Thoughts.com

I will always be with you…..

I think I was divinely inspired sometime through the night as I awoke determined to Blog today. I probably won’t get back to the everyday routine as I did through Lent, but I am missing the ritual of sharing my thoughts.

I am sure my inspiration this beautiful spring day comes from the book I am reading every night before I sleep titled “ I am the Word”, sub-titled A guide to the consciousness of [one’s] self in a transitioning time,  by author/editor Paul Selig. The forward of the book states that I am the Word exhorts individuals to use a higher level of self-knowing and self worth that in turn will foster a radical shift in human consciousness in our Planet.

We are indeed in a time of incredible shifts on our planet Earth. Climate Change is affecting the very core of the Creation and even the Polar bears in the far north are having to re-evolve to counter the fact that their ice cap home is shrinking. Technology is shrinking the linkages between peoples around the world and we really are becoming a global village. Revolution is ripping apart countries as we see the Arab Spring spread across mid eastern countries where people no longer want to make do with living in poverty.  So how do we respond as Christians to this world in transition.

 The book is rooted in the Gospel of John which begins “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The premise of the book, in my mind, is that no one without Christ. In Matthew 28:20 Jesus tells his followers “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”.

The book takes us one step further to a guided journey which offers the reader “an opening of their own knowing to be made full within them”. In other words, how would it feel finally to really know myself, to lknow my worth, to kno3w my love, my body, my path and u8ltimately to know that I am deeply loved by the Creator.

When you become the Christ, as the book suggests, the tiny seed that has been planted into the might mustard tree. The Christ then is the seed of God within all of us and  is its  awakening at this time is the job, is the requirement, is the message and the truth for all of us.

I and both heartened and challenged by the books suggestion that each of us needs to get it right first, before we start preaching and converting the heathen and the pagans. We are called to both the spiritual work of setting our own hearts and lives in the Christ,  and living that life for the healing of the Earth and its peoples.

When Christ said that man does not live by bread alone, he spoke of a hunger. This hunger was not the hunger of the body. It was not the hunger for bread. He spoke of a hunger that begins deep down in the very depths of our being. He spoke of a need as vital as breath. He spoke of our hunger for love.

Love is something you and I must have. We must have it because our spirit feeds upon it. We must have it because without it we become weak and faint. Without love our self-esteem weakens. Without it our courage fails. Without love we can no longer look out confidently at the world...

But with love, we are creative. With it, we march tirelessly. With it, and with it alone, we are able to sacrifice for others.  CHIEF DAN GEORGE

Its in the details

Well  - its official – I am in the throes of Holy Week. I could whine about all the details that need to be finalized as I head in to the various services for Easter Weekend, but I won`t.

Instead, the detail I want to reflect on are the details of the Passion Story. Last night as I was finishing up the Good Friday service, and surveying all the bits and pieces of scripture we will hear, I was struck by many little details that we often overlook in the bigger story of Jesus crucified.

You might remember that Peter drew a sword and struck off the right ear of a slave who was with the soldier that came to arrest Jesus; but I didn`t recall the the slaves name was Malchus. The word malchus refers to a sovereignty that is willingly accepted by the people, such as God`s sovereignty.

You might recall that Peter was warming himself by a fire when accused of being one of Jesus Followers. Did you know that scripture reports that the fire was made by ``slaves and by the police``.  What an interesting alliance.

You surely know that Judas was paid with a bag of silver coins for his betrayal of Jesus. Did you know that when Judas guilt overcame him, he literally threw them on the temple floor. The temple officials would not except the coins as an offering because they were tainted. What did they use them for. Suggest you look up that detail and read for yourself (Matthew 27)

You also know, I am sure , that the `Chief priests, the leaders and the people` all demand the release of Barabas instead of Jesus. Did you know that Barabas was also a `political prisoner`, charges with insurrection as well as murder.

We know the larger story of Jesus Betrayal and Crucifixion, but the I encourage you to read the story again, from all four gospels, and look for those small details that fill out the Passion Story. Its in the details.

Close to home – April 2^nd

Today’s  Lenten reflection touches too close to home and I wonder if I am able (once more) to share the journey’s in my life with loved ones who have cancer. And yet my relationship with my grandson who was diagnosed with cancer at 14 months of age is not defined by that journey. He is now 12 and pretty much a typical young teen, attitude and all. He is smart and funny and loves to talks my ear off. He will become a fine young man.

My relationship with my brother is not defined by my walk with him through three battles with cancer. It is a treat to sit and share with each other our own spiritual journeys, to have someone strong and steady to share the concern and care for our aging parents, and to see him light up with love and joy when he talks about his three month old grandson.

