The story was the same as it is every year. God has sent an angel to earth seeking a sign of Christmas hope and peace. The story always has the same happy ending when a father is reconciled and re-united with his run-away daughter. Yet the journey of getting from the beginning to the end of the Christmas tale is always a most joyous and outlandish ride. This year the story was told in The Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville, Fla., by The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The musicians’ affinity for classical music played in a heavy rock and roll style fills the entire 2 ½ hour performance. But what also pervades the performance during the playing of most of the classical and Christmas carol based music are strobe lights, lasers, flame throwing fire-pots, smoke machines, stage rigging that moves out over the audience, and, oh yes, a fifteen piece orchestra backing up the three guitarists, the two keyboard players, the one electronic violinist, and the sole drummer who has lasers flying out of his drums. The Christmas message is invoked in a sensory overloaded experience. One 84-year-old woman who was in the final stages of her battle with cancer who accompanied me to a performance two years ago stood clapping and dancing as the final selection – Beethoven’s Fifth - was being played. Then she said to me, “What joy I felt! That was really something! I feel like a child again!” That’s part of what Christmas is all about – innocence and freedom of spirit and child-like joy and wonder. There is a part of the heart of Christmas that should be outlandishly joyous. “Joy to the world the Lord has come!”
I move ahead twelve hours to a street in the old section of St. Augustine, Fla. As we walked down the narrow streets of the “oldest city in America” I noticed an unassuming sign hanging from the entrance to a small courtyard. It was the entrance to St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine. They called the shrine – where the first colony of Greeks arrived in America – their “Plymouth Rock.” We cautiously approached the narrow doorway. After being greeted warmly by two members of the shrine’s staff, we walked into the history filled and icon laden shrine. The altar evoked a meditative spirit and calming silence to our souls. The awe and wonder of the shepherds and magi enfolded us. Speechless, silence, iconic beauty – the Virgin and Child looked into our souls from their elevated place behind the altar. “How silently the wondrous gift is given!”
Child-like joy and innocence that believes that reconciliation among all peoples is possible; that lions and lambs can lie together – awe-filled silence that is birthed because of the mystery and majesty of this Holy Birth. “Let heaven and nature sing” – “Fall on your knees and hear the angel voices!” This is why I call Christmas the extreme season. It is no season for mediocrity when it comes to the state of our souls. May Christmas be the catalyst for our living an extremely Christ-filled life regardless of the date on the calendar.
Bob
P.S. Since I finished this article Congress voted a weak budget deal and extension of the payroll tax cuts. Our elected officials have become such boring, joyless, boxed up people. They have become the supreme example of “Bah! Humbug People!” Maybe they need to go to a TSO concert and to the shrine of St. Photios.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
An Anecdote for Knowing It All
I woke up this a.m. and listened to my favorite political fix show Morning Joe. Naturally most of the news was about the Super Committee dealing with the budget, the Republican candidates for president expressing their viewpoints, and the lingering news about the Penn State fiasco surrounding the accusations of child abuse brought against a long time football coach. I then read a few e-mails from some of my friends who were expressing hard line positions about “certain” people and things political – most with which I strongly disagreed. At first I wanted to e-mail them back and tell them about their “lost” way and share the “truth” with them. As you can see I started my day hearing about people taking hard line positions – speaking as if they knew it all about the person or the issue which they were addressing. It was then that I turned to my morning meditative reading. The words I read were from the twentieth century monastic Thomas Merton.
We ought to have the humility to admit we do not know all about ourselves, that we are not experts at running our own lives. We ought to stop taking our conscious plans and decisions with such infinite seriousness. It may well be that we are not the martyrs or mystics or apostles or the leaders or lovers of God that we imagine ourselves to be. Our subconscious mind may be trying to tell us this in many ways and we have trained ourselves with the most egregious self-righteousness to turn a deaf ear.”
Was this a God thing? Those who have ears, hear! Maybe taking the time to come to know ourselves (our desires, our motives, our strengths, our weaknesses, our hopes and fears) before becoming a know it all about any person or issue might just be the way to building bridges over chasms of misunderstanding.
I woke up this a.m. and listened to my favorite political fix show Morning Joe. Naturally most of the news was about the Super Committee dealing with the budget, the Republican candidates for president expressing their viewpoints, and the lingering news about the Penn State fiasco surrounding the accusations of child abuse brought against a long time football coach. I then read a few e-mails from some of my friends who were expressing hard line positions about “certain” people and things political – most with which I strongly disagreed. At first I wanted to e-mail them back and tell them about their “lost” way and share the “truth” with them. As you can see I started my day hearing about people taking hard line positions – speaking as if they knew it all about the person or the issue which they were addressing. It was then that I turned to my morning meditative reading. The words I read were from the twentieth century monastic Thomas Merton.
