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.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
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.
Friday, June 5, 2015
The Whole Truth in "Truth and Reconciliation"
As Canadians will know, the 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' has completed it's task. For those from the U.S. who are reading this, the task of the Commission was to look at the affect of the federal policy of Residential Schools. They forced, for seven generations, parents of aboriginal natives to hand over their school aged children to be taken away and educated by the white culture, in segregated schools, usually run by one of the major churches.
As our first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald said, the idea was to "take the 'Indian' out of the children." We Canadians have always taken a certain pride that we were at least more enlightened than 'those Americans', whose president, Andrew Jackson encapsulated their native policy with his infamous saying of "The only good Indian is a dead Indian." Now, we aren't too sure. The scars from our actions will be here for generations to come.
The commission did a very complete job, but for one thing. One truth has been ignored. The underlying fact of the assumed Christian theology that allowed and even urged this tragedy to occur has not been mentioned. It is the same understanding that enabled the Spanish and English to enslave natives and to treat all 'others' as non-people. The commission deal with the symptom and not the cause.
Contrary to Jesus' understanding, since the 300's, Christians have believed that all others are going to a hell of one kind or another. Since all who didn't believe in their doctrine of original sin and in the sacrificial death of Jesus, were doomed already, it was logical to think that the pagans didn't count anyway and were less than human. Any writings, customs and ways of living that did not reflect the 'norm' of Christianity was therefore to be banned or destroyed. From the burning of the great library in Alexandria in the 400's, to the Crusades, to the outlawing of the American Aboriginal sweat-lodges, this arrogant, unloving and narrow belief and the resulting actions have always been alive and well, within our churches.
We were taught that if we loved God, we could even kill in order to 'save' others from their hell-bent ways. Since we were God's people, His only people. Our way was right and no other ways held any truth worth preserving. The terrible actions of the government and churches in our Canadian past (up to the 1990"s) are predictable and certainly not surprising results of what churches believed and in large, still believe.
The terrible truth about the residential schools is now there for us. We know, for instance, that those children had a higher mortality rate than did soldiers in W.W. I. and that new and smaller sizes of hand-cuffs were manufactured specifically for their use.
Of course, all of the involved churches are now dearly and officially sorry. They admit the error of their ways but I don't hear anything about coming clean with the error of their Christian Doctrine that caused the tragedy and many more before it. Week after week in church after church, it is declared that we are forgiven 'in and through Jesus Christ', assuming that no others are. Those few churches that have given up this Augustinian and anti-Jesus of Nazareth view seem to have nothing else to say, so we don't hear from them.
Unless the whole truth is shared, by the churches themselves, it is clear that they have learned nothing, their apologies not-withstanding, and have earned even more, the pity and neglect that is felt toward them by most people.
Churches, the truth will set you free. Real reconciliation can only happen, churches, if you admit to being wrong in belief. God is bigger than you are. Celebrate this! Accept it and get on with following Jesus, as you are called to do. Because the Commission did not name the root cause of the tragedy, you now have the opportunity to take the initiative yourselves. What do you have to lose? Become reconciled, not only to the past, but to the future.
As our first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald said, the idea was to "take the 'Indian' out of the children." We Canadians have always taken a certain pride that we were at least more enlightened than 'those Americans', whose president, Andrew Jackson encapsulated their native policy with his infamous saying of "The only good Indian is a dead Indian." Now, we aren't too sure. The scars from our actions will be here for generations to come.
The commission did a very complete job, but for one thing. One truth has been ignored. The underlying fact of the assumed Christian theology that allowed and even urged this tragedy to occur has not been mentioned. It is the same understanding that enabled the Spanish and English to enslave natives and to treat all 'others' as non-people. The commission deal with the symptom and not the cause.
