Today's question is: Do you share Joseph’s perspective that a tragic event can be turned by God to a providential purpose?
The short answer is: yes.
The long answer is this: I don't think God creates hardship and heartache in our lives. I don't believe "everything happens for a reason." God doesn't cause a bad thing to happen so that a better thing can happen down the line. However, I do believe that God can transform our hardship and heartache into goodness and joy. Sometimes, the best God can bring about from a bad experience is our lesson learned. Sometimes, that's enough.
It's a fine line between believing in the transformational power of God and predestination. That fine line is a significant one, however.
PS If you are following along in the workbook, you may have noticed I skipped a question about Israel...I'm thinking on it....I'll get back to you.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Promise and Fulfillment
We moved on to the Pentateuch -- the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). The Pentateuch, as Marcus Borg puts it, is first concerned with the creation of the world from the perspective of the Israelites. Secondly, it is concerned with the creation of Israel and God's part in that. With that in mind, here are our questions for today: How are the stories of your own family’s origin reflected in the stories of the Israel’s origin? How have the themes of promise and fulfillment shaped your life?
This question of family origin is interesting to me. I know some of my paternal family history and not much of my maternal family history. So, it's a hard question for me to answer. Personally, though, I am drawn to the Exodus journey and the Israelites search for the Promised Land. I've lived in a lot of places in the past 10 years. We hope to be here in Champaign-Urbana for a long time. But, when will it start to feel like home? When will we not feel like "strangers in a strange land"? And what part does our faith play in that journey? Those are all question I wrestle with often.
Promise and fulfillment, as I preached on this past Sunday, are the thrust of the Pentateuch. God makes promises that aren't fulfilled until years and years later. Moses doesn't get to see the Promised Land with his own two eyes. He dies before crossing over. I have to be honest with you -- that bites. Moses worked so hard and put up with loads of crap from the Israelites. Why shouldn't he get to experience the fulfilment of the Promise? Why not? Because, that's just how life works out sometimes. This example, as disturbing as it is, is really profound. i feel like Moses a lot. I plant seeds but rarely get to see the things come to fruition.
This story helps me keep it all in perspective. God is not a prize to be won or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. God is faithful throughout all our journeys. God is with us in the struggle and in our triumphs.
This question of family origin is interesting to me. I know some of my paternal family history and not much of my maternal family history. So, it's a hard question for me to answer. Personally, though, I am drawn to the Exodus journey and the Israelites search for the Promised Land. I've lived in a lot of places in the past 10 years. We hope to be here in Champaign-Urbana for a long time. But, when will it start to feel like home? When will we not feel like "strangers in a strange land"? And what part does our faith play in that journey? Those are all question I wrestle with often.
Promise and fulfillment, as I preached on this past Sunday, are the thrust of the Pentateuch. God makes promises that aren't fulfilled until years and years later. Moses doesn't get to see the Promised Land with his own two eyes. He dies before crossing over. I have to be honest with you -- that bites. Moses worked so hard and put up with loads of crap from the Israelites. Why shouldn't he get to experience the fulfilment of the Promise? Why not? Because, that's just how life works out sometimes. This example, as disturbing as it is, is really profound. i feel like Moses a lot. I plant seeds but rarely get to see the things come to fruition.
This story helps me keep it all in perspective. God is not a prize to be won or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. God is faithful throughout all our journeys. God is with us in the struggle and in our triumphs.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Just Breathe
Today's question is: Which of the two creation stories are you most drawn to? Why?
A few years ago, I started focusing on my breathing as a prayer practice. I began breathing more deeply and intentionally. While exhaling, I would pray prayers of confession. While inhaling, I would pray prayers of presence, inviting God to be close to me. If you keep breathing out the bad stuff and keep breathing in the God stuff, eventually, you'll be inhaling AND exhaling God out into the world. This became a very powerful prayer practice for me.
That's one reason why I connected so deeply with the second Creation story. In this story, God breathes into the human being fashioned from mud and gives them life. If we want to connect to the new life God offers, all we have to do is breathe.
A few years ago, I started focusing on my breathing as a prayer practice. I began breathing more deeply and intentionally. While exhaling, I would pray prayers of confession. While inhaling, I would pray prayers of presence, inviting God to be close to me. If you keep breathing out the bad stuff and keep breathing in the God stuff, eventually, you'll be inhaling AND exhaling God out into the world. This became a very powerful prayer practice for me.
That's one reason why I connected so deeply with the second Creation story. In this story, God breathes into the human being fashioned from mud and gives them life. If we want to connect to the new life God offers, all we have to do is breathe.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
What if...?
Today's question is: If the story of Adam and Eve is not “true” (factual), what happens to the truth of the Bible and Christianity as a whole? Two key questions: Why did Israel tell these stories? And why did they tell them this way?
Asking what happens to the rest of the Bible's validity if the Adam and Eve story isn't true presupposes that we believe the whole Bible to be factual. If this is our starting place, asking such a question is like pulling a brick out of the foundation of a building. The whole house will collapse because the foundation has been compromised. However, if we begin with a different understanding, then we avoid the whole house crumbling down around us.
Some portions of the Bible were meant to be matters of historical record, others were not. Others, like the Adam and Eve story were always intended to be mythic tales. Other portions of the Bible were meant to be poetry, others oracles, and others were letters written to specific communities.
The key questions, above, are important ones to ask. Why would the Israelites tell this story and why would they tell it in this way. Since we know that the story was told during exile, we might imagine that the Israelites needed to remind themselves that they were deeply, intimately connected to God.
Why do you think they told these stories in this way?
Asking what happens to the rest of the Bible's validity if the Adam and Eve story isn't true presupposes that we believe the whole Bible to be factual. If this is our starting place, asking such a question is like pulling a brick out of the foundation of a building. The whole house will collapse because the foundation has been compromised. However, if we begin with a different understanding, then we avoid the whole house crumbling down around us.
Some portions of the Bible were meant to be matters of historical record, others were not. Others, like the Adam and Eve story were always intended to be mythic tales. Other portions of the Bible were meant to be poetry, others oracles, and others were letters written to specific communities.
The key questions, above, are important ones to ask. Why would the Israelites tell this story and why would they tell it in this way. Since we know that the story was told during exile, we might imagine that the Israelites needed to remind themselves that they were deeply, intimately connected to God.
Why do you think they told these stories in this way?
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Truth and Myth
Today's question is: How can something be true without being factually true? How is the truth of history different from the truth of myth?
Poems, song lyrics, fairy tales, children's stories, movie plots....all examples of things that can be incredibly, undoubtedly true without being factual. Take the book "To Kill a Mockingbird", for instance. Some of the characters hint at real people Harper Lee knew in her childhood, but the story is fictitious. And yet, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of the truest books I've ever read. Things can be true without being factual.
It's how the truth of myth differs from the truth of history. The truth of history relies on empirical, provable facts. The truth of myth relies on notions that extend beyond facts.
Poems, song lyrics, fairy tales, children's stories, movie plots....all examples of things that can be incredibly, undoubtedly true without being factual. Take the book "To Kill a Mockingbird", for instance. Some of the characters hint at real people Harper Lee knew in her childhood, but the story is fictitious. And yet, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of the truest books I've ever read. Things can be true without being factual.
It's how the truth of myth differs from the truth of history. The truth of history relies on empirical, provable facts. The truth of myth relies on notions that extend beyond facts.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
About the Dinosuar Bones
Today's question is: When did you first notice the tension between faith and science? How have you resolved that tension?
This kid named Chris was in my 7th grade science class. One day, he raised his hand and asked, "What if God put dinosaur skeletons in the ground to give us something to do?" Obviously, this kid took the Creation story literally. He was implying that during the Creation week, when God was forming the earth, God thought, "Hmm....I bet they'll get bored. Why don't I take some huge bones and bury them. These humans will dig them up and concoct stories about amazing beasts that used to roam the earth...yup, that'll be fun!"
I remember thinking about the implications of his question and getting a big headache. It sort of made my brain twist around in funny ways. By the time middle school rolled around, I'm fairly certain that I didn't take the Creation stories literally. I knew what I didn't believe. But, I wasn't sure what I did believe about those stories.
The tension got resolved through a lot of conversation, wrestling, paying attention and prayer.
This kid named Chris was in my 7th grade science class. One day, he raised his hand and asked, "What if God put dinosaur skeletons in the ground to give us something to do?" Obviously, this kid took the Creation story literally. He was implying that during the Creation week, when God was forming the earth, God thought, "Hmm....I bet they'll get bored. Why don't I take some huge bones and bury them. These humans will dig them up and concoct stories about amazing beasts that used to roam the earth...yup, that'll be fun!"
I remember thinking about the implications of his question and getting a big headache. It sort of made my brain twist around in funny ways. By the time middle school rolled around, I'm fairly certain that I didn't take the Creation stories literally. I knew what I didn't believe. But, I wasn't sure what I did believe about those stories.
The tension got resolved through a lot of conversation, wrestling, paying attention and prayer.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Powerful stories
Today's question is: When did you first learn the creation stories in Genesis? How are they meaningful for you today?
To tell the truth, I don't remember a time when I didn't know the creation stories. I'm certain that I knew the story of the 7 days of Creation along with the Adam and Eve story. But, I am also certain I thought they were part of the same story, not two separate tales.
I also remember how I felt when we learned about the stories in Seminary. The Creation stories were referred to as "myths". Even though I hadn't believed in the Creation stories literally for a long time, the word "myth" bothered me a little bit. When I realized that this term didn't take any of the power of the stories away, but rather named them for what they actually were, I got over it.
Today, I find these stories to be very powerful. Being outdoors and connecting with nature is a powerful part of my spiritual practice. So, I resonate deeply with the notion that human beings were formed from the soil and crafted by a master artisan. I also find the idea of rest being part of the fabric of Creation to be in credibly profound.
To tell the truth, I don't remember a time when I didn't know the creation stories. I'm certain that I knew the story of the 7 days of Creation along with the Adam and Eve story. But, I am also certain I thought they were part of the same story, not two separate tales.
I also remember how I felt when we learned about the stories in Seminary. The Creation stories were referred to as "myths". Even though I hadn't believed in the Creation stories literally for a long time, the word "myth" bothered me a little bit. When I realized that this term didn't take any of the power of the stories away, but rather named them for what they actually were, I got over it.
Today, I find these stories to be very powerful. Being outdoors and connecting with nature is a powerful part of my spiritual practice. So, I resonate deeply with the notion that human beings were formed from the soil and crafted by a master artisan. I also find the idea of rest being part of the fabric of Creation to be in credibly profound.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Challenges in Reading the Bible again for the First Time
Today's question is: What in this first section of the book has challenged you the most? What questions or concerns has it raised for you?
I disagree with Borg about the Bible being an entirely human product. That's what Borg says and I don't agree. I do think it's possible for parts of the Bible to be inspired. However, I am not clear on which parts are and which parts aren't. I am ok with this ambiguity and know that others are not. That part of the book was a big challenge to me.
What about you. What has challenged you so far in Borg's book?
I disagree with Borg about the Bible being an entirely human product. That's what Borg says and I don't agree. I do think it's possible for parts of the Bible to be inspired. However, I am not clear on which parts are and which parts aren't. I am ok with this ambiguity and know that others are not. That part of the book was a big challenge to me.
What about you. What has challenged you so far in Borg's book?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Which Christmas Story do you Want me to Tell?
Today's question is: Read the birth narratives of Jesus in the four gospels. What do you think each author wants us to know about Jesus by telling the story the way he does? How are the messages similar/different?
Wow. This is such a good exercise for us! The birth narratives are so different from one another. Each one emphasizes something different and reveals something about each community that produced that particular gospel.
Here's the quick and dirty on each of the birth narratives and what they might mean:
Matthew starts with a genealogy that traces Jesus, through King David, back to Abraham. It concludes with the visit from the Wise Men and the flight to Egypt. So, my bet is that Matthew's community wanted to emphasize the kingliness of Jesus.
Mark's gospel doesn't have a birth narrative. (Did you know that?) Instead, this gospel begins with John the Baptizer and the baptism of Jesus, two sentences about 40days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted, the launch of his ministry and calling the first disciples. Mark gets down to business. So, my hunch is that the Markian community wanted to emphasize Jesus' ministry and the urgency that surrounds it in the storytelling.
Luke's gospel gives the back story on the births of Jesus and John. This is the most magical of the birth narratives because it's the one with all the angels. Form Gabriel to the throngs of angels singing to the shepherds in the hills, this story is chalked full of them. That's why I think the Lukeian community wanted to emphasize the holiness of Jesus. At the same time, the emphasis on Mary uplifts his humanity and royalty - it's through Mary that Jesus' roots can be traced back to King David.
The gospel according to John also lacks a birth narrative. Instead, we find that beautiful poetry about the Word being with God. Without a doubt, the folks who wrote this gospel must have wanted to emphasize the divinity of Jesus the Savior.
Wow. This is such a good exercise for us! The birth narratives are so different from one another. Each one emphasizes something different and reveals something about each community that produced that particular gospel.
Here's the quick and dirty on each of the birth narratives and what they might mean:
Matthew starts with a genealogy that traces Jesus, through King David, back to Abraham. It concludes with the visit from the Wise Men and the flight to Egypt. So, my bet is that Matthew's community wanted to emphasize the kingliness of Jesus.
Mark's gospel doesn't have a birth narrative. (Did you know that?) Instead, this gospel begins with John the Baptizer and the baptism of Jesus, two sentences about 40days Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted, the launch of his ministry and calling the first disciples. Mark gets down to business. So, my hunch is that the Markian community wanted to emphasize Jesus' ministry and the urgency that surrounds it in the storytelling.
Luke's gospel gives the back story on the births of Jesus and John. This is the most magical of the birth narratives because it's the one with all the angels. Form Gabriel to the throngs of angels singing to the shepherds in the hills, this story is chalked full of them. That's why I think the Lukeian community wanted to emphasize the holiness of Jesus. At the same time, the emphasis on Mary uplifts his humanity and royalty - it's through Mary that Jesus' roots can be traced back to King David.
The gospel according to John also lacks a birth narrative. Instead, we find that beautiful poetry about the Word being with God. Without a doubt, the folks who wrote this gospel must have wanted to emphasize the divinity of Jesus the Savior.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Not a Ouija Board....
