The Grace of Falling on Your Face
It is always exciting when I can share a new physical accomplishment with the people I love. It is even more exciting when physical accomplishment touches a deep spiritual nerve as we begin the season of Lent. During Lent we Christians the world over offer ourselves to God through acts of self-sacrifice, practices of renunciation, and a profound sense of sorrow, both for our own sins and for the sins of the world. In a sense, we walk where Jesus walked, and we open ourselves to the Father even as Jesus opened himself to his Father's will, which for him led to the cross -- a sign both of Divine love and human depravity.
By coincidence, last week I began a new practice in my physical therapy. Up until now I have been unable to lie in bed on my stomach. Mostly I sleep either on my back or on my side, propped up with pillows. One reason for this is that I have not been strong enough to turn myself all the way over. As I have mentioned before, until about two months ago I have been unable to lift even 1 pound weights. The other reason is that I have not been flexible enough to pull my arms next to my head. When I was at the Shepherd Center, I looked with envy at my fellow patients who spent 20-30 minutes of their therapy sessions "prostrate." Even though they were doing an exercise called "the terrible 3's," it still looked pretty good to me.
Last week, I decided to give it a try -- and over I went -- flat on my face! What really amazed me was that I was able to use my elbows to hold my head and shoulders off the bed. This newfound capacity enabled me to get my hands flat on the bed and over my head. This may not sound like much to you, but trust me, it is absolutely awesome -- and it feels great! To make matters even better, I can get on and off my back without any assistance. I just thought you would be interested in sharing this wonderful accomplishment.
Yesterday morning, as I lay prostrate I remembered that it was Ash Wednesday. If there is ever a day for Christians to prostrate themselves before God it is Ash Wednesday. As I lay there, I recalled some years ago worshiping God in St. Michael's Church in St. Petersburg, Russia. Traditionally, Orthodox churches do not have pews. If Orthodox Christians sit in church at all it is only for preaching -- after all, this is only human speech. More appropriately, in God's presence worshipers ought to stand, kneel, or even prostrate themselves. On that Sunday in St. Petersburg, I saw a good many elderly women flat on their faces with their arms spread to their side. (Sometimes I lament our Protestant preoccupation with judging worship services on the basis of what the pastor says and how he/she says it.)
As I thought about how I would observe Lent this year, I thought it might be a good idea to learn a little more about prostrating oneself, since I could now do it! Naturally, being a man of the 21st century I opened my web browser and "Googled" the word "prostrate."
As I said, I am a man of the 21st century -- therefore, I was not completely surprised when the first line of the search returned this statement: "You may have been searching for ' prostate'." Relax; I am not planning to go far with this image. However, for a 58 1/2 year-old man this is not exactly an irrelevant subject. I will leave it at that. I had to click through several search pages before I got away from "prostate."
To my surprise, the first non-prostate hit was this one:
Darwinia glaucophylla (a prostrate shrub) - Prostrate knotweed is an annual, common along sidewalks in turf or wherever turf is stressed and less vigorous. It thrives in dry, compacted soils or wherever there is excessive foot traffic. The plant forms a tough, wiry mat of stems and leaves.... Pre-emergent herbicides can be effective if applied in late fall/winter (knotweed can germinate in Feb or March). Post-emergent herbicides are mostly ineffective after plants become larger. 2,4-D and 2,4-D combinations will give fair control when applied to younger plants.
The next one led me to the NYPD Blue web site and a review of the episode, Prostrate before the Law. Although this was very interesting, it was hardly helpful for Lenten discipline.
The next stop on my cyber search was a Buddhist web site. Once again, this did not exactly meet my needs, but I did find an interesting definition of the word "prostrate:" "means lying face downwards, often as the result of some accident or illness: He was knocked over and lay prostrate for some minutes before getting up."
When I was injured last April, it was the fall on my face that snapped my neck and produced the injury that has changed my life. The term speaks to me of having been thrown to the ground. I can only imagine what it was like for Jesus to be thrown into the wilderness to be tempted by the Evil One. He went into the wilderness to deal with his own faithfulness before God, but also as preparation to give His life for the sins of the world.
This year, I feel as though I have been thrown down face first. It has been a painful and difficult year in many respects, but it has been a year filled with God and with hope. As we begin the Lenten journey together, I hope you will join me on the ground -- on your face. However, that we are on the ground and on our faces is not the basis for our lament. That is simply more of the self absorption that plagues our culture and even our Church. The last thing we need is more people complaining publicly about their sad lot in life.
When we prostrate ourselves before God, let us do so as those who have been driven to the ground, grieving and weeping for the sinful folly of humanity -- including ourselves. Let us learn the grace of falling on your face. As we do so, our lament never shows a hint of hopelessness. Rather, through the darkness of Lent, we can smell the flowers and sense the Victory!
After all my searching, I found some help for my Lenten discipline -- at www.cyberhymnal.org. The words of this hymn were written by Christian F. Richter (1676-1711) (Hier legt mom Sinn sich vor dir nieder) and translated from German to English by John Wesley. I should have known it would be more singing!