We ought to have the humility to admit we do not know all about ourselves, that we are not experts at running our own lives. We ought to stop taking our conscious plans and decisions with such infinite seriousness. It may well be that we are not the martyrs or mystics or apostles or the leaders or lovers of God that we imagine ourselves to be. Our subconscious mind may be trying to tell us this in many ways and we have trained ourselves with the most egregious self-righteousness to turn a deaf ear.”
Was this a God thing? Those who have ears, hear! Maybe taking the time to come to know ourselves (our desires, our motives, our strengths, our weaknesses, our hopes and fears) before becoming a know it all about any person or issue might just be the way to building bridges over chasms of misunderstanding.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A Lesson from Penn State That Requires Our Attention
So Joe’s Gone – Stop Piling On – Sinners All
The forced exit of Joe Paterno as coach of the Penn State football team will not ease the pain of the victims and their families. The tragedy has happened and hopefully time and an undercurrent of God’s grace will help the abused to find some healing from scares inflicted upon their souls. Paterno’s exit, while necessary, will not solve the underlying problem that allows all forms of abuse to take place in the world of sport……games have become multi-million dollar businesses. And those teams and usually their coaches that succeed in the business of sport – whether amateur (I almost regret using the word – Are there any left?) or professional – have been elevated to a divine status. They are worshipped and adored and well-compensated for their elect status. O come let us adore them! Let us adore them with TV contracts and tee shirt sales and media commentator praise! Let us adore them with the excessive adulation of fanatical followers and free athletic equipment as long as the logo of the giver is visible for all to see. Come let us adore them by allowing substandard academic achievement and blind acceptance of all forms of less than acceptable behavior.
I am amazed at the number of sport’s commentators who make a living helping to elevate and praise these gods of sport who have suddenly become so self-righteous in their pointing their fingers at “those” sinners. I am repulsed at the “grandstand righteous” who know what Joe Pa and others should have done but in their daily lives either look the other way or do just “what is required” in the face of all kinds of injustices and marginally and blatantly immoral behaviors that occur around them. I have always been concerned about those who are rabidly fanatical about “their team” and in doing so lose all sense of rational thinking or behavior. We who have lost our way and our minds when it comes to our love of sport are guilty of allowing competitive sports to live by different moral standards.
And what is our penance? Let us in all possible ways begin to bring back into sports a spirit that affirms “it is not whether you win or lose but rather it is how you play the game.” May all parents and coaches of children and youth sports teams behave in ways that exemplify the highest in moral behavior. Let us help our children to build character not resumes for scholarships. Let all who love sports appreciate fair play and good behavior on the field of play more than the their team’s standing in the league or their rankings in the polls. Let us speak up not just about such heinous acts like those that has brought disgrace at Penn State but whenever we see less than character building behaviors in any sporting endeavor.
Personally from afar I have liked what I have seen in the character building work of Joe Paterno. He made one very tragic mistake which will not soon be forgotten. Yes, maybe all the adulation led to some hubris in dealing with his tenacious desire to coach until the end of the season. But there is at least one visual testimony to Paterno’s character building focus that is displayed every time the Nittany Lions take the field. There are no names on the players’ shirts. It is all about “we”, not “me.” It is WE who say we love sports who need to accept our share of the blame for where the world of sport has gone. And it is we who need to take the steps to bring individual and team sports back to earth. It is we who have done much in granting elevated, godlike status to those who excel in playing games. For the sake of all children we need to do the right and moral thing so others are not emotionally scarred through their participation in playing their games or through, God forbid, another very sick predator’s actions.
“Those who are without sin, let them cast the first stone.”
Prayerfully and Penitentially Yours, Bob
The forced exit of Joe Paterno as coach of the Penn State football team will not ease the pain of the victims and their families. The tragedy has happened and hopefully time and an undercurrent of God’s grace will help the abused to find some healing from scares inflicted upon their souls. Paterno’s exit, while necessary, will not solve the underlying problem that allows all forms of abuse to take place in the world of sport……games have become multi-million dollar businesses. And those teams and usually their coaches that succeed in the business of sport – whether amateur (I almost regret using the word – Are there any left?) or professional – have been elevated to a divine status. They are worshipped and adored and well-compensated for their elect status. O come let us adore them! Let us adore them with TV contracts and tee shirt sales and media commentator praise! Let us adore them with the excessive adulation of fanatical followers and free athletic equipment as long as the logo of the giver is visible for all to see. Come let us adore them by allowing substandard academic achievement and blind acceptance of all forms of less than acceptable behavior.
I am amazed at the number of sport’s commentators who make a living helping to elevate and praise these gods of sport who have suddenly become so self-righteous in their pointing their fingers at “those” sinners. I am repulsed at the “grandstand righteous” who know what Joe Pa and others should have done but in their daily lives either look the other way or do just “what is required” in the face of all kinds of injustices and marginally and blatantly immoral behaviors that occur around them. I have always been concerned about those who are rabidly fanatical about “their team” and in doing so lose all sense of rational thinking or behavior. We who have lost our way and our minds when it comes to our love of sport are guilty of allowing competitive sports to live by different moral standards.
