Author Archives: Mark Zimmermann

Riding into Water

water path
Bike path to South Hero Island, north of Burlington, VT

On my trip to Vermont this summer, I went on a bike trail just north of Burlington. As I rode along, I suddenly realized that the trail was taking me straight into Lake Champlain. I kept pedaling and the trail on dry land kept going. With water on both sides, I became a little frightened and made a concerted effort to keep the wheels of my bike rolling near the certain of the path. There was no room for error. If I somehow left the path on either side, I would be veering into water. Eventually the trail ended midway through the bay, where a railroad bridge once spanned the water the rest of the way to South Hero Island. I carefully returned on the path on came in on, feeling stronger in my legs and more sure of my balance on the bike as I again negotiated toward the center of the path to a wide expanse of land on shore.

The experience, while thrilling, made me think for a moment about the trepidation the Children of Israel must have felt as they traversed along dry land with the water of the Red Sea being held back by God on both sides. They must focused on their feet, making sure they were walking a straight line toward shore, not accidentally stepping into the churning waters that could have swept them away. After a while though, their steps must have gotten easier, they found themselves more sure-footed as they neared the end of their trek. We are reminded of how they celebrated with song and tambourine when everyone had safely crossed and they had escaped their Egyptian captors.

God provides us with ways out of dangerous situations that often take some courage on our part. We need to stay focused, pay attention and keep the goal of relief in mind each time we step foot into paths marked out for us that can be tricky to navigate, but in the end are for our benefit. I think of recovery after surgery, getting out of a difficult relationship or searching for new employment.

Like the Children of Israel, we have a God who will deliver us. All we need to do is put one foot in front of the other and trust him to take us to where he wants us to be.

Doomscrolling

scrolling

Have you heard of the term doomscrolling? It refers to scrolling on our phones through large amounts of negative posts and videos on the web and social media. We’ve all experienced it. You start with one post about something dire, which leads to another link, and before you know it an hour has passed and you are feeling pretty pessimistic about the state of the world.

The fact is, though, that we don’t need our phones to go doomscrolling. Our brains take care of that all on their own sometimes. Psychologists call it catastrophizing. One bad thought leads to another and another until we envision the worst case scenarios of future times or an overly exaggerated view of mistakes we may have made in the past.

The Bible is well aware of our tendency for doomscrolling. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance” (1 Peter 1:14). And St. Peter has this advice for us: “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:12). Yes, there are bad things in the world because of the presence of sin, but our thoughts should always scroll to the hope, the grace, the presence of Christ that we have now and will have forever. In the end, our future is not doom and gloom, but light and love, peace and joy in Jesus our Savior. Think on those things.

Echoes of Pickleball

pickleball

On my morning walks, I can hear the sounds of pickleball in the park near my house. The pop of the ball hitting the paddles and the courts seems to echo throughout the block, along with the the yelps, cheers and laughter of the players, even when I am blocks away.

Since the pickleball courts are rather new and are very popular, the echoes of pickleball-playing are something that has caught my attention. “I wonder what all the fuss is about?” “It sure sounds like they are having fun,” “I should go over there and check this out.”

Which brings me to the Christian application. What sounds coming from our churches can attract the attention of passersby? Maybe it is a choir singing. Maybe it is hearty laughter coming from a picnic after worship. Or maybe it is people praying the Lord’s Prayer together.

How can you “let your light shine” in the world that ”others may see your good works and praise your Father who is in heaven”? (Matthew 5:16).

All it may take is an echo of something uplifting that may ping in someone’s ear and bring them to the house of the Lord. Be that ping, that joyful noise, that permeating happy beat that draws a crowd for Christ.

Even Now

Mary, Martha and Jesus

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” —John 11:21-22

The two words “even now” were brought to light to me in a recent sermon. They are spoken by Martha in the midst of what must have been one of the most trying times of her life. Her brother whom she loved dearly had died, and Jesus, whom she knew to be the Messiah, had not come in time to help him. But even in the the midst of this upheaval in her life, she was able, in faith, to say that even now she knew Jesus could be anything. And, amazingly, he did. He raised Lazaras!

