I spent the morning in prayer with Episcopalian friends who were preparing to preach at their Ascension Day worship services. One of the priests reminded me of the paintings one finds of the ascension of Christ. Many of them have Jesus, hands outspread almost like he is flying, elevating heavenward with a group of disciples watching him go. The more unusual of the paintings that simply show the crowd seeing the last image of Christ: his feet.
Ron Garner, of Wantagh Memorial Community Church, writes in his blog, "Do we fail to speak of things that might well be metaphorical as just that? Or from the pulpit and in our liturgies do we reinforce things that many people who desire to follow the life and teachings of Jesus can no longer (if they ever did) accept? Do I really believe that Jesus headed up toward heaven like some kind of divine astronaut? More importantly, is that an essential belief that I must adhere to if I am to consider myself or be considered by others a Christian?"
I believe we all have to determine for ourselves what is essential to our own belief system. One of the most important things to me about being a Presbyterian is that we state quite clearly in our constitution, "God alone is Lord of the conscience." This statement is critical to our belief system. The bottom line of our faith and development is that our relationship to God is between an individual and God, and it cannot be dictated by a religious institution of any kind. We come together to share our common worship of God who created and affirms us, who is part of our lives and our future. Yet who we are with God is as individual as our relationship with our partner or spouse.
So, as we contemplate the lines in our creeds that suggest that Christ went "up and down and up and down", we are able to determine for ourselves whether those "turn signals" are helpful for us or hinder our faith.
In the meantime, if anyone sees feet in the clouds, share it.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
In the meantime, the Wantagh Memorial Community Church, with Ron Garner at the earthly helm, has entered into the fray, committing his understanding -- all our understanding, really-- to the fight for Jesus' justice in the world. Glenn Beck, radio commentator, has called the church to account on his action against social justice. I think the word that bothers him is the word "social". I think that he thinks it reflects a move toward communism, marxism, and a host of other "isms" that the country has long been afraid of.
It is one more usurping of a term by a fearful people, and I am sorry that the term has come to be understood in that manner, because social justice, in its purest form is simply giving every human a chance at life. Jesus taught us to care for the sick and the poor, the widowed and the orphan. Jesus invited all to share his gospel of love -- women and children, those with demonic possession (the mentally ill, in our time), those who have made mistakes in their lives, the over zealous, the under achievers, the poor, the out-of-work, beggars, politicians and kings. Isn't that social justice at its finest? And who are we to do any less?
In the early church, as it is described in Acts of the Apostles, the members gathered in one place, shared their food and "had all things in common", so that no one would do without. Isn't that social justice at its finest? And its not scary at all. It's just Christian.
So when you hear the argument, and when you hear the Glenn Becks of the world preaching against social justice, remember that Jesus called us to care for all God's people. Even Glenn Beck.
It is one more usurping of a term by a fearful people, and I am sorry that the term has come to be understood in that manner, because social justice, in its purest form is simply giving every human a chance at life. Jesus taught us to care for the sick and the poor, the widowed and the orphan. Jesus invited all to share his gospel of love -- women and children, those with demonic possession (the mentally ill, in our time), those who have made mistakes in their lives, the over zealous, the under achievers, the poor, the out-of-work, beggars, politicians and kings. Isn't that social justice at its finest? And who are we to do any less?
In the early church, as it is described in Acts of the Apostles, the members gathered in one place, shared their food and "had all things in common", so that no one would do without. Isn't that social justice at its finest? And its not scary at all. It's just Christian.
So when you hear the argument, and when you hear the Glenn Becks of the world preaching against social justice, remember that Jesus called us to care for all God's people. Even Glenn Beck.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
I went to my Morning Prayer time this morning fuzzy headed and barely awake. Yes, it was after 9 am, but yesterday was long and last night's many meetings were difficult and unruly. I was -- I am -- tired and fuzzy headed. God didn't seem to mind, but was not willing to be quiet today. I am continuing with the devotional book Pilgrim Road, and it continues to challenge the most basic parts of my faith and spiritual journey. But hey, that's what God does to and for us each day. I am sure that God always guides, always directs, always speaks. I think we don't often stop to listen.
The lectionary passage from Jeremiah this morning talks about the things we do because we think God wants us to, that are the farthest things from God's mind. The people were doing human sacrifice, offering their children, killing them to appease a God who did not ask for this sacrifice. Not children. Not human sacrifice at all. And yet the people felt that what they were doing was out of respect and honor to God.
