Let All Creation Sing: Living in the Moment

Waterfall on Natchez Parkway

We often anticipate as I mentioned in my previous post the weekends; we cannot wait for Saturdays.  Then often we spend Saturdays waiting – waiting for our soccer game to start; waiting for Mom or Dad to finish their chores to take us to the swimming pool; waiting for the party or the concert to happen or waiting on the bus, train or plane to take us where we are going.  These things are worth waiting for and make us glad that we trained, prepared or learned what we needed in order to enjoy our special event or game.  Yesterday I had the opportunity to do some hiking with my husband; it was a two hour drive to where we were going and then we had to hike a little bit to get there.  Yet once we reached the bottom; we come to a beautiful waterfall, which made it all worth it. Allan always does a better than me of moving slowly; I have learned so much from him about stopping along the path so I do not miss a rare flower or a millipede crawling along or a tree growing in a unique direction. 

Psalm 37:7a - Orthodox Jewish Bible

"Rest in Hashem[God], and wait patiently for Him;" 

Being in nature often reminds me of God’s handiwork; the waterfall is one way creation sings.  It makes me stop, look and listen, which we do not often do in the midst of all of our fun Saturday activities.  This was the gift this year of spending Holy Saturday; the day before Easter, with the Benedictine Sisters in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  We were told to think of Holy Saturday as a time of waiting; a day of anticipating the joy of Resurrection.  I had never thought about it in that way because much of my life I have spent the Saturday before Easter doing food preparation, dying Easter eggs, doing last minute shopping or traveling.  I maybe was even at a sporting event or concert.  Therefore, to have this day of silence as my own was a real gift.  The silence of Holy Saturday and the breaking of it around the dinner table and around the fire of Easter Vigil reminded me that sometimes the best blessings occur when we slow down and simply be.  As I held my candle and renewed my baptismal covenant on Saturday evening, I felt the presence of those who have gone before me spending their lives living out their Baptism.  I thought about the faithfulness of the Sisters; who do not know how their service and dedication will be carried into the future. 

Waiting is never easy and often the outcome is not what we want.  The mysteries of suffering are inescapable, however, I believe that when I slow down, pause and let creation sing that God renews my strength.  I challenge you no matter what you believe; to let the Divine permeate your soul with the song of creation. 

 "The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” ― Gautama Buddha

In the Garden at  St. Scholastica Abbey 

"So do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself; each day has enough trouble of its own.  " - Matthew 6:34(Jerusalem Bible) 

Thank goodness it's Friday or Not: Living Hope

In the Garden at St. Scholastica Monastery 

I am not sure when I learned about TGIF – thank goodness or thank God it’s Friday but I am sure I must be around 9 or 10 around that age when school is becoming harder and you look forward to the weekends.  Weekends represented fun, friends and family.  Dinner out, dances, parties, plays, football games and staying up late all occurred on Fridays or sometime during the weekend.  TGIF has become commonplace for me now as an adult; I look forward to a break from the routines of work and school. 

Somehow, though now being thankful for Fridays is more difficult.  Eight weeks ago on a Friday; I said good-bye to my daughter and have not seen her since.  It is hard to believe and hard to wrap my brain around that I have survived.  At first Fridays only represented pain.  Last year at this time; our family was celebrating; we were thankful that Jane was alive and had been able to get the treatment she needed.  Allan took Jane to a doctor’s appointment in Memphis and on then they went on to the Beale Street Music Festival, which they enjoyed. I spent the day catching up on work, enjoying lunch and dinner with two different friends and very grateful to be on the side of healing. 

