March 30, 2025 • 30 mins
Becoming Agents of Hope in the ‘After’, with Becca Ellis. Series: Finding Hope in Hard Places A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: Proverbs 8, James 3:13-17.
Feeling lost or searching for wisdom in life’s twists and turns? Join us this Sunday as Becca explores how small moments and unexpected connections can transform our world. Whether online or in-person, come discover a fresh perspective on navigating change.
Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend. Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.
At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.
We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don’t ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.
Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.
Keywords:
Wisdom, thresholds, turning points, Sophia, hachma, Proverbs, Esther, courage, change, critical yeast, community, relationships, transformation, practices, small acts., presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregon
Featuring:
Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, Guests
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Unknown (00:20):
Music.
Whitney Higdon (00:37):
Welcome to worship at First Presbyterian we
at first, Presbyterian practicea spacious Christianity, which
means, no matter where you arein your faith journey, you
belong, and there is space foryou at the table, there is space
for your doubts and questions.
We believe doubts and questionsare a gift that invite us into
deeper conversations and a moreauthentic faith. We believe
diversity is a strength. Everystory is sacred, and everybody
(01:01):
matters. We do our best to livethe spacious and radical love of
Jesus so that all might have achance to flourish in this
world. We are so glad to connectwith you in this way. We would
also love to worship with you inperson if you're ever in the
neighborhood on Sunday morningsat 830 or 10am and never
hesitate to reach out to us tolearn more about us or how we
(01:22):
might support You. I hope youenjoy this worship service.
Welcome you.
Unknown (01:43):
When darkness deepens, the path unsure, the sun is
hidden by the stones, I look toheaven and cry to Thee, Oh God.
Everyjoy and tear, every passing let
(02:09):
me know your need in life, indeath, for eternity. O God be
here with mewhen faith is shaken, when fear
(02:34):
surround my feet will stand onsolid ground in every season, my
song will be oh god me inevery breath, every joy, every
(03:00):
passing. God, let me know yourneed in life, in death, for
eternity. Oh God, be here withme.
Be with me.
(03:47):
Here with me, and in that momentwe are face to face, I will not
need these eyes of faith or everafter.
God, I will see that you'vealways been with
(04:20):
me, with me, in every breath,every joy, every passing, let me
know You're near in life, indeath. O God be me.
Steven (04:45):
Be holy, one source of all life and love We thank you
that Your love is all. Ispresent even when we're not
always present to your love.
Your love is present in thespaces between friends. Your
(05:06):
love is even present in thespaces between enemies. Your
love is present in the rubble ofvillages destroy because of
hate. Your love is present withgrieving families, innocent
children caught in the crossfireof war. Your love is present
with those still reeling fromthe devastation of hurricanes,
(05:32):
floods, wildfires. Your love ispresent in the first responders,
relief workers, aid workers,bringing hope where there seems
to be none. Your love is presentwith those living in tents
because they have no hope. Yourlove is present with those in
(05:55):
assisted living waiting for avisit or the phone to ring, your
love is present with those whoare numb with grief. Your love
is present with those livingwith the uncertainty of illness.
Your love is present with thoseliving in the relentless shadows
(06:17):
of mental illness. Your love ispresent, and the bedtime stories
between parent and child, andeven when we fail to recognize
the presence of your love, whichis nearly every moment you
recognize us, you see us. Youcall us by name. You love us.
(06:43):
You love us as we make space tobe present to your love. Give us
the grace to return even a bitof this love to you in the way
we love one another, deep in ourawareness of your love, that we
(07:04):
might live as the presence ofyour love in this broken and
hurting world. Amen.
Becca Ellis (07:17):
Life has a universal rhythm to it, subtle,
unspoken, but ever present.
There is a cadence of momentsthat shape us, dividing time
into the befores and the Afters,before the diagnosis, before the
loss, before the love, after thechild was born, after the
apology, after the pandemic,after the executive order, after
(07:42):
the moment you never saw coming.
We move through life as if itwere a single thread. But in
truth, it is a weaving atapestry of thresholds crossed,
of selves left behind, and newselves stepping forward, and
somewhere in there, a quietvoice emerges, calling out to
(08:03):
us, aiding us at every path andturning point. And her name is
wisdom. Wisdom is found inlearning to see these
thresholds, not just as abruptendings or beginnings, but as
invitations, invitations tonotice, to grow, to be shaped by
what was and what will be today,I want to invite us to sit with
(08:26):
this truth, to consider theholiness of change, the grace
that meets us at the turningpoints, and the God who was
before, who meets us in theafter, and who is with us
always. Sophia is atransliteration of the Greek
noun meaning wisdom, but morethan just the attainment of
knowledge and life to make goodand sound decisions, Sophia,
(08:48):
wisdom represents a living,guiding presence that moves us
through life's changes andruptures, whether good or bad.