I have to wonder what rites and rituals and practices we have set up in our lives and churches that we have established to honor God, and God looks down and says, "the thought was never in my mind". That is my prayer this morning: to seek what pleases God, and not to do empty ritual because I think God requires it.
Does this relate to Morning Prayer, a human ritual? I think we do Morning Prayer to help US, the humans, relate to God, to keep a space and time in our lives SPECIFICALLY devoted to God, more than the quickly uttered prayers in the shower and on the road while we are driving. I think it helps US to center and focus on listening for God's holy speech in our lives. I intend to keep up the prayer, the time alone with God. I don't intend to sacrifice children or bulls or rams, but to keep a space of time for God. After all, this was taught to us by Jesus, who himself went away to speak to his Father.
May our prayer time be rich and full of an awareness of God's presence.
The lectionary passage from Jeremiah this morning talks about the things we do because we think God wants us to, that are the farthest things from God's mind. The people were doing human sacrifice, offering their children, killing them to appease a God who did not ask for this sacrifice. Not children. Not human sacrifice at all. And yet the people felt that what they were doing was out of respect and honor to God.
I have to wonder what rites and rituals and practices we have set up in our lives and churches that we have established to honor God, and God looks down and says, "the thought was never in my mind". That is my prayer this morning: to seek what pleases God, and not to do empty ritual because I think God requires it.
Does this relate to Morning Prayer, a human ritual? I think we do Morning Prayer to help US, the humans, relate to God, to keep a space and time in our lives SPECIFICALLY devoted to God, more than the quickly uttered prayers in the shower and on the road while we are driving. I think it helps US to center and focus on listening for God's holy speech in our lives. I intend to keep up the prayer, the time alone with God. I don't intend to sacrifice children or bulls or rams, but to keep a space of time for God. After all, this was taught to us by Jesus, who himself went away to speak to his Father.
May our prayer time be rich and full of an awareness of God's presence.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
March 3, 2010
Writing from my sister's house in New Jersey, where the skies are gray, but the day is sunny because I am with my sister and my daughter is coming here as well!
This morning's Lectionary reading from the prophecy of Jeremiah complemented the reading from Pilgrim Road so well, I am wondering if the author of PR was using the lectionary to guide his writings. Jeremiah says:
"The the Lord said to me in the days of King Josiah: Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and played the whore there? And I thought "After she has done all this she will return to me"; but she did not return, and her false sister Judah saw it. She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce; yet her sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. Because she took her whoredom so lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. Yet for all this her false sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but only in pretense, says the Lord.
"Then the Lord said to me: "Faithless Israel has shown herself less guilty than false Judah. Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return faithless Israel, says the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, says the Lord. I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the Lord your God, and scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree, and have not obeyed my voice, says the Lord. Return, O faithless children, says the Lord, for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the Lord, they shall no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of the Lord." It shall not come to mind or be remembered, or missed; nor shall another one be made. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no longer stubbornly follow their own evil will. In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your ancestors for a heritage."
The PR reading talked about the little sins, the daily little things we let ourselves get away with because hey, we don't do the big ones, so God surely will not mind the little gray ones skittering about our lives. The little neglectfulnesses or the little obsessions that we allow to creep across our paths build up into a stubborn willfulness: we do it our own way, because God won't really mind, we think.
Jeremiah says that God watched Israel and Judah do the same kinds of things. They wandered about adding little digressions to their lives, wandered off the path a little here and there. But God thought they would get tired of their wandering and return to God.
Maybe it is time we got tired of wandering.
God's path isn't really all that bad. There are a lot of beautiful stops along the way, a lot of "scenic overlooks" where we can see a panorama of the beauty God intends for us. Maybe it's time to stop "faking it til we're making it" and time to start paying attention for real to what God is calling us to be and to do.
It's way too easy to do half a job, to do something adequately, but not give it our best. Staying our best is tiring at least and often frustrating. But as I clean and find myself not stretching all the way under the radiator, or as I read and skim my way through the boring parts of Scripture, or as I listen half-heartedly to a lecture, I realize that I am being adequate, but not good at it. And if everything we do ultimately is done to the glory of the Living God, then adequate isn't really going to cut it.
The author of the Lenten journey book talks about an overzealous abbott who was not well loved because of his perfectionism, laughing a bit at what the other monks must have felt as he tried to force them into a rigid discipline. I don't think God had rigidity in mind. Jesus constantly talked about abundant life and joy and blessing. Paul reminds us to rejoice in the Lord always.
