Amy Boucher Pye

Author: Amy Boucher Pye

  • Weekly devotional: Finishing the race (14 in Paul’s letters to Timothy series)

    A start and finish line.

    I should have posted this final devotional in the 1 and 2 Timothy series long ago! Odd to be doing so at the beginning of January, when it’s time for a fresh start, but life can be like that, can’t it. Sometimes we have to finish off the old things before we can embrace the new. Happy new year!

    For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6–8).

    When one of my mentors died, I saw it as a severe mercy. Never filled with glowing good health, and longing for heaven, she felt she had come to the end of her earthly life. She had completed her mission – having passed over her Christian organization to other gifted people – and was ready to die. I imagine she could have echoed with Paul about having been “poured out like a drink offering” as the time for her departure grew near.

    When he was writing this letter, Paul must have known that he wouldn’t escape imprisonment and that he would soon be executed. He again employs the language of an athlete as he says he’s finished the race and fought the good fight, and that soon he will receive the crown of righteousness. He seems content even though his earthly life is drawing to a close.

    As we conclude our fortnight with Paul, with him writing right before his death, consider how in our culture we often do all that we can to avoid thinking about dying – including employing such terms as someone has “passed away” or “gone to be with Jesus.” We may feel ambivalent about dying, or would be sad to not fulfil our dreams if we were to die soon. But we can ask the Lord for peace and reassurance, and that like Paul, we’ll one day be able to echo that we’ve run the good race and finished our mission. May it be so.

    For reflection: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).

    You can find the rest of this series on 1 and 2 Timothy here.

  • Celebrating Epiphany!

    Three wise men on camels, walking along against a magnificently colored sky.
    One of my all-time favorite paintings by my dad, Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    Happy Epiphany!

    The wise men have made their journey to the toddler Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. I learned a few things today from our youth worker’s sermon – the Western Church believes there were three wise men (because of the three gifts they brought), but the Eastern Church says there were twelve. Our preacher also made the good point that these visitors were the first outsiders to visit Jesus, thus marking the God-Made-Man’s mission to reach everyone in the world with his message of love, grace, and forgiveness.

    Thank you for journeying with me through the twelve days of Christmas! I pray you’ll have a blessed and joyous Ephipanytide.

    I leave you with a prayer adapted from the Church of England liturgy:

    The magi came from the east to worship your Son: Father, grant to Christians everywhere the spirit of adoration.

    The infant Christ received gifts of gold, incense and myrrh: Father, accept the offering of our hearts and minds at the beginning of this year.

    The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ: Father, grant an abundance of peace to your world.

    Father, in your unfailing love for us and for all people, hear and answer our prayers through your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

    Amen.

  • Celebrating the twelfth day of Christmas: Reveling throughout the ages

    A decorated Christmas tree in a town square, next to an ice skating rink.
    The last day for Christmas decorations, unless you leave yours up until Candlemas (February 2). Painting by Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    We’ve reached the end of the Christmas season, the twelfth day of Christmas! Tomorrow is Epiphany, when we mark the arrival of the wise men bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn King.

    I’ve been reading about the Twelfth Night parties in England in years past, finding the practices fascinating. Often servants and their masters would change places for the evening, with the master serving the servant. A dried bean or pea would be baked into a spice fruitcake, and whoever found it in their portion would be crowned king or queen of the party. Some of the revelry would include games with eggs – the egg and spoon race, and one that I’d like to try, a “toss the egg” game where a raw egg is thrown between two people at ever increasing lengths between them.

    Spiritually, we can consider what gifts we’d like to give to Jesus this year. Perhaps a new emphasis on hospitality, or intercession, or keeping our temper, or increasing our tithing.

    Will you celebrate Twelfth Night? If yes, how? What about an Epiphany party? And what gifts would you like to seek to give this year?

  • Celebrating the eleventh day of Christmas: Extreme spirituality

    A landscape of a foggy river, with a pink sky.
    I wonder what sorts of scenes Simeon saw in the desert. Maybe some moody sunsets, such as this one by my dad, Leo Boucher (used with permission; all rights reserved).

    The eleventh day of Christmas coincides with the feast day of Simeon Stylites (c. 390? – 2 September 459). No, I hadn’t heard of him either. He was zealous for Christ, entering a monastery before he 16 years old. So committed was he to acts of extreme austerity that the other monks asked him to leave.