In Hebrew, the word for wisdomis hachma, referring to God's
wisdom. In the Old Testament,Book of Proverbs, we see this
word used as wisdom ispersonified as a woman and CO
(09:08):
creator with God. Wisdom isdescribed as having been there
all along, even before creationand as the world began, and she
is present in our own becomingtoo wisdom has always been
calling out to us. She stands atthe crossroads, at the threshold
of every before and after askingus to listen in Proverbs eight,
(09:31):
she raises her voice. Does notwisdom. Call out, does not
understanding. Raise her voiceat the highest point along the
way, where the paths meet, shetakes her stand. As I have been
reflecting on this idea ofbefores and afters, I'm reminded
of the story of Esther, whichspeaks to the power of
(09:51):
responding with wisdom,intention and courage when we
find ourselves at a pivotalturning point in our lives and.
Her before, Esther was an orphanliving in exile, then she is
suddenly queen to a powerfulking, and there is a decree of
destruction for her people. Shedidn't ask for any of this, but
(10:13):
here she is the one person whocan make a difference. She could
have asked the question, Why me?
And stopped there passivelyletting life go on around her.
It was a moment of great fearand uncertainty, but in her
after Esther rose to theoccasion, choosing to act with
courage and wisdom, even at therisk of her own life, to save
(10:34):
her people. She understood therewas something greater than just
herself at stake. She listenedto wisdom's voice and felt the
call for such a time as this.
One of the greatest challengeswe each face is when we cross
those thresholds life presentsus with and to stop and notice
(10:56):
what after we have foundourselves in and then decide
what to do with it. We learn toask the questions now, what and
why? Me with a tone of curiosityrather than despair, which can
be hard, because in every beforewe stand in possibility, in
every after, we must kneel downand gather what is lost, what
(11:19):
has gained, what has beenrevealed. Both befores and
afters can be better or worse,but they always bring change,
and all change, no matter howsmall is loss in some form or
other, the invitation wisdomoffers us is both to honor this
truth as well as a profoundpractice of living into the
(11:39):
questions, into the uncertaintyand trusting that even when we
don't know what is to come,there is a calling for us to
step into, and God will need usthere. So where does that leave
us? If every before and after isan invitation, then what is it
that we are being called intothe deeper understanding of this
(12:00):
Sophia wisdom is that she doesnot merely call us to
understanding. She calls us toparticipation. She is not just
an observer at the turningpoints of our lives. She is an
active presence at both the bigand quiet moments of our lives,
stirring, moving and leading usdeeper. And in that leading,
there is always a call, a callnot just to who we are becoming,
(12:24):
but a call to how we choose tomove throughout our everyday
lives. We each have personalcallings we encounter through
our life, our work, where welive, our creative pursuits, and
these may shift depending on theseason of life we are in. But
beneath all of these uniquecallings, there is one that
applies to all of us and is madevisible through the ways we show
(12:45):
up in our communities day byday. It is a quiet calling, a
current running just underneaththe surface, but builds over
time to make true and lastingchange. Often, when Afters
occur, we are very good atpaying attention to the big
moments, as Krista Tippett putsit, when we think about how
change happens in this society,and this is natural, we tell the
(13:08):
story of those moments whenCritical Mass arises, bodies on
the street, but durable changeis often brewing in much less
visible yet powerful ways beforewe ever see it on the surface. I
love the way John Paul Lederach,a global leader in conflict
resolution and peace building,describes this. He says that if
(13:29):
we want to see change in ourworld, we must become what he
calls critical yeast. When youmake a loaf of bread, the dough
can't rise without yeast. Thecritical work is quietly
happening beneath the surface asdifferent elements are mixed
together and begin to interactand release something new that
wasn't there before letter actsobservation and work emphasizes
(13:51):
how change happens long beforethe movement reaches the
streets. Critical yeast is whensmall groups of people in
unlikely combinations form a newquality of relationship. Now to
me, that sounds a lot likechurch. One of the beautiful
things about a church communityis how we encounter individuals
(14:12):
we wouldn't have met in ournatural, everyday circles. We
actually live our lives fairlysegregated. When you think about
it, our kids and youth spendtheir days divided into spaces
with their direct peers. On theother side, we have assisted
living and retirementcommunities where younger people
don't tend to just walk in andbuild relationships. We often
have friends who are the sameage and in a similar life phase
(14:33):
as we are. And there's nothinginherently wrong with any of
that, but church is a placewhere all are welcome. The
commonality being that we areseeking to be a part of
something bigger than justourselves, to find meaning and
purpose. Here, at first pres, westrive to embody this spacious
way of doing community together,where we embrace our differences
(14:54):
and approach them with curiosityand our lives are so much richer
for it. It is a new. Quality ofrelationship that we find here,
one that is counter cultural, inthat when we hear something that
might not align perfectly withour own perspective, instead of
running the other way or puttingan immediate guard up, we are
invited to lean in withcuriosity and love and see what
(15:15):
there is for us to learn. Thereis challenge involved as we
navigate community in this way,but that challenge expands our
capacity for love andunderstanding, which is clearly
something our world needs. Goingback to this idea of critical
yeast, this term captures theslow, unseen work of
(15:35):
transformation. It's quiet, it'sbehind the scenes, it's faithful
and steady, and it's where thereal magic happens. Letteric
goes on to say that it is theseyeasty individuals, the ones
willing to engage acrossdivision, to nurture
relationships, to show up againand again, who remain after the
upheavals. They are the ones andthe Afters picking up the pieces
(15:59):
and asking what now and turningit into something durable and
whole.