It is easy to be thankful when things are going well and yet that is not what life is all about is it.  Life is about courage, mystery and relationships.  It is seeing God through the immersion of human experience. Several weeks ago, I spent Good Friday at the St.  Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  Good Friday is when Christians observe and remember the Crucifixion of Christ.  As a kid, I always wondered why it was called Good Friday; shouldn’t it be called bad Friday?  Yet is it good is it not for on that day because of our sins and out of His love for us; Jesus chose to be crucified and died on the cross to bring us living hope. Even we suffer on Fridays because of sickness or job loss or death of loved ones or any kind of tragedy or bad news;  we can hope because Jesus conquered death and stands as our Living Hope even we as humans have none.   However, I have discovered recently that in order to view Good Friday as good; one has to be able to weep and be honest with God.  I cannot truly experience redemption without letting God have my pain. Initially on Good Friday at the monastery; I felt great and I was patting myself on the back for keeping silent and staying away from technology well mostly.  Later after the Celebration of the Passion and dinner; I went out in the garden and wept.  I could see my own betrayal of Jesus: my focus on feeling good, on wanting to hold on to Jane; on wanting to turn the clock back and my desire to want to run away.   As the tears came and as they continue to come; I am reminded of another mother, Mary, who 2,000 years ago watched her son die on cross.  While Mary’s son, Jesus did rise again; the relationship was never the same; Jesus was not her little boy anymore.   I find comfort in knowing that she cried too and that even in knowing that what happened was good for all of humanity; I have to believe it was painful for Mary. So on this Friday; I grieve but I am also thankful because on a Friday many years ago Jesus died and became the Living Hope for all of humanity.  I am thankful for the sunshine, and I am looking forward to this evening with my husband and friends watching minor league baseball. I know in my heart that my redeemer lives and believe even when I do not feel it that my Fridays are being redeemed and healing is occurring.  I weep over what is lost but I look forward with joyful anticipation to what is to come.

A Different Kind of Lent : Heading Towards Resurrection and Redemption

Lent is generally a season of repentance and renewal.   For me,  I try to spend more time with God and usually commit to practicing a particular spiritual discipline.  This year Lent come up quickly as February flew by completing completing college financial aid forms for my daughter and doing our taxes as well as trying to complete my reading for class the 1st weekend in March.  Allan, Jane and I went to church on Ash Wednesday sang, listened and received ashes.  It was a solemn, blessed service.  Yet rather than being a beginning of renewal; it was the calm before the storm.  On her 18th birthday, March 7th, my daughter moved out lock, stock and barrel while we were gone leaving only a note and has not contacted us since.  While we know Jane is safe and is doing what she needs to do; it is very painful.
I have spent this Lenten season barely able to pray, crying, and screaming in anger.  Where are you God? has been the question I have been sitting with and now as I go to Fort Smith, Arkansas to spend the Triduum(the 72 hours before Easter) and Easter at Scholastica Abbey; I go seeking God.
I go knowing that every day I must give Jane to God and focus on where God is calling me.
I go seeking healing so that I can carry out the ministry each day that I am called to do and that I can be present for Allan, for my friends and for others who I encounter on my path.

As I have agonized over Jane being gone and have begun the process have letting go; I have come to recognize that this is what God does for us; he gives us free will.  Yet God continues to thirst for us and wants a relationship with us.  God allows us to go our own way but longs for our return and grieves over our wrongful deeds.  As I contemplate Jesus; the one who was both fully human and fully divine; I face head on the mystery of the cross and resurrection.  It is much more complicated than my human brain can understand.  As Allan and I watched the movie, The Last Temptation of Christ, I reflected greatly on Jesus' humanity and how perhaps he wrestled with his divinity more than we know.  Jesus had to come to terms with going to Jerusalem and dying on  the cross.  In a similar way, I have to come to terms with letting of go of Jane and accept that God will bring redemption in his own timing.

For now, as I prepare for Resurrection; I allow my sins and my suffering to be crucified.  I say God, I desire your living water, fill with me and use me according to your will.  Have a blessed Easter.  

Second Mile Love: Matthew 5:43-48

Second Mile Love – Matthew 5:43-48 – Parsons UMC – February 23, 2014

Jesus in these verses is telling us that answering his call is about a different kind of love.  Jesus calls to a second mile love; a love that continues regardless of how we feel.  In our culture, we are frequently taught to love only those who are nice to us and give us something in return.  Politicians pass laws that favor those who given them the most money.  Contracts are awarded to those who do extra favors.    Every day in the news, we hear about people being assaulted or even murdered for just being in someone else’s way.  They could have been an obstacle to the other’s career or relationship or to winning an election.   So perhaps we think we do not have any enemies since we do not engage in unjust behaviors.  I mean after all we are friendly to everyone.  We are not planning to murder, assault or bribe anyone.  On the other hand, maybe we say to ourselves I already pray for my enemies; I mean I pray for the Taliban in Afghanistan and for the gang warfare in my community so I am set right?  However, what about the person at work whom you make sure you never sit next to at lunch or the person at church whom we avoid.  Are we not by our actions classifying them as enemies?  Do we pray for those who have different ideas than us about how the Sunday school should be run or are we still holding a grudge against the chairperson of the rummage sale committee because they did not take our ideas?  In God’s eyes, we are no better off than the murderer because our sins of bitterness and resentment keep us trapped too.

