Simply Soul Searching

MAY WE BE THANKFUL ENOUGH…

for every day of life,
that we appreciate each moment and fully embrace the day

for each new morning,
that we awaken with eager anticipation

for the bright midday,
that we remain useful, capable and mindful

for the gentle eventide,
that we quiet ourselves to rest in your peaceful sleep

for the seasons,
that we see your glory through the variety and lessons of nature

for the generous gifts you have given us,
that we generously share them with others

for our warm beds, coats and clothing,
that we provide warmth for everyone

for our sufficient finances,
that we find the gifts of simplicity as well as the gifts of benevolence

for our homes,
that we open our doors in welcoming hospitality

for our delicious Thanksgiving meal,
that we ensure all people have generous and plentiful plates

for our family and friends,
that we consider each one as a precious, beloved treasure

for the strangers we do not yet know,
that we see each encounter as holy

for our faith communities,
that we serve and love one another as we share your love in the world

for our health,
that we care for our bodies and tend them as your temples

for those around us,
that we honor and respect their bodies as your temples, too

for your steadfast faithfulness,
that we act with great courage to make a difference for good

for our inner souls and countenances,
that we reflect your beauty and radiance

for your goodness,
that we strive to be good ourselves

for your presence,
that we may be your presence for others

for our vocation,
that we are reliable and responsible, serving with integrity

for our beautiful creation,
that we tenderly steward all of life and all of nature

for artwork and artists,
that we delight in the work and affirm the creator

for music,
that we sing with joy every song that touches our souls

for the intellect and insights of others,
that we silence ourselves to listen

for the talents you have given us,
that we humbly use them for your glory

for your Word and your Spirit,
that we earnestly and genuinely seek your guidance

for your universal love for all,
that we love everyone universally

for ALL these gifts,
that we keep thanking you, God –
completely, wholly, with our entire being, for our entire lives

May this be so. Amen.

(Photo credit: ForestWander, http://www.lovethesepics.com)

After living nearly 60 years on the flat land of northwest Ohio, our new home among the hills of West Virginia brings a delightful change of scenery and perspective. During these days of autumn, I have noticed the way so many trees are revealed because they are staggered upward on the hills. I have marveled at the splendid array of rich burgundies, fiery reds, bright oranges, sunny yellows, earthy browns and verdant greens covering the hillsides. Because of the hills, we have been able to see more trees displaying their true colors and uniting to create a gorgeous palette of autumn splendor! The trees are beautiful in Toledo, but often we are only able to enjoy the ‘front-runners’- those trees that are positioned ahead of the others and whose beauty is unobstructed.

These hillside scenes speak to me of our calling to lift up others; to offer a boost that enables another to genuinely share and shine in this world. I think of how risers on a stage enhance vocal choir performances. Each unique voice is needed to make the song complete. No voice is lesser than another, but the risers help elevate and position each person so that all voices can be heard. The risers enable the vocalists to follow the director’s lead and help the singers to hear one another. The risers also help the audience to hear, recognize, and acknowledge each vocalist with smiles, nods and applause. A few small ‘boosts’ facilitate the performance for everyone- the vocalists, the audience, and the director.

How might we help raise those who have remained hidden behind the eye-catching front-runners, so that their beauty and worth are revealed and appreciated, too? Who might receive a boost if we were to share words of confidence or encouragement, supply financial or personal assistance, open a door to a new opportunity, listen and guide to offer direction, or be a caring friend? How can we elevate others to the proper level in which their beautiful gifts are fully revealed and unobstructed? Is there a way to lift someone just a bit- so that they may also contribute to the good of the whole?

All of us have unique and beautiful gifts to share. Gifts that God needs in order to create a colorful masterpiece of humanity. Gifts that God needs in order to create a glorious song for the universe. The work we do in raising one another will result in all of us rising together. We will rise in greater teamwork, in stronger unity, and in mutual generosity. We will be enabled to share all of our unique and necessary gifts. We may even be able to follow our “Director” better. We will rise in beauty and glory, as we become God’s diverse and colorful tapestry of humanity… God’s glorious and awesome song of joyful harmony.