In the New Testament book ofJames, we are offered a vision
of two kinds of wisdom, one thatis rooted in God's way of being,
and another that is driven byself interest beyond just
abstract thoughts. These ways ofwisdom shape how we relate to
(16:20):
others and how we find ourpurpose. We read who is wise and
understanding among you. Letthem show it by their good life,
by deeds done in the humilitythat comes from wisdom. But if
you harbor bitter envy andselfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast about it or denythe truth. Such wisdom does not
(16:40):
come from God, but is earthlyand spiritual. But the wisdom
that comes from God is first ofall, pure, then peace, loving,
considerate, submissive, full ofmercy and good fruit, impartial
and sincere. There is a wisdomthat seeks to serve itself. It
appears to have all the answersto be strategic and cunning, but
(17:01):
ultimately drives us to anunsatisfied and hollow
existence. It tells us toacquire and keep more for
ourselves, to find our worth inwhat we have and how we measure
against others. Living this wayleads us to only one after,
where we look back and wonderwhy we wasted so much time on
the things that matter the leastin this short life. Then there
(17:24):
is God's wisdom, one rooted inmercy and justice, in deep
consideration for others, inpeacemaking, and one that tells
a more generative narrative forour times. It is a quiet wisdom
that shows up in unlikelyplaces, with the ability to
rebuild what is broken, to bringwholeness where there has been
division, to transform not justindividual lives, but entire
(17:47):
communities. The question for usis not just which wisdom we
admire, but rather, what wisdomdo we live by, and what about
when it gets hard? There are alot of voices calling out for
our attention in this world,it's easy to get lost and
overwhelmed, and it all unlikeSteven shared last week, for our
circuits to get overloaded,following the voice of wisdom we
(18:10):
know can lead us to the greatesttransformation isn't necessarily
easy. I think it's alsoimportant to say that this
wisdom doesn't tell us to neverpay attention to ourselves
either. So it's it's actually inpaying attention to our own well
being that we are able to giveour ourselves and the way that
God's wisdom calls us toward. Sohow do we find it? What
(18:33):
practices can we engage in thathelp us follow the voice of
wisdom that leads to true andlasting change? Because in order
to see the change we long towitness on a larger scale, we
must first start with our ownindividual transformation. I
want to offer three simple buttransformative practices you can
(18:53):
engage in. The first is topractice the pause. And this one
I have found truly takespractice. We live in a fast
paced world that is alwaysbegging us for a quick reaction,
that thrives on scarcity, thattells us there isn't enough
time, but true wisdom invites usinto deeper discernment. Brene
(19:15):
Brown writes, between stimulusand response, there is a space,
and that space is our power tochoose our response. In our
response lies our growth andfreedom, even if it is just
taking a deep breath anywherethat we can practice and invite
a pause will allow us to exhalea more thoughtful, grounded and
(19:37):
considerate response, ratherthan an impulsive reaction. I
often think about something mytherapist said to me once about
the words we speak. She used theanalogy of a toothpaste tube.
You can easily and rapidlysqueeze out all the toothpaste
all over the counter, but it'simpossible to get it back into
the tube later, while we canmake amends and attempt to
(19:57):
repair hasty words once spoke.
