The Lessons of St. Francis by John Michael Talbot

This book jumped out at me a few weeks ago as I browsed the Little Turtle Library. I’ve read some books on Saint Francis but liked the idea of this one putting his practices to daily use. At first glance, The Lessons of St Francis by John Michael Talbot looks like any other self-help guru or new age mystic showing you the path to inner peace, and success, reminding me of How To Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci or something of that nature.

I quickly found it to be surprisingly accessible. The author, himself a long-time Franciscan, breaks the book into sections on how to utilize Saint Francis’ teachings in day to day life, fleshing it out with inspirational quotes from historic figures as well as providing prayers to recite.

 His writing style and overall message contains a lightness lacking in most heavy-handed Christian writers. This slim book (250 pages) is full of simple and practical advice on how anyone can transform their lives by following the model of Saint Francis’ life, writings and teachings.

In the introduction, Talbot warns us that once canonized, a saint’s life induces hero-worship rather than inspiration. People tend to think that they can’t take something of so celebrated a life and apply it to their own. The first section of the book entitled ‘Simplicity,’ is in the beginning for good reason: We as Americans consume and desire far too much. Here, he gives us some guidelines, even providing the reader with questions to ask themselves on how they can make changes.

One of the things that make Francis so relevant today is the fact that for the first half of his life, he lived a carefree life of privilege. The son of a wealthy merchant, soldier, musician and poet, Francis was set to inherit the family business when he came down with a mysterious and debilitating illness. During this time he had his visions of Christ and slowly began to transform. He got healthy and decided to shun the secular life, yet dissatisfied with corruption of the Catholic Church and the papacy, decided to find his own order.

Although most of us would never go so far as to give up our lives and live in the wilderness with no possessions, we can seek to understand and apply some of Francis’ teachings into our own lives.

In the chapter on Simplicity the author stresses the difference between want and need in our lives:

“Food is a need. But a medium-rare T-bone steak smothered in onions is a want.
Clothing is a need. But a designer suit with matching shoes is a want.
Housing is a need. But a split level ranch house with a semi-attached garage, walk-in closets, and three bathrooms is a want.”

He goes further, providing the reader with questions to ask themselves about their choices in food, clothing and shelter and how their perception can cause more problems.

In the second section of the book, ‘Joy,’ there’s a story from Saint Francis’ life where he, a friar and two novices walk across a hill on a snowy day when Francis and the friar began dancing and rolled down the hill playing in the snow. One of the novices later spoke with Francis, embarrassed by his outburst. Francis warned him that it was impossible to survive in a cloister without cultivating joy. Soon after, the novice packed up and left. We can’t take ourselves, our lives and the world around us so seriously that we can’t break out into dance or song every now and then.

This relates to the chapter that is the heart of this book, ‘Humility.’ Francis believed that humility, if practiced in earnest would lead to obedience to God’s will. He sincerely wished to live as closely to Christ’s example as possible, believing that Christ’s ministry to be the “condescension of God.”

He wrote:

 “Among the other things the kindness of God has generously granted me, it has granted me this grace that I would obey a novice of one hour, if he were given me as my guardian, as carefully as I would obey the oldest and most discreet person.”

Saint Francis is one of histories’ most mythologized and romanticized figures, but reading through this book can give you knowledge that even we average folk, can, without donning a frock and retreating into the wilderness can take a step in St. Francis’ path.

by Matthew Behnke

Neighborhood Churches Together

It's remarkable what is happening in our neighborhood. 

Our churches are worshipping and working together for the community and Kingdom of God. It's always exciting to hear about diverse churches working together in towns and counties around the nation. I'm thankful that Anchor gets to be part of something so unique and transformative in our city.

This is the sixth year for the 46808 neighborhood churches to gather together during the season of Lent. We meet on a Sunday evening for a meal hosted by one of the local churches, and then we bring in a community leader to give us a better understanding of how we can get involved to make our neighborhood a better place to live.

This year we are meeting for three weeks, in years past it's been four weeks or even six. A different church hosts each week, this year we're glad to have New Zion Tabernacle, Three Rivers Wesleyan and North Highlands Church of Christ hosting us! 

To be frank: sometimes I have my doubt whether these gatherings are really making a difference. 

Is it all really just a distracting drain of energy to meet for worship and a meal? Can I see tangible results from this collaboration? How do I know that the neighborhood is a better place to live because of our Lenten gatherings? Where is the evidence, the fruit of our churches uniting together in the name of Jesus?

What would success look like? 

For me, that a local church wants to join our collaborative efforts is a win. It was beautiful to have Three Rivers Wesleyan hosting our gathering for the first time in six years. It was fantastic to have New Zion Tabernacle host last week and then show up at Three Rivers with so many of their leaders. Very encouraging indeed! 

Success would also include local churches either funding or using the agencies that come and introduce themselves to us. Having churches join Associated Churches, minister at Charis House, use the resources of Lutheran Social Services, partner with Mentoring Moms, give money and donations to the Rescue Mission - all of this is a win-win-win.

Success would also include individual members and families of these many churches partnering with ministries in our city. On their own time and initiative, get involved - both for their own sake and for those that they would serve.

Another level of success: that when a neighbor hears about a local church, rather then a shrug or a blank stare, it'd be a big smile and a story - of how that church is AWESOME! If a church would plan to leave a neighborhood, would people protest, plead, beg you to stay?

Because of our unity, our collaboration, our service, our worship, our prayers and compassion, our neighbors would praise God in heaven. That'd be success. 

The best success of all - and the hardest to attain: that through our co-laboring in the Spirit of the Gospel men and women would find forgiveness of their sins and transformation of their life in the way of Jesus.

Simple tasks can be accomplished by direct action. But the bigger and more complicated a work becomes, the more likely the action becomes indirect. And the more indirect a work becomes, the harder it is to explain how it will achieve success.

It would seem more direct to just go and knock on a door, ask a neighbor if they are saved, and then proceed to pray with them right then and there. This direct action rarely works for such a big and complicated task.

Transformation of the heart takes more than a prayer. Successful transformation of a whole community of hearts takes more then good intentions. So we take indirect action: unite, worship, serve, care, help, bless, follow the promptings of the Spirit, listen to the cry of the oppressed, model forgiveness of sins, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with our God.

Somehow, someway, I believe this indirect action will make our neighborhood a better place to live. 

A Lenten Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.