And what is our penance? Let us in all possible ways begin to bring back into sports a spirit that affirms “it is not whether you win or lose but rather it is how you play the game.” May all parents and coaches of children and youth sports teams behave in ways that exemplify the highest in moral behavior. Let us help our children to build character not resumes for scholarships. Let all who love sports appreciate fair play and good behavior on the field of play more than the their team’s standing in the league or their rankings in the polls. Let us speak up not just about such heinous acts like those that has brought disgrace at Penn State but whenever we see less than character building behaviors in any sporting endeavor.
Personally from afar I have liked what I have seen in the character building work of Joe Paterno. He made one very tragic mistake which will not soon be forgotten. Yes, maybe all the adulation led to some hubris in dealing with his tenacious desire to coach until the end of the season. But there is at least one visual testimony to Paterno’s character building focus that is displayed every time the Nittany Lions take the field. There are no names on the players’ shirts. It is all about “we”, not “me.” It is WE who say we love sports who need to accept our share of the blame for where the world of sport has gone. And it is we who need to take the steps to bring individual and team sports back to earth. It is we who have done much in granting elevated, godlike status to those who excel in playing games. For the sake of all children we need to do the right and moral thing so others are not emotionally scarred through their participation in playing their games or through, God forbid, another very sick predator’s actions.
“Those who are without sin, let them cast the first stone.”
Prayerfully and Penitentially Yours, Bob
Friday, September 9, 2011
9/11
Rebuilding a Tower Together
Genesis 11 – Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.’ And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’
9 – 11! Two numbers that up until 10 years ago meant little together. Now when placed side by side they define – hatred, sadness, insecurity, loss of innocence, shattered hopes, suffering………… of all the definitions of 9/11, I am most dismayed by the loss of innocence. The terrorists have won if we now live in a state of constant mistrust and fear. It is so antithetical to the Gospel message of “fear not.” They have won if it has dampened the childlike dream of a realm where the lion and the lamb can lie together in harmony.
For some reason this morning I was led to Genesis 11 – the account of the tower of Babel. It starts out with that wonderful dream of one world where there was understanding and unity. But then came the devilish words: “Come, let us………………..make a name for ourselves.” “Ourselves…not our God…….Ourselves.” It began the battle between bricks and mortar and things of the Spirit.
Come us rebuild this tower together
Built with those holy girders that can weather
The storms of life
That come because of hatred and selfishness induced strife
Come let us rebuild a tower that auto-pilot planes built with revenge cannot topple and shatter
Let us rebuild it with concrete hard faith-based values, those things that when given flight in the heart really matter
No unmanned drones that have collateral damage that the innocent disfigure and kill
But rather planes overflowing with food for the hungry whose stomachs cry out to be filled
Let us rebuild with pillars of innocent trust given which pre-judges no one until the stranger’s story is heard
That in speaking of others recognizes all as children of God and begins by speaking an good, uplifting word
Let us rebuild with pillars that are not motivated by seeking self esteem or greed
But listens and then acts to meet the other’s need.
It is strange that the initial response to those now forever wed numbers 9/11
Brought a visual image not of towers crumbling before our eyes but a vision of heaven
People risking their lives to comfort the suffering and seek the lost
To be there for the others regardless of the cost
No questions on that day whether a person in need was Christian, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, Buddhist or Jew
To save a life or weep with those who weep was all the heroes of that day knew
So let us begin the rebuilding task infused in our souls by an innocent yet strong message preached from a towering cross
In rebuilding let us make a name for the One who proclaimed in reaching for heaven there are vistas of joy awaiting our sight in spite of the cost.
I know! For some this attempt at prose will appear so idyllic and unrealistic. The question is “Have we ever really tried it?”
Genesis 11 – Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.’ And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’
9 – 11! Two numbers that up until 10 years ago meant little together. Now when placed side by side they define – hatred, sadness, insecurity, loss of innocence, shattered hopes, suffering………… of all the definitions of 9/11, I am most dismayed by the loss of innocence. The terrorists have won if we now live in a state of constant mistrust and fear. It is so antithetical to the Gospel message of “fear not.” They have won if it has dampened the childlike dream of a realm where the lion and the lamb can lie together in harmony.
For some reason this morning I was led to Genesis 11 – the account of the tower of Babel. It starts out with that wonderful dream of one world where there was understanding and unity. But then came the devilish words: “Come, let us………………..make a name for ourselves.” “Ourselves…not our God…….Ourselves.” It began the battle between bricks and mortar and things of the Spirit.
Come us rebuild this tower together
Built with those holy girders that can weather
The storms of life
That come because of hatred and selfishness induced strife
Come let us rebuild a tower that auto-pilot planes built with revenge cannot topple and shatter
Let us rebuild it with concrete hard faith-based values, those things that when given flight in the heart really matter
No unmanned drones that have collateral damage that the innocent disfigure and kill
But rather planes overflowing with food for the hungry whose stomachs cry out to be filled
Let us rebuild with pillars of innocent trust given which pre-judges no one until the stranger’s story is heard
That in speaking of others recognizes all as children of God and begins by speaking an good, uplifting word
Let us rebuild with pillars that are not motivated by seeking self esteem or greed
But listens and then acts to meet the other’s need.