The peace of Christ be with you,
Jim
By coincidence, last week I began a new practice in my physical therapy. Up until now I have been unable to lie in bed on my stomach. Mostly I sleep either on my back or on my side, propped up with pillows. One reason for this is that I have not been strong enough to turn myself all the way over. As I have mentioned before, until about two months ago I have been unable to lift even 1 pound weights. The other reason is that I have not been flexible enough to pull my arms next to my head. When I was at the Shepherd Center, I looked with envy at my fellow patients who spent 20-30 minutes of their therapy sessions "prostrate." Even though they were doing an exercise called "the terrible 3's," it still looked pretty good to me.
Last week, I decided to give it a try -- and over I went -- flat on my face! What really amazed me was that I was able to use my elbows to hold my head and shoulders off the bed. This newfound capacity enabled me to get my hands flat on the bed and over my head. This may not sound like much to you, but trust me, it is absolutely awesome -- and it feels great! To make matters even better, I can get on and off my back without any assistance. I just thought you would be interested in sharing this wonderful accomplishment.
Yesterday morning, as I lay prostrate I remembered that it was Ash Wednesday. If there is ever a day for Christians to prostrate themselves before God it is Ash Wednesday. As I lay there, I recalled some years ago worshiping God in St. Michael's Church in St. Petersburg, Russia. Traditionally, Orthodox churches do not have pews. If Orthodox Christians sit in church at all it is only for preaching -- after all, this is only human speech. More appropriately, in God's presence worshipers ought to stand, kneel, or even prostrate themselves. On that Sunday in St. Petersburg, I saw a good many elderly women flat on their faces with their arms spread to their side. (Sometimes I lament our Protestant preoccupation with judging worship services on the basis of what the pastor says and how he/she says it.)
As I thought about how I would observe Lent this year, I thought it might be a good idea to learn a little more about prostrating oneself, since I could now do it! Naturally, being a man of the 21st century I opened my web browser and "Googled" the word "prostrate."
As I said, I am a man of the 21st century -- therefore, I was not completely surprised when the first line of the search returned this statement: "You may have been searching for ' prostate'." Relax; I am not planning to go far with this image. However, for a 58 1/2 year-old man this is not exactly an irrelevant subject. I will leave it at that. I had to click through several search pages before I got away from "prostate."
To my surprise, the first non-prostate hit was this one:
Darwinia glaucophylla (a prostrate shrub) - Prostrate knotweed is an annual, common along sidewalks in turf or wherever turf is stressed and less vigorous. It thrives in dry, compacted soils or wherever there is excessive foot traffic. The plant forms a tough, wiry mat of stems and leaves.... Pre-emergent herbicides can be effective if applied in late fall/winter (knotweed can germinate in Feb or March). Post-emergent herbicides are mostly ineffective after plants become larger. 2,4-D and 2,4-D combinations will give fair control when applied to younger plants.
The next one led me to the NYPD Blue web site and a review of the episode, Prostrate before the Law. Although this was very interesting, it was hardly helpful for Lenten discipline.
The next stop on my cyber search was a Buddhist web site. Once again, this did not exactly meet my needs, but I did find an interesting definition of the word "prostrate:" "means lying face downwards, often as the result of some accident or illness: He was knocked over and lay prostrate for some minutes before getting up."
When I was injured last April, it was the fall on my face that snapped my neck and produced the injury that has changed my life. The term speaks to me of having been thrown to the ground. I can only imagine what it was like for Jesus to be thrown into the wilderness to be tempted by the Evil One. He went into the wilderness to deal with his own faithfulness before God, but also as preparation to give His life for the sins of the world.
This year, I feel as though I have been thrown down face first. It has been a painful and difficult year in many respects, but it has been a year filled with God and with hope. As we begin the Lenten journey together, I hope you will join me on the ground -- on your face. However, that we are on the ground and on our faces is not the basis for our lament. That is simply more of the self absorption that plagues our culture and even our Church. The last thing we need is more people complaining publicly about their sad lot in life.
When we prostrate ourselves before God, let us do so as those who have been driven to the ground, grieving and weeping for the sinful folly of humanity -- including ourselves. Let us learn the grace of falling on your face. As we do so, our lament never shows a hint of hopelessness. Rather, through the darkness of Lent, we can smell the flowers and sense the Victory!
After all my searching, I found some help for my Lenten discipline -- at www.cyberhymnal.org. The words of this hymn were written by Christian F. Richter (1676-1711) (Hier legt mom Sinn sich vor dir nieder) and translated from German to English by John Wesley. I should have known it would be more singing!
My soul before Thee prostrate lies;
To Thee, her Source, my spirit flies;
My wants I mourn, my chains I see;
O let Thy presence set me free.
Jesus, vouchsafe my heart and will
With Thy meek lowliness to fill;
No more her power let nature boast,
But in Thy will may mine be lost.
Already springing hope I feel,
God will destroy the power of hell,
And, from a land of wars and pain,
Lead me where peace and safety reign.
One only care my soul shall know,
Father, all Thy commands to do;
And feel, what endless years shall prove,
That Thou, my Lord, my God, art love.
The peace of Christ be with you,
Jim
posted by Pierce | 12:00 PM
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