    He decided to live in solitude, fasting completely for Lent and somehow surviving. Crowds of pilgrims searched him out, seeking advice and, I guess, wanting to “catch” some of his holiness. As he tried to escape the attention, he moved on top of a pillar. He went from stone to stone over the years, moving higher and higher as he sought solitude for his prayers and practices, living the rest of his years on a cold stone platform. Thirty-seven years all together.

    As Edward Gibbon remarked in History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,

    In this last and lofty station, the Syrian Anachoret resisted the heat of thirty summers, and the cold of as many winters. Habit and exercise instructed him to maintain his dangerous situation without fear or giddiness, and successively to assume the different postures of devotion. He sometimes prayed in an erect attitude, with his outstretched arms in the figure of a cross, but his most familiar practice was that of bending his meagre skeleton from the forehead to the feet…

    Before I started my MA in Christian spirituality, I wondered about levels mysticism and these extreme forms of austerity and spiritual practice. Had these anchorites reached the pinnacle of spiritual life? I concluded through my MA readings a strong “no.” Although we can learn from those who withdraw from the world, I don’t believe they have a higher status than those who live in community. Transformation of one’s life – not extreme practices of penance or solitude – is what reveals God at work.

    But I don’t want to dismiss Simeon all together. The crowds sought him for his wisdom, meaning that even in the desert he couldn’t escape from engagement with others. And he remained humble and obedient to his fellow monks, for when they wondered if he lived on the pillar out of pride or obedience, they demanded that he come down. He obeyed, and so they decided that he was following God – and they let him stay.

    Over to you – what do you think of these extreme practices? Have you ever embraced something like a long fast or a time of solitude? If yes, how did you fare? Did you grow in your faith?

  • Celebrating the tenth day of Christmas: The name of Jesus

    A nativity scene with May, Joseph and the baby Jesus.
    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    On the tenth day of Christmas, some Christian traditions celebrate the naming of Jesus in the temple (other traditions celebrate this on January 1). When the angel appeared to Joseph, he learned what to name the boy, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit:

    But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21, NIV).

    The very name of Jesus shows his calling – to save us from our sins.

    What names come to mind when you think of Jesus? Here are a few you might want to ponder today, as you celebrate during this season of Christmas:

    • Emmanuel (God with us)
    • Son of God
    • Son of man
    • Son of David
    • New Adam
    • The Word
    • Morning star
    • Light of the world
    • King of Kings
    • Lord of Lords
    • Lamb of God
    • Teacher
    • Bread of life
    • Advocate
    • Messiah
    • Redeemer
    • Risen Lord
    • Savior
    • Rock
    • True Vine
    • Lord

    Which names of Jesus speak to you most powerfully?

  • Celebrating the ninth day of Christmas: Countercultural celebrations

    Evergreens dusted in snow in front of a lake with mountains in the background.
    By Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    Today, on the ninth day of Christmas, it feels countercultural to celebrate the season. Part of me would like to take down the Christmas decorations while cleaning and doing some decluttering. The newness of the year feels like a push toward embracing all things clean and fresh. 

    So sometimes it feels like a discipline to celebrate and feast. I’m keenly aware of those who are grieving or going through other difficulties, who need God’s grace to get through this season, and are probably finding it hard to celebrate. They may be echoing Psalm 137:4: “How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?” If that’s you, I pray you’ll find a hint of celebration through rest and recovery.

    For me, as we only have twelve days of Christmas, I’m going to seek to embrace the gift that they are – while doing a bit of decluttering and vacuuming by the Christmas tree.

    How are you approaching celebrating on this ninth day?

  • Celebrating the eighth day of Christmas: Happy new year!

    A winter landscape with a surprisingly colorful tree.
    May you find unexpected beauty if your landscape is stark. Painting by Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

    We enter 2019 with hopes and dreams, and perhaps some fears. May we know God’s loving presence as we journey through the seasons, that he might strengthen our faith and dispel the fears.

    Here’s a prayer inspired by George Dawson, the English nonconformist (1821–1876), that you might want to join me in praying:

    Almighty God, have mercy on us, who, when troubled with the things that are past, lose faith, life, courage, and hope.

    So have mercy on us, and uphold us.

    Sustain us with a true faith, knowing that you are merciful and forgiving.

    Help us to live according to your word, to rejoice in your goodness, to trust in your mercy, and to hope in life with you that never ends.

    Help us, whatever we’re going through, to remember that you guide us and lead us.

    And in the darkest days, may we know your presence so that we will have courage to go on, faith to endure, patience to bear, and hopefulness to hold out, even unto the end.

    Amen.

    (Original found in Great Souls at Prayer, compiled by Mary W. Tileston, [Cambridge: James Clark & Co., 1898]).