It is strange that the initial response to those now forever wed numbers 9/11
Brought a visual image not of towers crumbling before our eyes but a vision of heaven
People risking their lives to comfort the suffering and seek the lost
To be there for the others regardless of the cost
No questions on that day whether a person in need was Christian, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, Buddhist or Jew
To save a life or weep with those who weep was all the heroes of that day knew
So let us begin the rebuilding task infused in our souls by an innocent yet strong message preached from a towering cross
In rebuilding let us make a name for the One who proclaimed in reaching for heaven there are vistas of joy awaiting our sight in spite of the cost.
I know! For some this attempt at prose will appear so idyllic and unrealistic. The question is “Have we ever really tried it?”
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
In Praise of the Commons
God Bless Wayne Terwilliger and Michael Martinez
I Corinthians 12:4-13
I am afraid I will expire before I complete an important life task – selling my massive collection of sports cards, particularly baseball cards. It is an emotionally and mentally straining thing to do. These cards represent my childhood, my love of sport, my escape from some of the painful realities of life that clergy are involved in every day. Yet my children, while appreciating sport, have little interest in such collecting and because I have close to 100,000 cards and they live in townhouses with little storage space it is my pre-expiration goal to sort and sell! The sorting is a monumental task because the value of the cards is largely dependent upon the “star” quality of the athletes. Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays are worth over $500 while the “commons” are worth a few cents to a few dollars.
Most players who end up in the common lot have names that few will remember. Yet while the world cares less about the commons, I have a fond affection for many of them. The names Wayne Terwilliger and Michael Martinez lingered in my mind as I read Paul’s call to the divided church in Corinth – a church that was struggling with pecking order questions. You see Wayne Terwilliger was a journeyman second baseman for several American and National League teams who shouldn’t have been around for almost ten years……he was a weak hitter. But his utility of playing numerous positions and his baseball savvy kept made him a valuable fill-in when needed. Michael Martinez is a rookie with the Philadelphia Phillies and has played six positions this year as a backup when the starters went down with injuries or needed some rest.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the Spirit.” For Paul there was not one ungifted person in the church. Paul realized that the utility players are often at the heart of a successful church ministry. A warm welcome; a meal prepared for someone who is sick; a time of volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen; a firm word said when a prejudicial or unjust word is said; taking time to listen to someone who has a painful story to tell! The utility players are always ready to step in and handle the dirty work or do the simple deeds that mean so much in the building of the realm of God.
With 9/11 approaching we also remember that the real heroes on that day were largely the utility players – the police, the firefighters, EMTs, the individual souls whose names will not be remembered who did the small things that saved lives, that comforted the mourning, that fed those rescue team members, that offered simple prayers as they watched the horrific acts on their televisions. As we remember that steel blue sky dark day, let us give thanks for the “common” souls who did what they could to bring light out of the darkness.
There are often too many people who want to be stars and not enough of the faithful wanting to be utility players. Prayerfully ponder your remembrances of some of the faithful utility players who have ministered to you and have helped to shape your life of faith. Be alert for opportunities as you go about your daily lives for opportunities to be a utility player in building the realm of God.
I Corinthians 12:4-13
I am afraid I will expire before I complete an important life task – selling my massive collection of sports cards, particularly baseball cards. It is an emotionally and mentally straining thing to do. These cards represent my childhood, my love of sport, my escape from some of the painful realities of life that clergy are involved in every day. Yet my children, while appreciating sport, have little interest in such collecting and because I have close to 100,000 cards and they live in townhouses with little storage space it is my pre-expiration goal to sort and sell! The sorting is a monumental task because the value of the cards is largely dependent upon the “star” quality of the athletes. Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays are worth over $500 while the “commons” are worth a few cents to a few dollars.
Most players who end up in the common lot have names that few will remember. Yet while the world cares less about the commons, I have a fond affection for many of them. The names Wayne Terwilliger and Michael Martinez lingered in my mind as I read Paul’s call to the divided church in Corinth – a church that was struggling with pecking order questions. You see Wayne Terwilliger was a journeyman second baseman for several American and National League teams who shouldn’t have been around for almost ten years……he was a weak hitter. But his utility of playing numerous positions and his baseball savvy kept made him a valuable fill-in when needed. Michael Martinez is a rookie with the Philadelphia Phillies and has played six positions this year as a backup when the starters went down with injuries or needed some rest.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the Spirit.” For Paul there was not one ungifted person in the church. Paul realized that the utility players are often at the heart of a successful church ministry. A warm welcome; a meal prepared for someone who is sick; a time of volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen; a firm word said when a prejudicial or unjust word is said; taking time to listen to someone who has a painful story to tell! The utility players are always ready to step in and handle the dirty work or do the simple deeds that mean so much in the building of the realm of God.
