Now Hiring: Priests

Now HiringI’m not sure I’d apply for the job.

The Levitical preisthood, descended from Aaron among the tribe of Levi, had a job I’m not convinced I’d want. When I reflect on their duties, I have a mixed reaction. One part of me esteems their role highly: what a privilege to be chosen among the thousands for such important duties. They taught and blessed the people. They led them toward God and interceded on their behalves. They entered the Holy Place in the tabernacle (and temple) and burned fragrant incense.

Another part of me experiences revulsion at what their daily duties entailed: the bloody sacrifices of animals for guilt offerings. (Do you think the teenage Levites from Aaron’s line dreaded adulthood and having to go into the family business?)  Read More

Posted in Advent, Bible Study, Christmas, Faith, Forgiveness and tagged , , , , , ,

Rejected

My skin isn’t thick enough.

Because I’m in my early 40’s you might expect me to have the emotional capacity to shrug off feelings of rejection. But I don’t. At least not all the time. A series of events colluded against my heart over the last few weeks:

  • I’ve recently tumbled down the list of people whose opinion matters to my teenage daughter. Developmentally normal, I know, but I still feel the loss of her esteem.
  • A heart-felt, oft-expressed invitation to come visit us was again turned down; our family’s hopes of sharing special time with people we love were dashed.
  • Several of my children have experienced isolation from their peers, in some cases for their faith. My mother-heart feels their pain as my own.
  • Our Easter Sunday was spent without the fellowship of friends or family.  Read More
Posted in Faith, Forgiveness, Friendship, Parenting, Redemption and tagged , , , , , , , , ,