In his sermon message a few weeks ago, Pr. Mike spoke about the problem of racism in our country. Inviting all of us to grow as followers of Christ, he boldly but lovingly suggested that if we don’t believe we are racist, we may be part of the problem. I sat there thinking about my last few weeks. I had been reading, The New Jim Crow and learning about the systems, the history and the prevalence of racism. I had attended a candlelight vigil after the tragedy in Charlottesville. I am aware that I am still part of racist systems and attitudes, try as I might not to be. And so I gently nodded in agreement with Pr. Mike. At least I was aware that I was, regretfully, racist- and so he wasn’t addressing me.

But then it was as if I heard God say, “Feeling a little smug there, aren’t you, Karen?” It’s like those times when a sibling is being scolded for some wrongdoing. We gleefully stand aside, grateful that we know better, relieved that we are not the ones being reprimanded. But then our parent turns to us and says, “And YOU…” and we discover that we are in trouble for something else!

Racism is ugly. Smugness is not attractive to God, either. If I sit among my friends in faith and believe in some way that I am more aware or understanding, then I am prideful and assuming. If I believe Pr. Mike’s words don’t apply to me, I am short-sighted. Some other definitions of the word, “smug” are self-righteous and arrogant. I don’t see “humble” anywhere in there. Smugness may also lead to complacency. God could easily ask me, “Yes, you are aware of racism but have you done enough to eliminate it- or are you aware of the ways you’re still contributing to it?” That morning in worship was very enlightening and humbling.

Smugness has no place in our lives. Whatever insights we have received we have only received by the grace of God. We may have certain gifts, but we will lack others.  None of us are fully aware or fully perfected. I may understand some things, but I know I am missing out on much more. No one is any better than another- we are all broken- and God loves all of us the same.

When I write, it is comfortable and easy for me to share only the positive thoughts and ideas I have. I can readily write in order to create a positive image of myself, to share my good moments, and to show my love of God. This blog has been on my heart for several weeks, but I have delayed posting it because of my hesitation to share my flaws. It is embarrassing and humbling to publish this… and so for that reason I believe I must.

(Jenny Lake, Grand Tetons)

In these past weeks, the overwhelming sadness and devastation of hurricanes, fires, floods- and now this terrible shooting- have drawn me to my laptop. I needed to write and share words of comfort, words of meaning, but those words haven’t come. I know I’m not alone in feeling this helplessness and despair.

But in recent days I keep having this vision…

Imagine God showing us a “sneak peek” of heaven. We see the most awesome, scenic vista we’ve ever seen. We see our departed loved ones enjoying life together in this wonderful place. (We are even surprised to see some of them- but they now have been transformed by the love of God!) We feel total unity with God, the One who created all of this. We feel completely loved, peaceful, and content. As we look around, we realize how wonderful heaven will be and we’re eager to be part of it.

Then God reveals another smaller part of God’s kingdom. The area is thick and dense with bushes and trees, rocks and walls. Looking closely, we see ourselves walking with others along various paths through the thicket. God explains that right now we ARE in the heavenly kingdom! God reminds us of Jesus’ words, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” God invites us to consider this further as the vision ends.

We are already part of the kingdom of God but we are unable to see and absorb its entire beauty. Our view is often blocked by thick brambles of hatred and anger that pierce and wound; high walls of protection that isolate and divide; large boulders of burdens and cares that prevent us from seeing the joy beyond them. Yes, we have days when we see glimpses of the kingdom; lovely moments when we feel God’s presence and love so profoundly. These are the clearings along our path, where we are able to see partial views of the splendor God provides.

There are other times when the heavens are revealed all around us but our focus is on our progress. Our eyes are on our path. We have learned that we must watch for roots, stones, or holes that may cause us to stumble or falter. As we are carefully watching our feet and our next step, we miss out on the grand views before us.

Some of our days are filled with gray, rainy skies of tears and sorrow. We can’t see beyond the fog of despair. These are the days when we hold that heavenly scene in our hearts. We remember the partial views we have enjoyed, the glimpses of glories we have witnessed. We can imagine how wonderful it will be to see the grandeur in its entirety, to be reunited with precious ones we have loved. These encouraging recollections and hopeful visions give us our inspiration to journey on in faith and trust.