They can't be taken back orunheard. The next practice is to
make unlikely connections. JohnPaul letter X, idea of critical
yeast, reminds us that realtransformation takes place in
relationships, especially in theones we wouldn't naturally seek
out. True wisdom calls us toengage with people outside of
(20:19):
our usual circles, Jesus callsus to this also especially to
those on the margins of society.
Imagine if we held a posture ofseeing those who are different
from us as bearers of divineinsight. Making these unlikely
connections could be as simpleas reaching out to someone with
a different perspective, orperhaps inviting someone from a
(20:41):
younger or older generation toget a cup of coffee and learn
the story of their life. It caneven look like practicing
empathy in the midst of conflictand sitting with someone in
their pain and not rushing tofix it. Who can you
intentionally make a connectionwith this week that you wouldn't
normally? And the third practiceis to be faithful and small acts
(21:01):
of goodness. I often say thatwhen things feel too big, start
small, and it turns out that thebig things only come about
because of the small, everydaychoices we make. True wisdom
reminds us that each of usconsistently showing up with
love is what our world needsmost. It is showing up with
(21:22):
generosity even when it feelsinconvenient. It is simply
looking at someone on a trail oras you walk through your
neighborhood and offering afriendly nod and Hello. It is
stepping a little slower, lessrushed throughout your day so
you notice the opportunities toplant seeds of goodness and
perhaps even find those unlikelyconnections you weren't
expecting. It is being mindfulof every interaction as a chance
(21:46):
to make the world a little morebeautiful and less harsh. It is
these small gestures of goodnessand love that act as the yeast
making the whole loaf rise.
These practices pausing makingunlikely connections and
faithfully offering acts ofgoodness in our world, are just
a few ways of anchoringourselves to the way of wisdom.
(22:07):
This is wisdom's call to us. Itisn't about being able to make
sense of every after we findourselves in it isn't about
being perfect or remaining stoicin the face of very real grief
and loss. It isn't aboutcertainty or knowing what is
coming next, but rather to bepresent to what is breaking and
what is being made new, and totrust that small things really
(22:29):
do matter. We don't have all theanswers to live wisely. Rather,
we just have to be willing tolisten to love, to do the next
right thing in front of us, andto trust that even the smallest
acts of goodness can shape a newand vibrant future.
Unknown (22:51):
Just be on my side something that I cannot see.
I've been circling around athought that's been circling
around me like the vapor of asong that is just out of
earshot. I thought I knew thequestion, but I guess not. There
(23:17):
it is just below surface ofthings, every little bit of me,
(23:40):
at this every littlebit of me, I swam against the
tide. I tripped on my own pride,so I'll try again today to get
(24:01):
out of my own way. The face wasalways in the stone, said
Michelangelo, you just have tochip and clean to see what's
already there? There it is justbelow the surface.
(24:51):
Oh, every little bitof it. There it is in the apple
of every new notion. There itis.
Is in the sky was broken in thebranches and the curious promise
(25:16):
name it a time.
(25:37):
Time, it's true, although it'shard, the shadow glides over the
ridge, and one fast beatingheart dries with all its might
to live, and we sense but can'tdescribe from The corner of our
eye something nameless andabiding and so we keep
(26:04):
transcribing there It is justbelow the surface. I
drink it every littlebit Every little bit of me
(26:34):
belittle me. May you
Becca Ellis (27:10):
stand at the crossroads of your life where
the before meets the after, andpause so you may hear the
whisper of wisdom. May you findher not only in the grand
moments of change, but in thesmall, unnoticed spaces where
transformation takes root, whenthe road before you is unclear,
(27:33):
may you have the courage topause and remember Wisdom does
not rush and neither must youwhen the world calls for
division, may you chooseunlikely connections, may you
see the image of God and thoseyou least expect. And may Your
relationships be the slow andsteady work of healing when the
(27:58):
weight of the world feels toomuch, when things feel too big,
may you remember that smallthings matter, that the rising
of the loaf depends on thatcritical yeast, on those who
quietly, faithfully show up inlove again and again. May you be
part of that critical yeast, anagent of renewal, a bearer of
(28:22):
peace, a quiet force for goodand a world longing to be made
whole. And when you findyourself in a new after, one you
never saw coming, may you knowthat you are not alone, for God,
who was with you in the before,is with you always. Amen.
Whitney Higdon (28:45):
Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope
you enjoyed this worshipservice. If you would like to
make a donation helping makethese podcasts possible or
support the many ways, first,Presbyterian seeks to serve our
community, you can make afinancial gift online at bend
fp.org, every week, we hear fromsomeone thanking us for the gift
(29:05):
of these broadcasts, and what adifference they make. Your
support makes that possible. Ourchurch is committed to reach
beyond our walls, bringing hopewhere there is despair and love
where it is needed the most.