I feel deep in my heart that my relationships must always be defined by love – eros, philos and agape. To love even the person you don’t particularly like is the hardest part, but sometimes I just have to turn over that person to God and say –he or she is your child too, God. Help me to love them.

Learning Opportunities – April 1

We think of learning most often in classroom settings, or in workshops; but the author in today’s reflection lifts up a very different kind of learning. It was a challenging way to look at some of the experiences where I have learned from others. So I am going to tackle the question for reflection head on today.

How have I grown through reflection, limitation and/or experience?

I learned through limitation the morning Chris called to tell his beloved Veronica had died. Just thirty-eight years old. Just thirty days from the diagnosis of cancer. I heard the tears and confusion in his voice as he tried to grasp the reality that she was gone. He talked about how wonderful an evening they had the night before with her brother and Mother here from Sweden. They had talked and laughed and shared a meal. She went to sleep in his arms, but had slipped away by morning. I could hear the gut wrenching gasp as he cried out in anguish –“She’s gone!”  I couldn’t tell him it would be alright, I couldn’t hold him while he cried, but I could listen, adding the occasional quiet comment just to let him know I was still listening.

I learned through reflection the day Helen Porter led a group in guided meditation. She led us through a journey in our minds, through a favourite quiet wood to a small chapel. We entered and near the front, was a wondrous old oak table, and through a window in the ceiling a sunbeam shone on that table. In our meditation we were asked to be quiet and ask God to show us our special gift. We would see the gift in the sunlight on the table. With her voice she gently brought us back to the present, to the group, and we were asked to share. I listen to the others share their gifts and we helped interpret the symbols see in the table. Finally it was my turn. I had seen no gift – only the light, and I was confused. But one of the group members across the room smiled and said – that is your gift, you are the light. You see things we miss and help us to look at things from a different perspective.

I have learned through wisdom, and continue to do so. Trinity-Providence is gifted to have three wise elders in the congregation in the form of three retired ministers. They have graciously invited me to join their monthly lunches and I do a lot of listening as they share discussion about progressive Christianity, about Climate Change, about books they are reading or insights from articles in the United Church Observer. I believe it is time that as a society we turn around our thinking about the elderly. We have built millions of retirement homes and long-term care homes to do a job that used to simply be the responsibility of the family. When I was a small child we took in my great uncle. He could no longer live on his own and with no children of his own we looked after him. I remember as a 2 year old,  there were days he spent a lot of time in bed, and I would hop up on the end of this great old bedstead and listen to his stories. Wisdom can be found in people of all ages but let us never forget one of the most plentiful sources of wisdom in our midst – our elders.

Tree of Life – March 30^th

Some of you May remember that I was President of Bay of Quinte Conference 2010-2011, and the theme I chose for my term as president was “Tree of Life” The theme came from several places in my heart- my Celtics roots, my rural roots and my deep concern for this planet we call home(Earth).  I gathered an number of resources to help with this theme, among the the following poem. I believe it speaks to today’s reflection in a magical way; I believe God sent it to me again this morning so I might share it with you. Hope it has as much meaning for you as it has for me.

The Tree Of Life

Each person is as a tree, created by God,

  Unique as it reaches to the heavens above.

  For, the tree of life, it blossoms, it grows,

  From its roots to the heavens, its majesty shows.

  The tree of life, kept strong as it grew,

  Shed the old, and began to renew.

  With Christ as its roots, that we do not see,

  Providing the strength, for each special tree.

  With rings of age, trial hidden within - sturdy it stays.

  Through life’s stormy days - gently it sways.

  Its bark is a shield, to weather the strife,

  But, it is the blood that gives precious life.

  And, if its trunk grows crooked - may it not fall,

  As it searches for heaven - and tries to stand tall.

  For, the tree of life, its branches span wide,

  Though the tree can be hurt, by those at its side.

  But, a broken branch, like a broken heart,

  Can make the tree stronger, though it’s ripped apart.

  Left alone, it can wither, and most surely die,

  As tears, from heaven, rain down - in great cry.

  But, cared for, it grows – still mighty and strong,

  Its fruits can be many, though its life not long.

  For, from a single tree, fruit and seed come in plenty,

  Food... shelter...air... soil fertility  - so abundantly.

  And, though the tree can be cut, shoots continue to sprout,

  For, the tree of life can not be put out!

  And when the time comes, its wood will burn bright,

  For, the tree of life gives warmth and eternal light.

  And if lightning strikes, and life on Earth stops,

  I’ll reap what I’ve sown as seeds for my crops.

  For, the tree of life, it blossoms, it grows,

  From its roots to the heavens, it majesty shows.

  Yes, each tree is special, for it is true,

  That Christ died on the tree -

  For me - and for you!