Daily Archives: February 19, 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 2:00 pm on February 19, 2015  

The Eyes of Suffering – Rev. David J. Schreffler

Do You See The Eyes of Suffering?
Do You See Loneliness – Pain and Despair?
Do You See Your G*d in The Faces of The Poor,
In The Eyes of The Death-Mask Stare?

It is True The Eyes of The Suffering Dim,
Like Cateracts Their Vision Clouds Un-awares.
As Shadows Fade in The Evening Gloom,
So Do The Faces–When We Choose Not to Care.

When You Ignore The Eyes of Suffering,
You See Within As If Without Eyes;
Your Selfishness Blinds Your Sight-lines
Into The Depths of Your Neighbors Lives!

“Where Are The Eyes of The Suffering?” you ask;
“Where Exists Loneliness, Pain and Despair?”
Just Open Your Eyes – Look Around You,
If You Can Muster The Courage to Care!

Are You Seeing Through The Eyes of Suffering?
Are You Hurting, Despairing, Alone, in Pain?
Jesus Has Been to The Depths of Suffering,
And Has Risen To Redeem Everyone – Amen.

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:24 am on February 19, 2015  

Wrestling With G*d – Rev. David J. Schreffler

February 19, 2015

“The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream. And Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:22ff

Have you ever had a night where you wrestled with one thought or another for most of the night? I have had many, many nights like that. Wrestling with one thing or another seems to happen more frequently at night since there is less and less to divert our mind’s attention from the things that worry us. Some people call these nights the “long dark night of the soul”. When I graduated from Gettysburg Seminary in 2005, I met with the Bishop from the Synod I had been assigned. After a week or two, I was given the name of a congregation to consider for my first call. That first night that I prayed and considered the call of the Bishop, it was a night like that of Jacob – wrestling with G*d about the past, the present and the future. They all seem to collide in hours of wrestling and battling unknown and known foes – and often these long hours come in the darkest time of the night.

When Jacob realizes he will not prevail over his adversary, and his adversary realizes he will not prevail over Jacob, they have reached an impasse. His adversary wants to leave, and Jacob wants a blessing. “Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” “I will not let you go,” Jacob replied, “unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” “No longer will your name be Jacob,” the man told him, “but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.” (verses 26-28) So Jacob receives more than a blessing – he receives a new name. He is told he will now be known as Israel because he struggled with G*d and and with men, and won.

Have you been struggling with G*d lately? G*d allows us to struggle – encourages us to wrestle with issues – wants us to care deeply about our faith and our relationship with G*d. It is not a sin to wrestle with G*d – but we miss out on some quality struggling when we don’t care enough to question. Again, have you been struggling with G*d lately? Take time in Lent to wrestle with G*d – G*d’s word and G*d’s will for your life – it will be a struggle worth your time.

Pastor Dave