Your generous support helps usto be generous in love, go to
our website, bend fp.org, andclick on the link. Give online.
Your support is reallyappreciated and makes a
(29:28):
difference in people's lives.
Thanks again. I hope to see younext week.
Unknown (29:42):
You
Music.
Whitney Higdon (00:37):
Welcome to worship at First Presbyterian we
at first, Presbyterian practicea spacious Christianity, which
means, no matter where you arein your faith journey, you
belong, and there is space foryou at the table, there is space
for your doubts and questions.
We believe doubts and questionsare a gift that invite us into
deeper conversations and a moreauthentic faith. We believe
diversity is a strength. Everystory is sacred, and everybody
(01:01):
matters. We do our best to livethe spacious and radical love of
Jesus so that all might have achance to flourish in this
world. We are so glad to connectwith you in this way. We would
also love to worship with you inperson if you're ever in the
neighborhood on Sunday morningsat 830 or 10am and never
hesitate to reach out to us tolearn more about us or how we
(01:22):
might support You. I hope youenjoy this worship service.
Welcome you.
Unknown (01:43):
When darkness deepens, the path unsure, the sun is
hidden by the stones, I look toheaven and cry to Thee, Oh God.
Everyjoy and tear, every passing let
(02:09):
me know your need in life, indeath, for eternity. O God be
here with mewhen faith is shaken, when fear
(02:34):
surround my feet will stand onsolid ground in every season, my
song will be oh god me inevery breath, every joy, every
(03:00):
passing. God, let me know yourneed in life, in death, for
eternity. Oh God, be here withme.
Be with me.
(03:47):
Here with me, and in that momentwe are face to face, I will not
need these eyes of faith or everafter.
God, I will see that you'vealways been with
(04:20):
me, with me, in every breath,every joy, every passing, let me
know You're near in life, indeath. O God be me.
Steven (04:45):
Be holy, one source of all life and love We thank you
that Your love is all. Ispresent even when we're not
always present to your love.
Your love is present in thespaces between friends. Your
(05:06):
love is even present in thespaces between enemies. Your
love is present in the rubble ofvillages destroy because of
hate. Your love is present withgrieving families, innocent
children caught in the crossfireof war. Your love is present
with those still reeling fromthe devastation of hurricanes,
(05:32):
floods, wildfires. Your love ispresent in the first responders,
relief workers, aid workers,bringing hope where there seems
to be none. Your love is presentwith those living in tents
because they have no hope. Yourlove is present with those in
(05:55):
assisted living waiting for avisit or the phone to ring, your
love is present with those whoare numb with grief. Your love
is present with those livingwith the uncertainty of illness.
Your love is present with thoseliving in the relentless shadows
(06:17):
of mental illness. Your love ispresent, and the bedtime stories
between parent and child, andeven when we fail to recognize
the presence of your love, whichis nearly every moment you
recognize us, you see us. Youcall us by name. You love us.
(06:43):
You love us as we make space tobe present to your love. Give us
the grace to return even a bitof this love to you in the way
we love one another, deep in ourawareness of your love, that we
(07:04):
might live as the presence ofyour love in this broken and
hurting world. Amen.
Becca Ellis (07:17):
Life has a universal rhythm to it, subtle,
unspoken, but ever present.
There is a cadence of momentsthat shape us, dividing time
into the befores and the Afters,before the diagnosis, before the
loss, before the love, after thechild was born, after the
apology, after the pandemic,after the executive order, after
(07:42):
the moment you never saw coming.
We move through life as if itwere a single thread. But in
truth, it is a weaving atapestry of thresholds crossed,
of selves left behind, and newselves stepping forward, and
somewhere in there, a quietvoice emerges, calling out to
(08:03):
us, aiding us at every path andturning point. And her name is
wisdom. Wisdom is found inlearning to see these
thresholds, not just as abruptendings or beginnings, but as
invitations, invitations tonotice, to grow, to be shaped by
what was and what will be today,I want to invite us to sit with
(08:26):
this truth, to consider theholiness of change, the grace
that meets us at the turningpoints, and the God who was
before, who meets us in theafter, and who is with us
always. Sophia is atransliteration of the Greek
noun meaning wisdom, but morethan just the attainment of
knowledge and life to make goodand sound decisions, Sophia,
(08:48):
wisdom represents a living,guiding presence that moves us
through life's changes andruptures, whether good or bad.