Fast-forward to today. Even now, in the midst of wars around the world. Even now, with political unrest in our nation. Even now, with mass shootings and violence. Even now, with those we love sick or dying. Even now, with our own physical or mental struggles, we can still say with certainty by faith, to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” And he will.

Inspiration

Robert Frost Trail
Scene along the Robert Frost Trail in Green Mountain National Forest

The famous American poet Robert Frost got inspiration for his poetry from the nature he witnessed around him on his walks through the woods near Green Mountain in the state of Vermont. I had an opportunity to take the path that Frost took through the woods of Vermont and witness for myself the trees, the meadows, the roads diverging in a yellow wood that elicited such a creative response.

What inspires you in this world? More specifically, what does the Holy Spirit inspire you to notice to help you learn more about our God? For many, it is indeed nature that inspires us to draw closer to the God who created all things. For others, inspiration comes from books, articles and podcasts that open our minds to the meaning behind the works and words of God. Often, it is music, and many times, it is simply a word, phrase or response from a friend that strikes us in a way that makes God come alive for us.

Inspiration is the primary work of the Holy Spirit. That is why it is important for us to stop and recognize that we are being inspired by something or someone. It is the Spirit of God speaking to us and telling us to pay attention. So be open to inspiration and do something with it when it comes you…like write a poem.

Barns

barn

On a morning walk while I was in Iowa recently, I passed a large, old, rustic barn that has been preserved along what has become a more modern, suburban road. The stark contrast of this farming structure in the midst of new construction homes made me think more deeply about barns and what they have to say to us as modern-day Christians.

Surprisingly, barns are mentioned several times in Scripture to represent different things.

The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Deuteronomy 28:8).

Barns are a sign of blessing from God. They store the bountiful harvests of plants that come from God’s creation, and they represent a thriving and established community, which God will give the Children of Israel in the Promised Land.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26).

Jesus describes barns in his Sermon on the Mount as places that birds of the air have no need of because the heavenly Father takes care of them without the birds worrying about where their food will come from. Barns in this case are symbols of buildings that we fret over filling, when we should trust that God will keep us filled, even if our barns may not be full.

Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.”

In the parable of the rich fool, barns represent greed and amassing earthly wealth for our own personal gain. Jesus points out that we should store up treasures in heaven instead of riches here on earth. In the end, gifts of forgiveness, faith in Jesus and love for God and one another are more valuable than anything that can be stored in a barn, which will one day be destroyed.

Be on the lookout for barns on your travels this week, if you are able, and remember the lessons that can be learned from them for our walk with the Lord.

A Little Chapel

Chapel

On my recent trip to Vermont, I visited the Trapp Family Lodge, where the real von Trapp family of The Sound of Music fame lived and worked after they left Europe. One of the features of the grounds around the lodge is a hike to a little stone chapel in the woods that one of the sons, Werner von Trapp, built in honor of the fallen comrades he served with during World War II.

I decided to take a look at this little chapel. The hike started off pleasant enough until I reached a very steep path covered with sharp rocks, twisted tree roots and various holes and ruts. As I was huffing and puffing my way up the hill, contemplating turning around, a couple was coming down the path toward me. One of them looked at me in my beleaguered state and said, “You can make it. It is right around the corner.” I did make it, and it was just around the corner. I enjoyed looking at the careful craftsmanship of the building, and I rang the bell on a rope in celebration of my arrival at this little house of the Lord.

On my way down, there were a few hikers coming toward me, and they asked, “How far?” I said, “Just at the end of this hill. It’s steep, but it is worth it.” I was able to pass on my experience to them and encourage them to continue their journey to the chapel.