With 9/11 approaching we also remember that the real heroes on that day were largely the utility players – the police, the firefighters, EMTs, the individual souls whose names will not be remembered who did the small things that saved lives, that comforted the mourning, that fed those rescue team members, that offered simple prayers as they watched the horrific acts on their televisions. As we remember that steel blue sky dark day, let us give thanks for the “common” souls who did what they could to bring light out of the darkness.
There are often too many people who want to be stars and not enough of the faithful wanting to be utility players. Prayerfully ponder your remembrances of some of the faithful utility players who have ministered to you and have helped to shape your life of faith. Be alert for opportunities as you go about your daily lives for opportunities to be a utility player in building the realm of God.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
For Those Who Desire an Innocent Soul
Thinking about Children
“The Cat in the Hat told the Grinch that ‘How to behave is all in the BOOK, so why don’t to take a small look in the book.’” The Cat in the Hat also told Sam I-Am that “The BOOK is better than green eggs and ham and the BOOK isn’t filled with foolish spam.” These profound words were the opening gathered syllables and thoughts to a sermon I preached several years ago on “Homecoming Sunday” – “Rally Day” – “It’s Time to Begin to Try and Make an Effort to Get the Children to Church Sunday.” You name it. I always felt it was a Sunday to focus on innocent faith and the nurture of children within the family. And how does one keep the attention of little ones for fifteen to twenty minutes. You write a musical sermon entitled “The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss.” After that sermon, which seemed to resonate with the little ones, one older child of God came up to me and said: “That was a most meaningful sermon….one of your best.” I wasn’t sure how to receive such a mixed message – I worked hard to make them all my best. Several other big “ones” also joined in the chorus of accolades. I couldn’t help but think – “Maybe I should quote the great theologians and spiritual giants less and quote Sesame Street, Curious George, Mr. Rogers (He was a Presbyterian minister) more often.” I don’t think that’s what they had in mind but I do think that we all have a child’s spirit within us waiting to be unlocked every once in awhile. Maybe we spend too little time with children and also not enough time reading the innocent and Spirit reviving message in THE BOOK.
It is a time to remember and be concerned about children and to recommit ourselves to the innocent faith that most of us first learned as a child. The children are going back to school and hopefully to church school. Maybe it is time that we go back to school by taking a look in THE BOOK. There are “Grinches” out there who are “filling themselves with gold and green eggs and ham……..and telling others ‘It’s all about me and maybe if you’re lucky you’ll find some out of date Spam’.” “So let’s take a look in THE BOOK and if we follow and do not flinch, we’ll put the Grinches of this world in a terrible pinch.”
Prayer
Lover of the little ones, help me to avoid looking into the eyes of little children. The ones at play make me feel sad that I have lost my ability to play without feeling silly. The ones who long for attention make me feel guilty that I don’t have the time or patience to really give them my attention. The ones who are hungry and hurting because of poverty make me feel uncomfortable that I am doing so little to change their lot in life. God of the incarnate innocent Little One, touch my eyes with your Spirit so that I might see with the eyes of children and might laugh and dance and sing with thanksgiving for the miracles that are everywhere; so that I might cry when I see a wounded bird or wounded soul; so that I might believe that fairy tales can come true and that in living with that hope in my heart I can help to make them come true. I pray all this hoping for a rebirth of my ability to see as if I were seeing everything for the first time. Amen.
“The Cat in the Hat told the Grinch that ‘How to behave is all in the BOOK, so why don’t to take a small look in the book.’” The Cat in the Hat also told Sam I-Am that “The BOOK is better than green eggs and ham and the BOOK isn’t filled with foolish spam.” These profound words were the opening gathered syllables and thoughts to a sermon I preached several years ago on “Homecoming Sunday” – “Rally Day” – “It’s Time to Begin to Try and Make an Effort to Get the Children to Church Sunday.” You name it. I always felt it was a Sunday to focus on innocent faith and the nurture of children within the family. And how does one keep the attention of little ones for fifteen to twenty minutes. You write a musical sermon entitled “The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss.” After that sermon, which seemed to resonate with the little ones, one older child of God came up to me and said: “That was a most meaningful sermon….one of your best.” I wasn’t sure how to receive such a mixed message – I worked hard to make them all my best. Several other big “ones” also joined in the chorus of accolades. I couldn’t help but think – “Maybe I should quote the great theologians and spiritual giants less and quote Sesame Street, Curious George, Mr. Rogers (He was a Presbyterian minister) more often.” I don’t think that’s what they had in mind but I do think that we all have a child’s spirit within us waiting to be unlocked every once in awhile. Maybe we spend too little time with children and also not enough time reading the innocent and Spirit reviving message in THE BOOK.