And so, until we have entered the fullness of heaven, we walk on.

In the meantime, let’s keep clearing those things that impede our view. As we work to remove the brambles of wounds and hurts, the walls of isolation and division, and the boulders of cares and burdens, we will reveal more and more of the kingdom of heaven.

In the meantime, let’s help others stand when they stumble, to comfort them when they are hurt, and to encourage them that the glorious vista is ever and always present, nearer than we know.

In the meantime, let’s walk fearlessly through the darkness and dangers, in the assurance that we are already home.

In the meantime, let’s help one another notice the glimpses along the way. How might we work to smooth another’s path, to help them look up, and to point out the sacred views of heaven we have witnessed?

In the meantime, let’s pause along the way and watch for God’s movement and inspiration, so we may more fully comprehend just how much God is present and active in our lives!

In the meantime, let’s join together with others in love. Our task is to remind everyone that soon this vista will be completely revealed for all of us to enjoy together. Until then, we will keep clearing, helping, comforting, watching, moving, smoothing, and encouraging. We will work together to bring God’s kingdom to light, to reveal the joys of heaven fully to everyone, and to live here together, forever.

I humbly pray that this story gives you hope and peace, and most of all, purpose.

(This walking path symbol reminds me of the verse, “…what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”   ~Micah 6:8, NRSV)

Symbols have become the object of many on-going debates in our country. We hear arguments about standing or kneeling for the American flag, keeping or removing confederate statues, or even the seasonal debate of using the greetings, “Merry Christmas!” vs. “Happy Holidays!” All of these debates and stances stem from how different people perceive and interpret symbols. (Holiday greetings have become symbolic of faith stances.) Our arguments on either side of these debates arise from how we have personally experienced these symbols in our lives.

For many, the American flag is a symbol of patriotism and pride for the United States. For many, it is a sad reminder of the great sacrifices loved ones have made to preserve our freedoms. And for many, it is a cry for help in our country that still has a long way to ensure “liberty and justice for all.”

While the confederate statues don’t create an inner turmoil for me, I can certainly imagine why they may in others! If I even imagine seeing statues of Hitler or Osama bin Laden (they are part of our history), my stomach turns.

I may say, “Merry Christmas” to my family and friends in faith. But for over thirty years I was fortunate to live in a community with a Jewish Community Center and a Hindu Temple. The whole area was blessed by these faith communities who provided lovely festivals, places for health and recreation, social good, and cultural understanding. During these years I grew to understand that “Merry Christmas” may not be an appropriate greeting for everyone. I also never had anyone wish me, “Happy Hanukkah” or “Happy Diwali.” A respectful mutuality seemed to flourish.

People are more important than symbols. I’m sad that we seem to be more upset about how these symbols are treated, than in trying to resolve the underlying problems that create these divisions. Can we learn to recognize and respect the personal stories and feelings on both sides? Can we become people who value and honor the pride and sacrifice for many- but also comprehend the despair and oppression of others? Can we preserve our history as a teaching lesson- but be willing to remove statues that are painful reminders for those still held captive by systemic injustice? Can we honor one another’s different faiths- while we remain united in love?

Can we learn how to respect, honor, recognize, communicate- and work together for the good of others?

1 Corinthians 13:5    “Love… does not insist on its own way.”

(Grand Tetons, May 2015)

Your refreshing stream of universal love
astonishingly cascades forth,
flowing generously for all to enjoy.

And I…
I am the immovable boulder midstream
stubbornly impeding your movement,
while cutting the feet of those
who long to enter into your love-stream
with my slippery, jagged edges.

Keep washing over me…
until your stream lovingly smooths my ragged edges
with abrasive grit culled from other rocks;
until your stream tenderly soothes my rough surfaces
with cleansing rinses that heal and hone.

And I…
I will become the rounded stone
allowing your love to flow freely around me,
while giving the feet of those
who long to enter into your love-stream
a stepping stone for drawing near.