How might Borg’s historical-metaphorical approach help you interpret a passage of scripture? How is it different than the way you have interpreted scripture in the past?
First, let's clarify what Borg means by historical-metaphorical approach to reading scripture. When taking a historical approach, we should ask the question, "What did this text mean in the ancient historical setting in which it was written?" When taking a metaphorical approach, we should ask the question, "What does this story mean as a story, independent of its historical factuality?"
When we are taking a historical-metaphorical approach to scripture, we ask both questions. This is very different than how I used to read the Bible. I used to read the Bible wondering, "What is God saying to me, today, through these words, about this particular situation in which I find myself...?"
And, yes, the Spirit may add understanding to our reading of scripture, but, we should not confuse cracking open our Bible with cracking open a fortune cookie. See, the problem with my old approach is that I was treating the Bible like one of those fortune telling machines you find in arcades. Furthermore, the Bible is not a Ouija Board - we can't ask a question, randomly open the book and expect to find an answer. (Actually, we shouldn't expect to be able to do that with a Ouija Board either...but that's another story for another blog entry.
The Bible is a relevant tool we can and should employ to navigate faithful lives. But, we must do so knowing what this tool will and won't do. Using the historical-metaphorical approach to reading scripture and avoiding reading the Bible like a our daily horoscope will help. Using this approach helps us utilize the Bible appropriately.
First, let's clarify what Borg means by historical-metaphorical approach to reading scripture. When taking a historical approach, we should ask the question, "What did this text mean in the ancient historical setting in which it was written?" When taking a metaphorical approach, we should ask the question, "What does this story mean as a story, independent of its historical factuality?"
When we are taking a historical-metaphorical approach to scripture, we ask both questions. This is very different than how I used to read the Bible. I used to read the Bible wondering, "What is God saying to me, today, through these words, about this particular situation in which I find myself...?"
And, yes, the Spirit may add understanding to our reading of scripture, but, we should not confuse cracking open our Bible with cracking open a fortune cookie. See, the problem with my old approach is that I was treating the Bible like one of those fortune telling machines you find in arcades. Furthermore, the Bible is not a Ouija Board - we can't ask a question, randomly open the book and expect to find an answer. (Actually, we shouldn't expect to be able to do that with a Ouija Board either...but that's another story for another blog entry.
The Bible is a relevant tool we can and should employ to navigate faithful lives. But, we must do so knowing what this tool will and won't do. Using the historical-metaphorical approach to reading scripture and avoiding reading the Bible like a our daily horoscope will help. Using this approach helps us utilize the Bible appropriately.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Unlocking History
Today's question is: The Historical approach focuses on the question, “What did this text mean in the ancient historical setting in which it was written?” The Metaphorical approach focuses on the question: What does this story mean as a story, independent of its historical factuality.” Which of these two approaches are you most/least comfortable with? Why?
I am very comfortable with the historical approach to scripture. However, I have a Masters of Divinity degree and minored in theology in undergrad. Learning about the importance of the historical approach to scripture and how to find such information was a regular part of my theological education. When we look through the lens of history, we find a depth and richness in the text that an otherwise cursory read would overlook.
The problem is this, if I were I lay person, I don't think I would be comfortable in this arena at all.
So - how can lay people get more comfortable unlocking the historical context of a text? It's all about the tools. For starters, everyone needs to have a good Bible. If you are still using the Bible that your church gave you in 1972, it's time to get a new one. And for goodness sake, if you are trying to read the King James version of the Bible, unless you like reading Shakespeare in your spare time, run, don't walk, to your local book seller and get a New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. When looking for an NRSV, I would suggest getting a study Bible with hearty footnotes. For the casual reader, all the historical background you will ever need will be in those footnotes. For the more curious reader, you can buy a good commentary, or check some online source like www.textweek.com.
When you begin to read the Bible with its historical context in mind, how does that change your reading and interpretation of it?
I am very comfortable with the historical approach to scripture. However, I have a Masters of Divinity degree and minored in theology in undergrad. Learning about the importance of the historical approach to scripture and how to find such information was a regular part of my theological education. When we look through the lens of history, we find a depth and richness in the text that an otherwise cursory read would overlook.
The problem is this, if I were I lay person, I don't think I would be comfortable in this arena at all.
So - how can lay people get more comfortable unlocking the historical context of a text? It's all about the tools. For starters, everyone needs to have a good Bible. If you are still using the Bible that your church gave you in 1972, it's time to get a new one. And for goodness sake, if you are trying to read the King James version of the Bible, unless you like reading Shakespeare in your spare time, run, don't walk, to your local book seller and get a New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. When looking for an NRSV, I would suggest getting a study Bible with hearty footnotes. For the casual reader, all the historical background you will ever need will be in those footnotes. For the more curious reader, you can buy a good commentary, or check some online source like www.textweek.com.
When you begin to read the Bible with its historical context in mind, how does that change your reading and interpretation of it?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Taking the Red Pill
Today's question is this: Borg concludes with three metaphors for seeing the bible (Finger Pointing the Moon, Lens, Sacrament). What metaphor would you use to describe the Bible? Complete the sentence: To me, the Bible is like...
To me, reading the Bible is like taking the red pill in "The Matrix". Now, if you haven't seen this movie, stick with me...and if you have, hear me out - the metaphor works, I promise.
In the movie "The Matrix", taking the red pill frees a person from the Matrix, a computer-generated world within which people, unknowingly, live their entire lives. If you take a red pill, you'll be awakened from the Matrix to the truth of reality. If you take the blue pill, you'll still be connected to the Matrix and remain blissfully ignorant in the midst of the grand illusion.
Reading the Bible, for me, is like taking the red pill: it enables us to see the world form God's point of view -- from the viewpoint of God's greater justice and mercy. We get to see the world from Jesus' point of view -- from the viewpoint of one who insisted upon loving our neighbors and our enemies. Most importantly, instead of seeing the world from the viewpoint of consumerism, which has become the overriding qualifier of what it means to be American in 21st century life, we see the world from the viewpoint of God's preferential love for the poor. If God cares for the poor, then we, as lovers of God, must figure out how we will care for the poor of the world. When we figure out that this is one of the biggest responsibilities of the faithful, the whole world changes.
So, which pill will you be swallowing?
To me, reading the Bible is like taking the red pill in "The Matrix". Now, if you haven't seen this movie, stick with me...and if you have, hear me out - the metaphor works, I promise.
In the movie "The Matrix", taking the red pill frees a person from the Matrix, a computer-generated world within which people, unknowingly, live their entire lives. If you take a red pill, you'll be awakened from the Matrix to the truth of reality. If you take the blue pill, you'll still be connected to the Matrix and remain blissfully ignorant in the midst of the grand illusion.
Reading the Bible, for me, is like taking the red pill: it enables us to see the world form God's point of view -- from the viewpoint of God's greater justice and mercy. We get to see the world from Jesus' point of view -- from the viewpoint of one who insisted upon loving our neighbors and our enemies. Most importantly, instead of seeing the world from the viewpoint of consumerism, which has become the overriding qualifier of what it means to be American in 21st century life, we see the world from the viewpoint of God's preferential love for the poor. If God cares for the poor, then we, as lovers of God, must figure out how we will care for the poor of the world. When we figure out that this is one of the biggest responsibilities of the faithful, the whole world changes.
So, which pill will you be swallowing?
With a Capital "W"
Today's question is: What does it mean for you to call the Bible “the Word of God?” What doesn’t it mean for you?
Flipping through an art history book long ago, I came across a painting of Saint so-and-so writing the Bible. In this depiction, an ethereal hand reaches down out of the heavens. It grasps the saint's hand and the quill pen therein. The painting was commissioned as a teaching tool - to let the common folk know that this book contained The Word of God as written by God himself.
This is not what I think of when I think of the Bible being The Word of God with a capital "W".
When I think of the Bible being the Word of God, I think of the millions of faithful people who, for millenia, have looked to the words of the Bible to reveal something about the "character and will of God" as Marcus Borg puts it. In those stories, letters and poems, there are profound glimpses of who God is, how God works, what we can expect from God, and what God expects of us.
Flipping through an art history book long ago, I came across a painting of Saint so-and-so writing the Bible. In this depiction, an ethereal hand reaches down out of the heavens. It grasps the saint's hand and the quill pen therein. The painting was commissioned as a teaching tool - to let the common folk know that this book contained The Word of God as written by God himself.
This is not what I think of when I think of the Bible being The Word of God with a capital "W".
When I think of the Bible being the Word of God, I think of the millions of faithful people who, for millenia, have looked to the words of the Bible to reveal something about the "character and will of God" as Marcus Borg puts it. In those stories, letters and poems, there are profound glimpses of who God is, how God works, what we can expect from God, and what God expects of us.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sacred Contextual Texts
Today's question is: Does scripture ever function as a sacrament in your life? What helps you listen for the Spirit of God speaking through the words of the biblical text?
Have you ever been driving along, listening to the radio and, all of a sudden, the perfect song comes on? The song seems to fit the exact moment of life you are living in, as if some divine intervention was at work when the DJ picked the next tune. It's like those words were written just for you. When that happens with scripture, that's when the text becomes sacramental for me.
In order to listen for the Spirit of God speaking through the words of the biblical text, I have to start new every time. I have to stop thinking that I know what this particular passage is about, forget that I've read it before, and start over. I have to have an open mind and open heart. But, I also have to bring my life to the text and be willing to let the text speak to me and my situation in life. In other words, I have to provide my own context in which to hear the text. Again, when I do that, there is a sense that the text really is speaking to me.
Have you ever been driving along, listening to the radio and, all of a sudden, the perfect song comes on? The song seems to fit the exact moment of life you are living in, as if some divine intervention was at work when the DJ picked the next tune. It's like those words were written just for you. When that happens with scripture, that's when the text becomes sacramental for me.
In order to listen for the Spirit of God speaking through the words of the biblical text, I have to start new every time. I have to stop thinking that I know what this particular passage is about, forget that I've read it before, and start over. I have to have an open mind and open heart. But, I also have to bring my life to the text and be willing to let the text speak to me and my situation in life. In other words, I have to provide my own context in which to hear the text. Again, when I do that, there is a sense that the text really is speaking to me.
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Holy in the Everyday
Today's question is: Where do you experience the presence of God in your life? Are there sacred spaces, objects, rituals, relationships, activities that are ‘mediators of the sacred’ - vehicles by which God becomes present to you?
What is sacred to me? Since writing is one of those sacred activities, I thought I would offer this poem about what is sacred to me....
Birthing, breathing, creating. Cooking, conversing,
love-making. Soul-tending, gardening,
greeting the day.
Smiling,
engaging,
embracing. Justice-making.
God-bearing.
Believing.
What is sacred to me? Since writing is one of those sacred activities, I thought I would offer this poem about what is sacred to me....
Birthing, breathing, creating. Cooking, conversing,
love-making. Soul-tending, gardening,
greeting the day.
Smiling,
engaging,
embracing. Justice-making.
God-bearing.
Believing.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
What's Holy?
Today's question is: What does it mean for you to call the Bible “holy?”
Just about every Bible I've ever seen has the word "Holy" inserted in front of the word Bible on the front cover. Is it holy because God made it so? Because it says so on the cover? Or is the Bible holy because we make it holy?
I opt for #3.
Take anything that is considered holy - it is only considered so because we make it so. When we pour out the waters of baptism (which is just tap water by the way) we ask God to bless the water and to help us receive God's inward and invisible grace through this outward and visible sign.
It's the same with scripture. When we come to the text, we should be asking the Spirit to move through us and for God to open us the Word for us. When we experience God's grace in the text, I think that's the moment when it becomes holy.
Just about every Bible I've ever seen has the word "Holy" inserted in front of the word Bible on the front cover. Is it holy because God made it so? Because it says so on the cover? Or is the Bible holy because we make it holy?
I opt for #3.
Take anything that is considered holy - it is only considered so because we make it so. When we pour out the waters of baptism (which is just tap water by the way) we ask God to bless the water and to help us receive God's inward and invisible grace through this outward and visible sign.
It's the same with scripture. When we come to the text, we should be asking the Spirit to move through us and for God to open us the Word for us. When we experience God's grace in the text, I think that's the moment when it becomes holy.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Something Sacred
Today's question is: Does the process of how the Bible was developed and the history of how it became viewed as authoritative by the church affect your views on the sacred status of scripture?
The short answer to this question is: nope, not at all.
The long answer is this: half the battle is accepting the fact that the Bible did not drop from the sky one day, whole, intact and perfect. Once we understand how the canonization process worked, we've taken a big step. But, there's still another hurdle. The canonization was a messy, imperfect process. It's hard to be at peace with that.
As one of my Seminary professors often said about scripture, "We are passive recipients of someone else's choices." I try to keep that very ambiguous fact in balance with the fact that this book has been trusted for millennia. When tragedies occur, when we are at a loss to explain what happens in life, when people have been at a loss for words, time and again, people have gone to the Bible to find words of comfort, assurance and insight.
What's important when reading scripture is that we remain open to the movement of the Spirit. We must ask how God is still speaking to us today in the text. Does God have a Word for us today? That's the question that transforms just another book into something sacred.
The short answer to this question is: nope, not at all.
The long answer is this: half the battle is accepting the fact that the Bible did not drop from the sky one day, whole, intact and perfect. Once we understand how the canonization process worked, we've taken a big step. But, there's still another hurdle. The canonization was a messy, imperfect process. It's hard to be at peace with that.
As one of my Seminary professors often said about scripture, "We are passive recipients of someone else's choices." I try to keep that very ambiguous fact in balance with the fact that this book has been trusted for millennia. When tragedies occur, when we are at a loss to explain what happens in life, when people have been at a loss for words, time and again, people have gone to the Bible to find words of comfort, assurance and insight.
What's important when reading scripture is that we remain open to the movement of the Spirit. We must ask how God is still speaking to us today in the text. Does God have a Word for us today? That's the question that transforms just another book into something sacred.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Response to? Inspired by? Both?
Today's question is: How does Borg’s description of the bible as “a human response to God” fit your own understanding of the relationship between God and the Bible?
Borg takes the approach that the Bible is purely a human product. If the Bible is a human product, it makes the difficult sections easier to stomach. If we find out the historical context of the text, it may unlock some of the mystery as to why someone would attribute certain things to God.