Contrary to Jesus' understanding, since the 300's, Christians have believed that all others are going to a hell of one kind or another. Since all who didn't believe in their doctrine of original sin and in the sacrificial death of Jesus, were doomed already, it was logical to think that the pagans didn't count anyway and were less than human. Any writings, customs and ways of living that did not reflect the 'norm' of Christianity was therefore to be banned or destroyed. From the burning of the great library in Alexandria in the 400's, to the Crusades, to the outlawing of the American Aboriginal sweat-lodges, this arrogant, unloving and narrow belief and the resulting actions have always been alive and well, within our churches.
We were taught that if we loved God, we could even kill in order to 'save' others from their hell-bent ways. Since we were God's people, His only people. Our way was right and no other ways held any truth worth preserving. The terrible actions of the government and churches in our Canadian past (up to the 1990"s) are predictable and certainly not surprising results of what churches believed and in large, still believe.
The terrible truth about the residential schools is now there for us. We know, for instance, that those children had a higher mortality rate than did soldiers in W.W. I. and that new and smaller sizes of hand-cuffs were manufactured specifically for their use.
Of course, all of the involved churches are now dearly and officially sorry. They admit the error of their ways but I don't hear anything about coming clean with the error of their Christian Doctrine that caused the tragedy and many more before it. Week after week in church after church, it is declared that we are forgiven 'in and through Jesus Christ', assuming that no others are. Those few churches that have given up this Augustinian and anti-Jesus of Nazareth view seem to have nothing else to say, so we don't hear from them.
Unless the whole truth is shared, by the churches themselves, it is clear that they have learned nothing, their apologies not-withstanding, and have earned even more, the pity and neglect that is felt toward them by most people.
Churches, the truth will set you free. Real reconciliation can only happen, churches, if you admit to being wrong in belief. God is bigger than you are. Celebrate this! Accept it and get on with following Jesus, as you are called to do. Because the Commission did not name the root cause of the tragedy, you now have the opportunity to take the initiative yourselves. What do you have to lose? Become reconciled, not only to the past, but to the future.
Friday, April 3, 2015
How Could We Have Been So Wrong?
He's right over there. See? On that hill. You can see the three crosses from here. It's only been two hours since they put him up, so he's probably still alive. It might take days. God, I'm so ashamed. Here we are, most of us with daggers or short swords beneath our cloaks. After all, we had the city in our hands for two days. The Romans were afraid to come out of the Fortress Antonia for we outnumbered them ten to one. We still could win, you know, if we had the will. But we're too confused to act. Uncertain.
Look at us. Afraid. Without a leader. They've been killed or captured this morning. We were out-smarted and played for fools. We thought we were so smart. We thought we had all but won. We had the city in our hands and were waiting for Jesus, as the Messiah, to give the word to take out the Romans and their followers. But he didn't. He went back to his camp in the hills. And was captured late last night. Identified and sentenced before Pilate, even before most of the city was awake. Some of us tried to rescue him and it was a slaughter. The Romans knew of that plan also, and were ready for us. Our leaders are there on the other two crosses. Here we are, the remnants, pitiful and watching out for Romans and Palace Guards. Too afraid to approach the cross for fear of being identified. Letting the women do our mourning for us.
How could we have been so wrong? Oh, I know that Jesus never said that he was the messiah. In fact, when we would bring up the subject in any way he always told us to shut-up and never mention it again. But we just thought he was playing hard-to-get.
He was always talking and working toward his Kingdom of God. What were we supposed to think? How can you have a kingdom without a king, a messiah? And how can you have a kingdom unless you kill the Romans and their supporters?
Does this mean that his vision is dead, an idea that is not of God? I refuse to believe that God was not truly with Jesus. I just felt that in my most inner self. Or have we just not understood? Did he really mean that we should love, even our enemies? Should we actually allow those who are unloving and against the God of Creation to live and rule? Even the Romans? Even Pontius Pilate, the worst of them all, who has killed so many of us? Is love alone enough to enable us to oppose them?
I simply don't know. All I know is that right now I'll have to watch my back and join with others who I can trust. Maybe, together, we can figure out what Jesus would have us do, even though he's dead. His words and will are still here. That may be enough. And perhaps it won't be. In a few days, or maybe months, it will be more clear.
Right now, I'd better leave to a place where I can mourn for Jesus and the dream that has been killed.