As we walk along, let's take a moment or two to stand at the scenic outlooks and see what God has provided for us. Let's look away from the glamour of the world, and look to the glory of God. It's easier and way more interesting than it sounds!
This morning's Lectionary reading from the prophecy of Jeremiah complemented the reading from Pilgrim Road so well, I am wondering if the author of PR was using the lectionary to guide his writings. Jeremiah says:
"The the Lord said to me in the days of King Josiah: Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and played the whore there? And I thought "After she has done all this she will return to me"; but she did not return, and her false sister Judah saw it. She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce; yet her sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. Because she took her whoredom so lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. Yet for all this her false sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but only in pretense, says the Lord.
"Then the Lord said to me: "Faithless Israel has shown herself less guilty than false Judah. Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return faithless Israel, says the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, says the Lord. I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the Lord your God, and scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree, and have not obeyed my voice, says the Lord. Return, O faithless children, says the Lord, for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the Lord, they shall no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of the Lord." It shall not come to mind or be remembered, or missed; nor shall another one be made. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no longer stubbornly follow their own evil will. In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your ancestors for a heritage."
The PR reading talked about the little sins, the daily little things we let ourselves get away with because hey, we don't do the big ones, so God surely will not mind the little gray ones skittering about our lives. The little neglectfulnesses or the little obsessions that we allow to creep across our paths build up into a stubborn willfulness: we do it our own way, because God won't really mind, we think.
Jeremiah says that God watched Israel and Judah do the same kinds of things. They wandered about adding little digressions to their lives, wandered off the path a little here and there. But God thought they would get tired of their wandering and return to God.
Maybe it is time we got tired of wandering.
God's path isn't really all that bad. There are a lot of beautiful stops along the way, a lot of "scenic overlooks" where we can see a panorama of the beauty God intends for us. Maybe it's time to stop "faking it til we're making it" and time to start paying attention for real to what God is calling us to be and to do.
It's way too easy to do half a job, to do something adequately, but not give it our best. Staying our best is tiring at least and often frustrating. But as I clean and find myself not stretching all the way under the radiator, or as I read and skim my way through the boring parts of Scripture, or as I listen half-heartedly to a lecture, I realize that I am being adequate, but not good at it. And if everything we do ultimately is done to the glory of the Living God, then adequate isn't really going to cut it.
The author of the Lenten journey book talks about an overzealous abbott who was not well loved because of his perfectionism, laughing a bit at what the other monks must have felt as he tried to force them into a rigid discipline. I don't think God had rigidity in mind. Jesus constantly talked about abundant life and joy and blessing. Paul reminds us to rejoice in the Lord always.
As we walk along, let's take a moment or two to stand at the scenic outlooks and see what God has provided for us. Let's look away from the glamour of the world, and look to the glory of God. It's easier and way more interesting than it sounds!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Morning Prayer is not the only spiritual discipline I have taken on in this Lenten season. I am also using a book called Pilgrim Road: A Benedictine Journey through Lent. Its writer, Albert Holtz, is a monk, called on a spiritual pilgrimage during his sabbatical year. In today's entry, Holtz writes about a Hungarian fort, and the story of its people's bearing up while under siege. At one time, the enemy decided to tunnel underground, but the general who had charge of the fort took bowls of water and set them all around the walls of the fortress, telling the guards to watch for ripples in the water which would signal underground activity. Well, the bowls did their trick, and the enemy's attempt to take the town by surprise was foiled.
It reminds me that there are so many levels of emotion and frustration in a person's life. The ripples in your bowl may be a disorganized mess in your home or office; an angry outburst that leaves others reeling and you wondering where the anger came from; overspending, over- drinking, over-flirting, over the top behavior of varying kinds.
That is the bowl and its rippling water.
What is going on beneath the surface is a whole other thing. It could be fear over an unidentified medical condition (are you taking care of yourself?); fear of loss of job, home, spouse, or financial security; residual anger or hurt because of what happened earlier in your life; lack of control in the circumstances that surround you.
Even beneath those things can be your personal reaction to what is going on in the world. You could be subliminally or obviously affected by the global weather issues -- earthquake, tsunami, volcanic action; war and rumors of war; political unrest. These and other global and uncontrollable issues may be lying deep within you, causing a deep layer of unrest.
Recognizing the underlying issues can help you understand what is going on in your life and in your heart. Some of the things you can do something about: cleaning your home or office can help uncover the things done and left undone that are discouraging you; getting an answer on why your back, stomach or teeth hurt can lead to fixing the problem and not only relieving the fear but also the pain.
