Learning about The Good and Beautiful Life

Gulf Shores at sunset. Laura Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

I've been looking for landmarks.

Let me back up a little. I spent last week on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, soaking up sunshine and salt air and more than a little bit of fried seafood. We had a vacation week routine of sleeping in, lingering over breakfast, then putting on swimsuits, slicking up in sunscreen and trekking for the beach. With sand buckets and boogie boards in tow, we were good for a few hours of sticky sand, searing sun and crashing surf.

Taking my seven year old into the chilly Gulf waters with her boogie board, I remembered a story that Andy Stanley (now at his own church, Northpoint, but at that time at his father's church, First Baptist of Atlanta) told, and I'm sure he's not the first, but I remember his version from one Sunday morning sermon probably 25 years ago, about being a kid and playing in the ocean and losing sight of landmarks on the beach. Swimming and playing in the water, then looking to shore and realizing you're a bit farther out than you thought and you don't recognize the people or objects that are near. And it's true, wading in the surf, trying to keep up with my child and not lose my footing, we worked our way down the beach, farther and farther away from our belongings.

Gulf Shores at sunset. Laura Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

In order not to be completely disoriented, and because I'm the mama, I needed to look up every once in awhile and readjust my position, so I could see where we were and get a handle on my surroundings. And that's what I need in a spiritual sense, too.

Maybe it's my birthday coming up, maybe it's the daily turbulence of dealing with young children, teenagers, aging parents, a job, a house. These are all blessings, to be sure, but sometimes blessings can be overwhelming. I'm in need of a fresh spiritual breath. Put another way, I'm getting lost in the surf and my eyes are searching for a landmark on shore.

 Last fall, I joined a small group Bible study in my church, what the pastors like to call a "connecting community." It's just six of us, but what we lack in size we make up in enjoying each others' company. Our study from the first year was "The Good and Beautiful God" by James Bryan Smith. It's a very practical guidebook for getting to know God. This fall, we will take up the next in the series, "The Good and Beautiful Life." Here's a passage from the first chapter:

"The aim is to help Christians understand and implement the teachings of Jesus about things like anger, lust, lying, worrying pride and judging others. What Jesus teaches about these things is simply the truth. Living according to his teachings leads to a good life, a life that can withstand the storms and trials we all face.

"...Jesus is not making life more difficult, but is revealing that the way to the good and beautiful life is to obey his teachings. There is no other way. Either our lives conform to his teachings, or we fail to live a good and beautiful life." ~ ("The Good and Beautiful Life," by James Bryan Smith, InterVarsity Press, 2009).

Laura Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

James Bryan Smith will come to my church August 16 and 17 and present a TED-style conference based on the tenets set forth in the Apprentice series. If you’re in the Atlanta area, check out the conference at First Presbyterian Church of Douglasville.

James Bryan Smith, author of "The Good and Beautiful Life."

Registration is open and the best price will be available until July 15. After that, it goes up slightly. If you’ve read the books and want to hear more, join us. If you’re looking for a warm church home, please visit First Pres ~ I'd love to see you there.

Laura Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Remembering 9/11: A bulwark never failing

Yellow Daisies. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

On this sacred day, the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, my memories and my loss mean so little against what so many have lost. I didn't lose a spouse, a relative, friend or acquaintance. It seems so minor to say that I lost that easy sense of security that I had in 2001, when my first daughter had just turned three and I was busy with volunteer projects. Our country had never been attacked on our soil, airplanes had never been used as bombs. Terrorists were in foreign countriees and movies, not among us in our neighborhoods and airports. As I watched the towers fall, all I could think about was "how can I tell my daughter about this world she's going to grow up in?"

I still don't know what to tell her or her sister about 9/11. But we'll go to church today and remember that sad day and I'll do my best to make my girls feel secure in their world. I feel like the best I can do is give them a foundation of faith and the rest is up to God.

I remember so much of September 11, 2001 - my morning trip to the thrift store, listening to the first sketchy news bites on the radio, the panicked call to the preschool director (whose husband was a pilot on an unaffected airplane), the email from the church asking all to an evening service. I remember sitting in the sanctuary, listening to the preacher comfort us. There were no tears, no wailings, no murmurings. We're Presbyterians, after all, the frozen chosen even on days that shake us to the core.

We alll stood at the end to sing the powerful hymn, "A Might Fortress is Our God." There's so much about this hymn that I love, especially the line "a bulwark never failing." The definition of bulwark is "any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need, danger, or doubt." My God, my church, my family and friends are my bulwark.

"A Mighty Fortress" is a very old hymn, nearly 500 years old, and was written by Martin Luther, who knew a thing or two about bold statements and the power of words. The final stanza gives me chills, especially reflecting on 9/11.

"Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;


the body they may kill; God's truth abideth still;

His kingdom is forever."

Here's a clip of Steve Green singing an a capella version of "Might Fortress" and it is indeed powerful. It's from the 80s, so it's a bit dated, but Steve is the best kind of singer, one who lets the words do the work.

God bless you and your families on this day of remembrance.