But, I must admit that I don't entirely agree with Borg's assertion that the Bible is purely a human product. I understand his point. If we think that some of the Bible is inspired and some is not, then we're stuck in a vast gray area of wondering what is and what is not inspired.
I'm ok with that gray area. I am ok wit the ambiguity of some of the Bible being human response to God and some of it being inspired. As a writer and preacher, I have certainly experienced this phenomenon. I have preached sermons that were clearly the work of the Holy Spirit, when it felt as if the words were not mine, but truly God's. I have also phoned it in. I would assume the same is true for the texts we deem sacred.
Borg takes the approach that the Bible is purely a human product. If the Bible is a human product, it makes the difficult sections easier to stomach. If we find out the historical context of the text, it may unlock some of the mystery as to why someone would attribute certain things to God.
But, I must admit that I don't entirely agree with Borg's assertion that the Bible is purely a human product. I understand his point. If we think that some of the Bible is inspired and some is not, then we're stuck in a vast gray area of wondering what is and what is not inspired.
I'm ok with that gray area. I am ok wit the ambiguity of some of the Bible being human response to God and some of it being inspired. As a writer and preacher, I have certainly experienced this phenomenon. I have preached sermons that were clearly the work of the Holy Spirit, when it felt as if the words were not mine, but truly God's. I have also phoned it in. I would assume the same is true for the texts we deem sacred.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Beloved texts
Today's question is: Are there particular passages of scripture that you cherish? If so, what makes them significant for you?
If have several passages that I cherish. Ruth's promise to Naomi, "Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God," was the passage David and I chose to have read at our wedding. That makes it foundational in my life.
There's also Jesus promise in Matthew which read, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I shall give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light, " is also key. I had to memorize it for a worship service I was doing. So, I had it there, rummaging around in my brain. The first time I ever felt really burnt out, I remembered it. It became life savingly true for me.
Then, there's the section of Paul's' letter to the Romans wherein he states, "For I am convinced that neither death, not lie, nor angels, not rulers, not things present, not things to come, nor powers, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." That passage made me trust in God at a time in my life that was characterized by overwhelming fear.
I could go on and on. I am discovering new things every day!
If have several passages that I cherish. Ruth's promise to Naomi, "Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God," was the passage David and I chose to have read at our wedding. That makes it foundational in my life.
There's also Jesus promise in Matthew which read, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I shall give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light, " is also key. I had to memorize it for a worship service I was doing. So, I had it there, rummaging around in my brain. The first time I ever felt really burnt out, I remembered it. It became life savingly true for me.
Then, there's the section of Paul's' letter to the Romans wherein he states, "For I am convinced that neither death, not lie, nor angels, not rulers, not things present, not things to come, nor powers, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." That passage made me trust in God at a time in my life that was characterized by overwhelming fear.
I could go on and on. I am discovering new things every day!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Seriously? Seriously.
Today's question is: What are some of the barriers that keep you from taking the Bible more seriously than you do?
Oof. That's a rough one.
I get hung up with the texts of terror in the Bible -- the ones where God does something violent, or instructs someone to do something horrific in God's name.
What do you do with that?
How do you preach that?
Seriously?
For someone who believes in a loving, caring, compassionate god, i have a hard time taking these references to a vengeful, violent God seriously.
My gut reaction is to ignore those passages. But ignoring them does no one any good. To take those passages seriously, I need to dive into them. I need to unlock them.
One way to do that might be to ask this question: why might the people have thought God would want them to act violently? Recently in an email devotional from our United Church of Christ, Ron Buford remarked, "...the ancient Israelites living among people who honored their gods in these ways may have begun thinking that their God deserved similar devotion, zealously attributing such words to God."
Ron's response helped me so much, and I hope it helps you too.
Oof. That's a rough one.
I get hung up with the texts of terror in the Bible -- the ones where God does something violent, or instructs someone to do something horrific in God's name.
What do you do with that?
How do you preach that?
Seriously?
For someone who believes in a loving, caring, compassionate god, i have a hard time taking these references to a vengeful, violent God seriously.
My gut reaction is to ignore those passages. But ignoring them does no one any good. To take those passages seriously, I need to dive into them. I need to unlock them.
One way to do that might be to ask this question: why might the people have thought God would want them to act violently? Recently in an email devotional from our United Church of Christ, Ron Buford remarked, "...the ancient Israelites living among people who honored their gods in these ways may have begun thinking that their God deserved similar devotion, zealously attributing such words to God."
Ron's response helped me so much, and I hope it helps you too.
Friday, June 11, 2010
For the Bible Tells Me So
Today's question: How has your own understanding of the Bible changed over the course of your life?
Even though no one in my immediate family was a literalist when it came to scripture, I am pretty sure I went through a literal phase when I was younger. But, then again, I literally thought Santa Claus was real too. We tend to be literal creatures as children. At some point, we figure out that the world is not always what it seems. We also figure out how, as children, to take the grain of truth from a story while simultaneously understanding that it's just a story. But, for some of us, we aren't able to do that with the Bible. We set the Bible apart and can't seem to say, "I don't know if it happened in exactly this way, but I know this is true."
In college, I took a lot of theology classes and learned to love the meaning of the text beyond the literal word on the page. I craved the way we approached texts in school as something to be dissected. But, that made my devotional reading of scripture take a nose dive. It took years for me to be able to let me experience interact with the text on face value. Most days, I do a combination of both. But, always, i have to open myself up to the presence of the Holy Spirit in reading, asking god to "add blessing" to my reading and understanding of the text.
Even though no one in my immediate family was a literalist when it came to scripture, I am pretty sure I went through a literal phase when I was younger. But, then again, I literally thought Santa Claus was real too. We tend to be literal creatures as children. At some point, we figure out that the world is not always what it seems. We also figure out how, as children, to take the grain of truth from a story while simultaneously understanding that it's just a story. But, for some of us, we aren't able to do that with the Bible. We set the Bible apart and can't seem to say, "I don't know if it happened in exactly this way, but I know this is true."
In college, I took a lot of theology classes and learned to love the meaning of the text beyond the literal word on the page. I craved the way we approached texts in school as something to be dissected. But, that made my devotional reading of scripture take a nose dive. It took years for me to be able to let me experience interact with the text on face value. Most days, I do a combination of both. But, always, i have to open myself up to the presence of the Holy Spirit in reading, asking god to "add blessing" to my reading and understanding of the text.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Bible says...WHAT?!
First, let me apologize for being lax on blog postings. It was part my fault, and part technical difficulty -- our Blogger site insisted for several days that they were "unable to upload new posts at this time."
Now, onto the question at hand. Today's question is this: When have you experienced the conflict between the different ways that people read and interpret the Bible?
If you were in church a couple of weeks ago for my first sermon in this series, then you've heard this story. But it bears repeating because it addresses this question so completely.
When I first discerned my call to ministry at age 17, excitedly, I shared my revelation with my friends. Everyone was positive, except for one friend who said the following to me:
"It's really great that you've figured out that God has placed a call on your life. But I doubt God would be calling you to be a pastor because, you know, in the Bible it says "women should not speak in church"...so maybe, God is calling you to be a Christian Educator, or maybe..."
...he said the following with great enthusiasm...
"...a Pastor's Wife."
So, if you ask me whether or not I have experienced conflict in the different ways people read the Bible, undoubtedly, my answer is, "YES, yes, I have!" It took me a long time, a lot of prayer, conversation, and learning to get past this one.
What became critical for me and my relationship to the Bible was to learn about the history an context of Biblical texts as I read them. Take the passage my friend referred to, for instance. In context, this text doesn't say anything about women preaching. It's referring to women who were interrupting worship with their questions. Without understanding the history related to and context of the passage, it would be easy to misinterpret.
You should know that I am still friends with the person who said that to me. That may seem unfathomable to you. But, I really believe in the Unity of the Body of Christ. Maintaining relationship with people who are different from me expands my worldview and enables me to better understand what I, personally, believe. It also allows me to experience the grace of God in profound ways. There's a lot of grace involved when you are in relationship with people who are diametrically opposed to who you are. That grace is real and so is the relationship that follows even if we disagree on how we read our Bibles.
Now, onto the question at hand. Today's question is this: When have you experienced the conflict between the different ways that people read and interpret the Bible?
If you were in church a couple of weeks ago for my first sermon in this series, then you've heard this story. But it bears repeating because it addresses this question so completely.
When I first discerned my call to ministry at age 17, excitedly, I shared my revelation with my friends. Everyone was positive, except for one friend who said the following to me:
"It's really great that you've figured out that God has placed a call on your life. But I doubt God would be calling you to be a pastor because, you know, in the Bible it says "women should not speak in church"...so maybe, God is calling you to be a Christian Educator, or maybe..."
...he said the following with great enthusiasm...
"...a Pastor's Wife."
So, if you ask me whether or not I have experienced conflict in the different ways people read the Bible, undoubtedly, my answer is, "YES, yes, I have!" It took me a long time, a lot of prayer, conversation, and learning to get past this one.
What became critical for me and my relationship to the Bible was to learn about the history an context of Biblical texts as I read them. Take the passage my friend referred to, for instance. In context, this text doesn't say anything about women preaching. It's referring to women who were interrupting worship with their questions. Without understanding the history related to and context of the passage, it would be easy to misinterpret.
You should know that I am still friends with the person who said that to me. That may seem unfathomable to you. But, I really believe in the Unity of the Body of Christ. Maintaining relationship with people who are different from me expands my worldview and enables me to better understand what I, personally, believe. It also allows me to experience the grace of God in profound ways. There's a lot of grace involved when you are in relationship with people who are diametrically opposed to who you are. That grace is real and so is the relationship that follows even if we disagree on how we read our Bibles.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
It's Complicated
Our summer sermon series draws from the Marcus Borg book Reading the Bible Again for the First Time. Throughout the summer, I'll be blogging about the issues raised by the book. My friend and colleague Rev. Tom Ott, Sr. Pastor of the church I served in Battle Creek, developed the questions I'll be blogging about. Join in the conversation!
Here's today's question: How would you describe your own relationship with scripture? What feelings, experiences, or reactions does it evoke in you?
My relationship to scripture has been...complicated. Even though I was raised in your average, middle of the road UCC church, I went though a literalistic phase. That didn't last long. Then, when I went to college and took a bunch of theology classes, I had a crisis of faith. I could not reconcile all the things I was leaning in college with my Sunday School education. How could no one have ever taught me about the canonization process, the way in which the Bible came to be? How could no one have ever told me there were feminine references to God contained in scripture? I felt lied to and I was angry. Now, in all fairness, knowing my pastors, it could be that someone did teach me these things. I just wasn't paying attention at the time. Regardless, at that point in my life, I had very mixed emotions about my faith. I loved my theology classes, but they became a substitute for my own experiences of worship and personal devotions.
I think that's when I stopped reading my Bible. When I moved to Florida, I started going to St. Luke's United Methodist Church. Bill Barnes' preaching was revelatory to me. I started picking up my Bible again. Throughout my time in Florida and Seminary in Chicago, I finally felt like I was able to reclaim scripture as important in my life. I figured our how to believe in the truth of the Word even when the words were not factual. I also figured out how to argue with the text. I began to understand that I could disagree with the text. But, I also, finally, understood that I could dig deeper into the text, discovering its historical and cultural context. When I did that, I would always come away with a fresh perspective on the text.
These days, I go to scripture for insight when I need help figuring life out. I also go to it for comfort when I feel as if the whole world is falling apart. Mostly, though, I read the Bible because I can. It informs my faith journey. So, most days, I read the Bible devotionally, not looking for anything in particular. That's when I find the most wonderful things.
Here's today's question: How would you describe your own relationship with scripture? What feelings, experiences, or reactions does it evoke in you?
My relationship to scripture has been...complicated. Even though I was raised in your average, middle of the road UCC church, I went though a literalistic phase. That didn't last long. Then, when I went to college and took a bunch of theology classes, I had a crisis of faith. I could not reconcile all the things I was leaning in college with my Sunday School education. How could no one have ever taught me about the canonization process, the way in which the Bible came to be? How could no one have ever told me there were feminine references to God contained in scripture? I felt lied to and I was angry. Now, in all fairness, knowing my pastors, it could be that someone did teach me these things. I just wasn't paying attention at the time. Regardless, at that point in my life, I had very mixed emotions about my faith. I loved my theology classes, but they became a substitute for my own experiences of worship and personal devotions.
I think that's when I stopped reading my Bible. When I moved to Florida, I started going to St. Luke's United Methodist Church. Bill Barnes' preaching was revelatory to me. I started picking up my Bible again. Throughout my time in Florida and Seminary in Chicago, I finally felt like I was able to reclaim scripture as important in my life. I figured our how to believe in the truth of the Word even when the words were not factual. I also figured out how to argue with the text. I began to understand that I could disagree with the text. But, I also, finally, understood that I could dig deeper into the text, discovering its historical and cultural context. When I did that, I would always come away with a fresh perspective on the text.
These days, I go to scripture for insight when I need help figuring life out. I also go to it for comfort when I feel as if the whole world is falling apart. Mostly, though, I read the Bible because I can. It informs my faith journey. So, most days, I read the Bible devotionally, not looking for anything in particular. That's when I find the most wonderful things.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Taking a Clue from Jesus Mission Statement
This week, we're playing around with the notion of personal mission statements. Do you have one?
We get a taste of Jesus' mission statement in in Luke 4:16-21. Mission statements are not job descriptions. They are not to do lists. Instead of Jesus unrolling the scroll and saying, "I have been anointed to be an itinerant preacher and teacher in Galilee...and here's my job outline in bullet-point form" he says "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Sure, there are some specifics in this proclamation, but mostly it's a list of outcomes. And that's different than a task list.
So, I was wondering about mission statements. What's my mission in life? As any good post-modern person would do, I took my question to Google. Up popped a personal mission statement generator from the folks at Franklin Covey. (www.franklincovey.com/msb/missions/login)
I tried it and guess what -- it was fun and very revealing. As you consider what your mission is in the world, give it a try. Maybe re post your results here. Let's inspire each other!
My mission statement (as generated by the Franklin Covey Personal Mission Statement Builder):
I am at my best when I am creative, rested, inspired, surrounded by beauty and joyous people, filled with purpose, and feeling like I am accomplishing something. I will try to prevent times when I am not focused, tired, torn, in ugly places with negative people, and unclear about my purpose. I will enjoy my work by finding employment where I can be at the center of synergy, making big things happen. I will find enjoyment in my personal life through play with my daughter, be in love with my husband, laugh with friends, cooking, writing, walking and smelling fresh air. I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts such as cooking, making art, singing, being there for people, creating beautiful, interesting space, writing, speaking.
