For Falls Church City Memorial Day Service

My friend Scott Howson's photo of the National Cemetery in Fredericksburg, VA.

Today I offer the Invocation and Blessing at the Falls Church City Memorial Day Service.


INVOCATION

Holy and Living God, known by many names:

Send forth the breath of your Spirit upon us this day when we remember all those who have given their lives in the service of their nation, defending others from tyranny and terrorism, enabling us to live, move and worship freely.

Hear our prayers as we honor their memory.

Receive our thanks for your powerful gifts of life.

Empower us not only to keep peace, but to make peace in this world that knows so much strife.

In your name, O Creating God, we pray this day and always. Amen.

BLESSING FOR DEPARTED VETERANS

Bless, O Lord, all those who have served in the armed forces of our nation, who have given selflessly of their years in order to protect and defend.

Bless especially those who have died in this service.  May we honor their memories and their sacrifice by living lives of worth and value.

Bless also those who returned to serve at home in other ways, and have since died. May we give thanks for their gifts.

Bless those whose memories of war have haunted them and their loved ones. May they find peace and healing in your presence.

Bless those who serve this day far from home and loved ones. May they know of our honor for them.

Bless us as we honor those who gave their utmost for our nation. May our lives be worthy of their sacrifice.

In your blessed and blessing Name, we pray, O Lord of all. Amen.

Guiding Principles

I have mentioned guiding principles before. It can be tough to actually say what one’s guiding principles are. Often we simply adopt what we have been taught or what we have experienced, but until they go through the crucible of our own reasoning and experience they will be like hand-me-down clothes that may or may not fit us well. This past week, I encountered some things that struck me as guiding principles, if not of the person who sent or posted them, then of the person who wrote them.

Judy Brown sent me these three aspects of humility from Dallas Willard:

1.     Never pretend we are or are not somebody other than who we are

2.    Never presume that we deserve anything or that anybody else deserves anything

3.    Never push to make things happen. Act and let go of the results.

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook: “Tip from leadership class: When presented with a problem/issue Accept it, change it or move on.”

These two reminded me of The Serenity Prayer penned by Reinhold Neibuhr in the 1930s: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

In a way, all of these represent guiding principles that can help keep a person centered and grounded.

Here are some stabs at my guiding principles:

·      Don’t call people names.

·      Every person deserves to be treated with respect, even if I don’t like them.

·      God desires what is best for each person, and I certainly don’t know what that best is.

·      Take time to think it through. Don’t react on the spot.

·      Regardless of status in the eyes of the world, each person is equally created in the image of God, which means not holding them higher or lower in regard than myself.

·      Your lack of planning does not become my emergency.

·      I choose to love.

Matthew 6:33

But strive first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Staying Calm in the Midst of Drama

There are people who get caught up in “drama,” and there are people who seem to be calm no matter what the circumstance. When I was growing up in the far west end of Richmond, our across the street neighbor—Skeebo--was known for his calm demeanor. Once when the neighbors were gathered at their house for a cookout, and it began to rain, they attempted to grill the steaks in the utility room in the basement. Needless to say, the fire did not stay well contained. All Skeebo said was “Marion, it’s on fire,” just as though he was saying, “Marion, we’re out of ice,” and then he poured his drink on the fire.

Well, I’m not sure I could have stayed so calm in the face of fire in my utility room, and I can count more than plenty of times when I have lost my cool, but I am doing better. In my Extraordinary Leadership Seminar based on Bowen Family Systems, I have been learning about managing my own anxiety so that I don’t add fuel to the fire, as it were. An added benefit is that in addition to staying calmer myself, I can help calm the anxiety or agitation in the situation.

If I am going to stay calm, then I need to be centered and have some guiding principles. These keep my life focused more on responding rather than reacting. It can be really hard to stay calm in the face of someone’s panic or rant. There is a natural tendency to want to rant back or go along with the panicking, but in the long run that does not help, so I try to draw a deep breath and consider what will be most helpful. Sometimes asking a question helps; sometimes simply being there calms the water; and sometimes stepping outside and away is needed. All in all, I think our world could stand more reasoned response over gut reacting.

Luke 8:24

They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm.

Don't Forget to Breathe

“Don’t forget to breathe,” my dentist Dr. Rachel Valltos said to me as she was injecting novocaine preparatory to replacing two fillings in a tooth. “It’s a natural reaction to hold your breath, but it tenses your muscles and can make it hurt even more.” Then she talked about how some of her patients use breathing techniques in place of receiving novocaine to block the pain.

Some days I do feel like I’m holding my breath, tensing up, waiting… waiting for what? for something to happen, usually something somewhat dire.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples inside that locked upper room, they were in a sense holding their breath. Their leader had been crucified by the authorities, and they might be next. The door was locked to keep others out, but Jesus ignored the locked door. And he breathed on them: his breath—the breath of Spirit—the breath that brooded over the void in the beginning of creation—his breath that breathed new life into those defeated and fearful disciples.

I know some of the things against which I hold my breath in anticipation. How much better a way it is to meet them and face them filled with life-giving oxygen, with life-giving Spirit. In your life there may be things that cause you to hold your breath. Jesus says to you, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” as he breathes on you his life-giving breath.

Don’t forget to breathe—breathe in peace—breathe in Spirit—breathe in power.

John 20:21-22

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

The Horns of a Dilemma

Ooooh, this has been one of those weeks where the feelings and the reasonings can be at loggerheads. I awoke on Monday morning to the news that Osama bin Laden had been shot and killed, and buried at sea. All in the flash of a moment, I felt relief that the search was over, anxiety that vengeful reprisals would begin anew and understanding why the burial at sea had taken place so quickly.

I scanned the early morning photos of spontaneous celebrations in front of the White House and at Ground Zero. I was amazed at, but then not surprised by the youth of those who gathered. Surely many of them were only in elementary school for 9/11. That means that the bulk of their lives has been lived under the cloud of terrorism and war. After this catharsis, maybe some will dedicate their lives to living justly even in the face of terror.

I heard snatches of TV news programs as Jeff watched—some commentators were irate that US taxpayers’ dollars went to Pakistan whose government “surely knew” were bin Laden was holed up. And as usual, the greatest bulk of airtime was given over to our “peeping-Tom” voyeurism of seeing how 9/11 victims’ families were reacting. I was thankful when he turned the TV off.

On Facebook, I have read a whole gamut of reactions—from elation to dismay, along with many prayers for peace. Some called this a “murder;” others called it a “fair dog-fight.” Some called it justice; others a continuation of killing that leads to more killing. One friend quoted Jimi Hendrix: ‎"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Another quoted Ezekiel 33:11.

All I can say “thank God” that real, final justice is left in God’s hands. I certainly wouldn’t know how to “vote” on this one. All I know is that the only possible changes I can make are in myself, so how do I live to make God’s reign of justice and mercy evident? And how do I live in the face of those who hate me so that they can still see God’s love for them reflected in my life? These are not soft “bleeding-heart,” “hippie” questions but very tough decisions on how to live.

Ezekiel 33:11

Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?