On our way to our own churches each Sunday, the devil likes to throw obstacles in our path. Our tired bodies, sports games on TV or delicious brunch menus at a local restaurant are like the rocks and roots and holes that almost stopped me from reaching that church in the woods. What are some things that have prevented you from going to church? Think of how you can avoid those things in the future so that you can enjoy time with the Lord and celebrate him in his house through word and song.

It is good for us, too, to be able tell others who are considering going to church after being absent from it for awhile or who have never set foot in one before that it is worth to go. Our words of encouragement and our recounting of our experiences at church may be just what people need to hear to attend worship and be blessed by it.

New Shoes

shoes

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:15

After many years, I finally got some new shoes. I was impressed with how much cushion and support my new shoes have compared to my old, worn-down, worn-out pairs that I had been suffering along with for so long.

It seems funny to me that shoes are mentioned as a vital part of the armor of God in Ephesians 6. Why are shoes so important? They are important because they protect our feet, they keep us balanced and they make us stand firm and ready for the challenges ahead.

Why, then, does the Bible associate shoes with peace? The peace we have with God is like a good pair of shoes because it gives us comfort and support, it gives us confidence that we can move forward in our journey of faith, and it protects from any obstacles in our path to unity with God through Christ.

Think about the peace we have with God whenever you put on your shoes today, and see what impact God’s peace has on your approach to the world.

Getting Tripped Up?

tripping

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. Psalm 73:2

On my walks in the morning, I am finding that no matter how hard I try not to, I will always trip a little at some point on a crack in the sidewalk or a twig on the cement or on uneven ground. But invariably, after a few seconds of imbalance and then righting myself, I am able to continue walking.

Which got me to thinking: What trips us up on our walk of faith? The most obvious is probably temptations from the devil that can stop us in our tracks toward God and make us stumble in our commitment to him. But God has given us the strength not to fall down into temptation but to get back up and move forward in our path toward an even greater belief in him.

Sometimes what trips us up is our own egos or our sense that we can walk through life all by ourselves. But we are reminded again and again that we can do all things only through him who gives us strength. We cannot save ourselves. We need the presence of God to lead us and guide us where he wants us to go.

We can also get tripped up by doubts and fears that try to knock us down. But the Bible tells us over and over never to doubt or fear because God sent us Jesus to open the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection so that our future is certain and secure, no matter what is attempting to trip us up currently.

So enjoy your walk of faith today. God will never let you lose your footing.

Transplanted

plant
My transplanted plant next to its cracked (and much smaller) original pot.

We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3

A plant I have at my office window was growing out of its original pot so much that the pot itself was cracking. So I made the move to transplant the plant into a larger pot with new potting soil. The experience ended well with the plant successfully transferred to its new bigger location for it to thrive and expand. But getting there was a little messy. I had to cut the plastic housing inside the original pot to release the roots from their confinement. Then when I put the new potting soil in the larger pot, a lot of the dirt ended up on my office floor carpeting, and the gardening gloves I bought specifically for this task immediately developed a hole in one of the fingers. Fortunately, I did find a broom and a dustpan to brush away the excess dirt, and the gloves did keep the dirt off my hands, even with the hole.

Now as I look at the newly transplanted plant, I am amazed that such a large plant had once lived in such a small space when it clearly needed more room to flourish and become the plant it was meant to be. There are many Christian metaphors that come to mind as I contemplate this experience. First, we as Christian plantings of the Lord are not meant to remain static, but to grow and develop in our faith. But that spiritual growth and that transplanting to a new mission for God can be painful and difficult before it gets good. There are literally growing pains that happen as we adjust to new challenges, new people, new tasks that are not initially easy for us. We might feel a little broken when we abandon where we have been, and we may have some weak spots that nag us along the way. But in the end the growth is good for us and expands our relationship with God and with one another in a way that deepens our roots into even richer soil of spiritual development. In the end, we need never be afraid to be transplanted by our God to a new town, a new job, a new relationship, a new role in our congregation. He will make sure that we become more and more the people he wants us to be.