I can do anything I set my mind to. I will be a writer and inspirational speaker.
My life's journey is to be at home no matter where the journey takes me, opening up my home and life to friends and family, strangers and sojourners.I will be a person who my children, their children, and people who think of me as their teacher, will give me the greatest tribute by telling me the story of "Us" and how I changed their life. They will tell me about the moment when I mattered to them...
My most important future contribution to others will be to let them know that they are loved beyond their wildest imaginations and that they have purpose in this world. Our job is to discern that purpose and have at it with reckless abandon...
We get a taste of Jesus' mission statement in in Luke 4:16-21. Mission statements are not job descriptions. They are not to do lists. Instead of Jesus unrolling the scroll and saying, "I have been anointed to be an itinerant preacher and teacher in Galilee...and here's my job outline in bullet-point form" he says "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Sure, there are some specifics in this proclamation, but mostly it's a list of outcomes. And that's different than a task list.
So, I was wondering about mission statements. What's my mission in life? As any good post-modern person would do, I took my question to Google. Up popped a personal mission statement generator from the folks at Franklin Covey. (www.franklincovey.com/msb/missions/login)
I tried it and guess what -- it was fun and very revealing. As you consider what your mission is in the world, give it a try. Maybe re post your results here. Let's inspire each other!
My mission statement (as generated by the Franklin Covey Personal Mission Statement Builder):
I am at my best when I am creative, rested, inspired, surrounded by beauty and joyous people, filled with purpose, and feeling like I am accomplishing something. I will try to prevent times when I am not focused, tired, torn, in ugly places with negative people, and unclear about my purpose. I will enjoy my work by finding employment where I can be at the center of synergy, making big things happen. I will find enjoyment in my personal life through play with my daughter, be in love with my husband, laugh with friends, cooking, writing, walking and smelling fresh air. I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts such as cooking, making art, singing, being there for people, creating beautiful, interesting space, writing, speaking.
I can do anything I set my mind to. I will be a writer and inspirational speaker.
My life's journey is to be at home no matter where the journey takes me, opening up my home and life to friends and family, strangers and sojourners.I will be a person who my children, their children, and people who think of me as their teacher, will give me the greatest tribute by telling me the story of "Us" and how I changed their life. They will tell me about the moment when I mattered to them...
My most important future contribution to others will be to let them know that they are loved beyond their wildest imaginations and that they have purpose in this world. Our job is to discern that purpose and have at it with reckless abandon...
I will stop procrastinating and start working on:
- Being more centered: have an everyday, all day connection to God.
- Remembering "it's not about me" and know that I am only one piece of an infinite puzzle.
- Tending to my own body and being healthy.
I will strive to incorporate the following attributes into my life:
-Be smart like Jesus
-Be in love with Jesus
-Love people like Jesus
I will constantly renew myself by focusing on the four dimensions of my life:
-walk and do tai chi every day. breathe, move, stretch, breathe, move, stretch.
-read poetry every day. see beauty every day. pray every day.
-check in about your baggage everyday. seek out people who keep you in check and keep you balanced and healthy
-make new friends. go out. have fun. have date nights with your husband. touch, be touched. give kisses and hugs. tell the people I love that i love them.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Why do you do it?
Every body's doing it.
They are -- haven't you noticed? There are TV commercials about it. Schools are teaching about it. Even Disney is in on the act. Everybody is doing it.
Everyone is doing good works these days. There's a series of TV commercials showing one person doing a random act of kindness followed by the person who received the good will following suit and so on. Schools are making "service hours" a requirement for graduation. And, now, Disney is offering free admission to people who log hours with particular non-profit organizations. Every body is doing good works these days.
And I'm all for it. This wave of service that's sweeping the nation is good for us. It can only make the world better. With that in mind, I hope you don't misunderstand the question that all this do-gooding raises in me: why do you do good works? As a person of faith, why do you do good works?
For me, I don't really care that I could get a free day at Disney. Being a person of faith in God, I do good works because that's what God calls me to do.
Being a person who tries to follow in the footsteps of Jesus the Christ, I do good works because I want to create the kind of community around me that Christ created around him.
Being a person who knows the presence of the Holy Spirit, I do good works because then, in those moments when I'm uncomfortable with the sights, smells and experiences of the poor, lonely, sick and marginalized, I know that I am not alone. The Holy Spirit will carry me through.
I do it because, in the words of The Message, "Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"
Why do you do it?
They are -- haven't you noticed? There are TV commercials about it. Schools are teaching about it. Even Disney is in on the act. Everybody is doing it.
Everyone is doing good works these days. There's a series of TV commercials showing one person doing a random act of kindness followed by the person who received the good will following suit and so on. Schools are making "service hours" a requirement for graduation. And, now, Disney is offering free admission to people who log hours with particular non-profit organizations. Every body is doing good works these days.
And I'm all for it. This wave of service that's sweeping the nation is good for us. It can only make the world better. With that in mind, I hope you don't misunderstand the question that all this do-gooding raises in me: why do you do good works? As a person of faith, why do you do good works?
For me, I don't really care that I could get a free day at Disney. Being a person of faith in God, I do good works because that's what God calls me to do.
Being a person who tries to follow in the footsteps of Jesus the Christ, I do good works because I want to create the kind of community around me that Christ created around him.
Being a person who knows the presence of the Holy Spirit, I do good works because then, in those moments when I'm uncomfortable with the sights, smells and experiences of the poor, lonely, sick and marginalized, I know that I am not alone. The Holy Spirit will carry me through.
I do it because, in the words of The Message, "Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?"
Why do you do it?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Requirements
When my friend Angie, who preached my installation, teaches Confirmation she always asks the kids if there is anything they must do in order to be faithful.
Usually, they respond, "No". The go on -- we should all try to be nice, good people. "But, there are no requirements."
"What if I told you there were requirements?" she asks. They usually sit there stunned. That's when she whips out Micah 6:8 -- What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Most church -going adults I have met seem just as befuddled by the contents of Micah 6:8 as the youth do. Sure, we all condone humility and value kindness, but when it comes to justice, in another story entirely. How many times have I heard critiques of social-justice oriented themes as being "too political" or "not spiritual enough"? How many times? Many, many times.
But we're fooling ourselves if we think God doesn't care about social justice. The books of the Prophets found in scripture continually call attention to the way nations treated the most vulnerable members of their societies. Jesus was perpetually concerned with the marginalized of society. The Epistles call communities into right relation with one another. True, many of the Epistles address small scale relationships. But the principles that govern being in right relationship in interpersonal relationships apply to systems as well.
Social justice isn't an afterthought for God. So it shouldn't be an afterthought for us either. Social justice is part and parcel of what faithful living and kin-dom building is all about.
Usually, they respond, "No". The go on -- we should all try to be nice, good people. "But, there are no requirements."
"What if I told you there were requirements?" she asks. They usually sit there stunned. That's when she whips out Micah 6:8 -- What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Most church -going adults I have met seem just as befuddled by the contents of Micah 6:8 as the youth do. Sure, we all condone humility and value kindness, but when it comes to justice, in another story entirely. How many times have I heard critiques of social-justice oriented themes as being "too political" or "not spiritual enough"? How many times? Many, many times.
But we're fooling ourselves if we think God doesn't care about social justice. The books of the Prophets found in scripture continually call attention to the way nations treated the most vulnerable members of their societies. Jesus was perpetually concerned with the marginalized of society. The Epistles call communities into right relation with one another. True, many of the Epistles address small scale relationships. But the principles that govern being in right relationship in interpersonal relationships apply to systems as well.
Social justice isn't an afterthought for God. So it shouldn't be an afterthought for us either. Social justice is part and parcel of what faithful living and kin-dom building is all about.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Woe, woe is me!
When Jesus preached to the folks hanging out on a hillside, he said things like, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." When Jesus preached to the folks out on the plains, he changed it up a bit. "Blessed are the poor in spirit" becomes "Blessed are the poor". In addition, there is a whole list of "woes" added on. "...Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep."
I must admit -- I am much more fond of the the former rather than the latter. When I read, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," I think, Yeah, that's right -- I'm blessed -- I'm having a bad day -- I've got problems. God bless me! But it's harder to find my place in the latter where the "poor in spirit" are replaced with "the poor". I'm not poor. In fact, since almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day and 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day I am anything but poor. I am quite rich in comparison to the rest of the world.
That would put me, not in Jesus' blessed category, but firmly in his woe category. When I only take this teaching on face value, that's when I start longing again for the warm fuzzies of the sermon on the mount. When I go deeper into this passage, that's when I start to understand how to truly be blessed. When I am rich, I have resources to give. When I am full, I am able to give of myself because. When I am laughing, I have joy to share. When Jesus is holding us accountable, we ought not run in the other direction, but embrace his tough teaching, his tough love. It's through making that love a reality in this world that we are all blessed.
I must admit -- I am much more fond of the the former rather than the latter. When I read, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," I think, Yeah, that's right -- I'm blessed -- I'm having a bad day -- I've got problems. God bless me! But it's harder to find my place in the latter where the "poor in spirit" are replaced with "the poor". I'm not poor. In fact, since almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day and 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day I am anything but poor. I am quite rich in comparison to the rest of the world.
That would put me, not in Jesus' blessed category, but firmly in his woe category. When I only take this teaching on face value, that's when I start longing again for the warm fuzzies of the sermon on the mount. When I go deeper into this passage, that's when I start to understand how to truly be blessed. When I am rich, I have resources to give. When I am full, I am able to give of myself because. When I am laughing, I have joy to share. When Jesus is holding us accountable, we ought not run in the other direction, but embrace his tough teaching, his tough love. It's through making that love a reality in this world that we are all blessed.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
A witness...really?
Today I'm dwelling on the term 'witness'. Jesus calls his followers to be his witnesses "in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." (That's a quote from Acts chapter 1 -- it was our text for this past Sunday's worship.) That's a tough word, especially for Progressive Christians. It's been co-opted for so long by our evangelical brothers and sisters that I, for one, have a hard time claiming the word 'witness' as part of my faith experience.
I had a lot of evangelical friends in college. I still carry my
For instance, I remember a friend going on a spring break trip with a parap-church group at their college. They went to "witness to people on the beach and bring them to Jesus." Another friend went on a trip to India with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) to "witness to the lost people following a false god". I remember the conversation wherein she described surrounding a Hindu temple and "praying for the salvation of the people inside." I was horrified. If this is what it means to be a witness, I want no part of it.
But, reading the gospel stories, I find that Jesus had a different take on what it meant to be a witness. If "witness" means "to testify to" or to "give evidence of" then I would think being a witness for Christ means giving evidence of the work Jesus did in the world. Jesus' ministry was about meeting people's needs and teaching of God's love. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, befriended the lonely, invited in the outcasts. He demanded justice for marginalized people. That's what being a witness for Christ means to me.
So, I have to unload all of my "witness baggage" from those bad experiences I have had. I have to reclaim that word and begin again. What about you?
I had a lot of evangelical friends in college. I still carry my
For instance, I remember a friend going on a spring break trip with a parap-church group at their college. They went to "witness to people on the beach and bring them to Jesus." Another friend went on a trip to India with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) to "witness to the lost people following a false god". I remember the conversation wherein she described surrounding a Hindu temple and "praying for the salvation of the people inside." I was horrified. If this is what it means to be a witness, I want no part of it.
But, reading the gospel stories, I find that Jesus had a different take on what it meant to be a witness. If "witness" means "to testify to" or to "give evidence of" then I would think being a witness for Christ means giving evidence of the work Jesus did in the world. Jesus' ministry was about meeting people's needs and teaching of God's love. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, befriended the lonely, invited in the outcasts. He demanded justice for marginalized people. That's what being a witness for Christ means to me.
So, I have to unload all of my "witness baggage" from those bad experiences I have had. I have to reclaim that word and begin again. What about you?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Fasting for Lent?
Lent is underway and the fast is on. Are you fasting from something this Lenten season? If so, what? And more importantly, why?
I hope this poem, originally written as a Reader’s Theater for our worship last night, provides you with some insights into what this season is really about. This piece has words from Ellen Kordik, Linda Owens, and Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser
Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of 40 days of penitence
Ash Wednesday is …well…one of those weird
worship services
we all struggle to understand.
For starters – it’s Worship at night –
the sanctuary looks so different
without light streaming in through the windows
without the sun to warm the room.
As we come to worship tonight
The ghosts of Ash Wednesdays past come along with us
The trappings of Lent get in the way.
Lent starts
Since Jesus suffered
We must suffer too!
Guess it’s time to give up candy until Easter
Cause that would be a real sacrifice!
No more fried foods!
No more soft drinks!
No more TV!
No more fun!
Parties are suspect during Lent
get your share of partying and fun during Mardi Gras
cause after tonight
it’s all gone!
It’s time to eat fish on Fridays and think about how horrible a person you are!
Really?
Well, that’s what I always thought as a kid
It’s time to dwell on my shortcomings
That’s what this night has always meant to me
It was nothing more than leaving worship with ash on my forehead
and dust in my eyes.
Everyone is quiet
sad somehow.
This is a time of penitence
for all the bad I've done
and the good I haven't done.
Sackcloth and ashes,
Repentance and grief.
Suspicion and guilt
Obligation and sacrifice
Death and dying
Ugh! It’s so somber!
It’s such a downer!
I don’t get it!
To be honest
I don’t understand
I don’t understand what tonight is about.
If God loves us, why aren’t we
Happy.
So much Lenten baggage!
So many ghosts of Ash Wednesdays past!
That should be enough "baggage" for anyone, don't you think?
We've come a long way from those days for sure.