Look at us. Afraid. Without a leader. They've been killed or captured this morning. We were out-smarted and played for fools. We thought we were so smart. We thought we had all but won. We had the city in our hands and were waiting for Jesus, as the Messiah, to give the word to take out the Romans and their followers. But he didn't. He went back to his camp in the hills. And was captured late last night. Identified and sentenced before Pilate, even before most of the city was awake. Some of us tried to rescue him and it was a slaughter. The Romans knew of that plan also, and were ready for us. Our leaders are there on the other two crosses. Here we are, the remnants, pitiful and watching out for Romans and Palace Guards. Too afraid to approach the cross for fear of being identified. Letting the women do our mourning for us.
How could we have been so wrong? Oh, I know that Jesus never said that he was the messiah. In fact, when we would bring up the subject in any way he always told us to shut-up and never mention it again. But we just thought he was playing hard-to-get.
He was always talking and working toward his Kingdom of God. What were we supposed to think? How can you have a kingdom without a king, a messiah? And how can you have a kingdom unless you kill the Romans and their supporters?
Does this mean that his vision is dead, an idea that is not of God? I refuse to believe that God was not truly with Jesus. I just felt that in my most inner self. Or have we just not understood? Did he really mean that we should love, even our enemies? Should we actually allow those who are unloving and against the God of Creation to live and rule? Even the Romans? Even Pontius Pilate, the worst of them all, who has killed so many of us? Is love alone enough to enable us to oppose them?
I simply don't know. All I know is that right now I'll have to watch my back and join with others who I can trust. Maybe, together, we can figure out what Jesus would have us do, even though he's dead. His words and will are still here. That may be enough. And perhaps it won't be. In a few days, or maybe months, it will be more clear.
Right now, I'd better leave to a place where I can mourn for Jesus and the dream that has been killed.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
MISSING THE POINT, AGAIN, ON 'PALM SUNDAY'.
Tomorrow will be, in hundreds of thousands of churches around the world, Palm Sunday. There will be songs of triumph and the welcoming of Jesus as Saviour, King, Messiah and, the deliverer of forgiveness from our sins. In many churches, small palms will be distributed and many (if any are available) children will be involved. Jesus will be portrayed as a conquering hero, welcomed by the masses.
Of course, the whole picture has less to do with the reality of two-thousand years ago, than with our reality right now.
We do so much need to make a king or divine figure out of our heroes. In that, we are the same as the people back then. They needed a Messiah, a king who would rid the land of the hated Romans, a king who would be righteous and do the will of Yahweh, who again, would rule over the land as a true ' Kingdom of God'.
Several times the people had tried to make Jesus accept the role as messiah. Most of his disciples had urged him to 'go for the crown', so to speak. Most had simply not accepted the fact that his vision and calling did not follow that road of violence. He had not been able to convince them of his Other Road and Way of love. Even his most trusted followers could see no other way than the usual.
His entrance to Jerusalem was no triumph of the will of God, but an admission of failure, for Jesus was very alone as he sat there on the donkey, being welcomed by a crowd that was full of adoration and worship, celebrating a victory that would only come with violence and more hatred, everything that he was against. Had he ever asked for adoration and worship? Had he ever asked to be more than a voice and prophet? Hadn't he always pointed toward Yahweh as the giver of life?
In every way, he must have viewed his surroundings as failure, proof of the smallness of people and his inability to convince them of the larger vision and love of God. He had accepted, at last, the cloak of the messiah, knowing that only if he accepted it, and then rejected it, would the people have a chance of knowing and understanding that that path of power and violence was not the path of God.
But, here we are, once more, still denying the reality of what happened, joining, not Jesus and his reality, but of the people then, once more living in denial and illusion, in our own wants, needing Jesus to be our messiah, or even better, a God, to do it all for us. Not one who urges us to become God's children ourselves, to take for ourselves the power and responsibilities that are offered us.
