I love Mother's Day, don't get me wrong. It's great to have a time that smartens us up and encourages us to give thanks and attention where it's due. The perspective of mothers is the best and most whole and holy thing we have. The world would be much better if women ran it and men just did the heavy lifting, doing what they were told.
Mother's Day has a great history, but I doubt if many know of it. It had nothing to do with flowers or having breakfast made. After the Thirty-Years War in Europe, over two hundred years ago, thousands of women of all backgrounds organized in the first women's movement of its kind. It was an anti-war movement in hopes that men in the future would not make war on each other. The women were sick and tired of losing their husbands, brothers and sons over the whims of other men. It shook the establishment but obviously had little long-term affect.
After the Civil War in the U.S. a similar movement was attempted. Nothing happened. But finally, fifty years or so later, a Mothers' Day was recognized by the federal government, watered down, of course, to lack any resemblance to the meaning of the original wish of mothers.
But it sells a lot of flowers and cards, a great way of gathering in our most loved grouping. It is, however, a shame that we've been bought off by the 'powers-that-be' as we most often due, allowing our deepest needs ( peace and understanding) to be supplanted by the cute and nice.
Mothers, we so need you to again put the truth before us. No one else is, not churches and certainly, not the governments. The wealthy in all nations is against real justice and peace and we men are just too easily brain-dead and led astray. We need you to find your mother instinct and lead, to not be bought-off by the mundane. Don't let us get away with it.
Thanks.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
The Earth: I Fear We Are Doomed
Earth Day was this last week. As I have written, I have all but given up on the validity and future of present Christianity. Is doesn't make sense and is doing nothing. This week brings up a major example. A main belief of the churches, supposedly, is that the earth is holy, made by God, given to us to protect. Are any churches doing anything about our habit of killing and disrespecting the earth? Where are there churches that are leading the way in life-styles that attempt at faithfulness in this regard? If churches are not being honest and faithful in this most pressing need, why should they be given any respect? They are obviously not about life and the doing of God's will. We are better off without them.
Apart from them, does the Earth have a chance. Not from our culture. In our present way of thinking, dirty, or anything from dirt or the earth, is bad. How many children, urban or rural, in the last two generations, have enjoyed and have been encouraged to play in dirt? "Don't get dirty!" "Get out of that mud!" "Look at your clothes!"
We've all heard it so often. What children learn is that the earth is bad. And we are paying dearly for it. We now know that many of our diseases are caused by children not getting the anti-bodies from the soil that are so needed in our system.
We are truly from the dirt and need it. Yet we are rejecting anything that is 'from the earth' that hasn't been re-formed into our limited image.
If we don't learn, and change (repent) we are doomed. This will be nothing short of a transformation on our part, something that can only be called Spiritual. Will this happen? I hope so. I doubt it, for there is just too much money and power going the other way. I doubt if we will have the collective wisdom to choose another path.
The path, however, is there for us. In all the old understandings, from the Jewish path to the many others, the way of wholeness and love is there. This current ignorance is leading us to an unnecessary crisis. I hope others will start to challenge it, to band together enough to become active and lead toward a tomorrow of hope and joy.
Apart from them, does the Earth have a chance. Not from our culture. In our present way of thinking, dirty, or anything from dirt or the earth, is bad. How many children, urban or rural, in the last two generations, have enjoyed and have been encouraged to play in dirt? "Don't get dirty!" "Get out of that mud!" "Look at your clothes!"
We've all heard it so often. What children learn is that the earth is bad. And we are paying dearly for it. We now know that many of our diseases are caused by children not getting the anti-bodies from the soil that are so needed in our system.
We are truly from the dirt and need it. Yet we are rejecting anything that is 'from the earth' that hasn't been re-formed into our limited image.
If we don't learn, and change (repent) we are doomed. This will be nothing short of a transformation on our part, something that can only be called Spiritual. Will this happen? I hope so. I doubt it, for there is just too much money and power going the other way. I doubt if we will have the collective wisdom to choose another path.
The path, however, is there for us. In all the old understandings, from the Jewish path to the many others, the way of wholeness and love is there. This current ignorance is leading us to an unnecessary crisis. I hope others will start to challenge it, to band together enough to become active and lead toward a tomorrow of hope and joy.