In Hebrew, the word for wisdomis hachma, referring to God's
wisdom. In the Old Testament,Book of Proverbs, we see this
word used as wisdom ispersonified as a woman and CO
(09:08):
creator with God. Wisdom isdescribed as having been there
all along, even before creationand as the world began, and she
is present in our own becomingtoo wisdom has always been
calling out to us. She stands atthe crossroads, at the threshold
of every before and after askingus to listen in Proverbs eight,
(09:31):
she raises her voice. Does notwisdom. Call out, does not
understanding. Raise her voiceat the highest point along the
way, where the paths meet, shetakes her stand. As I have been
reflecting on this idea ofbefores and afters, I'm reminded
of the story of Esther, whichspeaks to the power of
(09:51):
responding with wisdom,intention and courage when we
find ourselves at a pivotalturning point in our lives and.
Her before, Esther was an orphanliving in exile, then she is
suddenly queen to a powerfulking, and there is a decree of
destruction for her people. Shedidn't ask for any of this, but
(10:13):
here she is the one person whocan make a difference. She could
have asked the question, Why me?
And stopped there passivelyletting life go on around her.
It was a moment of great fearand uncertainty, but in her
after Esther rose to theoccasion, choosing to act with
courage and wisdom, even at therisk of her own life, to save
(10:34):
her people. She understood therewas something greater than just
herself at stake. She listenedto wisdom's voice and felt the
call for such a time as this.
One of the greatest challengeswe each face is when we cross
those thresholds life presentsus with and to stop and notice
(10:56):
what after we have foundourselves in and then decide
what to do with it. We learn toask the questions now, what and
why? Me with a tone of curiosityrather than despair, which can
be hard, because in every beforewe stand in possibility, in
every after, we must kneel downand gather what is lost, what
(11:19):
has gained, what has beenrevealed. Both befores and
afters can be better or worse,but they always bring change,
and all change, no matter howsmall is loss in some form or
other, the invitation wisdomoffers us is both to honor this
truth as well as a profoundpractice of living into the
(11:39):
questions, into the uncertaintyand trusting that even when we
don't know what is to come,there is a calling for us to
step into, and God will need usthere. So where does that leave
us? If every before and after isan invitation, then what is it
that we are being called intothe deeper understanding of this
(12:00):
Sophia wisdom is that she doesnot merely call us to
understanding. She calls us toparticipation. She is not just
an observer at the turningpoints of our lives. She is an
active presence at both the bigand quiet moments of our lives,
stirring, moving and leading usdeeper. And in that leading,
there is always a call, a callnot just to who we are becoming,
(12:24):
but a call to how we choose tomove throughout our everyday
lives. We each have personalcallings we encounter through
our life, our work, where welive, our creative pursuits, and
these may shift depending on theseason of life we are in. But
beneath all of these uniquecallings, there is one that
applies to all of us and is madevisible through the ways we show
(12:45):
up in our communities day byday. It is a quiet calling, a
current running just underneaththe surface, but builds over
time to make true and lastingchange. Often, when Afters
occur, we are very good atpaying attention to the big
moments, as Krista Tippett putsit, when we think about how
change happens in this society,and this is natural, we tell the
(13:08):
story of those moments whenCritical Mass arises, bodies on
the street, but durable changeis often brewing in much less
visible yet powerful ways beforewe ever see it on the surface. I
love the way John Paul Lederach,a global leader in conflict
resolution and peace building,describes this. He says that if
(13:29):
we want to see change in ourworld, we must become what he
calls critical yeast. When youmake a loaf of bread, the dough
can't rise without yeast. Thecritical work is quietly
happening beneath the surface asdifferent elements are mixed
together and begin to interactand release something new that
wasn't there before letter actsobservation and work emphasizes
(13:51):
how change happens long beforethe movement reaches the
streets. Critical yeast is whensmall groups of people in
unlikely combinations form a newquality of relationship. Now to
me, that sounds a lot likechurch. One of the beautiful
things about a church communityis how we encounter individuals
(14:12):
we wouldn't have met in ournatural, everyday circles. We
actually live our lives fairlysegregated. When you think about
it, our kids and youth spendtheir days divided into spaces
with their direct peers. On theother side, we have assisted
living and retirementcommunities where younger people
don't tend to just walk in andbuild relationships. We often
have friends who are the sameage and in a similar life phase
(14:33):
as we are. And there's nothinginherently wrong with any of
that, but church is a placewhere all are welcome. The
commonality being that we areseeking to be a part of
something bigger than justourselves, to find meaning and
purpose. Here, at first pres, westrive to embody this spacious
way of doing community together,where we embrace our differences
(14:54):
and approach them with curiosityand our lives are so much richer
for it. It is a new. Quality ofrelationship that we find here,
one that is counter cultural, inthat when we hear something that
might not align perfectly withour own perspective, instead of
running the other way or puttingan immediate guard up, we are
invited to lean in withcuriosity and love and see what
(15:15):
there is for us to learn. Thereis challenge involved as we
navigate community in this way,but that challenge expands our
capacity for love andunderstanding, which is clearly
something our world needs. Goingback to this idea of critical
yeast, this term captures theslow, unseen work of
(15:35):
transformation. It's quiet, it'sbehind the scenes, it's faithful
and steady, and it's where thereal magic happens. Letteric
goes on to say that it is theseyeasty individuals, the ones
willing to engage acrossdivision, to nurture
relationships, to show up againand again, who remain after the
upheavals. They are the ones andthe Afters picking up the pieces
(15:59):
and asking what now and turningit into something durable and
whole.