But some things are beyond your control. You can't control the weather or the global climate changes. Voting is participation in government, but you can't control the day to day actions of politicians. You can help the victims of war and natural disaster, but you cannot control the causes.
It does help to give these things to God. Trust that the God who created the world and called it good, who created you AND CALLED YOU GOOD, can handle God's own creation, and can love and encourage and comfort God's people. Entrust the uncontrollable to God, and ask God to help you control those things you can change or solve or help.
Sounds simple, right? What happens so often for me is that I give the matter over to God and then I want to take it back and worry over it some more. I need to remember that God is really big enough to take care of God's world. God gives me back my piece to work on, and God really will take care of the rest.
So I offer you a bowl. Fill it with water, and watch for the ripples that signal underlying discontent. Then trust God to help you get through it all.
Godspeed.
It reminds me that there are so many levels of emotion and frustration in a person's life. The ripples in your bowl may be a disorganized mess in your home or office; an angry outburst that leaves others reeling and you wondering where the anger came from; overspending, over- drinking, over-flirting, over the top behavior of varying kinds.
That is the bowl and its rippling water.
What is going on beneath the surface is a whole other thing. It could be fear over an unidentified medical condition (are you taking care of yourself?); fear of loss of job, home, spouse, or financial security; residual anger or hurt because of what happened earlier in your life; lack of control in the circumstances that surround you.
Even beneath those things can be your personal reaction to what is going on in the world. You could be subliminally or obviously affected by the global weather issues -- earthquake, tsunami, volcanic action; war and rumors of war; political unrest. These and other global and uncontrollable issues may be lying deep within you, causing a deep layer of unrest.
Recognizing the underlying issues can help you understand what is going on in your life and in your heart. Some of the things you can do something about: cleaning your home or office can help uncover the things done and left undone that are discouraging you; getting an answer on why your back, stomach or teeth hurt can lead to fixing the problem and not only relieving the fear but also the pain.
But some things are beyond your control. You can't control the weather or the global climate changes. Voting is participation in government, but you can't control the day to day actions of politicians. You can help the victims of war and natural disaster, but you cannot control the causes.
It does help to give these things to God. Trust that the God who created the world and called it good, who created you AND CALLED YOU GOOD, can handle God's own creation, and can love and encourage and comfort God's people. Entrust the uncontrollable to God, and ask God to help you control those things you can change or solve or help.
Sounds simple, right? What happens so often for me is that I give the matter over to God and then I want to take it back and worry over it some more. I need to remember that God is really big enough to take care of God's world. God gives me back my piece to work on, and God really will take care of the rest.
So I offer you a bowl. Fill it with water, and watch for the ripples that signal underlying discontent. Then trust God to help you get through it all.
Godspeed.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
What better time to begin plans for a garden than right now? In the dreary days of February, when the sun seldom shines, the gardener curls up in an easy chair, surrounded by seed catalogs and planning grids. She plots the garden. Spring bulbs here, poppies there. Perennials to last a long time. Bright, colorful flowers for joy. Calm ferns and foliage for rest. A path to walk, a bird feeder, and a watering can. Then comes the ordering. Find the plants, coordinate the colors. Make sure they are hardy and disease-resistant, attractive to butterflies and other creatures. Plan ahead. Order the stock. These are the gardener's tasks in February.
So it is with the church. Ash Wednesday has been and gone, and the Lenten season is upon us. We are preparing our hearts, planning our journey. Using planning calendars and the rituals of the seasons, we plot our spiritual travels. We plan celebrations of joy, times of quiet rest, and traditions that keep our spirits alert. We seek out ways to be hardy, and pray for disease-resistance and healing. We spruce up our insides and outsides, to be attractive to butterflies and all God's creatures.
As we move through the Lenten season and into the celebration of the resurrection, I invite you into the garden, not alone, but along with me, and with friends, so that we can travel the road together.
So it is with the church. Ash Wednesday has been and gone, and the Lenten season is upon us. We are preparing our hearts, planning our journey. Using planning calendars and the rituals of the seasons, we plot our spiritual travels. We plan celebrations of joy, times of quiet rest, and traditions that keep our spirits alert. We seek out ways to be hardy, and pray for disease-resistance and healing. We spruce up our insides and outsides, to be attractive to butterflies and all God's creatures.
As we move through the Lenten season and into the celebration of the resurrection, I invite you into the garden, not alone, but along with me, and with friends, so that we can travel the road together.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)