Monday, February 8, 2016
WHY CAN'T THE MEANING OF WORDS STAY THE SAME? 'Spiritual' but not 'Religious'?
Remember when we had 'problems' and not 'issues', when an 'issue' was the topic to be discussed, some item on the agenda? Luckily for me, most of the younger people in my life use the 'older' usage for words when in mixed company. I have this self-image of one who is not threatened by change. But keeping up with the new meanings for old words is tiresome. Why don't they make up new words and leave the old ones as they were?
Take the word religious. It used to mean someone who was spiritual, who had motives for action and life that were beyond themselves, someone who was deeply connected to a philosophy and/or belief that involved other people, someone whose actions were apart from the norms or values of much of society, in a good way. These were thoughtful people, and the word was generally a positive one. Now, for many of my friends, and no doubt, much of our society, religious has come to be a bad word, synonymous with being close minded, argumentative, judgmental and un-fun.
The sad truth is that we can see several of the world's religions shifting toward this kind of fundamentalism, or worst. If we know our history, (sorry to say, few of us have given this any time), we know that Classical Christianity was created (in the 300's and 400's) in precisely this non-thinking, believe-what-you-are-told understanding. At last, many of us are questioning this concept of our past religion and rejecting it wholeheartedly. I certainly agree in that I am not a Christian in that doctrinal way. I call myself a Post-Christian Disciple. I know that God was and is in the teachings and life of Jesus of Nazareth, but I in no way limit the Holy, however named, to this one expression. But, am I among the growing multitude that claim to be 'spiritual but not religious'? No.
Sadly, in relegating all 'religious' to the negative, we are literally "throwing out the baby with the bathwater." It's similar to allowing ourselves to be against being healthy because of obvious bad experiences and needs for improvements in our 'health system'. Are you then, 'spiritual' but not 'religious'? Of course, all people are 'spiritual'. We're born with this aspect of our humanity. This 'being spiritual' is a singular thing, an awareness with which we can do as we please. There's no need to brag about it. It's a given. This is the very thing that so long ago started to separate us from other animals.
Now that you've become aware of your humanness, what are you/we doing with this awareness? This ability to question, to think, to see ourselves alone but part of the whole, and to question about that 'whole', 'beyond' or Holy? How we answer those questions determines if we are 'religious' or not. If we choose to remain alone, as many of us are, we are limited to ourselves and will grow very little, limited by our need to be safe and to not risk anything meaningful. Being aware of our spirituality and choosing to remain alone and stingy, may be something to publicly acclaim, but I fail to see what good it does. It's like a person shouting to the world how much they have to give others and yet who decide to keep it all to themselves. When we chose to share our questions/answers/lives with others, that is where 'religion' is born. 'Religion' is a risky thing, all right. Growth and change is always a risk.
Certainly, many of us have been hurt and turned-off by the narrowness of Classical Christianity, but does that mean that any and all shared spiritual sharing/growth/community is evil or unwanted? Why can't 'religion' be based on understandings that are open and accepting? Why can't debate and real giving/receiving be known as expressions of the Holy and that actions be even more important than words? Why can't an understanding be that the opinion of some, no matter their education, are of no more importance than others, that there be no 'clergy' class to dictate and limit others?
The above was the way the Jesus Movement started. Only due to the lack of (oppression of) education in churches, do we not know this. People coming together, in their variety of thinking as well as their common experiences, is the basis of what we are. Let us all urge and help each other to share our thoughts, taking each other seriously, no matter if we agree or not.
Words change. Even more, then, we need to listen, for the words, even when they change, tell of things that never change. We are all spiritual, but called to become 'religious,' able to share and to grow. We may need to let a lot of the traditionally 'Religious' die for this to happen, to let the 'churches' die a well-deserved end, but let's not let the needed 'death' to hinder new life. Let's praise the new 'religious', the need for real communication/life/love on this earth that so desperately needs us to get our priories in line with the realities of our present existence.
Thanks for allowing me to share this.
Anthony Gifford
Take the word religious. It used to mean someone who was spiritual, who had motives for action and life that were beyond themselves, someone who was deeply connected to a philosophy and/or belief that involved other people, someone whose actions were apart from the norms or values of much of society, in a good way. These were thoughtful people, and the word was generally a positive one. Now, for many of my friends, and no doubt, much of our society, religious has come to be a bad word, synonymous with being close minded, argumentative, judgmental and un-fun.