  • Celebrating the seventh day of Christmas: Looking back and looking ahead with #myoneword

    Painting of a Christmas tree with an abstract feel.
    We’re still enjoying our Christmas decorations during this season of Christmas. Are you? Painting by Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    We have reached the final day of 2018. Many people will be grateful to leave behind this year with its acrimony, fear, tragedy, disappointment, and divisiveness. May we find greater unity and joy in 2019.

    In the middle of this Christmas season of celebration, and battling a head cold, I lost track of the days and realized with a jolt that today was New Year’s Eve – and the end of 2018. In my blocked-up state I’ve been pondering a bit about my word for 2019 (#myoneword).

    Some years ago I joined this movement that embraces a word for the year instead of making a lot of resolutions that are forgotten after a few weeks. Keeping one word before us – through a visual representation or a reminder on our phone – can help us to stay focused on a word that helps us to live as we wish with God. I usually choose a verse from Scripture to accompany the word as well.

    I’ve blogged about #myoneword previously – you can find all of the posts here. One post that might be helpful is how to hear God on your word for the year. My review of the book that started it all off, My One Word, is here.

    The first year I tried out this practice I chose flourish, with Isaiah 55:10–11 as the verses:

     As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

    I loved the idea of this word and all of its richness, but for many months forgot about the practice. But in the late spring I remembered it, and printed out some reminders of the word to keep it before me. As I was more intentional about praying about how with God I could flourish, I started to get excited about the possibilities. I saw the word as a promise from God – one that I could forget and ignore, or one that I could embrace as I joined my hands in his.

    Other words have been train, with the accompanying verse 2 Timothy 3:16 (about Scripture being God-breathed and useful for training in righteousness); breathe, which spoke to me about rest and breathing in the Spirit of God; present, with the lovely meanings of God’s presence, receiving the present of God’s presence, and the need for me to stay present and in the moment; and in 2018, replenish, with the emphasis on resting and rejuvenating after a very busy couple of years.

    As I mentioned above, I haven’t yet discerned what my word will be for 2019. I need to set aside some time to think and pray about this – including going for a walk, which I find is a wonderful way to ponder and pray and enjoy creation.  

    How about you? Do you choose a word for the year? If so, how has the practice helped you? Do you have a word for 2019?

  • Celebrating the sixth day of Christmas: The murky middle

    A picturesque church in the snow with trees in the background. Watercolor.
    Churches are picturesque, but they can be “middling” places as well! Love this painting by Leo Boucher. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

    On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

    Can you remember? Six maids a milking? Geese a laying? An online search says I got it right with the second guess.

    My memory for that popular song is murky, just as this point in the Christmas season can feel murky. Many people have taken down their Christmas trees and decorations, ready to move into 2019 with a new purpose. It feels countercultural to keep banging on about the days of Christmas, especially in this messy middle (see the wonderful blog by Amy Young by this name), when the wonder of the first days of Christmas seem long past and the end feels a long way off.

    How can you make the sixth day of Christmas feel special?

  • Celebrating the fifth day of Christmas: Remembering Thomas Becket

    A winter scene with blue in the foreground and hints of red. Stark winter trees in the snow.
    I love this painting by my dad, Leo Boucher. He painted it onto wood, which explains some of the interesting texture. Stark but colorful and beautiful. (Used with permission; all rights reserved.)

    The paradox of feasting while calling to mind the martyrs of days past continues as we celebrate the life of Thomas Becket on the fifth day of Christmas. He was named Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162 by King Henry II, to whom he was a chief minister. Henry hoped that by appointing Thomas as archbishop he would gain control of the church, but Thomas was as zealous for the church as he had been for the state. The king became increasingly incensed over his exclusion from church affairs, so only two years after his appointment, Thomas escaped to France for safety.

    Thomas returned to England in 1170, and shortly after, the row intensified even more, with King Henry saying,

    “Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?”

    With that utterance, four of his knights decided that they’d heard an order to kill Thomas. They did so as Thomas was taking the service of vespers at Canterbury Cathedral.

    Thomas was said to be unafraid in the face of death, echoing Jesus’ words to his disciples from Matthew’s gospel:

    Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28–31).

    Here Jesus instructs the twelve as he sends them out to preach the kingdom of God, heal diseases, and drive out demons. We may lose our bodies in this world, he says, but we need to guard against the one who can kill the body and the soul.

    Today, let’s join together to pray for those around the world who endure false accusations or bodily harm because of their faith. Lord, have mercy.