Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 
Galatians 6:2

In her raw book (Option B) about grief after the sudden loss of her husband, current Facebook chief operating officer and bestselling author Sheryl Sandberg writes of the many classic experiments on stress that have been done over the decades. People were asked to do tasks that required concentration (like puzzles) while being blasted with loud sounds at strange intervals. Blood pressure would rise, participants would begin sweating, and their ability to perform these tasks declined.  In order to reduce anxiety, researches provided a button in the room that the participants could push that would make the noises stop. 

As expected, the button did help them stay calmer, make less mistakes, and become less irritated. Here’s the catch:

None of the participants actually pressed the button. 

What made the difference in their distress? Simply knowing that the button was there and they could get relief if needed. Participants were able to handle the stress if they knew that there was another option- even if they didn’t use it. It shocked researchers. The presence of the button made all the difference. 

Community matters.  
More than we know. 
Even when we don’t use it. 

It’s like that when we are going through hard times. The stress of a difficult season or the strain of a major loss feels like too much of a weight to bear. The thick fog of depression can leave someone feeling acutely alone. The overwhelming season of child-raising can bring massive exhaustion. The fear of an unknown future can be debilitating. The struggle of work stress can feel hopelessly suffocating. 

But we have a button. 

The calling of God’s Church is to be a people who literally bear each other’s burdens. We offer buttons for each other in times of pain. No, we cannot take away another’s pain, heartache, or suffering. But we can do something. We can sit with a friend. We can buy a cup of coffee. We can watch the kids. We can write a card. We can let them know they’re not alone and they can call us if they need anything. 
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And here’s the fascinating thing: Sometimes knowing that the button exists is enough to make a difference. Even if we make ourselves available to lend a hand or hang out and someone doesn’t take us up on it, there is still power in communicating care. There is still impact from knowing that we are not alone. So don’t sit back and say, “well, there’s not much I can do, so I’ll just stay silent.” We may not always know how to reach out to each other, but that doesn’t mean we do nothing. We still find ways to “show up” in our bumbling, imperfect ways. 

God has also given us a "button to push” in times of stress and pain: the promise of relational presence and peace, accessed through the simple act of prayer. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

To be clear: That’s a button we should push regularly. The peace of God in the midst of chaotic situations is one of the most beautiful things a person can experience in this life. We've seen this peace in hundreds of ways over the past few years in our community.  The beauty of it is that when our hearts become settled with the peace of Jesus’ love, we are in a far better position to practice empathy toward each other. Indeed, it will then flow naturally. A heart formed by Jesus will necessarily be a heart postured toward others. 

Maybe today is a good day to ask these questions:
-Am I living deeply enough with God to have empathy for others? 
-What buttons can I provide for others around me who might be struggling silently? 
-What simple note/text/call can I make that would communicate love and support? 

God, grow our hearts of compassion so that we may offer your love and support to our brothers and sisters. Shape us with eyes to see each person, and give us courage to do something.  
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"He must become greater; I must become less.”  
- John the Baptist, speaking of Jesus (Jn 3:30)

God uses all sorts of life experiences to bring insights and growth. Lately, some of mine have come through my recently acquired interest in birding. We have a small marsh within walking distance of our house that I frequently visit to see the various types of birds that make their homes there. Sometimes I snap pictures, sometimes I simply listen. The colorful beauty of birds and the soothing sounds of their songs are reminders of the love and peace of God in an often chaotic world.

An interesting thing happens every time I go. When I arrive at the marsh, I always see very little as I walk in, crunching the leaves, scrambling over logs, and moving all over the place. It’s not until I stop being the center of attention for a few minutes that life really starts to emerge in the marsh. The woodpeckers start to fly. The herons and wading birds start to come out of hiding. Once I become still enough to be rather invisible, I start to see things I hadn’t seen before. I don’t know if it’s because the birds are no longer afraid, or if it’s because I am finally able to notice how alive everything is around me. But either way, I have to learn to become less noticeable. In the moments I learn to be invisible, I see amazing beauty around me. 

God has been using this experience of chosen invisibility to bring important questions to mind. 
-Where am I more “visible” than I need to be?
-Are there relationships that I dominate that need to be characterized by more listening? 
-Am I moving so much that I miss the movement of God around me?
-Where do I need to slow down and become invisible so that new signs of life can emerge? 
-Are there things in my life that revolve around me rather than Jesus? 

There are times to be visible, certainly. But our world is already saturated with egocentric social media, constant emphases on physical appearance, and larger than life personalities. Life with Jesus also requires learning when to make ourselves less so that we may love God and our neighbors more fully. Jesus frees and equips us to offer the ministry of our presence.  We don't need to make a name for ourselves. We don't even need to fix everyone's problems. We simply walk lightly enough to notice where the Spirit is already at work, and humbly join in. Jesus reveals himself in new ways when we make ourselves invisible. 

My children have now begun coming with me to the marsh as well. We are trying to learn together how to be still enough to stop stifling the world around us. We are learning how beautiful God’s world is if we only learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 

Over 20 years later, I can still easily recall the owl poster that hung in the outhouse of my grandparents’ Chesapeake cottage. Underneath the image read the old proverb:  
A wise old owl sat on an oak,
The more he saw, the less he spoke,
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
Why aren’t we like that wise old bird? 
God is alive all around you. Have a seat for a bit and take notice. 

Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us….”  - Hebrews 12:1

I just made my first batch of cold brew coffee to anticipate the warmer season that is coming. Cold brew is made differently than typical hot or iced coffee. Rather than pouring hot water over coffee grounds and getting a cup after a minute or two (or pouring it over ice), cold brew requires the coffee grounds to steep in cool water for 12-14 hours. The process is not nearly as efficient, but the end result is remarkable. After you finish filtering the coffee, you are left with a strong, smooth cup of iced coffee. The most noticeable difference is that because of the slow process, the coffee no longer has any bitterness. 

Our world is full of instant gratification and quick, efficient solutions to problems. If we’re honest, we long for the way of Jesus to be formed in us with the same sort of efficiency. 

What do we want? 
THE GOOD LIFE!!! 

When do we want it?? 
NOW! 

Are we willing to walk patiently-for-months-and-months-while-allowing-God-to-chip-away-at-hard-edges-bitterness-and-self-focus? 
Uhhhhhh….

Unfortunately, transformation takes time. Patience and perseverance is hard. Choosing to keep walking when you thought you would have reached the destination by now can be disheartening. But do not give up today. Many have gone before us, and many will continue after us. Jesus invites us to follow him. The journey itself is integral to the destination. We need the hours, the days, the months, and the years of shuffling and sprinting with Jesus to experience the remarkable. As the time goes by, we begin to see our bitterness fade. We respond to situations not in anger, but in understanding. We speak words of grace over judgment, and we hear the whispers of God that we were too noisy to notice at the beginning. 

Perhaps this week you need to cook something, make something, write something, or build something…. that takes just a little more time than usual. Make popcorn on the stove rather than the microwave. And remember that as we hang in there day by day, Jesus will form something beautiful in us.  

A quote for further reflection:
“And yet I decide, every day, to set aside what I can do best and attempt what I do very clumsily--open myself to the frustrations and failures of loving, daring to believe that failing in love is better than succeeding in pride.” 
-Eugene Peterson