The sad truth is that we can see several of the world's religions shifting toward this kind of fundamentalism, or worst. If we know our history, (sorry to say, few of us have given this any time), we know that Classical Christianity was created (in the 300's and 400's) in precisely this non-thinking, believe-what-you-are-told understanding. At last, many of us are questioning this concept of our past religion and rejecting it wholeheartedly. I certainly agree in that I am not a Christian in that doctrinal way. I call myself a Post-Christian Disciple. I know that God was and is in the teachings and life of Jesus of Nazareth, but I in no way limit the Holy, however named, to this one expression. But, am I among the growing multitude that claim to be 'spiritual but not religious'? No.
Sadly, in relegating all 'religious' to the negative, we are literally "throwing out the baby with the bathwater." It's similar to allowing ourselves to be against being healthy because of obvious bad experiences and needs for improvements in our 'health system'. Are you then, 'spiritual' but not 'religious'? Of course, all people are 'spiritual'. We're born with this aspect of our humanity. This 'being spiritual' is a singular thing, an awareness with which we can do as we please. There's no need to brag about it. It's a given. This is the very thing that so long ago started to separate us from other animals.
Now that you've become aware of your humanness, what are you/we doing with this awareness? This ability to question, to think, to see ourselves alone but part of the whole, and to question about that 'whole', 'beyond' or Holy? How we answer those questions determines if we are 'religious' or not. If we choose to remain alone, as many of us are, we are limited to ourselves and will grow very little, limited by our need to be safe and to not risk anything meaningful. Being aware of our spirituality and choosing to remain alone and stingy, may be something to publicly acclaim, but I fail to see what good it does. It's like a person shouting to the world how much they have to give others and yet who decide to keep it all to themselves. When we chose to share our questions/answers/lives with others, that is where 'religion' is born. 'Religion' is a risky thing, all right. Growth and change is always a risk.
Certainly, many of us have been hurt and turned-off by the narrowness of Classical Christianity, but does that mean that any and all shared spiritual sharing/growth/community is evil or unwanted? Why can't 'religion' be based on understandings that are open and accepting? Why can't debate and real giving/receiving be known as expressions of the Holy and that actions be even more important than words? Why can't an understanding be that the opinion of some, no matter their education, are of no more importance than others, that there be no 'clergy' class to dictate and limit others?
The above was the way the Jesus Movement started. Only due to the lack of (oppression of) education in churches, do we not know this. People coming together, in their variety of thinking as well as their common experiences, is the basis of what we are. Let us all urge and help each other to share our thoughts, taking each other seriously, no matter if we agree or not.
Words change. Even more, then, we need to listen, for the words, even when they change, tell of things that never change. We are all spiritual, but called to become 'religious,' able to share and to grow. We may need to let a lot of the traditionally 'Religious' die for this to happen, to let the 'churches' die a well-deserved end, but let's not let the needed 'death' to hinder new life. Let's praise the new 'religious', the need for real communication/life/love on this earth that so desperately needs us to get our priories in line with the realities of our present existence.
Thanks for allowing me to share this.
Anthony Gifford
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Jesus as King? Christ the King? An Anathema!
As one who is trying to be a disciple of Jesus, attending church is often a challenge. This last week was very sad for me. It was 'Christ the King' Sunday, the culmination of the Christian Year which goes from Advent to Christmas, to Easter, to the celebration of the formation of the Church, to the logical conclusion of the reign of Jesus (the Christ) as King, ruling over all creation and the hearts of all men, even the women. There's only one problem. Jesus would be not only amazed at the idea but horrified. Nothing could be more opposite to his whole being than the idea of power, the very foundation of 'KING'.
How many times had he refused everything to do with the role of king (messiah)? Hadn't that been the most identifying mark of his ministry? Love to him was the opposite of power. True, his followers hadn't accepted that idea. They had used force to take over the city, had handed it to him on a platter, so to speak. But he had abandoned it and left the power to the Romans.
Even though the experiences after his death had shown that love was greater than power, his followers soon forgot and again came to believe that Jesus would come again to be their king, a cosmic Messiah, and thirty-odd years later joined the Zealots in that hope. They were wrong. They all were killed.