There are so many songs that I simply will not be able to sing tomorrow morning. I will be there, even in the choir. For me, it will be a day of mourning, but I will still be there, surrounded by people, good people all, joining in the praise and celebration. I am one of them, but I will feel so different, for I know that their way of thinking is part of the problem that is so limited and is keeping the simple message of Jesus of Nazareth from reaching the world today.
I will share the sorrow and tears that Jesus shed, even while others shouted with joy, hoping that some day, even one day soon, they will begin to understand the deadliness of their ways and the hope and love that is their's if only their eyes and ears will open to God's love and call.
But for now, it is still the tears, for the churches simply will not see and try to understand.
Of course, the whole picture has less to do with the reality of two-thousand years ago, than with our reality right now.
We do so much need to make a king or divine figure out of our heroes. In that, we are the same as the people back then. They needed a Messiah, a king who would rid the land of the hated Romans, a king who would be righteous and do the will of Yahweh, who again, would rule over the land as a true ' Kingdom of God'.
Several times the people had tried to make Jesus accept the role as messiah. Most of his disciples had urged him to 'go for the crown', so to speak. Most had simply not accepted the fact that his vision and calling did not follow that road of violence. He had not been able to convince them of his Other Road and Way of love. Even his most trusted followers could see no other way than the usual.
His entrance to Jerusalem was no triumph of the will of God, but an admission of failure, for Jesus was very alone as he sat there on the donkey, being welcomed by a crowd that was full of adoration and worship, celebrating a victory that would only come with violence and more hatred, everything that he was against. Had he ever asked for adoration and worship? Had he ever asked to be more than a voice and prophet? Hadn't he always pointed toward Yahweh as the giver of life?
In every way, he must have viewed his surroundings as failure, proof of the smallness of people and his inability to convince them of the larger vision and love of God. He had accepted, at last, the cloak of the messiah, knowing that only if he accepted it, and then rejected it, would the people have a chance of knowing and understanding that that path of power and violence was not the path of God.
But, here we are, once more, still denying the reality of what happened, joining, not Jesus and his reality, but of the people then, once more living in denial and illusion, in our own wants, needing Jesus to be our messiah, or even better, a God, to do it all for us. Not one who urges us to become God's children ourselves, to take for ourselves the power and responsibilities that are offered us.
There are so many songs that I simply will not be able to sing tomorrow morning. I will be there, even in the choir. For me, it will be a day of mourning, but I will still be there, surrounded by people, good people all, joining in the praise and celebration. I am one of them, but I will feel so different, for I know that their way of thinking is part of the problem that is so limited and is keeping the simple message of Jesus of Nazareth from reaching the world today.
I will share the sorrow and tears that Jesus shed, even while others shouted with joy, hoping that some day, even one day soon, they will begin to understand the deadliness of their ways and the hope and love that is their's if only their eyes and ears will open to God's love and call.
But for now, it is still the tears, for the churches simply will not see and try to understand.
Monday, March 2, 2015
A VISIT TO A WONDERFUL BUT DYING CHURCH
A VISIT TO A WONDERFUL, BUT DYING CHURCH
Yesterday I left our little island and took the short drive to Kingston, to attend a larger church and experience something a bit different. I chose a congregation that I knew had once been a 'flag-ship' of sorts, know across the country, even. I am aware of the trends in general, of how all of the 'mainline' churches have declined drastically in the last couple of generations, for I have been part of that picture, but it really hit home to me yesterday.
Firstly, let me say how welcomed I was, how I felt right at home. The service, music and message were good, loving and sincere. In no way am I finding fault with those hard working and wonderful people who are doing their best to support and continue their beautiful church and traditions.
But, it is dying. They know it, for their average Sunday worship attendance last year was under fourty; ten members had died or left while none had joined and there was one baptism. There is no need to dwell on other factors.
It was pure coincidence that the annual report had just come out, in preparation for the up-coming annual meeting, so I was able to get an updated picture of congregational life. It is probably fairly representative of hundreds of others across North America and Europe.
The annual budget of about $180,000 is not being met by fund raising or givings. Most events are measured by how much money they generate. Two thirds of the budget goes to meet salaries.