It is a time to remember and be concerned about children and to recommit ourselves to the innocent faith that most of us first learned as a child. The children are going back to school and hopefully to church school. Maybe it is time that we go back to school by taking a look in THE BOOK. There are “Grinches” out there who are “filling themselves with gold and green eggs and ham……..and telling others ‘It’s all about me and maybe if you’re lucky you’ll find some out of date Spam’.” “So let’s take a look in THE BOOK and if we follow and do not flinch, we’ll put the Grinches of this world in a terrible pinch.”
Prayer
Lover of the little ones, help me to avoid looking into the eyes of little children. The ones at play make me feel sad that I have lost my ability to play without feeling silly. The ones who long for attention make me feel guilty that I don’t have the time or patience to really give them my attention. The ones who are hungry and hurting because of poverty make me feel uncomfortable that I am doing so little to change their lot in life. God of the incarnate innocent Little One, touch my eyes with your Spirit so that I might see with the eyes of children and might laugh and dance and sing with thanksgiving for the miracles that are everywhere; so that I might cry when I see a wounded bird or wounded soul; so that I might believe that fairy tales can come true and that in living with that hope in my heart I can help to make them come true. I pray all this hoping for a rebirth of my ability to see as if I were seeing everything for the first time. Amen.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Flee Time
The Earthquake, The Hurricane, and The Search for Gadhafi
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High. (Portion of Psalm 46)
I felt the earth move under my feet – remember Carole King’s lyrics. This time it wasn’t love, it was a real live seismic event – close to 6.0 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake is now history, but now Irene is bearing down on the eastern coastline from the Carolinas to New England and all things in between. Category 2 or 3, it still will mean some significant destruction because of its high winds and its high water. And then there is the seismic, earth shaking events in the Libya and the Middle East. Decades of a horrid dictatorship are ending. Earthquakes, hurricanes, changes in the international geo-political map, and yes a volatile economy…. while some of the change we applaud, at times like this we feel like everything is out of control and we look for some center of solitude that can calm us during the chaos.
The verb for the Hebrew word translated “refuge” means to “flee.” Some days we just want to flee from “it all.” And the text says we need to look for a stream – water is so important in the Israel and the Middle East because it is in such short supply. It is not the powerful roaring and foaming waters that bring refreshment and solace…it is the almost inaudible stream that brings shalom, peace.
Today I watched the birds on the feeder in my back yard and then went to sit by one of the many salt water lakes near my home on Cape Cod. It reminded me that when all things seem to be out of control, God in the background can bring our souls to gladness and peace if we take the “flee” time that is so often at a premium. I recommend some flee time even when the earth isn’t shaking and the waters aren't roaring and foaming.
Getting Ready for Our Date with Irene on Cape Cod,
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High. (Portion of Psalm 46)
I felt the earth move under my feet – remember Carole King’s lyrics. This time it wasn’t love, it was a real live seismic event – close to 6.0 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake is now history, but now Irene is bearing down on the eastern coastline from the Carolinas to New England and all things in between. Category 2 or 3, it still will mean some significant destruction because of its high winds and its high water. And then there is the seismic, earth shaking events in the Libya and the Middle East. Decades of a horrid dictatorship are ending. Earthquakes, hurricanes, changes in the international geo-political map, and yes a volatile economy…. while some of the change we applaud, at times like this we feel like everything is out of control and we look for some center of solitude that can calm us during the chaos.
The verb for the Hebrew word translated “refuge” means to “flee.” Some days we just want to flee from “it all.” And the text says we need to look for a stream – water is so important in the Israel and the Middle East because it is in such short supply. It is not the powerful roaring and foaming waters that bring refreshment and solace…it is the almost inaudible stream that brings shalom, peace.
Today I watched the birds on the feeder in my back yard and then went to sit by one of the many salt water lakes near my home on Cape Cod. It reminded me that when all things seem to be out of control, God in the background can bring our souls to gladness and peace if we take the “flee” time that is so often at a premium. I recommend some flee time even when the earth isn’t shaking and the waters aren't roaring and foaming.
Getting Ready for Our Date with Irene on Cape Cod,
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Presidency and The Literal Interpretation of the Bible – Beware!
My father was a CFO of a mid-sized corporation and treasurer of a merged company that included Union Carbide Corp. He was a registered Republican in name only! He once told me his Presidential voting record and it was all over the place. At least once he voted Socialist. And occasionally he voted Democratic. Let me explain the reason for his eclectic political viewpoint. His much loved Grandfather was a William Jennings Bryan populist. Bryan three times ran on the Democratic ticket for the presidency. My father at least once voted for Norman Thomas, a Socialist. Thomas ran six times for the presidency. I know what you’re thinking, where am I going with this. Bryan – a champion for the average citizen and Secretary of State in Woodrow Wilson’s administration and who often took pacifistic stances – was a devout Presbyterian. His devout nature caused him to fight against evolution in the famous Scopes Trial. Thomas was a Presbyterian clergyman, a pacifist and had a significant ministry with the least and the lost in Hell’s Kitchen in NYC. Both took the Gospel message literally. They both saw Jesus as the Prince of Peace and the one who said many things about grace and love toward friend and enemy alike / toward all regardless of social or economic standing.