Yet, year after year we perpetuate that lie. It is deeply engraved in our songs, hopes, writings and story. It has never led to anything but death and despair. It is so utterly against the message of Jesus, the call to act on our own and accept the fact that we are each children of God. How can we not hear Jesus? Why do we ignore his words and call and give in year after year, wasting our lives, waiting for God to do everything for us?
Churches, if this is the big finale, the end of what you have to say, maybe it had better be the end. Really. There's so much more to the reality of Jesus, and you're just not saying or doing it.
How many times had he refused everything to do with the role of king (messiah)? Hadn't that been the most identifying mark of his ministry? Love to him was the opposite of power. True, his followers hadn't accepted that idea. They had used force to take over the city, had handed it to him on a platter, so to speak. But he had abandoned it and left the power to the Romans.
Even though the experiences after his death had shown that love was greater than power, his followers soon forgot and again came to believe that Jesus would come again to be their king, a cosmic Messiah, and thirty-odd years later joined the Zealots in that hope. They were wrong. They all were killed.
Yet, year after year we perpetuate that lie. It is deeply engraved in our songs, hopes, writings and story. It has never led to anything but death and despair. It is so utterly against the message of Jesus, the call to act on our own and accept the fact that we are each children of God. How can we not hear Jesus? Why do we ignore his words and call and give in year after year, wasting our lives, waiting for God to do everything for us?
Churches, if this is the big finale, the end of what you have to say, maybe it had better be the end. Really. There's so much more to the reality of Jesus, and you're just not saying or doing it.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
SHARING A MIRACLE
One of my favourite sayings comes from the Jewish tradition: Don't expect miracles, but recognize them when they happen. This is with the understanding that miracles are not super-natural events, as we now view them, but any event or moment in which the holy is experienced. It might be a revelation brought on by the sight of a new leaf on a tree, or by an unexpected word from a stranger.
Judy and I bought the one and only cafe on this lovely Amherst Island some six years ago, deciding to run it in the summer and sail in the Bahamas in the winter. Judy had grown up here and I certainly felt at home among the varied folks here.
We did this because it was 'right'. The cafe would never be a 'business' in the usual sense, but the island, any inhabited place, needed somewhere to eat and talk. The cafe hadn't been open in five years. We knew that we couldn't run it forever, and indeed, having no experience what-so-ever, didn't know if we'd last more than the first summer. We did.
It soon became apparent that our expectations, business-wise, were fairly accurate. We did our best to involve others on every level knowing that sooner or later, it would have to be run on some kind of community basis or close.
After five years of summer operation, we ran out of steam. A wonderful island cook took it for this last summer and did a fine job, but one summer was enough.
A month ago, talking around a table with friends after an event, the topic of the cafe came up, along with the possibility of making it an island project. After a few bottles of wine, everyone there was really excited about the concept. We set a date to meet in a month, time to spread the word. We did. Last week, meeting here at the house a friend shares with Judy and me.
It was a miracle. Only a start, certainly, but a miracle, never-the-less. In this culture, everywhere we look and hear, the pressure is to be independent, alone and self sufficient. To rely on others is a sign of weakness; to do things, anything with others, shows that you're not strong enough on your own. If you need help, hire it. Keep control. Call the shots. Any time that people take a serious look at co-operating on any venture is a miracle, a visible sign that love (the Holy) is among us and within us. Any time we put the welfare of the whole above ourselves, any time that we really understand that our welfare does depend upon the whole, the holy is present.
There were over twenty people represented in body or spirit. All that talent and experience, talking about the possibilities and sharing their hopes, doubts and wants. It was wonderful. We were so caught up in the moment and the challenge of the event and future that it is only now that I've realized how wonderful the night was.
I have no idea what will become of the idea. I certainly hope that it will take form and will succeed, that the cafe will become a place of great food and fellowship, for the 'clients' and those who share in the running of it. It could provide much needed employment for island students and raise funds for other projects. But, if that one meeting is all that happens, it will still be a miracle to me.
Judy and I bought the one and only cafe on this lovely Amherst Island some six years ago, deciding to run it in the summer and sail in the Bahamas in the winter. Judy had grown up here and I certainly felt at home among the varied folks here.
