Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-so to speak

Pets.

Some people have them.

Others simply don’t get them.

Many can’t imagine their life without them.

I am the latter.

Last night, when I felt the world becoming too big, I took my pups to the park. Making sure no one else was around and they were a safe distance out of harms way, I unleashed them and off the ran.

Silas with his gray-ing snout to the ground.

Chloe springing about in every which direction, her legs flailing along in excitement.

Freedom. That is what freedom looks like. That is what God wants from us.

Too often we bog ourselves down with trivial tasks we tell ourselves they must get done. Too often we tell ourselves, “I’ll relax as soon as I get this project done.”

Some people can do this.

For others, like myself, taking the necessary time to be Adam can be a challenge. If I’m not doing something then I must be doing nothing but anything is better than nothing, and that is something.  Or so I’m told.

Trying to make sense of life when I haven’t called a time out is like trying to understand that last sentence:  painful, exhausting, all while wasting energy that is already depleted.

In his book, New Seeds of Contemplation, Thomas Merton articulates in one paragraph about the importance of being what I’ve attempted to say with may words, when he writes:

“A tree gives glory to God by being a tree. For in being what God means it to be it is obeying [God]. It “consents,” so to speak, to [God's] creative love. It is expressing an idea which is in God and which is not distinct from the essence of God, and therefore a tree imitates God by being a tree.”

You imitate God by being…well…

                                                      YOU!

What I love about watching my dogs run free off their leashes is that they remind me that true freedom comes when we strip down all that binds us—our job, our relationships, our vices, our (fill in the blank).

Silas and Chloe know how to be one thing—dogs. They don’t try to impress me with fancy words or clever cards. And yet, in their being dogs, they have a way of knowing what I need:  a head on my lap when I’m feeling sad, a push to go have a game a fetch or a long walk when I’m feeling lethargic.

Often I wonder, how did they know I needed that?

Perhaps it was because they have no other distractions to prevent them from reading me, sensing and seeing the world around them.

I like what author John Grogan said about his dog Marley in his book Marley and Me:

“A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.”

Today, take time to be you.

Nobody else.

You might be surprised what God has to say…

PS—On Sunday, October 4^th, 2015 at 5pm, on the front lawn of First Presbyterian Church, you and your pet are invited for a brief “Blessing of the Animals’ worship service. Through singing and praying, and of course, with a blessing, we will gather to express our gratitude to God for the gifts of creation and especially our pets. All are welcome:  cats and dogs, birds and sheep, amphibians, and even the church mouse! Oh, humans, too!

Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-ceasefire

Peace?

What is it good for?

Absolutely everything.

Today is the International Day of Peace. All around the world people are taking the time to participate in practices that promote peace, including the practice of prayer. The day was first celebrated in 1982, and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access.

Peace.

To know peace is what God wants for all of us.

To achieve that though, it takes time. One need not major in history to know humanity has been at war against itself since the beginning of time. And one doesn’t need a degree in statistics to recognize that since 1982, peace has not come to earth because of this 1 day out of the year where such a call happens.

Peace takes time to achieve.

How long will it take?

If only we could ask that question to the owl from the Tootsie Pop commercial. There is no date we can circle on our calendar. There is nothing like that at all. But what we do know is that we can bring peace here, now.

Can we though? I mean, its one thing to work on bringing peace to our own lives but what in the world do we do with the genocide in Rwanda and the violence in Syria? Oh, lets not forget our own hometown and the violent stabbing that took place last week. Is peace, is this day where we set a side time to focus on International Peace worth it? Is it even possible?

The short answer? Yes.

Why? Because God is still with us creating and re-creating that which God declared good and beautiful. Like Moses, we with God’s help are the creators of our destiny, the ones who give shape to our future. It may take a lifetime. But it also only takes a small action that begins with our own lives.

Think about these questions:

Do I recognize the dignity of all people?

Do I strive to remove barriers between people?

Do I challenge unjust systems and structures?

Do I use the earth’s resources wisely?

Do I allow society to degrade and dehumanize people?

Do I speak out when others are fearful, oppressed or treated unfairly?

Do I work to influence my country’s foreign and domestic policies?

Do I work for peace not only in my community or country, but throughout the world?

Peace is possible. After all, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, did say, “Peace, my peace I give you.” This coming after Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers…”

Today we hope for peace. Today we pray for peace. Today we practice being a peacemaker…

“If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors. If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home. If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.”

–      Lao Tzu

Through Stained Windows: A Mid-Week Reflection-Seuss

The school year is upon us. Kids are finding their way back into a rhythm and teachers are putting less and less sugar and cream in their coffee. Learning is unfolding all around the community!