Tonight
tonight is a reality check
The reality is – life doesn’t always go the way we plan
The reality is – sometimes, no matter how hard we work, we don’t succeed
The reality is – mistakes happen
And, the reality is, we don’t have to pretend
We don’t have to pretend that everything is fine all the time
We don’t have to pretend that everything is perfect all the time
We don’t have to pretend
Tonight we can be honest
Tonight we can be real
Tonight we can admit
We’ve made mistakes
We’ve not hit the mark
We’ve messed up
And it’s ok to say so
Our humanity is real
And it’s ok to say so
Our humanity is precious
It’s a precious gift from God
Who once scooped up a handful of dirt and breathed life into it
Who once formed and shaped us from the earth
Who said, “You are dust and to dust you shall return”
as a blessing
not a curse
as a good thing
not a condemnation
as the beloved reality of our beloved, tenuous existence
we are dust
and to dust we shall return
I hope this poem, originally written as a Reader’s Theater for our worship last night, provides you with some insights into what this season is really about. This piece has words from Ellen Kordik, Linda Owens, and Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser
Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of 40 days of penitence
Ash Wednesday is …well…one of those weird
worship services
we all struggle to understand.
For starters – it’s Worship at night –
the sanctuary looks so different
without light streaming in through the windows
without the sun to warm the room.
As we come to worship tonight
The ghosts of Ash Wednesdays past come along with us
The trappings of Lent get in the way.
Lent starts
Since Jesus suffered
We must suffer too!
Guess it’s time to give up candy until Easter
Cause that would be a real sacrifice!
No more fried foods!
No more soft drinks!
No more TV!
No more fun!
Parties are suspect during Lent
get your share of partying and fun during Mardi Gras
cause after tonight
it’s all gone!
It’s time to eat fish on Fridays and think about how horrible a person you are!
Really?
Well, that’s what I always thought as a kid
It’s time to dwell on my shortcomings
That’s what this night has always meant to me
It was nothing more than leaving worship with ash on my forehead
and dust in my eyes.
Everyone is quiet
sad somehow.
This is a time of penitence
for all the bad I've done
and the good I haven't done.
Sackcloth and ashes,
Repentance and grief.
Suspicion and guilt
Obligation and sacrifice
Death and dying
Ugh! It’s so somber!
It’s such a downer!
I don’t get it!
To be honest
I don’t understand
I don’t understand what tonight is about.
If God loves us, why aren’t we
Happy.
So much Lenten baggage!
So many ghosts of Ash Wednesdays past!
That should be enough "baggage" for anyone, don't you think?
We've come a long way from those days for sure.
Tonight
tonight is a reality check
The reality is – life doesn’t always go the way we plan
The reality is – sometimes, no matter how hard we work, we don’t succeed
The reality is – mistakes happen
And, the reality is, we don’t have to pretend
We don’t have to pretend that everything is fine all the time
We don’t have to pretend that everything is perfect all the time
We don’t have to pretend
Tonight we can be honest
Tonight we can be real
Tonight we can admit
We’ve made mistakes
We’ve not hit the mark
We’ve messed up
And it’s ok to say so
Our humanity is real
And it’s ok to say so
Our humanity is precious
It’s a precious gift from God
Who once scooped up a handful of dirt and breathed life into it
Who once formed and shaped us from the earth
Who said, “You are dust and to dust you shall return”
as a blessing
not a curse
as a good thing
not a condemnation
as the beloved reality of our beloved, tenuous existence
we are dust
and to dust we shall return
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Ash Wednesday
Our Ash Wednesday service just ended here at Community UCC. I was really moved by people's response and reaction during worship. Together, we read Isaiah 58:1-12, which talks about empty fasting versus the kind of fasting God calls us to. God calls us to take on a kind of fast that impacts the world. Usually, we only take on fasts that impact ourselves. But, this passage calls us to take on fasts that will bring good news to the poor.
Tonight, as part of worship, everyone was invited to write down what sort of fast they felt called to this Lenten season. They put their prayers in a bowl to be burned, much like the palms that made the ash that would later don their foreheads. Did you know that's what the ashes of "Ash Wednesday" are made of? Last year's palms from Palm Sunday. It's a powerful symbol -- the palms. They were waved in celebration by the sane people who later in the week would yell, "Crucify him." How often our best intentions go awry. Our prayers tonight-- the ones written on the papers -- were fervent ones in hopes that we will keep a fast that matters. Unlike those waving palms long ago. But, even if we cannot, God's mercy is great. God's love for us is unending. God's forgiveness is steadfast. We can rely on that.
I want to leave you tonight with a piece that I shared with those at worship tonight about the connection between the ashes and the palms. I hope you find meaning in it as you begin your Lenten journey.
Palms and Passion Ashes
Originally written for First Congregational Church UCC for Lent 2009
By Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser
Less than a year ago, these palms were supple, green, full of life.
But since then, they’ve lost their luster, turned a dull gray-brown instead.
Dry and brittle.
So easily caught by a spark.
Then, on Palm Sunday, they were waved in celebration, in anticipation, in the midst of loud hosannas and glory, glory hallelujahs.
Now, they crackle in the fire – desolation instead of celebration, despair instead of anticipation, curses and muttering instead of loud hosannas.
These Palm branches, once laid down in front of the king were signs of our best intentions. How often our best intentions dry up before our very eyes.
These palm branches, once signs of our highest hope have become parched in the harsh light of reality.
These palm branches, once full of life. But sin sucks the life right out of you. It’s no wonder it all went up in smoke.
That’s what these ashes are all about – they’re not just any old ashes, scraped up from the dregs of a fire.
These ashes are what remain from our best intentions gone array, the ruins of our hope, the vestiges of our sin.
These are ashes that because of where they come from, because of what they are, they can’t help but remind us that we are dust, and to dust we shall return.
You are dust and to dust you shall return.
You are dust and to dust you shall return.
Tonight, as part of worship, everyone was invited to write down what sort of fast they felt called to this Lenten season. They put their prayers in a bowl to be burned, much like the palms that made the ash that would later don their foreheads. Did you know that's what the ashes of "Ash Wednesday" are made of? Last year's palms from Palm Sunday. It's a powerful symbol -- the palms. They were waved in celebration by the sane people who later in the week would yell, "Crucify him." How often our best intentions go awry. Our prayers tonight-- the ones written on the papers -- were fervent ones in hopes that we will keep a fast that matters. Unlike those waving palms long ago. But, even if we cannot, God's mercy is great. God's love for us is unending. God's forgiveness is steadfast. We can rely on that.
I want to leave you tonight with a piece that I shared with those at worship tonight about the connection between the ashes and the palms. I hope you find meaning in it as you begin your Lenten journey.
Palms and Passion Ashes
Originally written for First Congregational Church UCC for Lent 2009
By Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser
Less than a year ago, these palms were supple, green, full of life.
But since then, they’ve lost their luster, turned a dull gray-brown instead.
Dry and brittle.
So easily caught by a spark.
Then, on Palm Sunday, they were waved in celebration, in anticipation, in the midst of loud hosannas and glory, glory hallelujahs.
Now, they crackle in the fire – desolation instead of celebration, despair instead of anticipation, curses and muttering instead of loud hosannas.
These Palm branches, once laid down in front of the king were signs of our best intentions. How often our best intentions dry up before our very eyes.
These palm branches, once signs of our highest hope have become parched in the harsh light of reality.
These palm branches, once full of life. But sin sucks the life right out of you. It’s no wonder it all went up in smoke.
That’s what these ashes are all about – they’re not just any old ashes, scraped up from the dregs of a fire.
These ashes are what remain from our best intentions gone array, the ruins of our hope, the vestiges of our sin.
These are ashes that because of where they come from, because of what they are, they can’t help but remind us that we are dust, and to dust we shall return.
You are dust and to dust you shall return.
You are dust and to dust you shall return.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Sabbath Morning
Today's blogpost is based on the section entitled "Morning from the Chapter "A Sabbath Day" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
What would a Sabbath morning look like for you? This question brought a story to mind. At a conference I attended some years ago, I heard Mike Yacconelli, a youth ministry guru, talk about how he and his wife wake their children. While he tends to go in, get them up and get them dressed, her approach is much different. She wakes them slowly, stoking their hair. As she holds them, she asks them about their dreams. They have conversations there in the stillness of the morning about the night before and the day to come.
One morning, the family was running late. Mike fussed at his wife saying, "Would you quit that nonsense and hurry up?! We have to go." Her response was that, no, she would not quit or hurry. If she didn't do this morning ritual, their children "would not be who they are called to be today."
I love this story. It reminds me, on the days when i seem to rushed to pay much attention to anything other than getting out the door, that I need to slow down, stroke my daughter's hair. I need to hold her close while she sits on my lap and drinks some milk. Together, we need to watch the morning sunlight glisten on the snow. I need to ask her about her dreams. If I don't she won't be who she's called to be today. Entering the day well is important -- too important to be skipped.
Likewise, I need to enter the day well. Every morning, not just on "Sabbath mornings" I begin with prayer. You may imagine a pastor's prayers to be formal recitations. But, not mine. I usually start by saying "Hi God, It's Leah." (Why I feel the need to reintroduce myself to God every morning, I don't know....it's odd, but I do it anyway.) I used to wake up and ask God what God had for me to do today. But, lately, I've been waking up with gratitude. My morning drive prayer usually begs the question of usefulness for the day.
These spiritual practices create Sabbath space every morning for me. What about you? What do your mornings look like? How can you have Sabbath space every morning?
What would a Sabbath morning look like for you? This question brought a story to mind. At a conference I attended some years ago, I heard Mike Yacconelli, a youth ministry guru, talk about how he and his wife wake their children. While he tends to go in, get them up and get them dressed, her approach is much different. She wakes them slowly, stoking their hair. As she holds them, she asks them about their dreams. They have conversations there in the stillness of the morning about the night before and the day to come.
One morning, the family was running late. Mike fussed at his wife saying, "Would you quit that nonsense and hurry up?! We have to go." Her response was that, no, she would not quit or hurry. If she didn't do this morning ritual, their children "would not be who they are called to be today."
I love this story. It reminds me, on the days when i seem to rushed to pay much attention to anything other than getting out the door, that I need to slow down, stroke my daughter's hair. I need to hold her close while she sits on my lap and drinks some milk. Together, we need to watch the morning sunlight glisten on the snow. I need to ask her about her dreams. If I don't she won't be who she's called to be today. Entering the day well is important -- too important to be skipped.
Likewise, I need to enter the day well. Every morning, not just on "Sabbath mornings" I begin with prayer. You may imagine a pastor's prayers to be formal recitations. But, not mine. I usually start by saying "Hi God, It's Leah." (Why I feel the need to reintroduce myself to God every morning, I don't know....it's odd, but I do it anyway.) I used to wake up and ask God what God had for me to do today. But, lately, I've been waking up with gratitude. My morning drive prayer usually begs the question of usefulness for the day.
These spiritual practices create Sabbath space every morning for me. What about you? What do your mornings look like? How can you have Sabbath space every morning?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sabbath evening
Today's blogpost is based on the section entitled "Evening" from the chapter entitled "Sabbath Day" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
The Sabbath evening is more than just a candle lit dinner. It is a time to be together to bless one another. It is sacred space shared with loved ones. Our dinner conversation should be more than talk about the weather. In that sacred space we can talk deeply about what matters and the goodness of God.
Have you ever experienced such a sacred space? I have. My church camp friends and I used to do it all the time. We would play a game called "What I love About You." We would go around the circle sharing what we loved about each person. It was more than just mining for compliments. It was a blessing of one another in profound ways. When I think of what an evening of Sabbath space looks like, this is what emerges as most important. Good food and wine and candle light -- yes, sure, let's have those things too. But, really, it's the gathering of spirits in sacred space to lift one another up and laugh -- that's what's most important here.
Have you ever had a dinner like this? Would you? Could you? Might you invite those closest to you over for such an evening? Could you risk letting those you love know it? Could you risk being that vulnerable? What would happen if you did? How would those you love be blessed by your words? How would you be blessed by sharing them?
The Sabbath evening is more than just a candle lit dinner. It is a time to be together to bless one another. It is sacred space shared with loved ones. Our dinner conversation should be more than talk about the weather. In that sacred space we can talk deeply about what matters and the goodness of God.
Have you ever experienced such a sacred space? I have. My church camp friends and I used to do it all the time. We would play a game called "What I love About You." We would go around the circle sharing what we loved about each person. It was more than just mining for compliments. It was a blessing of one another in profound ways. When I think of what an evening of Sabbath space looks like, this is what emerges as most important. Good food and wine and candle light -- yes, sure, let's have those things too. But, really, it's the gathering of spirits in sacred space to lift one another up and laugh -- that's what's most important here.
Have you ever had a dinner like this? Would you? Could you? Might you invite those closest to you over for such an evening? Could you risk letting those you love know it? Could you risk being that vulnerable? What would happen if you did? How would those you love be blessed by your words? How would you be blessed by sharing them?
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Breaking the trance
Today's blogpost is based on the section entitled "Breaking the Trance" from the chapter "Consecration" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
Today, as I sit and ponder this last section of Muller's offerings to us, I am taken with the titled of this section. It seems as if our old way of life, the way that leaves no room for rest and renewal, has had us in a trance. We have been captivated by perpetual motion, overwork and busyness. But, as I have listen to you talk about this study of Sabbath, it seems as if that trance has begun to lift. At the very least, this study and sermon series have made you aware of your own patterns of rest and work. For some of you, it has prompted a paradigm shift in your life.
So, I wonder, as we near the end, how has the trance been broken for you? Would you share a few words below about how this study and sermon series have changed your life?
Today, as I sit and ponder this last section of Muller's offerings to us, I am taken with the titled of this section. It seems as if our old way of life, the way that leaves no room for rest and renewal, has had us in a trance. We have been captivated by perpetual motion, overwork and busyness. But, as I have listen to you talk about this study of Sabbath, it seems as if that trance has begun to lift. At the very least, this study and sermon series have made you aware of your own patterns of rest and work. For some of you, it has prompted a paradigm shift in your life.
So, I wonder, as we near the end, how has the trance been broken for you? Would you share a few words below about how this study and sermon series have changed your life?
Friday, February 5, 2010
Lessons from a Rental
Today's blog post is based on the section entitled "Ownership" from the chapter "Consecration" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
When we moved to Champbana, we moved into a rental house. It is considerably smaller that our house was in Michigan. That coupled with the fact that we do plan to buy a home here, thus moving yet again, means that about 75% of our stuff is still in moving boxes in the garage and basement. We have less stuff out here than we did in Michigan -- a lot less stuff. And, since this is a rental house, I have not been coming up with lists of home improvement projects for David and I to tackle.
This is what I've learned -- I am so much more rested and relaxed at home here than I was there. There, when I sat down, all I could see were the undone projects. Here, I see a free evening to sit and read or watch tv, hang out and laugh with my family. There, we were forever cleaning and organizing. Here, with less stuff and a smaller space, we get it done so much quicker!
