Loving Dialogue

We live in a society where there is so much volatility, anger, hate and judgment. We don’t even realize the judgments that we hold close to our heart, even though we’re quick to notice when others judge us.

This weekend, I gathered with other men and women in Chicago for the soul purpose of loving dialogue and mutual vulnerability on the challenging topic of sexual and gender diversity. How can we love each other across disagreements about what faithful sexuality looks like? How can we listen respectfully in order to truly see the hearts of others? How can we agree or disagree with respect and love?

Over the course of our time together we learned to listen with the intention of understanding, not to cut in and make sure our opinion is known, but really listen. We asked questions of each other with the hope of gaining empathy and understanding for those that may think differently.

I think we often fail to love those different from us, because our critical stereotypes tend to paralyze us from really seeing into the hearts of others. It’s safer to live in our own tribes, where we get each other. The idea of inviting someone with different beliefs to lunch or coffee for the purpose of understanding....well, we usually don't do that. What if we did?

Maybe it’s time to stop choosing sides. Maybe it’s time to engage in conversations that make us a bit uncomfortable. It’s so easy to stay in our own little safe tribes, where we feel accepted and loved. But, wait a minute, what would we lose? I would have missed out on this past weekend where beliefs were different, yet so much love shared!

Bob Goff writes in his book ‘Everybody Always’ “Jesus talked to His friends a lot about how we should identify ourselves. He said it wouldn’t be what we said we believed or all the good we hoped to do someday. Nope, He said we would identify ourselves simply by how we loved people. It’s tempting to think there is more to it, but there’s not. Love isn’t something we fall into; love is someone we become.”

Who are you becoming? Will you participate in the volatility, anger, hate and judgment? Or will you become love?

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Happy Hammocking!

Did you know that today is National Hammock Day? Just last weekend, we took our hammocks to the river along with a group of kayaker friends for some fun on the river. My favorite stop is what we call the “Picnic Table” a big rock in the middle of the Guadelupe River that’s not only fitting for a picnic, but also near where a lot of fish like to congregate

So, it was at the “Picnic Table” where we set up our hammocks between two big Cypress trees. Talk about peaceful and quiet! That short nap I got was just a perfect stop on our way toward the state park.

Even in the midst of summer, we can get exhausted from running the rat race of life. Whether you’re weighed down by family demands, relational tensions, work pressures, transitioning or preparing for the fall, summer can become way too busy for our liking. Maybe you need some hammock time?

As you start this week, you may not have access to a hammock. But, what you do have access to is a heavenly Father, who is able to give grace and refreshment for each day. Just think, you can start your day, talking to God about every detail and asking Him for wisdom, insight, and a peaceful way of handling the stressors that come your way! If God knows the number of hairs on your heard, wouldn't you think He'd have wisdom on how to maneuver through the craziness of your life? 

Matthew 11:28-30 is a beautiful invitation from Jesus to you: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Some of you feel way too guilty for resting. Maybe it’s time to grab a hammock and just chill. Give yourself a bit of grace. Relax. Enjoy the things that bring you life. Happy Hammocking!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

A Place for You

It seems that we all need to feel like we fit. We all want a place that we can call home. A place that we feel like we belong. A place that we feel welcome. A place where we won’t feel rejected, but accepted in love.

Sadly, that’s not always the case. Many of you reading this have felt the sting of rejection. You’ve experience the pain of abuse. You know what it feels like to be an outcast. You’ve questioned your worth. You’ve wondered if you really belong, especially as it relates to God and His crowd.

Everyone of us have stories that shape us. Much of our story has beautiful parts, But, some parts of our story are deep, hidden, painful and lonely.  We wonder if others would really want to know us if they knew our whole story? Those parts of the story we prefer to hide and act like nothing happened, even though something did happen.

Some years back, I went through something that no one should ever have to endure. It shouldn’t have happened in the place it happened. In a brief period of time, I went from feeling that there was a place for me to having my heart ripped open by betrayal, deceit and more.

For those of you who relate in the slightest bit to this, please know I am so very sorry for the pain you endured. No matter who did what to you or what you endured, God longs to heal you and give you a hope and a future. He is so FOR you! 

Our Father God loves us so much and by the way, has a very special place for you. Right beside Him! He loves you and is not embarrassed by you. He does not avoid you or look down on you or reject you or fail to acknowledge you. God thinks you matter and that you’re cool, beloved and created in His image. You are His. You are precious. He is well pleased with you.

