Category: Hospitality

Rule of Availability

10/5/2014

More about the Rule of Life of availability of the Northumbria Community. We are called to be AVAILABLE to God and to others.

It makes perfect sense for a Christian to aspire to be available to God and others; the two are interwoven, of one seamless cloth. But how to stay available, when, as I believe, this means being available all the time? For me one of the stumbling block is that I forget the all the time part; put another way, one of the biggest challenges is to remember. I meet someone in the store or sit down at a meeting and my mind immediately takes over as we share family news or discuss who is bring bread for communion.

In calling me to be available to God and others, I am being asked to welcome the Christ in everyone I encounter--all the time. That can only happen if I begin from my heart, not my head. At least it’s a place to start.

We are called to be AVAILABLE to God and to others:
"Firstly to be available to God in the cell of our own heart when we can be turned towards Him, and seek His face; then to be available to others in a call to exercise hospitality, recognizing that in welcoming others we honor and welcome the Christ Himself; then to be available to others through participation in His care and concern for them, by praying and interceding for their situations in the power of the Holy Spirit; then to be available for participation in mission of various kinds according to the calling and initiatives of the Spirit."

July 26th, 2014

7/26/2014

Yesterday while wandering around Boston, I came The Boston Irish Famine Memorial. The plaque, which succinctly claimed who and why these people immigrated, and, most importantly, that they are now citizens of Boston, is surrounded by two statues and a few benches. A lovely spot amongst old Boston and near the site of the killing of five colonists by British regulars on March 5, 1770--known to us today as the Boston Massacre.

     I wonder when we will feel called create a permanent remembrance of the children from Latin America who are fleeing here from their own famine? Maybe it will be in Boston.

     I continue to 'pray the news'.

Welcoming the stranger, the children~

7/24/2014

What about all the children, all the children around the world? Praying the news always, has to include them. The children effected by the bombing of the aircraft over the Ukraine; the children in the Middle East; the children coming across the borders in the U.S.

     This from my denomination, the United Church of Christ.

"The National Officers of the United Church of Christ and the Council of Conference Ministers — the leaders of the denomination’s regional conferences — share this pastoral letter addressing the tens of thousands of young refugees fleeing Central and Latin America and seeking safety in the United States. In a unified voice, UCC leaders declare their support for these children that are leaving their homelands out of fear. This is a unique moment that tests the church’s commitment for justice and peace .

"Recognizing that the influx of unaccompanied children fleeing violence in Central America requires a robust humanitarian and advocacy response, UCC leaders call on all settings of the church to “care for the stranger in our midst."

http://www.ucc.org/news/pastoral-letter-child-refugee-07232014.html

     This heartfelt situation forces me to confront my beliefs, particularly as a Christian. Of course I welcome the stranger, of course, in the abstract I can say that. But truth be told, I do it better in theory than in practice. I don’t often allow discomfort and upheaval to come through my front door, through the border of my home. Saying that I don’t know how to welcome the stranger can be an excuse to nothing. And then there are all the political, practical ramifications. Can we really care for the children that have already come across? Will our caring encourage more to step over the border? Will we be able to care for ‘too many’? What about the children born into poverty in this country? When I ask those questions it becomes clear to me that welcoming these children calls for a paradigm shift in the way we distribute wealth and services in this country.

    All of this, however, has to be beside the point for me. Why? Because I have opted out of delving into the politics of the news, and of voicing an opinion of what leaders should do. I have chosen to apolitical. Instead, I have chosen to be prayerful, to see life through a God lens, to listen and take heed to what Jesus said,

"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40

Doing fine about the weather~

7/3/2014

I’m doing fine about the weather. It’s going to be horrible tomorrow, but if that’s the only difficulty in my life, how lucky I am. No complaints.

      One family has called to say they can’t make the trip from New York to our party tomorrow, which is too bad because we’ll miss them.

      As I write, both our son and daughter and grandkids are stuck in traffic somewhere in Connecticut. They’re in different cars but there’s no contest about who will arrive first. I am, however, saying a soft prayer for their safe arrival.

     I have put the following on my cottage by the sea blog. www.acottagebythesea.net

If you don’t see any posts from me for the next five days, it’s because I’ll be living a life void of silence, solitude and simplicity. July 4th is like that for us. Tomorrow, in the rain, there will be a road race (I’m a groupy), the traditional town parade that goes by our house, and our annual Forth of July party. Usually the party is outside—swimming, games, chatting, and eating. This year, except for the swimming of course, in will be indoors. My husband cleaned the barn and has organized arts and craft for the kids (and grownups). The grill and salads will be set up in the garage, and we will eat in the house. Tomorrow’s challenge is anything but simple.

     Saturday we’re going with our kids and grandkids to Ft. Ticonderoga for a night before launching the two houseboats we have rented for two nights on Lake Champlain. A new experience for us all. Close quarters for six adults and four teens, and anything but silent or solitary.

    The only inclement weather is tomorrow. The forecast for the rest of our holiday couldn’t be better for tooting about the lake.

Praying for the weather~

7/2/2014

I can’t believe I’m thinking about this again. It’s that ‘praying for the weather’ consideration! This time, I’m less serious about it, but since we’re having 40 people for lunch, parade watching and a cookout on July 4th, of course a little soft prayer to God found its way in. But no! Out you go! A friend reminded me that her garden needs rain; people in the south are worrying about a pending hurricane. Our party maybe important to us, which as it should be, but it definitely doesn’t need my prayer time.

