Resting: The Humble Dance Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, July 26, 2015

Last week, Psalm 37:1-6 About Cultivating Faithfulness, with ideas related to vocation and discernment, as well as what it means to “dwell in the land and do good” This week, more from this Psalm... Verses 7- 11, with a continuing contrast between “the wicked” and “the righteous” Tangent: Norway’s prison experiment

Maybe better to think of humans? Sliding into downward tendencies or learning to climb out of them The wicked look as though they are prospering, even taking active steps to hurt others as they clamour for more and more for themselves (unbridled aggression) This psalm, along with others, teaches that this path does not win in the end (“those who live by the sword...”)

Psalm 37: Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

Psalm 37: Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. 11 But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Two great virtues: rest & humility Actually, they’re related—it takes real humility in order to learn how to rest Resting seems related to “waiting” and reminds us of Isaiah 40: “those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength...” Resting and waiting are postures—they do not signify passivity or inactivity (v. 3, cultivate!)

What if I can’t change things? Then I can change myself... Victor Frankl’s teaching about 3 kinds of meaning: active, passive, and the last of the human freedoms—our choice about how we respond Song of submission...

If it be your will

Resting “I rest in the fact that You know me and love Me and desire the best for me in whatever happens” “I choose to do all that I can to better my situation because I believe that You love me and that I am worth it; however, I do not do this in a frantic way... my ultimate trust is in You and the good that You can bring even out of adversity”

Humility Is reflected in the posture of waiting and resting... I am loved, I am made in Your image, I am meant to live a life that is connected to others and full of meaning, love and joy Fighting too hard against others, fighting too frantically for myself, and refusing to fight are all postures that have more to do with pride than humility

An incredible example... Here we have the example of an honest man learning to do a humble dance as he desires to move forward in life There is no overt sign of resting or waiting on God, but I think the work of God and the attitudes necessary for growth are woven throughout Do not miss the sign at the end of the video Why, when God's world is so big, did you fall asleep in a prison, of all places? (Rumi)