There IS a place for you. It may not be where you thought it would be. But, it’s right next to a loving God who will go the distance to capture your heart. God’s love will wreck you in all the right ways. Find a quiet spot, take 5:33 minutes and check out this song. Let God love on you a bit…..

“Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me

You have been so, so good to me

Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me

You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserver it,

Still, you give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

 

There’s no shadow You won’t light up

Mountain You won’t climb up

Coming after me

There’s no wall You won’t kick down

Lie You won’t tear down

Coming after me…… (continued)

Reckless Love lyrics @ Bethel Music Publishing (Cory Asbury)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Is God Worth a Follow?

Hiking in Colorado is for me a lot like the phrase “my eyes are bigger than my stomach.” I have grandiose ideas that I can hike way more than I really can.

Nevertheless, on our second day in Colorado, we started the Coulton Creek trail that went on to become the Hinman Trail, in Routt County. These trails probably mean nothing to you, as they did me. It wasn’t until we started climbing that they began to mean something to me. We knew the hike was about 9 or so miles. I was hurting by 2 miles from some interesting altitude sickness that I hadn’t planned on.

On our hike, we traipsed through ankle deep mud, complete with horses' hoof marks and other unidentified tracks. We passed over, around and under limbs that had encroached the trail. We took on some good windy inclines that took what little breath I had…away. We saw beautiful wildflowers, with ornate curvy Aspens, changed by the shifted land. Just to top it off, on those 9 plus miles, we saw only 3 people! But, the cool part of the trip was my mountain man husband, Ben, leading the way for my dog Zoe and myself.

Ben knows mountains and the ways of the hiker. I trusted him. Even when there were times I thought we’d lost our way, Ben would review the map and confidently lead us. Ben constantly would alert me when there was a rough patch, while always checking out how best to get around the fallen limb(s) on our path. He would encourage me to rest in the most beautiful places and take in the beauty.

As I was hiking, I was thinking about the beauty of Psalm 23 and the Shepherd. The focus in the Psalm is that God is always with us. As we grow in relationship with Him, we can say as the Psalmist, there is nothing we lack. He guides us and leads us. He knows what is best. He will never leave us. (Hebrews 13:5-6) Sadly, we are the ones who wander and go our own way. We are the ones who can often think we have a better way or can manage life on our own.

I’ve learned through the rough and smooth patches of my life that I really don’t have a better way. Not one. God’s path is really the best path for me to follow. He will never lead me astray and He longs for real, authentic, close, down-to-earth relationship with me. I will spend the rest of my life making my relationship with God a high priority.

Is God worth a follow? Just try Him. 

“Faith don’t come in a bushel basket, Missy. It comes one step at a time. Decide to trust Him for one little thing today, and before you know it, you find out He’s so trustworthy, you be putting your whole life in His hands.” Lynn Austin

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea. Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall lead me, And your right hand shall hold me." Psalm 139:7-10

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Bigger Than I Thought

I think sometimes we think that God is way out there in the heavens and kind of a fuddy-duddy and distant. Many of us have had bad experiences in the church. It’s affected us, for sure. Some of us have grown up going to church, but found it boring, distant and impersonal.

Could it be that God is different from your negative church experiences? Could it be that your preconceived notions or thoughts about God may not be accurate? Might you be basing your view of God in how you see (or saw) other Christians behaving?

There was a time when I wanted to give up on the local church. The pain I experienced seemed too much to bear. It just didn’t seem worth it. But, then, I realized that God designed the local church for me to learn, thrive and grow together. I refused to throw in the towel on the church...and God!

Perhaps, you and I need to enlarge our view of God? Last night, I got a little teary as I sang the song “Bigger Than I Thought” (Song by Passion, Songwriters: Natalie Sims/Sean Curran/Allen Swoope) with other women at my church.

“Speak to me

When the silence steals my voice

You understand me

You understand me

Come to me

In the valley of unknowns

You understand me

You understand me 

So I throw all my cares before You

My doubts and fears don’t scare You

You’re bigger than I thought You were

You’re bigger than I thought

So I stop all negotiations

With the God of all creation

You’re bigger than I thought You were

You’re bigger than I thought You were, yes…..”

I’m not sure why I was a weepy hot mess during this song, but I was. God just poured out His love to me in a moment when I was really hurting. He reminded me that I could give Him my pain, my doubts and my fears. He reminded me of how truly personal He was and that He knew EVERYTHING about me, and loved me unconditionally.

God is personal, folks. He’s longing for a relationship with each of you. Perhaps, it's time to have a chat with God. He'll meet you right where you are. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.