Yes, we own stuff. But, our stuff really owns us. "Stuff management," as I like to call it, is really what owns our time and energy.
How would your life change if you owned less stuff? Think of how much time, energy and money goes into "stuff management" in your life. How would your life be different if you could reduce your "stuff management". What would you have time to do? What what you have energy to tackle? What could you do with that extra money?
When we moved to Champbana, we moved into a rental house. It is considerably smaller that our house was in Michigan. That coupled with the fact that we do plan to buy a home here, thus moving yet again, means that about 75% of our stuff is still in moving boxes in the garage and basement. We have less stuff out here than we did in Michigan -- a lot less stuff. And, since this is a rental house, I have not been coming up with lists of home improvement projects for David and I to tackle.
This is what I've learned -- I am so much more rested and relaxed at home here than I was there. There, when I sat down, all I could see were the undone projects. Here, I see a free evening to sit and read or watch tv, hang out and laugh with my family. There, we were forever cleaning and organizing. Here, with less stuff and a smaller space, we get it done so much quicker!
Yes, we own stuff. But, our stuff really owns us. "Stuff management," as I like to call it, is really what owns our time and energy.
How would your life change if you owned less stuff? Think of how much time, energy and money goes into "stuff management" in your life. How would your life be different if you could reduce your "stuff management". What would you have time to do? What what you have energy to tackle? What could you do with that extra money?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
It's Enough
Today's blog post is based on the section entitled "The Way of Enough" from the chapter on "Consecration" from Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
God was so smart in designing manna for the people in exile. When you wake up in the morning, there it is. You could go out, gather it up and eat as much as you needed for the day. But, you couldn't, for instance, stock pile it over night, then gather up all the next day's manna, corner the market and set up shop. This is where God is smart -- manna spoils over night. You can't hoard it. You can't save it. Get what you need, have your fill, be satisfied -- there's enough. And, there will be enough tomorrow too.
We are not the people of the exodus. We aren't a wandering people, hunting and gathering what we need. We are settled. We have enough. Especially here, in the land of the "super store", we have enough. Even the poorest among us in this country have more than the rest of the poor in the world on average. But, we aren't living as if that is so.
We tend to hoard and stock pile and share in very stingy ways. If only we lived as if our resources were manna from heaven -- taking only what we needed for today so that everyone would have enough. Power would shift. Greed would become a non option in our world.
How might you live as if your resources are like manna from heaven? Would you share more of them? With others? With yourself? How would your life change if you knew you had enough?
God was so smart in designing manna for the people in exile. When you wake up in the morning, there it is. You could go out, gather it up and eat as much as you needed for the day. But, you couldn't, for instance, stock pile it over night, then gather up all the next day's manna, corner the market and set up shop. This is where God is smart -- manna spoils over night. You can't hoard it. You can't save it. Get what you need, have your fill, be satisfied -- there's enough. And, there will be enough tomorrow too.
We are not the people of the exodus. We aren't a wandering people, hunting and gathering what we need. We are settled. We have enough. Especially here, in the land of the "super store", we have enough. Even the poorest among us in this country have more than the rest of the poor in the world on average. But, we aren't living as if that is so.
We tend to hoard and stock pile and share in very stingy ways. If only we lived as if our resources were manna from heaven -- taking only what we needed for today so that everyone would have enough. Power would shift. Greed would become a non option in our world.
How might you live as if your resources are like manna from heaven? Would you share more of them? With others? With yourself? How would your life change if you knew you had enough?
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Living Intentionally
Today's blog post is a reflection on the section entitled "Mindfulness and Holiness" from the chapter "Consecration" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
Many years ago, I made conscious decision. I would stop eating in my car. No more drive-thrus or fast food in general. If I were to eat it, I would have to eat at the restaurant or take it home, sit down and eat. Making that simple change in my eating habits changed my relationship to food. It made eating sacred.
Seeing the sacred in life is really what mindfulness, living intentionally as I call it, is really about. When Jesus broke bread with the disciples, he made the ordinary extraordinary. When we are able to stop and take in a moment for all it's worth, give thanks, and proceed with blessing, we too are making ordinary moments extraordinary ones. This is Sabbath space in our lives.
Stop rushing. Be still.
Be mindful of your surroundings. Be intentional about your actions.
Smell the aroma of your food. Give thanks for the hands that grew it.
Look at the one you love. Trace the outline of their face in your heart.
When you brush your child's hair from their face, whisper a blessing.
Feel the wind kiss your cheek and know it's the very breath of God.
Stop rushing. Be still.
Be mindful of your surroundings, intentional about your actions and consecrate your very ordinarily extraordinary life.
Many years ago, I made conscious decision. I would stop eating in my car. No more drive-thrus or fast food in general. If I were to eat it, I would have to eat at the restaurant or take it home, sit down and eat. Making that simple change in my eating habits changed my relationship to food. It made eating sacred.
Seeing the sacred in life is really what mindfulness, living intentionally as I call it, is really about. When Jesus broke bread with the disciples, he made the ordinary extraordinary. When we are able to stop and take in a moment for all it's worth, give thanks, and proceed with blessing, we too are making ordinary moments extraordinary ones. This is Sabbath space in our lives.
Stop rushing. Be still.
Be mindful of your surroundings. Be intentional about your actions.
Smell the aroma of your food. Give thanks for the hands that grew it.
Look at the one you love. Trace the outline of their face in your heart.
When you brush your child's hair from their face, whisper a blessing.
Feel the wind kiss your cheek and know it's the very breath of God.
Stop rushing. Be still.
Be mindful of your surroundings, intentional about your actions and consecrate your very ordinarily extraordinary life.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Shopping Will Not Save Us, Part 3
Today's blog post is based on the section entitled "Selling Unhappiness" from the chapter Happiness in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
If you were here Sunday, then you heard of my on-again-off-again love affair with Target and Target's commercials. I shop at Target because of how it makes me feel -- I feel far cooler than I actually am, like I am one of the shiny, happy, trendy, skinny women in their commercials. But that's the point of advertising, isn't it? Otherwise, why would we spend so much money on things that are worth far less than we are paying? Because we are trying to buy the feeling associated with the product.
But, Sabbath time invites us to do something different. Sabbath invites us to be happy -- be with the people you love, do the thing that make you happy, bask in blessing. Be happy. Sabbath time invites us to love the life we have instead of the life we lust after in commercials and in the pages of magazines. As Muller suggests, Sabbath time invites us to stop lusting after the shiny, happy people in the commercials and BE those people.
Be the one making something to eat that's so lovely it could be in a magazine. Be the family curled up on the couch together laughing. Be the couple holding hands walking down a tree lined path. Be the person stretching into a yoga pose. Be happy.
If you were here Sunday, then you heard of my on-again-off-again love affair with Target and Target's commercials. I shop at Target because of how it makes me feel -- I feel far cooler than I actually am, like I am one of the shiny, happy, trendy, skinny women in their commercials. But that's the point of advertising, isn't it? Otherwise, why would we spend so much money on things that are worth far less than we are paying? Because we are trying to buy the feeling associated with the product.
But, Sabbath time invites us to do something different. Sabbath invites us to be happy -- be with the people you love, do the thing that make you happy, bask in blessing. Be happy. Sabbath time invites us to love the life we have instead of the life we lust after in commercials and in the pages of magazines. As Muller suggests, Sabbath time invites us to stop lusting after the shiny, happy people in the commercials and BE those people.
Be the one making something to eat that's so lovely it could be in a magazine. Be the family curled up on the couch together laughing. Be the couple holding hands walking down a tree lined path. Be the person stretching into a yoga pose. Be happy.
"I have no idea where I am going"
Today's blog post is a reflection on the section entitled "Beginner's Mind" from the chapter on Wisdom in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
How often have I uttered the Thomas Merton prayer which begins, "My dear God, I have no idea where I am going...." Often, I assure you. But, that wasn't always the case.
I discovered this prayer in college. It was printed on a little piece of paper, propped up against some books in the chaplain's office. The prayer, eventually, was a revelation to me. But, at first, it was the kind of thing that made me scrunch up my forehead.
What do you mean 'I have NO IDEA where I am going' ???
Whatever....(eye roll)...I know where I am going! I've got plans. I've got dreams. I've got goals. I know where I am going!
Yeah, well...we may think we know where we're going. We may even have a plan to get there. And don't get me wrong: I'm not knocking planning or goal-setting. At the same time, I think Merton got it right. Even though we may think we know where we're headed, we can't ever really know for sure. Merton prayer invites us to ease our grip, surrender to the flow of the Spirit, and trust God, instead of only relying on our selves.
Life's like that -- it throws us curve balls all the time. If we are so set on our way, our plans, and our goals, then when life fails to cooperate, we will cause ourselves undue grief. Our inability to be flexible may make the situation worse than it ever should have been. Giving ourselves over to the guiding grace of God is good Sabbath practice. If we trust, we will find, there was providence before we ever knew there would be need. I have found this to be true -- but it took practice!
Merton's prayer, in its entiretiy is printed below. Print it out, post it somewhere in your house. Pray it when you need to be reminded that you aren't entirely in charge....and that's ok.
Dear God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and
the fact that I think that I am following Your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe this: I believe that the desire
to please You does in fact please You.
I hope I have that desire in everything I do.
I hope I never persist in anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it at the time.
Therefore I will trust You always,
for though I may be lost, and in the shadow of death,
I will not be afraid, because I know
You will never leave me to face my troubles all alone.
-- Thomas Merton
How often have I uttered the Thomas Merton prayer which begins, "My dear God, I have no idea where I am going...." Often, I assure you. But, that wasn't always the case.
I discovered this prayer in college. It was printed on a little piece of paper, propped up against some books in the chaplain's office. The prayer, eventually, was a revelation to me. But, at first, it was the kind of thing that made me scrunch up my forehead.
What do you mean 'I have NO IDEA where I am going' ???
Whatever....(eye roll)...I know where I am going! I've got plans. I've got dreams. I've got goals. I know where I am going!
Yeah, well...we may think we know where we're going. We may even have a plan to get there. And don't get me wrong: I'm not knocking planning or goal-setting. At the same time, I think Merton got it right. Even though we may think we know where we're headed, we can't ever really know for sure. Merton prayer invites us to ease our grip, surrender to the flow of the Spirit, and trust God, instead of only relying on our selves.
Life's like that -- it throws us curve balls all the time. If we are so set on our way, our plans, and our goals, then when life fails to cooperate, we will cause ourselves undue grief. Our inability to be flexible may make the situation worse than it ever should have been. Giving ourselves over to the guiding grace of God is good Sabbath practice. If we trust, we will find, there was providence before we ever knew there would be need. I have found this to be true -- but it took practice!
Merton's prayer, in its entiretiy is printed below. Print it out, post it somewhere in your house. Pray it when you need to be reminded that you aren't entirely in charge....and that's ok.
Dear God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and
the fact that I think that I am following Your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe this: I believe that the desire
to please You does in fact please You.
I hope I have that desire in everything I do.
I hope I never persist in anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it at the time.
Therefore I will trust You always,
for though I may be lost, and in the shadow of death,
I will not be afraid, because I know
You will never leave me to face my troubles all alone.
-- Thomas Merton
The Blog is Back
Hi folks.
Sorry for the break in blog posts. I will be posting again beginning today. I will also try to post comments on the chapter I missed.
Blessings,
Leah
Sorry for the break in blog posts. I will be posting again beginning today. I will also try to post comments on the chapter I missed.
Blessings,
Leah
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The flu bug has bitten!
The flu bug bit me earlier this week. Eeew. It was not pretty. I was not up for blogging and am trying to play catch up in the office. Look for new blog posts soon. In the meantime, blessings to you!
-- Leah
-- Leah
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Shopping will Not Save Us, Part 2
Today's blog post is a reflection on the section entitled "The Gospel of Consumption" from the chapter on "Happiness" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
So...when I wrote the blog post called "Shopping Will Not Save Us" a few days ago, I had no idea that there would be a "Part 2". But, here is it all the same.
I was so taken be this statement from today's reading: Americans now consume twice as many goods and services, per person, than we did in 1945. "Oh, my God," I want to utter under my breath, both as a cry of disbelief and as a cry for help. What are we doing? Why is this statement true?
I am very bothered by our consumerism, as you may have already guessed by reading other blog posts. I am bothered on a personal, communal, spiritual and environmental level. Our Gospel of Consumption will not save us. It is not good news. In fact, it is very bad news. It is not sustainable. Every time I walk through a store, all I can think is, "Some day...this will all be in a land fill." And, then, when I turn a something over to see where it was made, usually, my response is, "What impoverished person had to work for pennies to make this piece of plastic crap for me to buy?" Really. Truth be told, that's how I feel when I go shopping.
So, I keep wondering how we can turn this tide of consumerism around in our culture. How can we turn away from shopping as gospel and turn towards actual good news, life changing good news? Ideas?
So...when I wrote the blog post called "Shopping Will Not Save Us" a few days ago, I had no idea that there would be a "Part 2". But, here is it all the same.
I was so taken be this statement from today's reading: Americans now consume twice as many goods and services, per person, than we did in 1945. "Oh, my God," I want to utter under my breath, both as a cry of disbelief and as a cry for help. What are we doing? Why is this statement true?
I am very bothered by our consumerism, as you may have already guessed by reading other blog posts. I am bothered on a personal, communal, spiritual and environmental level. Our Gospel of Consumption will not save us. It is not good news. In fact, it is very bad news. It is not sustainable. Every time I walk through a store, all I can think is, "Some day...this will all be in a land fill." And, then, when I turn a something over to see where it was made, usually, my response is, "What impoverished person had to work for pennies to make this piece of plastic crap for me to buy?" Really. Truth be told, that's how I feel when I go shopping.
So, I keep wondering how we can turn this tide of consumerism around in our culture. How can we turn away from shopping as gospel and turn towards actual good news, life changing good news? Ideas?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Need VS. Want
Today's blog post is based on the section "The Pursuit of Happiness" from the chapter on "Happiness" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
What do you really need?
Think about it for a moment. What do you really, truly need?
And what is it that you think you need because you want it so badly you don't know how you'd live your life without it?