I know well how hard it is to give up or to radically change habits and traditions that have been part of our lives. I understand how the members of this and the hundreds other 'sister' congregations, year after year, decide to not to decide on any real changes, let alone seek with new eyes, ears and hearts, the Call of the God. Most congregations are simply choosing to die in their old ways, instead of choosing life, for them and others. I understand this. Assisted suicide is now legal. But it is not necessary.
Instead of the usual way, what if the people of a congregation question the traditional need to have paid personnel, including a professional preacher? The people would have to do things for themselves, learn how to share and do. What if they would actually begin to pool their stuff, homes, skills, gifts, just as the early followers of Jesus did in the beginning. What if they started to give away all that they could, to neighbours and strangers in need, sharing housing, food, all that they had?
Just imagine the scandal, amazement and attention their actions would arouse. Students from Queens would come a-running; they would have to defend their actions in court because of the by-laws broken. Wonderful!
The possibilities are endless once the decision for life is taken. What is most sad, is that this one decision is simply not being made. A people who have spent their lives worshiping and operating in a certain way are still assuming that those ways are equal to faithfulness for them. They alone can determine that. Again, this is understandable. But again, all of creation is the loser, for the lesson we are being given by churches is that God is as small as these people and their dying traditions. This, of course, is not true.
We can only hope that very soon, there will arise people who will join in a life/worship/faith style that is true to the God of Love and Creation that addresses the reality of today. It will flourish.More importantly, it will be Joy, Fun, and a challenging life.
Yesterday I left our little island and took the short drive to Kingston, to attend a larger church and experience something a bit different. I chose a congregation that I knew had once been a 'flag-ship' of sorts, know across the country, even. I am aware of the trends in general, of how all of the 'mainline' churches have declined drastically in the last couple of generations, for I have been part of that picture, but it really hit home to me yesterday.
Firstly, let me say how welcomed I was, how I felt right at home. The service, music and message were good, loving and sincere. In no way am I finding fault with those hard working and wonderful people who are doing their best to support and continue their beautiful church and traditions.
But, it is dying. They know it, for their average Sunday worship attendance last year was under fourty; ten members had died or left while none had joined and there was one baptism. There is no need to dwell on other factors.
It was pure coincidence that the annual report had just come out, in preparation for the up-coming annual meeting, so I was able to get an updated picture of congregational life. It is probably fairly representative of hundreds of others across North America and Europe.
The annual budget of about $180,000 is not being met by fund raising or givings. Most events are measured by how much money they generate. Two thirds of the budget goes to meet salaries.
I know well how hard it is to give up or to radically change habits and traditions that have been part of our lives. I understand how the members of this and the hundreds other 'sister' congregations, year after year, decide to not to decide on any real changes, let alone seek with new eyes, ears and hearts, the Call of the God. Most congregations are simply choosing to die in their old ways, instead of choosing life, for them and others. I understand this. Assisted suicide is now legal. But it is not necessary.
Instead of the usual way, what if the people of a congregation question the traditional need to have paid personnel, including a professional preacher? The people would have to do things for themselves, learn how to share and do. What if they would actually begin to pool their stuff, homes, skills, gifts, just as the early followers of Jesus did in the beginning. What if they started to give away all that they could, to neighbours and strangers in need, sharing housing, food, all that they had?
Just imagine the scandal, amazement and attention their actions would arouse. Students from Queens would come a-running; they would have to defend their actions in court because of the by-laws broken. Wonderful!
The possibilities are endless once the decision for life is taken. What is most sad, is that this one decision is simply not being made. A people who have spent their lives worshiping and operating in a certain way are still assuming that those ways are equal to faithfulness for them. They alone can determine that. Again, this is understandable. But again, all of creation is the loser, for the lesson we are being given by churches is that God is as small as these people and their dying traditions. This, of course, is not true.
We can only hope that very soon, there will arise people who will join in a life/worship/faith style that is true to the God of Love and Creation that addresses the reality of today. It will flourish.More importantly, it will be Joy, Fun, and a challenging life.
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