Keep washing into me…
until your stream eventually penetrates my hidden depths
with your gentle but persistent nudges;
until your stream removes my stony hardness of heart
with your needful and compassionate erosion.

And I…
I will become the porous stone
gradually opening to your love moving within me;
to become less stone and more space
for you to simply flow through me to those
who long to enter your love-stream.

Keep washing under me…
until your stream finally dislodges my stubborn stance
with your pervasive and directing flow;
until I tumble free from all that is holding me back,

and allow your love to carry me away.

There’s a chill in the morning air and I see glimpses of color beginning to show on the trees. Autumn- my favorite season- is upon us! Not only do I delight in the colors, the aromas, and the tastes of autumn, but my soul always gleans blessings from the rhythm and cycle of the seasons.

This year I find a lesson in the early-autumn leaves.

These first few leaves aren’t as striking or glorious as when the full tree is ablaze with color. But when I see them, I joyfully anticipate that the whole tree will soon be bright and colorful. The brilliant glories of autumn will fully shine once every leaf becomes its true color.

The early-autumn leaves are setting an example for me. In our desperately hurting world, I often feel too insignificant to make a real difference. Honestly, sometimes this insignificant feeling leads me to inaction. The example of one early-autumn leaf has much to teach me about this.

~ One colorful leaf becomes a sign of hope. It shows me that times are changing. It is a small revelation of splendors yet to come.

~ One colorful leaf doesn’t draw attention to itself, but unites with others to bring beauty and glory to the tree.

~ One colorful leaf has become radiant because it has stopped storing up for itself and has begun to surrender itself for the good of the whole tree.

~ One colorful leaf symbolizes the lovely truth that surrender and sacrifice only lead to new life and resurrection in the spring.

The season of autumn seems very timely this year. I am only one person. You are only one person. But as people of faith and love, we can learn from the early-autumn leaf. One caring sign of hope, one humble life of simplicity, one outreach to another in unity, and one life of surrender and sacrifice… together we can become the selfless, serving, shining splendor of God’s love in our world.

My sister, Janet, brilliantly shines with her loving way of helping people in unique and timely ways. Recently she surprised our mom with travel plans to see a favorite violinist later this year. Our practical and frugal mom is 92, so naturally her first question was, “What if I don’t live that long?” Her question is one any of us would ask! But Janet is willing to take that chance, and in so doing, offers our mom one of her longtime dreams.

No matter what happens, in the meantime our mom is excited. She eagerly anticipates the joy of traveling with my sister and niece, seeing new sights, and experiencing the beautiful music at the concert. Her days are brighter, her spirit is livelier. I know that even if her one “concern” would come about, she has already been richly blessed by the anticipation of this once-previous dream.

How often are we too practical and frugal with our lives? I know that I have too often kept myself from pursuing my God-given big dreams. Because I once doubted my abilities, I lowered my expectations to more “reasonable” ones. Because I have lacked courage, I have at times discounted my ability to achieve goals of value and worth. Because I question how long my life will be, I wonder if I should shorten my dream list. Because I am content, I hesitate to take on new responsibilities. But thanks to Janet’s example, I hope to be more open to pursuing my present and future dreams.

God places wild and wonderful dreams in our hearts, but how often do we respond by immediately listing reasons why we can’t pursue them? Do we think we can only pursue them if we are guaranteed to succeed? If we take those steps toward our dreams and goals, why should we care if we actually make it across the finish line? What if our initial steps are leading to another as-yet-unseen new goal? What if we are to learn something from our failures, too?

I’m reminded of the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, 
And every common bush afire with God, 
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”

This earth IS crammed with heaven. We are standing on holy ground. Our practical souls want to pluck blackberries. But these burning bushes will be more visible to us in the planning, the training, the daring, the excitement, and the PURSUIT of our God-given dreams. Our days will become more purposeful and abundant. Our trust in God will deepen as we risk each new step. And whether or not we see the anticipated finish line, we will find our joy is in the journey, feeling God’s presence leading and guiding us on.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”  – Mary Oliver