We did this because it was 'right'. The cafe would never be a 'business' in the usual sense, but the island, any inhabited place, needed somewhere to eat and talk. The cafe hadn't been open in five years. We knew that we couldn't run it forever, and indeed, having no experience what-so-ever, didn't know if we'd last more than the first summer. We did.
It soon became apparent that our expectations, business-wise, were fairly accurate. We did our best to involve others on every level knowing that sooner or later, it would have to be run on some kind of community basis or close.
After five years of summer operation, we ran out of steam. A wonderful island cook took it for this last summer and did a fine job, but one summer was enough.
A month ago, talking around a table with friends after an event, the topic of the cafe came up, along with the possibility of making it an island project. After a few bottles of wine, everyone there was really excited about the concept. We set a date to meet in a month, time to spread the word. We did. Last week, meeting here at the house a friend shares with Judy and me.
It was a miracle. Only a start, certainly, but a miracle, never-the-less. In this culture, everywhere we look and hear, the pressure is to be independent, alone and self sufficient. To rely on others is a sign of weakness; to do things, anything with others, shows that you're not strong enough on your own. If you need help, hire it. Keep control. Call the shots. Any time that people take a serious look at co-operating on any venture is a miracle, a visible sign that love (the Holy) is among us and within us. Any time we put the welfare of the whole above ourselves, any time that we really understand that our welfare does depend upon the whole, the holy is present.
There were over twenty people represented in body or spirit. All that talent and experience, talking about the possibilities and sharing their hopes, doubts and wants. It was wonderful. We were so caught up in the moment and the challenge of the event and future that it is only now that I've realized how wonderful the night was.
I have no idea what will become of the idea. I certainly hope that it will take form and will succeed, that the cafe will become a place of great food and fellowship, for the 'clients' and those who share in the running of it. It could provide much needed employment for island students and raise funds for other projects. But, if that one meeting is all that happens, it will still be a miracle to me.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
A Rare Religious Experience
Last Saturday evening Judy and I attended a local barn dance, an annual 'cultic' event that signals the end of summer and the resultant changes. Many cottagers won't be seen for six months, as well as the 'snow birds' soon departing. There was, as usual, great food (pot-luck) and our favourite band did a wonderful job of keeping us on the floor. To me, it soon became more than just a very enjoyable social evening.
In our sophisticated and 'modern' culture, we are so used to separating events and experiences into different slots, economic, recreational, family, religious, social, and so on. We are probably the most fragmented culture the world has ever seen. We are also the least mentally healthy.
'Religious' to many of us has become a 'bad word'; we might prefer to use 'spiritual'. Both these words refer to a piece of us that we usually keep quite private and apart from our 'usual' lives. What a shame. As I have used the word in the title, religious is not a set of beliefs, but an acknowledgement of a capacity and need in each of us to join our deepest selves with not only each other, but the whole cosmos in which we exist.
How did this dance come to be so transformed for me? To be honest, I had some 'help from my fiends'. Judy and I are both waiting for knee replacements. Judy will be first in line, having one knee 'done' in just three weeks. I'm waiting for both of mine. We're both pretty slow moving right now and becoming increasingly limited by pain. I rarely take anything to help the situation but I have found that the right combination of Tylenol 3 and tequila enables me to dance for quite a while. (Polkas and 'jive' are still not possible.)
We danced. Just as important, I sat. I enjoyed listening to the hum of friendly conversation, seeing the mix and flow of the folks there, from teens to those in their nineties, very wealthy and very not, pro or con on the wind turbine issue, fourth generation farmer or summer people. I allowed that wonderful 'hum' to roll up within me and go out, spin around the world and mingle with all the other 'hums', to enter the collective of star dust from which we all come. I tried to be open to the countless combinations of hopes, hurts, dreams, concerns, fears and love that was not only within that room, but was represented there of all people and all times. I was blessed by and within it.
Using traditional Christian imagery, the Holy Spirit was alive and well, flying as a dove over and around us, I doubt very much if She would have been as active in any church service the next (Sunday) morning even with the formal prayers and hymns. The popular songs of joy, life, sorrow and love that the band shared were quite enabling for 'holy joy and live' to be experienced.
