Gentle Reader,
The first week of a new semester at seminary always ends with me feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck. I guess I assumed I’d be used to the mind-numbing amount of reading and writing by now? And here I am, really beginning to think it would be fun to get a Ph.D in Church History…
I need to survive the next fifteen weeks of ridiculously early Thursday morning classes first.
If you want to send coffee giftcards my way, I won’t refuse them.
I’m kidding. Kind of.
Kate says: fix.
Go.
I look at this word, three little letters full of promise. Or disappointment. Hope. Or frustration. I think it’s human to want to fix things. We want the people we love to flourish and the situations in which we find ourselves to be okay. Our definitions of flourishing and okayness differ, but most of us are striving for a state of peace. So when the not-peace arises, when the conflict shakes us to our bones, we want to fix it.
How like the Pharisees we are.
Oh, you didn’t see that coming?
I think about the Pharisees a lot. I really don’t believe their motives were bad. A good chunk of the sect probably wanted to be in solid relationship with God, and they wanted that for others as well. The collective trauma of exile and foreign dominance is not easily shaken, no matter how many centuries pass. The safest way to achieve that peaceful state of mind – rules. And rules for the rules. They fixed things.
How human they were.
How human we are.
The fixedness that we truly long for is found only in God. This means complete and utter surrender. This looks like an understanding of holiness and safety that arises from resting in the presence of God rather than trying to fix persons, places, or things out of our own strength and wisdom. This equals shatteringly honest repentance, the kind that holds nothing back and results in the deepest sort of renewal.
God is the fixer, and the fixed point.
Stop.
I am a world-class fixer,
a skill I cannot hide,
a drunk of the elixer
of competence and pride.
I can really repair it all,
do custom work, bespoke,
and if you need it, well, just call;
I’ll fix that which ain’t broke.
When I get to Heaven’s gates
they’re gonna get rehung,
’cause St. Peter and his mates
surely will have brung
ear-slicing ‘tude, yeah, even there,
so SOMEONE needs to hang ’em square.
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This makes me smile. I would love to see you talking with the artisans who are surely in Heaven, drawing up plans for new construction projects.
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Yes! I needed to read this this morning. I’m a closet legalist and struggle to remember that fixing people into my image will do me no good. Or them.
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You and me both, friend!
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Marie, you said it well >>> “The fixedness that we truly long for is found only in God.”
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Maybe I’m a late bloomer or something, but I feel like I’m really just beginning to understand this fact.
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I’m right there with you – good thing God is so patient with us late bloomers 🙂
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How human we are, and most alive only in the presence of God. Great post! I am jealous of your PhD pursuits. That sounds amazing to me! What will you do with this degree?
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Well, I have to get through my Master’s program first, haha! I have a calling to vocational ministry, but the Lord has not yet revealed to me exactly what shape this will take. Teaching has been affirmed as my spiritual gift over and over, so I imagine that God will use me in that way.
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That sounds awesome. I’ll be praying for you!
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God established Israel for his love for man. America was established on man’s love for God. The 10 commandments are the basis for our laws. The Constitution was written not to be fixed but to ensure the progression of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all men. ‘Men’ as a term is a generic term for humanity. To say we need to fix our nation is incorrect, we are a nation becoming…. God transforms man’s heart, and the nation is healed
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I’ve been pondering how to respond to your comment since I saw it yesterday, but, honestly, I’m confused. My words here in this post have nothing to do with what you speak of here in your comment. Will you expand your thoughts further? Thanks!
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I am new to blogging, so I’m just now reading your reply. The founding fathers of this nation knew and understood tyranny, the inability to voice your opinion both politically and religiously. Did you know that Humpty Dumpty is about King Henry VIII? Our laws are based on the Ten -Commandments as we set up our society, communities on basic rights against theft, lying, murder, covetousness- which Is wanting what others have, etc… Equality does not mean equal. Teachers definitely have more value to our society than ballplayers and yet their salary doesn’t show that. Equality means to pursue a life filled with purpose based on your efforts. In English classes, it was taught and understood for centuries that man was used as a generic term for humanity. Hope this helps!
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Yes it is satisfying to fix something and equally frustrating to realize that we can’t. I’m so glad that I didn’t have to fix myself to have a relationship with Him. Thanks for your thoughts.
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Oh, yes, indeed how good it is to know that we are able to come to God as we are, by the grace of Christ! And by that same grace, we are transformed into the people God always meant for us to be, bit by bit.
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The Great Fixer.
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Amen.
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Ahh yes, the pharisees. They were so busy fixing others they didn’t stop to notice they also needed fixing (Matthew 7:3-5, right!?!?). So busy enforcing the letter of the law, they forgot the spirit of the law. May God keep us from falling in the same trap.
Amie, FMF #25
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This tension is where conversations about holiness get very interesting. We have to get the spirit before we get the letter. The order is so important!
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Beautiful.
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Thank you!
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Good words! Best wishes to you in those early morning classes. Someday it will all be worth it!
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I’m sure it’s worth it right now, I’m just not a morning person in any way. 🙂
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Such a great post Marie! It’s so easy to point fingers at the Pharisees but we all have our baggage and check it in different ways.
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So very true!! How like the Pharisees we are? Love this!!
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I think we forget that the people in the Bible were people, with the same complexities and struggles that we have and face. It’s easy for us to read the scenes between Jesus and the Pharisees and label them the “bad guys” who Jesus doesn’t like. But that’s not true. Jesus loves them. He’s calling them back into a place of right relationship with God.
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Amen, so beautifully spoken. Blessings.
Visiting from FMF#12
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Blessings to you as well!
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It’s so easy to find fault with what doesn’t fit into our way of thinking and being. Harder to follow the Lord with an open heart and mind!
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How true that is!
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I love you so… I have missed your words and am praying for the early mornings and class load and all the things, sweet friend!
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Love you, too!
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“The fixedness that we truly long for is found only in God.”
Love this! I am a fixer and tend to try and fix things that aren’t mine to fix. I need the reminder often to give EVERYTHING to God. He will fix things in ways I could never imagine and way better than I ever could.
Love,
Annie
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Thanks for sharing, Marie! I love, “This looks like an understanding of holiness and safety that arises from resting in the presence of God…” Visiting from FMF spot #49 this week.
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