Rev. Reed Lee Pedersen's
…[the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Do you ever find it hard to admit you are not good at something and/or need help from someone else? I think I can make the safe assumption that most people (myself included) fit in this category. In fact, our country is built on a resistance to being vulnerable. We live in a pick-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps society that sees strength as overcoming our weaknesses, but we seemed to be better at hiding them instead of overcoming them. For some reason we are called to put up a perfect picture for ourselves at all times. I see this as a pastor. People don’t want to ask for help on committees. It is most noticeable in the fact that I rarely get called anymore when someone goes to the hospital. Most of the time I am called to visit someone in the hospital it is because they’ve already been put on hospice care. As for a fall or something less major, it is on the rare occasion that I am asked to come or even notified that it happened. Many times there is a façade to not tell others because one doesn’t want to be a “bother”. Others are more straight forward and do not wish other people to know their business or perhaps they don’t want the pity party coming their way. That is their right as human beings to have some privacy. My annoyance, though, as a pastor is the consistency at which people do not want help from others, not even God. We have a seldom used prayer chain at our congregation. I know I have spoken about it in other ramblings, but this offers a chance for people to pray for your well-being. This is an opportunity to have people on your side pleading to God for help of any kind. Yet, people even on their death beds sometimes refuse it as an option because they don’t want people to know they are dying until it has already happened. I still am unsure if that says more of the dying person or of the prayer chain that breeds distrust. Maybe for you it’s some help around the house or help with an errand that you want to do by yourself. The thought is that you would rather fail by yourself and not get the job done than get the task at hand done with assistance. Maybe you have an ailment that you do not wish others to know about (or you think they won’t notice). In Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians we read about boasting in our weaknesses. This means that we lift up our faults because it is even more amazing that God’s grace and power can work through such imperfect beings. How are we ever going to boast of the greatness of Jesus if we are unwilling to be honest about the sinful and sloppy mediums Jesus has chosen to work through? What did Jesus die for if we are unwilling to name our faults and sins? It is true that Jesus died for us even though we are still sinners. That is the strength of grace. It is more powerful than our faults. That is why we can confess freely in church what we have done because we have faith that Jesus is more powerful than our own selfish acts. It is also true that many hands make light work. If we are to be the Body of Christ together than that means we need to be open and vulnerable to one another. We need to be open to receiving help and also vulnerable so others can pray and be with us in our dark times. It takes a good amount of strength to be vulnerable for someone and let them in. It is cowardice, not strength, that puts up a wall to the world about their health and need for help. It takes courage to work together for the task at hand and help one another. Hiding our weaknesses ensures they are never overcome. Maybe this is why Paul also wrote, “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) Too often I find people willing to help others, but unwilling to be helped by someone else. Rest assured, in this plea for confession and vulnerability I will give my own: I suck at asking for help. It is very easy to know when I need it because I will draw away from others and overuse the word ‘fine’ when talking about myself. As far as other imperfections…my main sin of choice these days is gluttony. I’ve gained 35 pounds since June, but I have been too proud to ask for help from anybody or to have anybody actually make sure I stick to a healthy lifestyle. I am telling this to you because I want to practice what I preach. I am imperfect, but God loves me anyways. Jesus died for me anyways. I hope you find this article helpful and it inspires you to lean on others and most importantly to lean on God. If you have a need or a health concern that you have not been sharing. Let it out. Remember, many hands make light work. Many hearts make light work of the burdens we have in our own lives. God bless you and keep you! God’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. God look upon you with favor and give you peace! Points to Ponder:
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AuthorPastor Reed is a first call pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover, Illinois. Archives
July 2019
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