I hope, upon reflection, that more of us will recognize the 'holiness' of events, be they in crowds or alone. We are spiritual beings and our capacity to grow spiritually is only limited by our fears and imaginations. We are truly foolish if we allow the past to turn us off to new life. Let us begin to share again what we truly are and may become.
In our sophisticated and 'modern' culture, we are so used to separating events and experiences into different slots, economic, recreational, family, religious, social, and so on. We are probably the most fragmented culture the world has ever seen. We are also the least mentally healthy.
'Religious' to many of us has become a 'bad word'; we might prefer to use 'spiritual'. Both these words refer to a piece of us that we usually keep quite private and apart from our 'usual' lives. What a shame. As I have used the word in the title, religious is not a set of beliefs, but an acknowledgement of a capacity and need in each of us to join our deepest selves with not only each other, but the whole cosmos in which we exist.
How did this dance come to be so transformed for me? To be honest, I had some 'help from my fiends'. Judy and I are both waiting for knee replacements. Judy will be first in line, having one knee 'done' in just three weeks. I'm waiting for both of mine. We're both pretty slow moving right now and becoming increasingly limited by pain. I rarely take anything to help the situation but I have found that the right combination of Tylenol 3 and tequila enables me to dance for quite a while. (Polkas and 'jive' are still not possible.)
We danced. Just as important, I sat. I enjoyed listening to the hum of friendly conversation, seeing the mix and flow of the folks there, from teens to those in their nineties, very wealthy and very not, pro or con on the wind turbine issue, fourth generation farmer or summer people. I allowed that wonderful 'hum' to roll up within me and go out, spin around the world and mingle with all the other 'hums', to enter the collective of star dust from which we all come. I tried to be open to the countless combinations of hopes, hurts, dreams, concerns, fears and love that was not only within that room, but was represented there of all people and all times. I was blessed by and within it.
Using traditional Christian imagery, the Holy Spirit was alive and well, flying as a dove over and around us, I doubt very much if She would have been as active in any church service the next (Sunday) morning even with the formal prayers and hymns. The popular songs of joy, life, sorrow and love that the band shared were quite enabling for 'holy joy and live' to be experienced.
I hope, upon reflection, that more of us will recognize the 'holiness' of events, be they in crowds or alone. We are spiritual beings and our capacity to grow spiritually is only limited by our fears and imaginations. We are truly foolish if we allow the past to turn us off to new life. Let us begin to share again what we truly are and may become.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
CANADA DAY & INDEPENDENCE DAY - IT'S ABOUT 'FREEDOM'
Some years ago, when attending a family reunion in Washington State (I was born and raised south of the border.) a cousin asked me why I was still living in Canada. "You don't have as many freedoms up there, do you?" he asked, assuming of course like most Americans, that they had rather a monopoly on 'freedom' and 'bravery'. I replied with a question of my own, "We aren't free to carry .357 magnums in our glove compartments but we're free to get sick. Which to you think is the most important freedom?" He mumbled something under his breath an turned away to seek a more compatible conversation.
Talking about freedom is tricky. We all assume that we all mean the same thing: freedom for ourselves, the freedom to do what we want in order to gain our dreams and goals. This last week was Canada Day and in churches across the land, on the Sundays before and after, many words were said about 'freedom' and many prayers of thanks were offered for this wonderful country in which we are so free.
I couldn't share in most of them. In the first place, I don't give thanks to someone who doesn't deserve it; to think that God chose to place me in this position of wealth and power and chooses to place others in situations of pain, abuse, poverty and enslavement, negates all I know about a God of Love. I don't think that God made this piece of geography or its inhabitants any more blessed than another. What I will do is give thanks to God for the knowledge and awareness that I am loved and have the power and opportunity to DO something about the world and change my part it in.
But, back to freedom. Yes, in Canada we are free, often in ways we can see are denied to others. But what do we usually mean by that word? More often than we admit we are thinking of the freedom to quire wealth, even if it is on the backs of others. We assume, still, that we are free to abuse the earth and to maintain our position of power without any change or real question.
The truth is, we certainly are free, free to chose what-ever path we might. But, as 'Christians', the path we choose us supposed to be one that benefits the poor and the earth. That reality is rarely 'unpacked' from the pulpit, for those who pay the bills are of a different mind, choosing solidly the paths that keep them exactly where they are, or even, will improve their lot, materially. We are free to chose the path of Jesus of Nazareth. That call is always there for us, even if we rarely hear it and even more seldom see any evidence of its existence, but it is still there.