In the New Testament book ofJames, we are offered a vision
of two kinds of wisdom, one thatis rooted in God's way of being,
and another that is driven byself interest beyond just
abstract thoughts. These ways ofwisdom shape how we relate to
(16:20):
others and how we find ourpurpose. We read who is wise and
understanding among you. Letthem show it by their good life,
by deeds done in the humilitythat comes from wisdom. But if
you harbor bitter envy andselfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast about it or denythe truth. Such wisdom does not
(16:40):
come from God, but is earthlyand spiritual. But the wisdom
that comes from God is first ofall, pure, then peace, loving,
considerate, submissive, full ofmercy and good fruit, impartial
and sincere. There is a wisdomthat seeks to serve itself. It
appears to have all the answersto be strategic and cunning, but
(17:01):
ultimately drives us to anunsatisfied and hollow
existence. It tells us toacquire and keep more for
ourselves, to find our worth inwhat we have and how we measure
against others. Living this wayleads us to only one after,
where we look back and wonderwhy we wasted so much time on
the things that matter the leastin this short life. Then there
(17:24):
is God's wisdom, one rooted inmercy and justice, in deep
consideration for others, inpeacemaking, and one that tells
a more generative narrative forour times. It is a quiet wisdom
that shows up in unlikelyplaces, with the ability to
rebuild what is broken, to bringwholeness where there has been
division, to transform not justindividual lives, but entire
(17:47):
communities. The question for usis not just which wisdom we
admire, but rather, what wisdomdo we live by, and what about
when it gets hard? There are alot of voices calling out for
our attention in this world,it's easy to get lost and
overwhelmed, and it all unlikeSteven shared last week, for our
circuits to get overloaded,following the voice of wisdom we
(18:10):
know can lead us to the greatesttransformation isn't necessarily
easy. I think it's alsoimportant to say that this
wisdom doesn't tell us to neverpay attention to ourselves
either. So it's it's actually inpaying attention to our own well
being that we are able to giveour ourselves and the way that
God's wisdom calls us toward. Sohow do we find it? What
(18:33):
practices can we engage in thathelp us follow the voice of
wisdom that leads to true andlasting change? Because in order
to see the change we long towitness on a larger scale, we
must first start with our ownindividual transformation. I
want to offer three simple buttransformative practices you can
(18:53):
engage in. The first is topractice the pause. And this one
I have found truly takespractice. We live in a fast
paced world that is alwaysbegging us for a quick reaction,
that thrives on scarcity, thattells us there isn't enough
time, but true wisdom invites usinto deeper discernment. Brene
(19:15):
Brown writes, between stimulusand response, there is a space,
and that space is our power tochoose our response. In our
response lies our growth andfreedom, even if it is just
taking a deep breath anywherethat we can practice and invite
a pause will allow us to exhalea more thoughtful, grounded and
(19:37):
considerate response, ratherthan an impulsive reaction. I
often think about something mytherapist said to me once about
the words we speak. She used theanalogy of a toothpaste tube.
You can easily and rapidlysqueeze out all the toothpaste
all over the counter, but it'simpossible to get it back into
the tube later, while we canmake amends and attempt to
(19:57):
repair hasty words once spoke.
They can't be taken back orunheard. The next practice is to
make unlikely connections. JohnPaul letter X, idea of critical
yeast, reminds us that realtransformation takes place in
relationships, especially in theones we wouldn't naturally seek
out. True wisdom calls us toengage with people outside of
(20:19):
our usual circles, Jesus callsus to this also especially to
those on the margins of society.
