Glory is to be noticed

Ami Hudson 2/14/10 Sermon

                 How do we seek out and attend to glory?  In Exodus 34:29-35, Moses came down from Mt Sinai and “the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.”  This was different from any glow or flush you or I might get if we had carried those stone tablets down the side of a mountain.  This was different because some of God’s radiance imparted to Moses.  God’s glory was visible on the face of a person. 

                And the Israelites were spooked.  They kept their distance from this figure with the shining face.  Moses might have expected a warmer welcome after 40 days on the mountain with no food or water on their behalf.  Their hanging back scared must’ve been a big let-down to Moses.  He’d just received word for them from the LORD, but couldn’t get an audience among the people.  Unaware that his face is shining, I imagine Moses baffled by people’s standoffish reaction.  But Moses called to them, they came close enough to hear, and Moses spoke to them the words of God. 

                This is the first time that Moses’ face shines.  But Moses is no stranger to God’s glory.  It’s Moses who met God in the burning bush.  A reluctant Moses though whom God worked signs and wonders as a warning to Pharoah.  Moses before whom God parted the sea.  Moses leading God’s people securely in the wilderness guided by a pillar of cloud and fire.  Moses trusting God’s daily provision of manna to a tired, hungry camp.  No, Moses is no stranger to glory.  In fact, just before our present passage Moses makes an unusual prayer request.  In 33.18 Moses pleads, “Show me your glory, I pray.”

                The word “glory” that we use comes from Latin.  But Exodus uses a Hebrew word for Glory that I really like: KABOD. I like KABOD because it sounds heavy.  While the word “glory” I associate with heaven, clouds and bright light, it can seem far-off and other worldly.  Gloria in excelsis deo has its place.  But it’s this KABOD-glory that Moses requests.  It feels heavy and close like holy presence, it has weight, authority and reverence.  This is right in character with the God of the Exodus–the guiding pillar of cloud and fire, the presence of God known by Moses. 

                I wonder what we can learn from Moses about how to know God.  A while back I Read more

Argue Less, Make Requests

Here’s a tip for improving relationships: When there’s trouble in paradise, first try to say it as a request instead of a complaint.  “You don’t help around the house” (complaint) becomes “I’d like some help around the house.  Can we talk about what we can each do?” (request). Or “You’ve been on the phone all night” (complaint) can change into “I’d like it if we could spend some time together, but you’ve been on the phone.  Can we plan some time for tomorrow?” (request). 

Saying it as a request gives the other person a chance to be the good guy.  They get to hear what you want without being criticized.  You give them a chance to accommodate and make things better.  Complaints, on the other hand, make us immediately defensive.  You each claim a position and refuse to budge. Instead of working at the issue together, complaints pit you against each other and you’re arguing instead of finding solutions.

Making requests instead of complaints can be easier said than done.  When something’s wrong, we automatically look for what is upsetting us about the other person.  But before blurting out that criticism, stop and think.  Figure out what it is you want.  Find a way to say what’s wanted rather than what’s wrong (with them).   

Some of us have a really hard timing saying what we want.  It takes self-awareness to sort out what we want and it requires some vulnerability to express it.  This challenges us even more when we’re upset.  Other times we remain too passive, never mentioning what bothers us, rarely saying what we want and thus not having it.  We may choose our battles to avoid a tiff, but consistently using a passive approach deteriorates relationships over time. 

The happiest couples are willing to make requests while remaining open to each other’s perspectives and values.  Relationships are more satisfying when communication stays honest and positive.