Thursday, February 27, 2014

Out of the Depths

In several ways this week has been tough, some ups and more downs--not so much for me, but for people I care about.
I give thanks for love found for a friend.
I grieve for a friend who had bad news about a medical condition, that reminds me all too much about Jeff's journey.
I ache for another friend who had bad news.
We all mourn the loss of our Gerry, while we also celebrate her new life.
I think the psalmist can pray much better than I can right now, and so I join my voice with all of God's people who cry out:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my
supplications!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning.
More than those who watch for the morning, O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. [Psalm 130]

Pray for all who mourn,
for all who sorrow,
for all in distress,
for all need a word of grace.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

It's All Too Easy to Otherize Others

I briefly read part of an exchange between two colleagues on Facebook. I only read briefly because, I confess, I still get very uncomfortable with conflict. That is one reason why I host Holy Conferencing.* I have to make myself come face-to-face with my discomfort.

Coming face-to-face is important. When we keep ourselves apart from those who are different from us, it is all too easy for us to otherize people. I do not think that is a real word, but it seems appropriate to me. When I otherize people, I do not have to realize that they have feelings, hopes, dreams, loves, dislikes—just as I do. I can objectify them, and thus make pronouncements on them especially where we differ. When I can begin really to see them, I can enjoy our differences, allowing those differences to inform me about myself, and in the process helping me to come closer to loving my neighbor as myself.

I am only a small way along that journey. For every step I take, I find it so easy to take one back. I pray for grace and mercy as I walk it.



* Here’s a description of what we do in Holy Conferencing: The purpose of these gatherings is not to come up with the definitive answer, or a program that will be successfully presented at our churches. It is a process that helps us gather face-to-face and heart-to-heart, in a non-judgmental way, as we deal with, struggle with, wrestle with different issues. It is a process in which we will hopefully learn to listen to others even when we do not agree. There is no debate, no scoring of points, no experts. And unfortunately there is no way to offer notes to others unable to attend.  It is the face-to-face process that is the goal.  

Luke 10:27-29

He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Thursday, February 13, 2014

The Grace of Persistence

I have been a part of a couple of interesting conversations lately. They both had something of a similar theme—persistence. In one, persistence was regarded as something we do while waiting for moments of grace to enter our lives. In the other, persistence was regarded as a vital part of dealing with difficulties in life.
I think that persistence can well be a grace in our lives. Rather than simply waiting for good things to happen, or seeing just the good things as moments of grace, persistence itself, the act of waiting is a grace. It reminds me of a word that might seem rather old-fashioned these days—biding. An online dictionary refers to bide as archaic and defines it as to “remain or stay somewhere.” It also has a sense of waiting and tarrying.
So often we are trying to hurry through life, wanting to go from one “good” moment to another, instead of abiding, waiting, tarrying. This morning, as I was leaving the house after making sure that it was in pristine order in case someone wanted to see it with their real estate agent, I asked God to please help it sell soon. Then I realized that was not what I needed to pray, so I asked God to help with have patience during this waiting time. What can the grace be for me in this time of waiting? I am not sure yet--that insight usually comes after the fact for me—but I am sure that there is grace here in this moment, and in the very act of waiting.
While I cannot make something happen faster just because I want it to, I can refuse to live into the waiting. If I do that, I will not be open to this moment. I will be like the disciples who kept falling asleep in the garden. And so, my prayer is to bide, to wait, to tarry in this moment, to be open to what the very act of biding can teach me—that the grace of persistence is deeper than I can imagine.

Luke 11:8

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Lessons from a Cypress Swamp


Great American Egret
At the Bethany Center in Lutz, FL, there is a cypress swamp between the cottages where we stay by Lake Mary and the building we meet in by Lake Martha. My 3-4 round trips a day give me about 2 miles total. From a bridge above the swamp, we can stop and observe. This afternoon, Larry, one of the facilitators, gave us a visual tour.

The theme of this workshop or Clergy Institute is The Geography of Grace, looking at our own lives and at our communities. After we had spent about 30 minutes observing and learning, Larry asked us to reflect on what the swamp might have to teach us about our own community.

In that small space thrives an enormous ecosystem. What we can see above the water in the trees has great diversity, as does the water level, and underneath the water. Spanish moss depends on the trees, while the tree does not really depend on the moss but supports it and tolerates it. How important is it to support ministries, programs or groups that may not “feed” the church directly still be an important part of the ecosystem to support?

Since the roots of the cypress trees are under water and cannot readily access oxygen, the tree raises up “knees” to absorb the vital gas. These knees might be right next to the tree trunk, or they might be several feet away. A knee that sits in the middle of several trees could belong to anyone of them. What ministry, program or group that appears unconnected really could be a vital source of oxygen and therefore life to the congregation?

I can apply the same reflections to my own life as well as our community. This is a deep time, and I am grateful to you all for allowing me to deepen in this way.

1 Chronicles 16:32-34

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; for God’s steadfast love endures forever.