Those are the kinds of questions I started asking myself when I realized I wasn't happy in life. It is hard, in our consumer driven culture, to focus on what we really need versus what we really want. Our lives circle so much so around our material desires that we get lost there. The Buddhists call this material desire the "hungry ghost" and it must be satisfied. It must be, unless, we learn how to tame it.
How are you attempting to live intentionally through this study of Sabbath? What new ways of living have you adopted so that you can be at peace and dwell in joy? What Sabbath practice ought you to adopt so that Rabbi Heschel's words ring true in your heart: Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
What do you really need?
Think about it for a moment. What do you really, truly need?
And what is it that you think you need because you want it so badly you don't know how you'd live your life without it?
Those are the kinds of questions I started asking myself when I realized I wasn't happy in life. It is hard, in our consumer driven culture, to focus on what we really need versus what we really want. Our lives circle so much so around our material desires that we get lost there. The Buddhists call this material desire the "hungry ghost" and it must be satisfied. It must be, unless, we learn how to tame it.
How are you attempting to live intentionally through this study of Sabbath? What new ways of living have you adopted so that you can be at peace and dwell in joy? What Sabbath practice ought you to adopt so that Rabbi Heschel's words ring true in your heart: Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Honoring Worth
Today's blog post is based on the section "A Deeper Wealth" from the chapter on "Time" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
"Be sure they pay you what you're worth." Have you ever received that advice. I have. And the truth is, that's a statement of privilege. Only a minute percentage of people can make such demands. And even then, even when people are paid "what they're worth" they aren't really. Even the wealthiest person in the world is worth more that their net worth.
If we had to simply do the math, and determine each person's worth according to their pay check, the truth would be this -- most people in this world are not paid what they're worth in the least. Moreover, we've tended to organize our pay scales in a bizarre fashion, paying entertainers, athletes, and CEOs exponentially more than those who teach our children, feed the hungry, care for the land and tend to the infirm.
Regardless of how much money you make, though, the truth is this: we are worth far more than our pay stubs reflect. We must remind each other of this because, in our culture, where success, self-worth and self-esteem often have a direct tie to our status in the working world, we often end up feeling less than. Maybe this is the greatest gift Sabbath gives us. Muller states, "during Sabbath, we specifically honor those precious things -- courage, creativity, wisdom, peace, kindness and delight." It is "only in the soil of time" that these things grow. Only when we honor Sabbath time are we able to see richness all around us.
"Be sure they pay you what you're worth." Have you ever received that advice. I have. And the truth is, that's a statement of privilege. Only a minute percentage of people can make such demands. And even then, even when people are paid "what they're worth" they aren't really. Even the wealthiest person in the world is worth more that their net worth.
If we had to simply do the math, and determine each person's worth according to their pay check, the truth would be this -- most people in this world are not paid what they're worth in the least. Moreover, we've tended to organize our pay scales in a bizarre fashion, paying entertainers, athletes, and CEOs exponentially more than those who teach our children, feed the hungry, care for the land and tend to the infirm.
Regardless of how much money you make, though, the truth is this: we are worth far more than our pay stubs reflect. We must remind each other of this because, in our culture, where success, self-worth and self-esteem often have a direct tie to our status in the working world, we often end up feeling less than. Maybe this is the greatest gift Sabbath gives us. Muller states, "during Sabbath, we specifically honor those precious things -- courage, creativity, wisdom, peace, kindness and delight." It is "only in the soil of time" that these things grow. Only when we honor Sabbath time are we able to see richness all around us.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Beyond Measure
Today's blog post is based on the section entitled "Why Time is Not Money" from the chapter on "Time" in Wayne Muller's "Sabbath".
Did you ever see the movie "Say Anything"? It's the last of the great 80s teen flicks. In it, John Cusack's character, Lloyd Dobbler, gives a memorable dinner table speech in response to a question posed to him by his love interest's father. Lloyd's response goes like this:
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
"Basically," Lloyd continues, "I just want to take care of your daughter, sir."
Lloyd Dobbler's admission would fit well into this section of Muller's book. Here, we are reminded that our modern tools for measuring worth do not take such ventures into account. Caring for those we love and tending to those in our communities, unless it is a job we are paid to do, has no way of being accounted when it comes to measuring a nation's riches. But, how poor would we be without our common care for one another. After all, there are a million ways to be rich; having money is just one of them.
How do we measure our kindness? Only in what our kindness produces -- which is love.
Did you ever see the movie "Say Anything"? It's the last of the great 80s teen flicks. In it, John Cusack's character, Lloyd Dobbler, gives a memorable dinner table speech in response to a question posed to him by his love interest's father. Lloyd's response goes like this:
"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
"Basically," Lloyd continues, "I just want to take care of your daughter, sir."
Lloyd Dobbler's admission would fit well into this section of Muller's book. Here, we are reminded that our modern tools for measuring worth do not take such ventures into account. Caring for those we love and tending to those in our communities, unless it is a job we are paid to do, has no way of being accounted when it comes to measuring a nation's riches. But, how poor would we be without our common care for one another. After all, there are a million ways to be rich; having money is just one of them.
How do we measure our kindness? Only in what our kindness produces -- which is love.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
I need the Time
Today's blog post is based on the section entitled "Seize the Day" from the chapter on "Time" in Wayne Muller's Book "Sabbath".
I lived in Battle Creek Michigan for the past 5 years -- birthplace of the corn flake and home to Kellogg's. I was fascinated by Muller's explanation of Kellogg's six-hour work day. Believe me, there's no remnant of that left in Battle Creek today.
What was most fascinating to me was the quote from plant workers in the mid-forties. When given the chance to return to a shorter work week, as opposed to working a standard 40 hour week, many of the workers replied, "I need the extra money, but I need the time at home more." Isn't that the truth!
Considering our current economy, many folks may find themselves in the category of needing more money, but when given the choice between more money or more time, I wonder which one people would really choose.
In my experience, when I've had less money, I've found ways to make ends meet. And, through a little creativity and ingenuity, I've always found a way. But, that's not the case when I've not had enough time. It seems like there's no good way to make ends meet when there's a lack of time. When I am pressed for time, my creativity gets zapped. I become hurried and careless. It seems that I can find ways to cut corners and still live a full and robust life when I don't have enough cash. But, when I don't have enough time, my like seems thin -- how strange since it is so full!
Having time to sit and be with the people I love is important. it is something money cannot buy. What about you? What has been your experience with time and money? Would you agree with the Kellogg's workers that having more money would be nice, but you need the time more?
I lived in Battle Creek Michigan for the past 5 years -- birthplace of the corn flake and home to Kellogg's. I was fascinated by Muller's explanation of Kellogg's six-hour work day. Believe me, there's no remnant of that left in Battle Creek today.
What was most fascinating to me was the quote from plant workers in the mid-forties. When given the chance to return to a shorter work week, as opposed to working a standard 40 hour week, many of the workers replied, "I need the extra money, but I need the time at home more." Isn't that the truth!
Considering our current economy, many folks may find themselves in the category of needing more money, but when given the choice between more money or more time, I wonder which one people would really choose.
In my experience, when I've had less money, I've found ways to make ends meet. And, through a little creativity and ingenuity, I've always found a way. But, that's not the case when I've not had enough time. It seems like there's no good way to make ends meet when there's a lack of time. When I am pressed for time, my creativity gets zapped. I become hurried and careless. It seems that I can find ways to cut corners and still live a full and robust life when I don't have enough cash. But, when I don't have enough time, my like seems thin -- how strange since it is so full!
Having time to sit and be with the people I love is important. it is something money cannot buy. What about you? What has been your experience with time and money? Would you agree with the Kellogg's workers that having more money would be nice, but you need the time more?
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sermon posted: There's a Rhythm to It
Pastor Leah's sermon from Sunday, January 17, 2010 on rhythm entitled "There's a Rhythm to It" (part of the Remember the Sabbath series) is now on our Community U.C.C. YouTube channel. Unfortunately, there was a problem and the sound quality is poor (there is a buzzing sound).
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/user/communityucc#p/a/u/0/J4gBxgMV_Pk
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/user/communityucc#p/a/u/1/7NccRFpLwRE
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/user/communityucc#p/a/u/0/J4gBxgMV_Pk
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/user/communityucc#p/a/u/1/7NccRFpLwRE
Shopping will not save us
Today's blog is based on the section entitled "A Life Well Lived" from the chapter on "Time" in Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
After 9/11, I remember President Bush telling America that the best thing we could do was to go shopping.
Really?
Really.
Of course, I understand that after an attack which brought one of the bright and shining symbols of our free-market economy tumbling to the ground in a pile of twisted rubble, one might fear that our actual economy would follow suit, and therefore shopping was a perfectly reasonable response to such a tragedy.
Really.
Really?
Well, one might contend that our actual economy has followed suit. Sending Americans out to the mall on 9/12 didn't save the economy. And, shopping will not save us in the way we fool ourselves into thinking it will.
Really.
We will not become those people we see in commercials. Having more things, or better things won't make us more successful.
Really.
So, what';s your relationship to shopping? Has it become your main leisure activity? How much more time would you have if you didn't "go shopping" as a leisure activity?
After 9/11, I remember President Bush telling America that the best thing we could do was to go shopping.
Really?
Really.
Of course, I understand that after an attack which brought one of the bright and shining symbols of our free-market economy tumbling to the ground in a pile of twisted rubble, one might fear that our actual economy would follow suit, and therefore shopping was a perfectly reasonable response to such a tragedy.
Really.
Really?
Well, one might contend that our actual economy has followed suit. Sending Americans out to the mall on 9/12 didn't save the economy. And, shopping will not save us in the way we fool ourselves into thinking it will.
Really.
We will not become those people we see in commercials. Having more things, or better things won't make us more successful.
Really.
So, what';s your relationship to shopping? Has it become your main leisure activity? How much more time would you have if you didn't "go shopping" as a leisure activity?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Ritualize, Repeat
This blog post is based on the section "The Book of Hours" section of "Rhythm" from Wayne Muller's book "Sabbath".
As Protestants, we're pretty bad at ritual. My inner Catholic longs for incense and kneeling benches, lighting candles and liturgy I know by heart.
As Protestants, we don't know how to ritualize things. I think we've suffered because of it. Ritual is important. When we have rites of passage ritualized it helps us mark time and our children to grow. When we attached sacred meaning to common objects, we suddenly have an ability to see the Holy everywhere. When we don't ritualize our faith lives, only our secular tendencies get ritualized. And that's fine, but it's probably not enough to feed our souls.
We're pretty good at ritual when it comes to the big high Holy days, like Christmas and Easter. But, beyond that....well, there's not much. I wonder what would happen if we infused our faith lives with more ritual, more opportunities to create sacred traditions.
Do you have thoughts on this? About sacred traditions? About rites of passage?
As Protestants, we're pretty bad at ritual. My inner Catholic longs for incense and kneeling benches, lighting candles and liturgy I know by heart.
As Protestants, we don't know how to ritualize things. I think we've suffered because of it. Ritual is important. When we have rites of passage ritualized it helps us mark time and our children to grow. When we attached sacred meaning to common objects, we suddenly have an ability to see the Holy everywhere. When we don't ritualize our faith lives, only our secular tendencies get ritualized. And that's fine, but it's probably not enough to feed our souls.
We're pretty good at ritual when it comes to the big high Holy days, like Christmas and Easter. But, beyond that....well, there's not much. I wonder what would happen if we infused our faith lives with more ritual, more opportunities to create sacred traditions.
Do you have thoughts on this? About sacred traditions? About rites of passage?
Friday, January 15, 2010
Just "Let it Be" is hard to do!
Today's reflection is based on the section entitled "Let it Be" from the chapter on "Rhythm" from Wayne Muller's book on "Sabbath".
Every day, I make a list of things that need to be done at work. As I go through the day and finish things, I cross themoff, which feels really good by the way. I love crossing things off my list. At the end of the day, I look at what is left on the list, if anything, and move it to the next day's list. Sometimes, though, I stick around and get it done, just so it's done.
Yesterday, I had a long list of things that didn't get done. Some things, like this blog, really needed to be done for today. Normally, I would have stuck around to do it becasue it's important. But, it was date night. I had this made these plans with my husband. But the blog! I have to do the blog! But it's date night! But the blog! But it's date night! Aaah!
And, then, Muller's words came floating back into my brain, "If we only stop when we are finished with all our work, we will never stop -- because our work is never completely done." Muller's right. The work will never be done. There will always be more work to do. There will always be another thing on the to do list. And that's why Sabbath doesn't wait for our work to get done.
Sabbath comes whether we are ready for it to come or not. When we have committed ourselves to holding Sabbath space sacred, when it arrives we welcome it. Whatever work must be done, it will wait. Whatever is left undone, it will still be undone tomorrow. And you can do it. Tomorrow.
And, so, all of this is to day that the reason you weren't able to read this early this morning as usual is because I was taking Muller's wisdom to heart. When Sabbath time arrived, I took it. And the work? I let it be.
Every day, I make a list of things that need to be done at work. As I go through the day and finish things, I cross themoff, which feels really good by the way. I love crossing things off my list. At the end of the day, I look at what is left on the list, if anything, and move it to the next day's list. Sometimes, though, I stick around and get it done, just so it's done.
Yesterday, I had a long list of things that didn't get done. Some things, like this blog, really needed to be done for today. Normally, I would have stuck around to do it becasue it's important. But, it was date night. I had this made these plans with my husband. But the blog! I have to do the blog! But it's date night! But the blog! But it's date night! Aaah!
And, then, Muller's words came floating back into my brain, "If we only stop when we are finished with all our work, we will never stop -- because our work is never completely done." Muller's right. The work will never be done. There will always be more work to do. There will always be another thing on the to do list. And that's why Sabbath doesn't wait for our work to get done.
Sabbath comes whether we are ready for it to come or not. When we have committed ourselves to holding Sabbath space sacred, when it arrives we welcome it. Whatever work must be done, it will wait. Whatever is left undone, it will still be undone tomorrow. And you can do it. Tomorrow.
And, so, all of this is to day that the reason you weren't able to read this early this morning as usual is because I was taking Muller's wisdom to heart. When Sabbath time arrived, I took it. And the work? I let it be.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Today is Sacred
Today's blog is based on the section entitled "Hurtling Toward the Eschaton" from the chapter on "Rhythm" in Wayne Muller's "Sabbath".