Perhaps we are like the 98 year old man in the story; Father James Martin tells who stands up and says I have no enemies and when the priest asks him how this is so?  The man replies,” All those bastards have died!”  Yet he still has enemies.   Why? Because his anger indicates that, he is still holding grudges against them and cannot move on.    This bondage is not what Jesus wants.  He wants us to live a life of freedom.

However, God gives us free will.  We can hold to our grudges and stay stuck in past.  Yet over time, this does not accomplish anything.  I can think of times in my life when I was so angry that I lost sleep for several days and could think of nothing but plotting revenge.  Did brooding over this situation do anything; in fact, it brought suffering on me.  I wasted a week of my life preoccupied with hate rather than living in the freedom Jesus desires for me.  Jesus is always waiting for us but we have to choose to surrender. 

Now; just to clarify for a moment; we are not going to like everybody nor does Jesus expect us to open ourselves to abuse and mistreatment.   Loving our enemies means treating everyone with respect and not reacting in anger but rather responding with love.  Sometimes this might mean being silent or other times it might mean going to someone in authority.  Most often, however; what is required is for us to allow God to change our hearts. 

Where do we start?  First, we must start with surrender and admit that since only our Heavenly Father is perfect that we need God’s help.  Then we need to admit our own shortcomings before God and admit that we are in many ways like our enemies.  Next, let us consider listing our enemies. Then perhaps we can start with one or two specific people and pray for them every day. 

The Episcopal Priest, Linda Taylor, describes it this way, “Praying for our enemies means to go with them into God’s presence. We cannot simply send them there, and we cannot just send God after them. We cannot sic God on our enemies as we sic a dog on an intruder. Praying for our enemies means going with them into the Presence—being part of the healing—seeking healing for ourselves just as we seek healing for those whom we see as evil. Above all, the decision to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us means opening our deepest selves to transformation—daring to take one step out of the familiar into the places where we have yet to go.”

Our enemy (real or perceived) may never stop their taunting, their indifference or intimidation but our perspective will change.  We will no longer worry about what our enemies will do or not to do but will simply be free to respond with love. 

As God changes our hearts and we are filled with the Holy Spirit; then we will seek to be salt and light to the world as Jesus has asked us to.  What does this look like?  It means that we will stop using the word hate and take the time to teach others not to hate.  We will not allow those who are different us to be demonized; nor allow ourselves to be influenced by the protests; signs; commercials and speeches that promote hate.  They tell us to have nothing to do with those who are Muslim or homosexual or those who are Latino or who are poor.  They tell us to not even to speak with those in the opposite political party or try to understand those who are Afghan, Iraqi, or North Korean.  All of these people are God’s children whether they believe in Jesus or not.  Loving our enemies means allowing the transformative power of God to work through all.  It means making tough choices.

A Cambodia man whom I will call John because I cannot pronounce his given name tells one incredible story of choosing love not hate.  John at the age of 14 saw 13 members of his family murdered by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.  While plotting his revenge, John lived in a number of refugee camps and eventually immigrated to Canada.  Yet his plan was still to find those responsible and kill them.  In Canada, John came to know Jesus Christ as his Savior and began to experience God’s healing.  However, as time moved on; he realized that his preoccupation with desiring to kill these men was destroying him.  John needed to turn his bitterness over to God and as he sought to forgive those who killed his family; he discovered a new purpose.  John began to feel called to find the men who hurt his family and tell them of Christ’s love.  Several years later, John made trip to Cambodia and found two of the men involved in committing those atrocities.  He shook their hands and said he forgave them.  John continues to serve as a missionary in Cambodia. 

The writer and activist; Shane Claiborne who speaks often on the subject of loving your enemies talks about one life-changing experience he had.  Claiborne and some others traveled to Iraq in March 2003 to get to know the Iraqis as people and meet with Iraqi Christians.  As they were leaving the country, their car broke down in the desert in the midst of bombs coming down.  Some Iraqis came along and picked them up.  Yet they did not shoot or imprison them but rather took them back to their community and nursed them to back to health.  This town of Rutba had many reasons to hate Americans; as they had been bombed numerous times; one of those times their hospital was destroyed.  However, they chose love instead of hate; Shane and his friends were restored to health and the assisted in leaving the country safely.  A bond of friendship was formed between the Iraqis and Americans that continues.