Imagine if we held a posture ofseeing those who are different
from us as bearers of divineinsight. Making these unlikely
connections could be as simpleas reaching out to someone with
a different perspective, orperhaps inviting someone from a
(20:41):
younger or older generation toget a cup of coffee and learn
the story of their life. It caneven look like practicing
empathy in the midst of conflictand sitting with someone in
their pain and not rushing tofix it. Who can you
intentionally make a connectionwith this week that you wouldn't
normally? And the third practiceis to be faithful and small acts
(21:01):
of goodness. I often say thatwhen things feel too big, start
small, and it turns out that thebig things only come about
because of the small, everydaychoices we make. True wisdom
reminds us that each of usconsistently showing up with
love is what our world needsmost. It is showing up with
(21:22):
generosity even when it feelsinconvenient. It is simply
looking at someone on a trail oras you walk through your
neighborhood and offering afriendly nod and Hello. It is
stepping a little slower, lessrushed throughout your day so
you notice the opportunities toplant seeds of goodness and
perhaps even find those unlikelyconnections you weren't
expecting. It is being mindfulof every interaction as a chance
(21:46):
to make the world a little morebeautiful and less harsh. It is
these small gestures of goodnessand love that act as the yeast
making the whole loaf rise.
These practices pausing makingunlikely connections and
faithfully offering acts ofgoodness in our world, are just
a few ways of anchoringourselves to the way of wisdom.
(22:07):
This is wisdom's call to us. Itisn't about being able to make
sense of every after we findourselves in it isn't about
being perfect or remaining stoicin the face of very real grief
and loss. It isn't aboutcertainty or knowing what is
coming next, but rather to bepresent to what is breaking and
what is being made new, and totrust that small things really
(22:29):
do matter. We don't have all theanswers to live wisely. Rather,
we just have to be willing tolisten to love, to do the next
right thing in front of us, andto trust that even the smallest
acts of goodness can shape a newand vibrant future.
Unknown (22:51):
Just be on my side something that I cannot see.
I've been circling around athought that's been circling
around me like the vapor of asong that is just out of
earshot. I thought I knew thequestion, but I guess not. There
(23:17):
it is just below surface ofthings, every little bit of me,
(23:40):
at this every littlebit of me, I swam against the
tide. I tripped on my own pride,so I'll try again today to get
(24:01):
out of my own way. The face wasalways in the stone, said
Michelangelo, you just have tochip and clean to see what's
already there? There it is justbelow the surface.
(24:51):
Oh, every little bitof it. There it is in the apple
of every new notion. There itis.
Is in the sky was broken in thebranches and the curious promise
(25:16):
name it a time.
(25:37):
Time, it's true, although it'shard, the shadow glides over the
ridge, and one fast beatingheart dries with all its might
to live, and we sense but can'tdescribe from The corner of our
eye something nameless andabiding and so we keep
(26:04):
transcribing there It is justbelow the surface. I
drink it every littlebit Every little bit of me
(26:34):
belittle me. May you
Becca Ellis (27:10):
stand at the crossroads of your life where
the before meets the after, andpause so you may hear the
whisper of wisdom. May you findher not only in the grand
moments of change, but in thesmall, unnoticed spaces where
transformation takes root, whenthe road before you is unclear,
(27:33):
may you have the courage topause and remember Wisdom does
not rush and neither must youwhen the world calls for
division, may you chooseunlikely connections, may you
see the image of God and thoseyou least expect. And may Your
relationships be the slow andsteady work of healing when the
(27:58):
weight of the world feels toomuch, when things feel too big,
may you remember that smallthings matter, that the rising
of the loaf depends on thatcritical yeast, on those who
quietly, faithfully show up inlove again and again. May you be
part of that critical yeast, anagent of renewal, a bearer of
(28:22):
peace, a quiet force for goodand a world longing to be made
whole. And when you findyourself in a new after, one you
never saw coming, may you knowthat you are not alone, for God,
who was with you in the before,is with you always. Amen.
Whitney Higdon (28:45):
Thank you so much for joining us, and we hope
you enjoyed this worshipservice. If you would like to
make a donation helping makethese podcasts possible or
support the many ways, first,Presbyterian seeks to serve our
community, you can make afinancial gift online at bend
fp.org, every week, we hear fromsomeone thanking us for the gift
(29:05):
of these broadcasts, and what adifference they make. Your
support makes that possible. Ourchurch is committed to reach
beyond our walls, bringing hopewhere there is despair and love
where it is needed the most.
Your generous support helps usto be generous in love, go to
our website, bend fp.org, andclick on the link. Give online.
Your support is reallyappreciated and makes a
(29:28):
difference in people's lives.
Thanks again. I hope to see younext week.
Unknown (29:42):
You
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