.  Jesus granted sight to the willing, to the ready, to the faith filled.

…the goodness of the Lord….

The bad.  The wrong.  The unjust.  The evil.  It leaves us feeling forsaken by any good.  It tends to surround us.  It bombards us.  It is hard to escape.  Yet, the good is plentiful.  Sometimes out of sight.  Rarely calling attention to itself.  Always going about its business of love.  The good does want to be found.  Outside of us.  Inside of us.  Nothing fights evil like discovering the good.

…in the land of living.

God showed up in the garden.  The garden of Eden.  The garden of Gethsemane. The garden of Easter morning.  I usually find God in the garden.  Maybe to find God we simply need to plant more, water more and wait for beauty and abundance.

“I believe

that I shall see

the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.”

Psalm 27:13

Ash Wednesday

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ashes may fade but not my heart’s desire

to step up is to move beyond
to go forward is leave behind
to turn toward is to turn away
to receive is to let go
to take up is to put down
to say yes is to say no

ashes may fade but not my heart’s desire

I want to go with Jesus
I want to stop my old ways
I want to stand with Jesus
I want to walk in his ways
I want to lose my self
I want to gain life abundant

ashes may fade but not my heart’s desire

A Sunday Spring Morning

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Margaret rises early
on a Sunday spring morning
to cut fresh flowers
in the first light

With worn hands
that worked the soil
and planted the bulbs
she arranges them in a vase

Not haphazardly
or without a thought
but with intention
she places each one

As she does
behind her breath
she honors
each one’s beauty

But it is not for her
and her alone
she arranges them
just so

For to church they’ll go
like a beloved companion
to sit in their own place
in the sanctuary

Folks arrive
and observe
the spring flowers
placed upon the Lord’s table

A witness themselves
to the Creator’s goodness
and a proclaimer
of the good news itself

For what more
can the preacher say
than the flowers
on the altar

Of the beauty and the love
which is bound to blossom
from the God in whom
all things are possible.

Note: Margaret Craighead was a faithful and beloved member of my wife Terry’s first congregation, the Old Auxvasse Nine Mile Presbyterian Church, located in Callaway County, Missouri.

Lent is a Way of Praying

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Lent is a way of praying
at first without words
with breath drawn
with breath released

Lent is a way of praying
in the quiet stained-glass light
in the confines of the driver’s seat
as one step is taken and then another

Lent is a way of praying
with eyes tightly shut
with attention on inside
with attention on above

Lent is a way of praying
with eyes open wide
to see what needs attention
to see God’s intentions

Lent is a way of praying
with words carefully chosen
with words haphazard and jumbled
with sighs too deep for words

Lent is a way of praying
for the world
with the world
in spite of the world

Lent is a way of praying
for you and all of yours
for me and all of mine
for us and all of ours

Lent is a way of praying
a little prayer here
a little prayer there
until all, everywhere, is prayer.

A Different Story

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winter lingers
with its wind and cold
wanting to persist
tenacious and bold

but the birds tell a different story
their songs melodious and light
arriving to sing-in the new season
their notes uplifting and bright

and the crocus too defies the cold
pushing with persistence from the darkness below
unfurling delicately despite the hard soil
a beauty that melts the dusting of snow

when I am restless, tired and weary
I long to listen in the darkness of night
amidst uncertainty and looming despair
for whispers of good news subtle and slight

for a different story among the stories
that sings with truth despite the strife
a story of peace and harmony and beauty
of grace and love and abundant life

Lent is a Way of Seeing

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Lent is a way of seeing
to open my eyes
to widen my perspective
to broaden my outlook
to peer beyond the horizon
to squint for signs of hope

Lent is a way of seeing
God in the ordinary
God in the mundane
God in the extraordinary
God in the surprise
God in the small and the wide

Lent is a way of seeing
when darkness persists
when light is veiled
when the way is hidden
when uncertainty lingers
when chaos encircles

Lent is a way of seeing
the possibilities of today
the possibilities of tomorrow
the possibilities for me
the possibilities for you
the possibilities for us

Lent is a way of seeing
Christ in the cosmos
Christ among the crowd
Christ in the least
Christ as the center
Christ as the whole

Lent is a way of seeing
where I fall down and fall short
where I cannot see or refuse to see
where I am from and where I am going
where the way is narrow and necessary
where the One is leading and leads to the One

Lent is a way of seeing
broken bread and poured out wine
broken body for a broken world
broken grip of the doom of death
broken world born anew
broken hearts surprised by good news.

Lent is a Way of Walking

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Lent is a way of walking
A walk with myself but not for myself
A walk in the world but not of the world

Lent is a way of walking
A walk of discovery as much as destination
A walk with detours and distractions

Lent is a way of walking
A walk that leads me by still waters
A walk that sets my feet on stormy waters

Lent is a way of walking
A walk of sight and sound and senses
A walk by faith and not by sight

Lent is a way of walking
A walk with the One who determines the path
A walk with the One who is the path

Lent is a way of walking
A walk along lakeshores and high atop mountains
A walk along byways and valleys of shadows

Lent is a way of walking
A walk alone
A walk with the company of the saints

Lent is a way of walking
A walk among the haves and the have-nots
A walk with the getting ahead and the letting go

Lent is a way of walking
A walk to the cross
A walk bearing a cross

Lent is a way of walking
A walk to empty myself
A walk to an empty tomb

Lent is a way of walking
A walk of life abundant
A walk to life eternal.