Today a number of people interested in the presidency say that they interpret the Bible literally. They say they are ardent in following the teachings of the One who said pass no judgment on others; who said do not return evil for evil; who said regardless of race or tribe all are cherished children of God. Can you believe he made a Samaritan – someone equivalent to a Palestinian today - a hero in one of his parabolic stories. There is a danger in taking the Bible really literally – it makes the living of each day a little difficult. It humbles us and puts the welfare of others as paramount in going about our daily doings.
I think I now understand why my church attending, Bible reading, financial whiz Father was enamored with Bryan and Thomas. Like them, he too read the words of Jesus and took them literally. I wish both Democrats and Republicans, Libertarians, etc., and, yes, Democratic Socialists took the Gospel literally. It would make a whole lot of difference in how we set our personal and national agendas and how we deal with deficits and jobs and international relations (And how we go about our politics).
P.S. Just started reading a recently released book, Conscience. It is the story of the four Thomas Brothers. Two of the brothers served with valor in WWI and two brothers – including Norman, protested the war and were pacifists. It is written by Norman Thomas’ great-granddaughter. Great reviews.
God of the Living Word, hidden, yet profoundly seen in the words of Scripture, instill in us the courage to live your Word literally. We know it will most likely alter our standard operating procedures with which we have become too comfortable. Yet because you are a gracious God, we also know that you will refresh us and surprise us in our literal living with holy moments in which we experience a delicious taste of your realm. We pray this in the name of the One who spoke and lived your Word so that we might live out in word and deed your love. Amen.
Monday, August 15, 2011
BE NICE
Went to worship yesterday! Gretchen and I have done this numerous times since my leave-taking from weekly pulpit appearances. Yesterday’s service was fine. Good sermon; traditional music; mostly gray hair in the pews. It was fine but not all that inspiring. In the last few months I have been to all sizes and shapes of churches. On Palm Sunday there was little reference to Palm Sunday but there was 50+ verses of Jesus’ trial read with no dramatic energy. I heard about Windex for six minutes in a sermon on Maundy Thursday. I sang Kumbaya on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday I heard sermon that lack enthusiasm and joy (Spiritually leaving Jesus in the tomb). I have heard good sermons surrounded by dreadful music and, on other occasions, uninspiring music that matched the sermon. Having worked hard to establish a partnership with my fellow worship leaders and having pondered how each small part of the liturgy might be handled in creative ways so that even the silent moments and the reading of Scripture would be inspirational, I now realize how fortunate I was to have served in local church settings that encouraged creativity.
But this reflection is not about “how to” be creative in worship, it is rather about my fault finding when I am supposed to be worshipping the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Before and after each worship service Gretchen is into the habit of reminding me to “Be nice!” “Nice” seems like such a trivial, syrupy-sweet, shallow word. So I went to the dictionary to find how it is defined – pleasant, kind, pleasing, agreeable, respectable. Kind – love is kind!......it does not insist on its own way. I learned that somewhere. Legend – and maybe history - has it that the profound thinking German theologian, Karl Barth, when asked about the essential message of all theology responded – “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Maybe the essential message of Jesus with his message of welcoming strangers and loving enemies can be summed up in two words “Be nice!”
We haven’t had a whole lot of being nice in Washington and in politics in general lately. It seems that anger and rage are on the increase in everything from sports to driving behavior. It appears that our society is quick to anger and slow to listen to others who may not see it our way. Nice – love – kind – good – four letter words that might just sum up the depth of the divine mystery of faith. So, let us “Be nice” in all situations and at all times. Maybe God is trying to teach me how to learn to be nice even when I think the sermon goes nowhere and the music is a little off key.
Went to worship yesterday! Gretchen and I have done this numerous times since my leave-taking from weekly pulpit appearances. Yesterday’s service was fine. Good sermon; traditional music; mostly gray hair in the pews. It was fine but not all that inspiring. In the last few months I have been to all sizes and shapes of churches. On Palm Sunday there was little reference to Palm Sunday but there was 50+ verses of Jesus’ trial read with no dramatic energy. I heard about Windex for six minutes in a sermon on Maundy Thursday. I sang Kumbaya on Good Friday. On Easter Sunday I heard sermon that lack enthusiasm and joy (Spiritually leaving Jesus in the tomb). I have heard good sermons surrounded by dreadful music and, on other occasions, uninspiring music that matched the sermon. Having worked hard to establish a partnership with my fellow worship leaders and having pondered how each small part of the liturgy might be handled in creative ways so that even the silent moments and the reading of Scripture would be inspirational, I now realize how fortunate I was to have served in local church settings that encouraged creativity.