We progressive Christians may have a hard time when people start talking in eschatalogical terms. Talking about "end times" and when "Jesus is coming back" doesn't easily fit into our theology. Since it doesn't fit neatly and nicely into our theology, we tend to just avoid it all together. What Muller does is ingenious. He doesn't avoid it; he transforms it. Muller makes an excellent point in this chapter about the eschaton and our relationship to our post-modern version of it.
We do live as if progress is the new second coming. It seems as if many of us live in anticipation of this mythic moment in life when we will finally have enough time and more than enough money so that we can finally be happy. Problem is, if we are always living in anticipation of that moment, we never find the inherent joy in this moment.
Instead of waiting until those mythic moments arrive to be happy, why not be happy now?
Instead of waiting until those mythic moments to arrive to enjoy ourselves and those why love, why not enjoy them now?
Instead of waiting, do it now. Love the life you have, not the life you wished you had. Truth is -- this life is pretty good, even with all it's messiness.
I am curious, what did you think of Muller's take on eschaton?
We progressive Christians may have a hard time when people start talking in eschatalogical terms. Talking about "end times" and when "Jesus is coming back" doesn't easily fit into our theology. Since it doesn't fit neatly and nicely into our theology, we tend to just avoid it all together. What Muller does is ingenious. He doesn't avoid it; he transforms it. Muller makes an excellent point in this chapter about the eschaton and our relationship to our post-modern version of it.
We do live as if progress is the new second coming. It seems as if many of us live in anticipation of this mythic moment in life when we will finally have enough time and more than enough money so that we can finally be happy. Problem is, if we are always living in anticipation of that moment, we never find the inherent joy in this moment.
Instead of waiting until those mythic moments arrive to be happy, why not be happy now?
Instead of waiting until those mythic moments to arrive to enjoy ourselves and those why love, why not enjoy them now?
Instead of waiting, do it now. Love the life you have, not the life you wished you had. Truth is -- this life is pretty good, even with all it's messiness.
I am curious, what did you think of Muller's take on eschaton?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
It's only natural
Today's blog is based on the section entitled "Inner Music" from the chapter "Rhythm" in Wayne Muller's book Sabbath.
I am AMAZED at what I read in today's bit from the Sabbath book. I love think about all the animals, fish and flowers living in tempo with the rhythm inherent in creation....the world attuned to the rising of the sun and the circling of the moon, light and dark...the pulse of the ocean, the hum of the earth. How cool is that?
It is cool and, unfortunately, something we completely ignore. We have cut ourselves off so much from the natural world that we live lives unaware of nature's rhythms. Likewise, most of us have learned how to ignore our bodies. Especially in western cultures, we value such a mind/body dichotomy that we miss creation's rhythm beating in our own selves.
We have to stop ignoring our bodies. If we pay attention, our bodies will tell us when to rest and when to rise. Our bodies will tell us when to move and when to be still. Our bodies will tell us when to find nourishment and when to close the refrigerator door already! If we pay attention to those deep circadian rhythms at work in our bodies, we'll find our way...it's only natural.
I am AMAZED at what I read in today's bit from the Sabbath book. I love think about all the animals, fish and flowers living in tempo with the rhythm inherent in creation....the world attuned to the rising of the sun and the circling of the moon, light and dark...the pulse of the ocean, the hum of the earth. How cool is that?
It is cool and, unfortunately, something we completely ignore. We have cut ourselves off so much from the natural world that we live lives unaware of nature's rhythms. Likewise, most of us have learned how to ignore our bodies. Especially in western cultures, we value such a mind/body dichotomy that we miss creation's rhythm beating in our own selves.
We have to stop ignoring our bodies. If we pay attention, our bodies will tell us when to rest and when to rise. Our bodies will tell us when to move and when to be still. Our bodies will tell us when to find nourishment and when to close the refrigerator door already! If we pay attention to those deep circadian rhythms at work in our bodies, we'll find our way...it's only natural.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What season are you in?
Today's blog is a reflection on "The Rhythm of Creation" section of the chapter on "Rhythm" in Wayne Muller's Book Sabbath.
I remember the first time a friend no longer wanted to be my friend. I was in elementary school. It felt like my world was ending. I remember some adult saying to me that "some friendships have very short seasons". I was 7. I really had no idea what she was saying. But, the words stuck with me and the more I experienced the various seasons we experience in life, the more I understood.
By seasons of life, I don't mean spring, summer, fall and winter. Rather, I mean that just as there are seasons for planting, growth, harvest and dormancy in the natural world, those seasons also exist in our own lives and relationships. There is a rhythm to life with highs and lows, bright spots and shadow sides. It is neither good nor bad -- it simply is.
Apparently, when I was 7, that little girl and I had harvested about all we could from our friendship. It was time to let it lie and turn the energy invested in our friendship towards something else. That was such a hard lesson to learn -- it is still a hard lesson to remember when I feel the winds shift in life and attention turns from one thing and towards another. I have to remind myself that seasons aren't meant to last always. This new season will bring possibility, just as the last one did.
Being here, with you, at CUCC, personally, I am in a season of newness and growth. At the same time, with David at home with our daughter, our lives have slowed down dramatically. So, this season is also one of nurturing and nesting. It is a season of investing in a new community and letting go of the former one. There is a rhythm to life and that rhythm is good.
So, I wonder, what season of life do you find yourself in and where is goodness to be found there?
I remember the first time a friend no longer wanted to be my friend. I was in elementary school. It felt like my world was ending. I remember some adult saying to me that "some friendships have very short seasons". I was 7. I really had no idea what she was saying. But, the words stuck with me and the more I experienced the various seasons we experience in life, the more I understood.
By seasons of life, I don't mean spring, summer, fall and winter. Rather, I mean that just as there are seasons for planting, growth, harvest and dormancy in the natural world, those seasons also exist in our own lives and relationships. There is a rhythm to life with highs and lows, bright spots and shadow sides. It is neither good nor bad -- it simply is.
Apparently, when I was 7, that little girl and I had harvested about all we could from our friendship. It was time to let it lie and turn the energy invested in our friendship towards something else. That was such a hard lesson to learn -- it is still a hard lesson to remember when I feel the winds shift in life and attention turns from one thing and towards another. I have to remind myself that seasons aren't meant to last always. This new season will bring possibility, just as the last one did.
Being here, with you, at CUCC, personally, I am in a season of newness and growth. At the same time, with David at home with our daughter, our lives have slowed down dramatically. So, this season is also one of nurturing and nesting. It is a season of investing in a new community and letting go of the former one. There is a rhythm to life and that rhythm is good.
So, I wonder, what season of life do you find yourself in and where is goodness to be found there?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sermon on rest posted
Pastor Leah's sermon from Sunday, January 10, 2010 on rest (part of the Remember the Sabbath series) is now on our Community U.C.C. YouTube channel. Since it was slightly over ten minutes, it is available in two parts:
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/communityucc#p/a/u/1/nMomdqsDpQA
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/communityucc#p/a/u/0/92s65dqabBc
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/communityucc#p/a/u/1/nMomdqsDpQA
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/communityucc#p/a/u/0/92s65dqabBc
What city kids don't know
Today's post is based on the section entitled "Dormancy" from the chapter on "Rest".
I grew up in the middle of corn fields. There it was not uncommon in my hometown to find yourself at a downtown stop light behind a turkey truck. Farming was a major component of life where I grew up. And everybody had a garden. My grandparents had an absolutely huge garden. They grew everything from tomatoes to turnips, and rhubarb to raspberries.
There's something you know when your life is tied so closely to the land. It's something that city kids don't know: dormancy is necessary. It's vital and important. It's part of the cycle of life. When you grow up in time to the rhythm of creation, you know this early on.
Jeff was from the Indianapolis suburbs. He had always lived surrounded by concrete and buildings. Yes, he had a yard and trees and such, but you could take 15 steps from his front porch and spit on the freeway. Jeff was a city kid. One night at camp, around dusk, he and I took a walk. All of a sudden, he stopped. Wide-eyed, he looked at the flowers in the field in front of us which were starting to close. He asked in a sort of panicky way, "What's wrong with them? Are they dieing?" He had never seen flowers close up at night.
When we don't see rest reflected in nature, then it's no wonder we think it unnatural. It is, however, on of the most natural things we can do.
What other Sabbath lessons have you learned from the natural world?
I grew up in the middle of corn fields. There it was not uncommon in my hometown to find yourself at a downtown stop light behind a turkey truck. Farming was a major component of life where I grew up. And everybody had a garden. My grandparents had an absolutely huge garden. They grew everything from tomatoes to turnips, and rhubarb to raspberries.
There's something you know when your life is tied so closely to the land. It's something that city kids don't know: dormancy is necessary. It's vital and important. It's part of the cycle of life. When you grow up in time to the rhythm of creation, you know this early on.
Jeff was from the Indianapolis suburbs. He had always lived surrounded by concrete and buildings. Yes, he had a yard and trees and such, but you could take 15 steps from his front porch and spit on the freeway. Jeff was a city kid. One night at camp, around dusk, he and I took a walk. All of a sudden, he stopped. Wide-eyed, he looked at the flowers in the field in front of us which were starting to close. He asked in a sort of panicky way, "What's wrong with them? Are they dieing?" He had never seen flowers close up at night.
When we don't see rest reflected in nature, then it's no wonder we think it unnatural. It is, however, on of the most natural things we can do.
What other Sabbath lessons have you learned from the natural world?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The hole in your life
Our reading for today is from the chapter on Rest entitled, "Fear of Rest".
There's a piece in today's reading that really snagged me today. Muller says, " When we stop even for a moment, we can feel the burning, empty hole in our belly. So we keep moving..."
Ah, yes, the hole in your soul -- the one Pascal and Augustine wrote about...the one folk singers and rock stars alike have sung about...you know the hole in your soul. Now, who knows where the soul is located for sure. For those of you who tend to go with your gut, that above quotation makes sense. If you are a heart or head person, it may not resonate with you as much. But, I would say, if you are a heart or head person, just substitute the word that applies to you. The metaphor for this emptiness we all feel in life works either way.
There's a piece in today's reading that really snagged me today. Muller says, " When we stop even for a moment, we can feel the burning, empty hole in our belly. So we keep moving..."
Ah, yes, the hole in your soul -- the one Pascal and Augustine wrote about...the one folk singers and rock stars alike have sung about...you know the hole in your soul. Now, who knows where the soul is located for sure. For those of you who tend to go with your gut, that above quotation makes sense. If you are a heart or head person, it may not resonate with you as much. But, I would say, if you are a heart or head person, just substitute the word that applies to you. The metaphor for this emptiness we all feel in life works either way.
We all have this hole in our soul. We try to fill it up with lots of things:
- too much work and a false sense of accomplishment
- too much stuff and a false sense of security
- too many relationships or unhealthy ones and a false sense of belonging
- too much food and a false sense of fullness
- addictions to substances, gambling, sex, or reckless behavior and false sense of freedom
The list is endless. The truth is none of these things really fills that big gaping hole in the middle of our lives. So, we keep doing and consuming at the same breakneck pace thinking that something will really satisfy, when nothing ever does.
Some theologians and philosophers have surmised that this hole in your soul is shaped like God and that only God will truly fit there. In all my searching, I would agree. The more we find that balance between work and sabbath in my life, the more I find it to be true.
What about you?
It's all good
Somehow I got readings and dates confused...so, even though this reading (the section entitled "It is Good") was for January 8th, I'm blogging about it now. Nothing to fret about really...it's all good.
I say that a lot. The more you are around me, the more you will notice it. I often offer, "it's all good," when things are, seemingly, not good. I do it not to belittle what's happened or try to diffuse the situation. Rather, I offer "it's all good" because it IS. It really is. It's ALL good. God named it good in the beginning (whenever and however that was) and it continues to be true. It is all good, even when circumstances would suggest otherwise.
Sabbath space reminds us that it's all good. When we are rested and renewed, instead of harried and exhausted, we are better able to handle life's disruptions. We are also better able to recognize the inherent goodness in life itself.
Of course, there are circumstances which are not good at all. Bad things happen in life. Horrible, unthinkable things do in fact happen. However, when there really is nothing good to be found in a particular situation, when we are rested and renewed, we are better able to turn tragedy over to God for transformation. It may not be good now, but it will be good again. This promise is woven into the very fiber of creation. It is a promise we can rest in.
I say that a lot. The more you are around me, the more you will notice it. I often offer, "it's all good," when things are, seemingly, not good. I do it not to belittle what's happened or try to diffuse the situation. Rather, I offer "it's all good" because it IS. It really is. It's ALL good. God named it good in the beginning (whenever and however that was) and it continues to be true. It is all good, even when circumstances would suggest otherwise.
Sabbath space reminds us that it's all good. When we are rested and renewed, instead of harried and exhausted, we are better able to handle life's disruptions. We are also better able to recognize the inherent goodness in life itself.
Of course, there are circumstances which are not good at all. Bad things happen in life. Horrible, unthinkable things do in fact happen. However, when there really is nothing good to be found in a particular situation, when we are rested and renewed, we are better able to turn tragedy over to God for transformation. It may not be good now, but it will be good again. This promise is woven into the very fiber of creation. It is a promise we can rest in.
Friday, January 8, 2010
On the Exhale
Our reading for today is from the chapter on Rest entitled, "A New Beginning".
The phrase "the Sabbath is the exhale" really captured my imagination in today's reading.
Breath is emotive. You can tell how a person is feeling by paying attention to their breathing. Frustrated? The person huffs at us. Anxious? Someone will be breathing shallow, short breaths. Peaceful? Long, deep breaths will flow effortlessly in and out. What does it mean then that Sabbath is God's exhale?
Jackie is a young person I know. I can always tell how she is doing by paying attention to how she is breathing. When she is really frustrated I know the conversation isn't over until she exhales. She may say we are finished, but I have learned better. I have to wait for the long-awaited exhale when she purges all the left over anxious bits out into the world, letting them go finally. After she exhales, a smile returns to her face and her furrowed brow disappears. When she exhales, she is ready to move on.
I wonder, thinking of Sabbath as God's exhale, if that is the moment when God is also ready to move on, past the work of continual creation. What a wonderful moment we get to share with God, when we decide to settle ourselves down and enjoy the bliss of Sabbath space, so close to the Divine that we can feel her breath. We, too, get to rest with God. So, survey the work you've done, lean back, let out a long steady breath, and follow God's lead -- call it good.
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