My prayer will be better spent helping me stay calm and positive regardless of rain, snow, sleet, hail, and grateful for any lack of precipitation. And what about the other gratitudes that have nothing to do with weather—that we have a place for a party and family and friends to invite; that we live in a town with an outstanding parade; and that we are healthy enough to pull it off. “Very grateful.”

Obedient to God~

11/20/2013

On my walk today I got thinking about what it means to be obedient to God. Obedience is an emotionally charged word, especially when linked with the demands that organized religion gives as criteria for membership in its particular denomination. Where does one’s obedience lie? In religious (or social) norms that we adhere to, or in ourselves, in the God within? Sometimes the two dovetail and that makes it easy. Other times, big conflict.

     Right now I’m not talking about issue of obedience that we study as part of church history. I’m talking about obedience now, in the twenty-first century, as the obedience button is being pushed over acceptance of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/queer persons. While my denomination, UCC, has officially welcomed all of God’s children, others are speaking out a little less boldly, and some individuals, lay and clergy alike, are defying their denomination and acting from conscious to marry (and welcome) couples from the GLBTQ community.

     One such individual is Rev. Frank Schaefer who yesterday was found guilty by a United Methodist jury in Pennsylvania of performing a same-sex wedding six years ago for his son Tim, and of “disobedience to the order and discipline of the United Methodist Church.” Within thirty days Schaefer has been told he must decide if he can uphold the Book of Discipline in order to retain his “ministerial credentials”.

      I mention this, not to get involved in church politics, but as a way to gain some clarity about obedience to God. I have to believe that Schaefer acted out of obedience to a God of love, to Jesus who preached love, and to the Holy Spirit who entered his heart with love. Whatever I’m pondering, I have to look into my own heart to see what is right for me, to discern what I want to be obedient to. My sense of right and wrong isn’t always clear cut, which is why I walk the beach praying for answers, hoping to hear God leading me to my obedient answer.

My source of information: The United Methodist Reporter: An Independent source of news and commentary on the life of the United Methodist Church http://unitedmethodistreporter.com/2013/11/19/schaefer-jury-30-day-suspension-possible-surrender/

'Thanks much!'

7/28/2013

Most Sundays I pick up Olive at her assisted living residence and give her a ride to church. If you ever have the opportunity to help somebody out in this way, please give it a try. It’s definitely one of those ‘you get more than you give’ situations. I hear her life stories, over and over again, and I hear her thank me for the ride, over and over again. ‘This has been my church for so long; I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t go every week. Thanks much.’ Olive may forget some of the details, but not the general feeling of well-being that going to church reinforces in her every Sunday.

Sometimes Roger comes along. He is Roman Catholic, but as he says, “God is God.” Today he had another plan, but when I told him we’d pray for him, he answered in his jovial way, “ Good, I can always use prayers.’

Praying with Izzie~

10/28/2012

The original plan was that Izzie would be going home today; but no, she staying another week. This means that I’ll have to continuing to work around her early morning visits to the Angel Room. I’m trying my best to spend my first fifteen minutes in meditation before beginning my usual morning routine in the AR. This means NO coffee, which is a challenge in and of itself--although sitting in the silence, breathing in and out, is a bigger one. My mind wants to plan the day, etc., etc., etc.

I’m finding this early meditation practice stops me from jumpstarting into a day that gets filled with ‘to dos’ and selfish desires. (Not that that doesn’t happen.) It’s hard work to stick with the practice, and as long as I have Izzie to distract me, I have a living excuse. On the other hand, over the past few years I’ve been ‘saying’ the Jesus Prayer: “Jesus Christ have mercy on me.” And so, even as Izzie stalks across my lap, this prayer serves me in these wee small hours.

BTW, I love Izzie and don’t mind that her vacation has been lengthened.

Grateful for family~

7/1/2012

Camp Fisher begins in a few hours, with our grandkids and their parents arriving for the week. On the 4th more family and friends will appear for the town road race, parade and a cookout at our house. All good, but as you can imagine there isn’t much time for prayer on the schedule. I try to get up early and come into the Angel Room before I am joined by one of the grandchildren who comes in for a chat. It’s a sacred time, and one of my favorites of all the activities at Camp Fisher. What a way to start the day! ‘Very grateful.’

Hospitality of the heart

5/21/2011

I have been taking a four week E-Course through Spirituality and Practice, entitled “Creating a Monastery of the Heart with Joan Chittister,” based on Benedictine spirituality. Friday’s topic was “Hospitality,” and here’s what I posted on the ‘Practice Circle.”

It’s easy for me to think that hospitality means that I have to let people into my life every living minute of my day. I can get in a tizzy believing that more is better—more people invited over, more people visited, more people chatted with, more soup kitchens worked in. Although I’m exaggerating to get my point across, this kind of attitude puts enormous strain on all of us, certainly the introverts, but also the extroverts.

For the past ten or so years I have felt God’s call to intercessory prayer. I’m still a novice and my response falls short much of the time. Nevertheless, I do know that when I have hospitality of the heart, something powerful happens between me, the person or situation I’m praying for and God. To me, hospitality of the heart means that I welcome without judgment.