Those two stories illustrate that the transforming love of Christ knows no bounds.  As scriptures tell us, nothing is impossible with God.   We do not need to be afraid; for when we surrender all to Jesus; he goes before us and guides us.

 Let us consider these questions. What we do need to surrender to Jesus this day?  How can we extend Jesus’ love to all people?

In the Name of the One who creates, redeems and sustains. Amen. 

Further Resources on learning to love your enemies 

http://clearfaithpublishing.com/homilies/ - Father James Martin S.J. 's story comes from the book; Naked, And You Clothed Me: Homilies & Reflections for Cycle A

www.quadratos.com - quote from Rev. Linda Taylor comes from their blog

http://theforgivenessproject.com/ - the story of the Cambodian man, John comes from this website 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypfVjQynwes - Youtube Video of Shane Claiborne discussing loving your enemies 

Photography As A Christian Contemplative Practice: Eyes of the Heart by Christine Valters Painter

This time of the year as Epiphany ends and we begin to think about Lent; we often think about what we are going to give up. Yet I would invite you to think about trying something to enrich your relationship with God. Many of us are familiar with Lectio Divina; the practice of sacred reading; but perhaps have not heard the term; Visio Divina. Visio Divina refers to sacred seeing. As technology has made photography accessible to anyone with a phone, Visio Divina has come to mean more than at a looking or observing a picture. It involves learning to receive images as gifts from God. Therefore, whether you are a seasoned photographer or just enjoy taking pictures for fun; I invite you to engage in Visio Divina through the book, Photography As A Christian Contemplative Practice: Eyes of the Heart. This eight-chapter book features meditations, photographic explorations and reflections designed to help the reader experience God in a deeper way.

Written by Christine Valters Paintner in 2013; Dr. Painter in her introduction gives the reader not only a complete overview of the book but discusses her journey and describes how to use the book. Painter; calls the book, “process-oriented” ; it is not a book to be devoured in one sitting but rather to be implemented in one’s life over time and what is important is not the end product but the process. Using the various aspects of photography as a metaphor for the spiritual journey Eyes of the Heart invites us through the first six chapters to consider light and the shadows, contrast, composition, perspective, patterns, color, and reflection.

 Paintner leads us down a path of re-framing and learning to receive images as a contemplative practice rather than taking them to get them done.The book concludes with two chapters on the Holy. Chapter 7 deals with seeing the holy within ourselves. Then chapter 8 focuses on seeing the holy everywhere. Thus, we are taken on a journey from looking to seeing; from disgust to holiness and from self-loathing to love. Following chapter 8, there is a conclusion, acknowledgments, notes and additional resources notes and additional resources all of which give the reader many of choices of places to continue their journey.
Using a mixture of photographs, scripture, poetry and variety of writings from mystics such as Richard Rohr, Hildegard of Bingen and Thomas Merton; there is plenty of creativity and insight to be gained. This book can be used for small group study or for individual study during anytime of the year but especially for those times when we are trying to give God more of our focus.
A little over a 140 pages, Eyes of the Heart while not technical in nature, is a book for those who seek to experience the Holy in a new way. However, it is written with no expectation of experience with contemplation or photography.

 Available as a paperback or as an e-book for under $15; this book is well worth its purchase price.
Has your God grown too small? Consider reading, Photography As A Christian Contemplative Practice: Eyes of the Heart as a part of journeying through Lent, to the Cross and to the Resurrection. Engage all of your senses and experience Jesus more deeply.

For more information about the self-study course entitled Eyes of the Heart: visit http://abbeyofthearts.com/classes/self-study-online-classes/

To purchase the book and learn more about the publisher visit https://www.avemariapress.com/

First published in Jackson FUMC newsletter Jackson, TN, visit http://www.jacksonfumc.org/

http://abbeyofthearts.com/about/holy-disorder-of-dancing-monks/

Find Your Way Home by Becca Stevens and the Women at Magdalene-A Review: A Modern Way of Thinking about the Benedict Rule