But this reflection is not about “how to” be creative in worship, it is rather about my fault finding when I am supposed to be worshipping the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Before and after each worship service Gretchen is into the habit of reminding me to “Be nice!” “Nice” seems like such a trivial, syrupy-sweet, shallow word. So I went to the dictionary to find how it is defined – pleasant, kind, pleasing, agreeable, respectable. Kind – love is kind!......it does not insist on its own way. I learned that somewhere. Legend – and maybe history - has it that the profound thinking German theologian, Karl Barth, when asked about the essential message of all theology responded – “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Maybe the essential message of Jesus with his message of welcoming strangers and loving enemies can be summed up in two words “Be nice!”
We haven’t had a whole lot of being nice in Washington and in politics in general lately. It seems that anger and rage are on the increase in everything from sports to driving behavior. It appears that our society is quick to anger and slow to listen to others who may not see it our way. Nice – love – kind – good – four letter words that might just sum up the depth of the divine mystery of faith. So, let us “Be nice” in all situations and at all times. Maybe God is trying to teach me how to learn to be nice even when I think the sermon goes nowhere and the music is a little off key.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Giving as a Way of Curing the Down Turn Blues
For two weeks the bottom has fallen out of the stock market. Yesterday was the 600+ Dow Jones drop day. My retirement portfolio took a real hit. So in the midst of it all I shut off the TV and went for a ride – saw a beautiful rainbow and listened to some crashing waves – I reside on Cape Cod in the summer. Started to feel somewhat better because I realized God is paying me dividends everyday – if I stop and just be in the moment.
On the way home I stopped for an ice-coffee! I was asked if I wanted to donate to the Jimmy Fund – Dana Faber Cancer Center. It is not a good thing for children to have to do battle with cancer. So, out of my diminishing assets I made a donation. When I arrived home I found Gretchen making a nice donation to one of her favorite causes. There go more of the assets. As I watched the evening news I became heart-sick at the situation in Somalia – 12 million people fighting starvation. So I decided to make a generous donation to the UCC hunger relief fund. There went more of my diminished assets. Yet, somehow I felt better again – sort of a feeling of well-being that was spiritually based, not temporally based. And today I turned on the TV about mid-day and the market was up! If the market stays solid today I will have gained more in my retirement account than was given away to help others in much greater need than I. Call it the beginning of a little bull in the market or a lot of God in my life. Singing the down turn blues; try standing in the moment for a moment and giving so others might know at least a little of God’s abundant love. There is never a down turn in that!
On the way home I stopped for an ice-coffee! I was asked if I wanted to donate to the Jimmy Fund – Dana Faber Cancer Center. It is not a good thing for children to have to do battle with cancer. So, out of my diminishing assets I made a donation. When I arrived home I found Gretchen making a nice donation to one of her favorite causes. There go more of the assets. As I watched the evening news I became heart-sick at the situation in Somalia – 12 million people fighting starvation. So I decided to make a generous donation to the UCC hunger relief fund. There went more of my diminished assets. Yet, somehow I felt better again – sort of a feeling of well-being that was spiritually based, not temporally based. And today I turned on the TV about mid-day and the market was up! If the market stays solid today I will have gained more in my retirement account than was given away to help others in much greater need than I. Call it the beginning of a little bull in the market or a lot of God in my life. Singing the down turn blues; try standing in the moment for a moment and giving so others might know at least a little of God’s abundant love. There is never a down turn in that!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Second Thoughts Resurrected
Second Thoughts Resurrected
The name for my blog originally came from my being the Senior Minister of the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. Now that I am a freelance pastor, consultant, aspiring artist and umpire, I thought a name change would be necessary. But then I had a second thought. In the consultant work I will be doing with churches, I will be encouraging clergy and the members of those churches to think outside the box…….to not go with their first thoughts, those thoughts which usually are shaped by past experience or preconceived ideas. Change requires second thoughts. As I have said about the thinking which I want to lay as a foundation for churches (and even individuals) looking to the future is – “If you don’t ever think outside the box, you’ll almost always end up in the same old box.” My consulting program In Church Imaging is about outside the box thinking. I have been fortunate to minister in churches which were open to second thoughts – as I call it “innovative imagining.” So Second Thoughts it shall continue to be. Looking forward to sharing my second and, maybe even third and fourth thoughts with you. inchurchconsult@yahoo.com
Bob
The name for my blog originally came from my being the Senior Minister of the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, CT. Now that I am a freelance pastor, consultant, aspiring artist and umpire, I thought a name change would be necessary. But then I had a second thought. In the consultant work I will be doing with churches, I will be encouraging clergy and the members of those churches to think outside the box…….to not go with their first thoughts, those thoughts which usually are shaped by past experience or preconceived ideas. Change requires second thoughts. As I have said about the thinking which I want to lay as a foundation for churches (and even individuals) looking to the future is – “If you don’t ever think outside the box, you’ll almost always end up in the same old box.” My consulting program In Church Imaging is about outside the box thinking. I have been fortunate to minister in churches which were open to second thoughts – as I call it “innovative imagining.” So Second Thoughts it shall continue to be. Looking forward to sharing my second and, maybe even third and fourth thoughts with you. inchurchconsult@yahoo.com
Bob
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