It is so much easier to applaud 'freedom' in and of itself. To ask 'freedom for whom?' is just too embarrassing, even if that's what Jesus did.
In this week of Canada Day up here and Independence Day down there, let's give a little room for the bigger picture, a chance to hear a question that urges us to choose just who or what we have in mind as the beneficiaries of the 'freedom' that we give thanks for and desire.
"Thank you, God of Love, for the freedom your Word give us, to see the paths you offer us and to chose that which lead to life and love. When we abuse or ignore that freedom, help us to open our eyes and not complain when it is obvious that we have not used your gift of freedom for your purposes of life but instead, have empowered death. Amen."
Talking about freedom is tricky. We all assume that we all mean the same thing: freedom for ourselves, the freedom to do what we want in order to gain our dreams and goals. This last week was Canada Day and in churches across the land, on the Sundays before and after, many words were said about 'freedom' and many prayers of thanks were offered for this wonderful country in which we are so free.
I couldn't share in most of them. In the first place, I don't give thanks to someone who doesn't deserve it; to think that God chose to place me in this position of wealth and power and chooses to place others in situations of pain, abuse, poverty and enslavement, negates all I know about a God of Love. I don't think that God made this piece of geography or its inhabitants any more blessed than another. What I will do is give thanks to God for the knowledge and awareness that I am loved and have the power and opportunity to DO something about the world and change my part it in.
But, back to freedom. Yes, in Canada we are free, often in ways we can see are denied to others. But what do we usually mean by that word? More often than we admit we are thinking of the freedom to quire wealth, even if it is on the backs of others. We assume, still, that we are free to abuse the earth and to maintain our position of power without any change or real question.
The truth is, we certainly are free, free to chose what-ever path we might. But, as 'Christians', the path we choose us supposed to be one that benefits the poor and the earth. That reality is rarely 'unpacked' from the pulpit, for those who pay the bills are of a different mind, choosing solidly the paths that keep them exactly where they are, or even, will improve their lot, materially. We are free to chose the path of Jesus of Nazareth. That call is always there for us, even if we rarely hear it and even more seldom see any evidence of its existence, but it is still there.
It is so much easier to applaud 'freedom' in and of itself. To ask 'freedom for whom?' is just too embarrassing, even if that's what Jesus did.
In this week of Canada Day up here and Independence Day down there, let's give a little room for the bigger picture, a chance to hear a question that urges us to choose just who or what we have in mind as the beneficiaries of the 'freedom' that we give thanks for and desire.
"Thank you, God of Love, for the freedom your Word give us, to see the paths you offer us and to chose that which lead to life and love. When we abuse or ignore that freedom, help us to open our eyes and not complain when it is obvious that we have not used your gift of freedom for your purposes of life but instead, have empowered death. Amen."
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Needed Change is Hard
I don't know about you, but I hate change. I'd like my younger body back, people to understand me more, world peace and no more hunger, but still, I really do resist change. I'd gladly change most other people if I could, and I'd be tempted to change most of the world, come to think of it, but again, I really do hate it when I have to change.
Which is a real problem if I'm trying to follow the Way of Jesus of Nazareth, because it's all about changing.
This is why churches have come to be about believing and not following; it's just so much more easy. To learn and grow, we first must be open to change, in ourselves. We rarely are. And so we die without finding any new life. Good people, hoping for the best and believing completely in God and all that stuff. But not changing and for the most part, wasting all that Jesus of Nazareth was about.
Example. Last week I helped out in a dinner for the 'needy' that was held at a large downtown church. Over eighty 'clients' were fed. The doors were opened fifteen minutes before the food was served. Everybody knew what to do and where to sit. The servers were all behind the table which was laden with good food. Grace was said, people lined up, were served, ate, and left. After all of the needy had left, the servers went upstairs to the main kitchen and had their own meal, on real plates, and had a fun time talking and sharing.
There was nothing wrong with the evening. The servers were good folks doing good things, taking their time to help others. The more needy were fed and had a bit of time 'out' and most seemed to enjoy the meal and occasion. I know I had a good time and would be involved again if asked. I'd guess that everyone had a good feeling about the meal. We went home thinking that we had done 'our part' in helping others.
