Virtue: Courage
Resolution: I choose to live boldly with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, in spite of fear.
Human Story: Father Dale Hall
One of the most courageous acts a Christian can display is living counter-culturally. In our American bent toward consumption and greed, it can become common place to succumb to a “get ahead at any cost” mentality. This lifestyle is rarely challenged by the church. It can be daunting to respond to this American ethos with a lifestyle of simplicity and dependency upon God.
Father Dale Hall has chosen to be courageous in this way. He has had a bountiful career in church ministry: church planter, pastor, mentor, spiritual director, counselor, social worker, among others. One of his most inspiring characteristics has been his commitment to a life of simplicity. Below is a transcript of a brief interview with Fr. Dale.
When in your Christian journey did you begin to be drawn toward “simplicity”?
I always liked fixing up old things, reusing and repurposing things. As a child it made me sad to see things not being used. As an adult I really began to reject excessive American materialism early on.
Who were your role models in this process?
Saint Francis and Richard Foster who, in his book Celebration of Discipline, has a chapter on simplicity which was very influential and practical. E.g., I go through my closet and if there are things I have not worn in the past year I consider if it's time give them away, practicing simplicity with generosity.
What advice would you give a 20-something believer who wants to be more spiritually mature?
Make time and be available to be mentored. Look at the early church, that's how it was done. Saint Symeon said this is the “golden chain" of how the church is handed down generation to generation. Also, make a conscious choice to let the uncomfortable things of life be used by God to mold and shape you; He can reclaim many of our worst circumstances and build intimacy with you.
Describe your view on the world now as it relates to material possessions, living your faith in culture, revealing Christ in culture?
Material possessions are only as important as they are necessary. So, ask "What is necessary?" As for culture, I think the culture needs two things from the church:
1) For us to be accessible, meeting the culture whenever and wherever possible. Jesus exemplified this well by where he went and who he spent time with.
2) For us to stay true to the message: That for us and for our salvation Christ came down from heaven, he suffered...was crucified...rose... and will come again. The world needs the faithful presence of the church in both our words and our deeds.
Lesson: HebrewS 13:5 (NIV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'
Have you ever thought about what you look to for fulfillment? What is the one thing you would need to be content? We tend to depend on temporary things that aren’t guaranteed--wealth, fame, or position. It isn’t wrong to have these things, but we must guard against allowing them to consume us. Focusing on these temporary things clouds our understanding that the “one thing” we really need is the presence of the all-sufficient, eternal God through Christ our Lord. Even if everything else is stripped away, God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.
The letter to the Hebrews was most likely written to a local church community facing difficulty because of their acceptance of Christ, and some were losing hope and leaving the faith because of the hardships. Perhaps they saw others prospering while they were feeling mistreated because of following Christ’s teachings. The early Christians receiving this letter would have more clearly understood the Old Testament references than we do. They would have remembered their history as a nation. The Israelites had been safely delivered from Pharaoh’s persecution but found themselves wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. God supplied their needs, but still they questioned if life in slavery might have been better. Finally, with God’s encouraging words, Joshua led the Israelites to that land promised to their ancestors: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV). Although following Christ may not always be comfortable nor will answers to prayer always be known to us, there’s no need to be afraid. Just as God was with Moses, Joshua, and the Israelites, God is also with us. Even if everything else is gone and we feel like we are in a wilderness (whether of our own making or because we are being mistreated), God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. The Holy Spirit is with us, even at times when we may not be aware of his guiding presence. God is the “one thing” we really need, and when we learn to be content in Christ, we discover He is more than enough.
No person is immune to hardships and difficulties, even followers of Christ. We live in a flawed world where we are regularly confronted with pressures and injustices that can distract us or cause us to become afraid. But our faith can be strengthened by remembering our hope is not in the systems or possessions of this world, but rather in Christ and what He has accomplished for us. God is more than sufficient to sustain and keep our souls safe through difficult times and to guide us onward. Fear can fade and our hope can increase if we learn to embrace God’s eternal promise to us: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Remembrance
GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with Him forever in
the next.
Amen
-Reinhold Niebuhr, 1926
Challenge
Father Dale advises that we “make time and be available to be mentored.” You have people in your life who are “older” (physically or spiritually) who could offer encouragement, guidance or advice for your current season of life. Additionally, there are “younger” people in your life who could benefit from your past experiences. Asking someone to mentor you or asking someone if they would like to be mentored takes a lot of courage and a time commitment. This week pray about someone you could ask about mentoring. If God gives you a name, be responsive to His leading.
Reflection
When you read of Father Dale’s commitment to simplicity and ponder the call to contentment in Hebrews 13:5, what areas of your life or future goals feel inspired? Challenged? Are you holding tightly to comfort, position, or excess? May we as a chapel continually redirect one another to Christ’s promise never to leave us.
Further Growth
2023: 5th sunday in Lent
Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm: Psalm 130
New Testament: Romans 6:15-23
Gospel: John 11:1-44
2021: Palm Sunday
Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13- 53:12
Psalm: Psalm 22:1-21
New Testament: Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: Mark 15:1-39
2020: 4th Sunday in Lent
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm: Psalm 23
New Testament: Ephesians 5:1-14
Gospel: John 9:1-13 and John 9:28-41