One of the Christian disciplines that is often misunderstood is the rule of life. For us in the 21st century developing a rule of life seems foreign and overwhelming; yet when St. Benedict began developing his rule of life in the 6th century; its purpose was not to be legalistic but to provide balance and discipline for living in harmony with each other and God. I invite you to move from the 6th century monastery to the streets of the 21st century. Magdalene is a residential community for women who have survived lives of prostitution, violence and abuse. As part of their recovery and healing, these women together with those who work and volunteer alongside of them have developed a rule for life. Their rule consists of 24 principles expanded upon in the book; Find Your Way Home: Words from the Street, Wisdom from the Heart. Published by Abingdon Press and written by the Women of Magdalene together with their director, Becca Stevens, Find Your Way Home consists of 24 chapters featuring reflections and thoughts from the women on each rule. The acknowledgement and introduction at the beginning of the book provide you with a history of how it came to be and the communal nature of it. The book ends with a chapter about Magdalene; its ministry and how you can help.
So why read Find Your Way Home? Read it to be inspired, comforted and challenged. Read it to learn, to gain courage and develop your own rule for living. Only 120 pages; written in the women’s own words each chapter is simply a series of short reflections meant to be savored and pondered. They do not have to be read in order or all at once but can be returned to repeatedly. This book written in straightforward language reflects the love of God and the grace of Jesus honestly and truthfully. Wherever you are on the journey of faith, Find Your Way Home will be a helpful companion.
Available as an e-book and in paperback; this book is affordable and accessible to all. It can be read for personal or community reflection. My favorite chapters are #8 Let God Sort it out, #13 laugh at yourself and #20 Love without Judgment. As you can observe by the titles, the rules in this book are tools to help us all live in harmony with God, each other and ourselves. Read Find Your Way Home: Words from the Street, Wisdom from the Heart, share in the healing power of love and learn more about this ministry at http://www.thistlefarms.org/

First published in Jackson FUMC newsletter - http://www.jacksonfumc.org/

Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals - Shane Claiborne, Jonathan WIlson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro

Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals is a multi-faceted book of study and prayer. It can be used both individually and corporately for prayer, worship and study. Compiled by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro; the book incorporates the liturgies, prayers and traditions of Christians across many centuries and denominations. The book is divided into six main parts: Introduction, Evening Prayer, Morning Prayer, Mid-day Prayer, Occasional Prayers and Songbook. Published by Zondervan in 2010; this book will remain a rich resource for years to come.
In the introduction, the authors discuss how and why this book was created. It talks about God’s desire for Christians to be united as one body and for them to pray as a community not just individually. Further, the introduction provides instructions and ideas for how to use the book. The authors also acknowledge the various people who were involved in the creation of Common Prayer.
The first section, evening prayer is comprised of a prayer for each night of the week. Both individuals and groups can use these prayers. Throughout the book, the liturgies are divided into bold and regular print indicating the sections for a leader to read and for the community to respond.
The Morning Prayer section of the book is the expansive. Separated into months; then each individual day has its own liturgy. Within the liturgy, there are psalms and prayers written along with suggested songs and scripture readings. At the beginning of each month; there is a theme, which is discussed, and books are suggested for further study. Each of the themes is one of the twelve marks of the New Monasticism: Locating our lives in the abandoned places of the empire, Shared economics, Reconciliation, Celebrating Singleness and Marriage, Submission to Christ’s Body: the Church, Hospitality, Care for Creation, Geographical Proximity, Peacemaking, Contemplative Prayer, Formation in the Way of Christ, and Nurturing a Common Life. Many days begin with a discussion of a particular person or event that day that has influenced the life of the Church. Each month ends with a few practical ideas of how to be community. Incorporated throughout the book are sidebars; a list of these is at the beginning; that contains on various subjects regarding liturgy, spiritual disciplines and seasons within the church calendar. Since Holy Week and Easter move each year, they have their own section of liturgy for Morning Prayer.
The midday prayer section simply contains a short liturgy for the middle of the day. The next section, occasional prayers, contains prayers for different kinds of circumstances and celebrations including house blessings, commissioning and adoption. Then the last section, the songbook, contains a variety of traditional hymns and songs sung by the Church.
Common Prayer is accessible to all as it is available in hardback, paperback, audio and e-book formats. A phone app is also available. I would also recommend the pocket edition, which is a paperback condensed version for individual use that is easy to carry anywhere. The pocket edition also contains some additional prayers for individual circumstances. To learn more about Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals; visit their website at commonprayer.net

 Make this excellent book apart of your devotional life; it will greatly enrich your life. I recently used the Litany to Honor Women found on page 562 at a women's retreat.  A number of women commented on how meaningful it was.  It is one of my liturgical resources to use.