Tag: jesus

All Kinds of Folks

~ Brad Sheppard ~ Leave a comment

Went to Sam’s to pick up a rotisserie chicken and a macaroni and cheese for supper—convenient and quick after getting back from a marching band regional competition at 3:00 AM. I noticed and appreciated all the diversity I encountered—the different generations, a multitude of hues and accents, various ethnicities and countries of origin. I felt a certain joy in it. I found myself thinking, “This is the America I desire. A place where all kinds of folks find welcome and home. A place where we can make and share community together. Heck, where we do the simply things like shop at Sam’s together and make space for one another as we check out the prepared foods.”

But I know this not the America everyone wants. Too many minds and mouths are full of racism, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia and all other kinds of discrimination based in hatred and fear. Not a few of them will just as quickly profess faith in Jesus. Honestly, I simply cannot comprehend that. Now, I know the long history of Christian faith and practice being poisoned by hate. It’s just hard for me to see folks so blinded by it.

So some humble advice, be aware of how easily hate and evil can slip into your thinking about others—especially others who are different from you. And as well, be aware of folks who can as easily proclaim Christ as they can spew fear and hate and dehumanize others. Ask yourself, “Do they really know Jesus?”

Well, I must say if you haven’t tried Sam’s rotisserie chicken you’re kind of missing out on a tasty deal. And if that’s not your thing, at least take a stroll through a Sam’s or Costco, a local festival, a farmer’s market or some other place where folks gather, and find there a certain joy in the diversity we are and the diversity we ought to embrace and celebrate.

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.