But was anything learned? Was anything changed? Did we really do more harm than good? Did that small involvement keep some us from becoming active enough to work on the causes to the problems of our society rather than the symptoms? Did anyone meet God in a new understanding or self-giving? I doubt it. Except for a few moments, there was no contact between the 'givers' and the 'receivers' other than a smile, nod or comment in the actual putting of the food upon the plate. There was no sharing, no chance to touch in any meaningful way. Everything that happened enforced the old facts and stereotypes. It may have been nice and accepted, but it was certainly not the Way of Jesus of Nazareth.
If that was an example of the 'work of the church', it is clear why churches are dying.
Why couldn't the servers have eaten with the guests?Maybe a pot-luck with congregational members also? Why not invite the guests to help clean up? Why not have the meals in people's homes instead of a barren hall? Dozens of questions come to mind. The answer to them all is the same: it would mean a personal challenge and change. Complete control would be lost.
And so, we missed again the chance of even a glimpse of the Kingdom of God that Jesus talked about. It's so sad that all that work and time went into the event, and is replicated dozens of times a week in most larger centers, but no real change is possible because of the simple truth that the nice people who are 'doing it' don't want to be vulnerable to any real change. In fact, they are keeping God's Spirit ever so small, even while they think they are doing God's will.
Churches, when you chose to change your hearts, hands and habits, then and only then will you find the joy, courage and strength of God's Spirit. Please, pray and do it. The world is dying here and we need God's Word to be made Flesh. We need change.
Which is a real problem if I'm trying to follow the Way of Jesus of Nazareth, because it's all about changing.
This is why churches have come to be about believing and not following; it's just so much more easy. To learn and grow, we first must be open to change, in ourselves. We rarely are. And so we die without finding any new life. Good people, hoping for the best and believing completely in God and all that stuff. But not changing and for the most part, wasting all that Jesus of Nazareth was about.
Example. Last week I helped out in a dinner for the 'needy' that was held at a large downtown church. Over eighty 'clients' were fed. The doors were opened fifteen minutes before the food was served. Everybody knew what to do and where to sit. The servers were all behind the table which was laden with good food. Grace was said, people lined up, were served, ate, and left. After all of the needy had left, the servers went upstairs to the main kitchen and had their own meal, on real plates, and had a fun time talking and sharing.
There was nothing wrong with the evening. The servers were good folks doing good things, taking their time to help others. The more needy were fed and had a bit of time 'out' and most seemed to enjoy the meal and occasion. I know I had a good time and would be involved again if asked. I'd guess that everyone had a good feeling about the meal. We went home thinking that we had done 'our part' in helping others.
But was anything learned? Was anything changed? Did we really do more harm than good? Did that small involvement keep some us from becoming active enough to work on the causes to the problems of our society rather than the symptoms? Did anyone meet God in a new understanding or self-giving? I doubt it. Except for a few moments, there was no contact between the 'givers' and the 'receivers' other than a smile, nod or comment in the actual putting of the food upon the plate. There was no sharing, no chance to touch in any meaningful way. Everything that happened enforced the old facts and stereotypes. It may have been nice and accepted, but it was certainly not the Way of Jesus of Nazareth.
If that was an example of the 'work of the church', it is clear why churches are dying.
Why couldn't the servers have eaten with the guests?Maybe a pot-luck with congregational members also? Why not invite the guests to help clean up? Why not have the meals in people's homes instead of a barren hall? Dozens of questions come to mind. The answer to them all is the same: it would mean a personal challenge and change. Complete control would be lost.
And so, we missed again the chance of even a glimpse of the Kingdom of God that Jesus talked about. It's so sad that all that work and time went into the event, and is replicated dozens of times a week in most larger centers, but no real change is possible because of the simple truth that the nice people who are 'doing it' don't want to be vulnerable to any real change. In fact, they are keeping God's Spirit ever so small, even while they think they are doing God's will.
Churches, when you chose to change your hearts, hands and habits, then and only then will you find the joy, courage and strength of God's Spirit. Please, pray and do it. The world is dying here and we need God's Word to be made Flesh. We need change.
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