            When I was a child, I enjoyed school but I didn’t really look forward to the learning part. I very much so appreciated the playground and playing with my friends more than the multiplication tables and spelling tests I was forced to do.

            As an adult now, I miss learning. But lucky for me, learning doesn’t only occur in the classroom. No, learning happens EVERYWHERE! Especially in books! That is why I love this quote from the philosopher Dr. Seuss:  “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

With that said, here are the current 10 books I’m reading. Yea, you read that correctly, I said 10.

Here they are in no particular order:

1.    Hildegard of Bingen:  Selected Writings by Hildegard of Bingen

2.    We Were Baptized Too by Marilyn Bennett Alexander and James Preston

3.    The Soul of Hip Hop:  Rims, Timbs and a Cultural Theology by Daniel White Hodge

4.    To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

5.    The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu

6.    Rising Strong:  The Reckoning, The Rumble, The Revolution by Brene Brown

7.    Rescuing the Gosepl from the Cowboys:  A Native American Expression of the Jesus Way by Richard Twiss

8.    Red Bird poems by Mary Oliver

9.    This Day:  Collected & New Sabbath Poems by Wendell Berry

10.How To Brew:  Everything You Need to Know to Brew Beer Right the First Time by John J. Palmer (hey, even us pastors need a hobby…)

So there you have it. Just a few books that will help grow in knowledge. If you are interested in any of these books, let me know and I will be happy to get a copy for you!

What about you? What are you reading this fall that will fill you with great wisdom and knowledge?

One last bit, remember that we are always learning. Life is always teaching us something new. You don’t need a book to learn or a library to find the resources to be educated. You can learn much from a child playing, from a leaf changing colors, and from the silence on a cool fall evening. The world is our classroom. Do not be afraid to put yourself in front of something beautiful. You might just learn something from it!

Have a great Tuesday friends!

Peace,

A

Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-September9th

Ahh! It is already September 9^th!

Again I say, AHHHH!

Harvest time and back to school.

Apple picking and rail splitting.

How in the world are we here already?!

So, before time gets away from us and we find ourselves buried with obligations and busy schedules, perhaps we could plan a routine that might help us enjoy the changing seasons a little more.

More importantly, this is a post for our kids. Going back to school can be a stressful time for little kids and even for mature university and seminar students. Unfortunately most of us are too busy getting kids out of the house or rushing off to our own classes to give much thought to their spiritual needs. Kids and adults alike need a sense of stability and familiarity to reduce their stress levels and help them adjust.

So with a little help from Spiritual Director and Green Theologian, Christine Sine, here are some suggestions on how to be more intentional about slowing down and finding God in our days:

Suggestions for school kids and their parents.

1. Begin the school day with a simple breath or circling prayer. I love this simple Celtic prayer which I wrote a couple of years ago and which several friends use with their children before they go to school

The sacred three encircle us,

Keep love within and fear without,

Keep peace within and violence out,

Circle us with your presence.

Keep truth within and injustice out,

Keep acceptance in and prejudice out,

Circle us with your grace.

Keep wholeness in and disease without,

Keep care within and selfishness out,

Circle us with your love.

2. Include a short prayer in your child’s lunch box Such as: Thank you God for this child (use name). May your light shine upon him/her. May your love fill him/her. May your spirit grant him/her peace. Or you may just like to say something like: Thinking of you and praying for you as you eat your lunch.

3. When you first see your child after school check how their day has gone. You may like to ask the questions: Where did you feel close to God today?  What made you feel God was a long way away? One of my friends told me that this revolutionized her child’s approach to school and their sense of God’s presence in the day.

Suggestions for Students

Those who are students themselves may like to develop a similar routine. Trying to spend half an hour each morning reading the bible and praying is usually impossible but finding a simple rhythm of prayer and ritual that draws us close to God not only reduces our stress levels but increases our ability to focus, helps us respond compassionately to our friends and teachers and enables us to keep close to God 24/7.

1. Begin the day with a breath prayer and/or short relaxation exercise that makes you feel relaxed and close to God as you enter the day.

2. Use a book of prayers arranged to be said at different times during the day (called offices). My favourite is Thomas Merton’s “A Bookf of Hours.” It takes but a few minutes to move through the prayers and poetry provided. A copy can be found in our library.

3. Pause at the end of each class to offer a short prayer of gratitude for what you have learnt in the session.

4. Before you go to bed ask yourself the questions: Where did you feel close to God today?  What made you feel God was a long way away? This is a very abbreviated form of the Prayer of Examen which I highly recommend if you want to spend more time.

5.  Before you go to sleep name 5 things from your lectures and study times that you are grateful for.

September 9^th! Enjoy the ride, friends. God walks with us as we enter into this familiar season of change.

With love,

A