One might assume that economic privilege makes it easy for me to be kind, but I don’t see it that way. Like everyone else, I am free to choose to love, and like everyone else, sometimes I am kind, sometimes mean spirited. As a Christian, what makes the difference for me is I am conscious of The Light ahead of me, leading me toward love.
I’ve been thinking about free choice human beings have, and which we, the privileged in the western world, have in abundance. I choose what to eat and wear, where to live and what to do each day. Being a Christian, however, puts limits on my freedom; being a Christian requires me to think and do through the lens of love.
One might assume that economic privilege makes it easy for me to be kind, but I don’t see it that way. Like everyone else, I am free to choose to love, and like everyone else, sometimes I am kind, sometimes mean spirited. As a Christian, what makes the difference for me is I am conscious of The Light ahead of me, leading me toward love.
0 Comments
I came across this while going through my computer files. It’s dated 9/1/03. Still good. In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. Christian (Matthew 7:12). Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Buddhist (Udana-Varga 5:18). Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Taoist (T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien). What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. Jewish (Talmud, Shabbat 31a). This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you. Brahman (Mahabharata 4:15-17). That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself. Zoroastrian (Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5). No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Islamic (Sunnah). This first post of 2016 seems to have a New Year’s resolution flavor. Again, I’m trying to be perfect. I know that’s silly, but we keep trying. I was brought up not only to try do my best, but that I could and should. Fortunately, however, I was also raised knowing how very human I was, not just me, but everyone. I need to remember this, for I can be hard on myself, comparing what I think, say and do with the ‘perfect’ people I know, who then become my models. Yes, they are worthy role-models, but what about Jesus? Jesus tells us, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect” Matt. 5:48--in summary, love everyone as God loves everyone. Not easy nor possible, but we have to keep trying. The Gospels tell us that even Jesus had to learn this in very human ways. At times he was angry and judgmental, and then he went off alone to pray. I wonder what that prayer time was like? Probably similar to ours—thanksgiving, gratitude, confession, intercession, ranting, raving, pleading…. Jesus knew the Psalms, with their joys, angst. So when I get hard on myself, I talk honestly with Jesus. He’s been there. He gets it. Growing up in a loving home and attending a loving UCC church, I’ve always known that God loves me. “God is love” was one of the most repeated phrases I heard at church. I’ve never thought much about God as love because that HUGE theological concept was given to me as a child, has lived in my unconscious and has always been part of my automatic system. Yesterday at a small gathering at church, for the first time ever, I questioned what that means. The catalyst was a member of the GLBT community who expressed that for his group, knowing and believing that God loves them is life saving. Everywhere else in the world (reinforced by atrocities in Paris and the increased backlash expressed to anyone who goes against an individual’s personal idea of norm) those on the margins are continually demonized, dehumanized and judged by societies pre-ordained, rigid roles. God is their saving grace. My prayer is twofold: that everyone will know and come to believe that God loves them and that the world will grow in acceptance that “God knows no partiality.” Church wasn’t closed today: we just went on line instead of into the sanctuary. Rev. Thomas O’Brien of the Congregational Church of Sudbury and Rev. Marjorie Matty of First Parish Sudbury had planned a pulpit swap, but due to the snow storm, they created a joint worship service and conversation on Google Hangouts. Along Rev. Marta Valentine of First Church Unitarian Littleton, they shared thoughts about civility and loving our neighbor. In summary, they agreed that the golden rule is at the foundation of all religions, and that civility is based on active listening and honesty with self and others. Community involvement was limited to comments sent in by parishioners and read by Rev. Marjorie. Although there was music and prayer at the start and end, I’d have to say the service was heavy on sermon/message and light on worship. No question we need to think outside the box about church. This is a start, an awesome one. I am very grateful to the these three ground breakers. The sun is now out, but you can still go to church. Give it a try at: https://plus.google.com/events/csubjktdlde8o56svasjfu10gn0 “In the beginning was the Meaning, and the Meaning was with God, and the Meaning was God.” This interpretation of John 1:1 (by John Macquarrier, quoted by James Carroll in Christ Actually: The Son of God the Secular Age), which I read for the first time yesterday, is God response to one of my on-going questions: “How do we create meaning?” When I was raising my children, teaching, going to divinity school, and then working for hospice, the question appeared as an occasional, quiet wondering. I didn’t have time to ponder it, and besides, I knew I was doing meaningful work. But in the years since my retirement, I’ve found myself redefining my response to the question, asking what constitutes meaning in terms of life, not work. Only after we acknowledge that God is love, can we begin to consider meaning as synonymous with God. Life is meaningful when we live in God’s presence, when we express God’s love. Maybe it’s this simple: love and you will have meaning in your life. Or to put it another way, love is your life work. I believe that God is still speaking..., but I'm beginning to wonder if God only speaks through love, and thus we can only hear God when we are in a state of love. At least, I'm hearing that that is how God wants me to speak. Yes, there was the Crucifixion (the pain) but also the Resurrection (the love). That’s the Christian story: both, not just one. As I was writing out my prayer list for today, I realized that I was only writing the names of people with whom I agree. Wrong way!, Everyone in a given situation needs to be on the list, for it is only then that I have the possibility of praying without judgment. It's one way for my heart and mind to open to Thy will be done. Perhaps it is only way for God to hear my prayer. In times of conflict and loss of trust, especially when the church has been draw in as an unwilling participant, we as Christians are challenged to remain open to love. How difficult it can be. For hours or even days we entirely forget about love. We want to prove our point, believing that we are the only ones with the right position. We call forth our best theological reflection, we proof text, we claim to know what Jesus would do, or at least what Jesus would want us to do. As members, be it of a church or a theological institution, there may be words we must profess, actions we must take. And then, when all has been said and done, we are called to sit back and pray, “Thy will be done,” and believe it. Last evening I was listening on my computer to a two minute talk by Br. Curtis Almquist of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. These daily talks are part of the Brother, Give us a Word Lenten series offered by SSJE over the internet. Br. Curtis’ message was clear: God loves you. Nothing new here; we hear it every time we go to church, and if we’ve been church goers for a while, it is in our unconscious--which is a good thing. Could it be that since I have heard so often that God loves me, I’ve stopped paying attention to the message? Last night was a perfect example. I listened and then deleted the message; this one wasn’t going to be a keeper. At least that’s what I thought as I continued on with my evening. But what Br. Curtis said about God’s love kept rerunning in my mind: I think love is ultimately not a feeling it’s a decision and it’s God’s decision and God adores you. I try so hard to feel God’s love but it doesn’t happen. No wonder, that’s not the point. It is not up to me to feel, or not feel, decide or not decide, adore, or not adore. God does all of that. It’s all about the grace of God’s love. I just have to do my best to co-operate with God. God is operating with love in your life and your response to co-operate with the truth of it. You can read Br. Curtis’ talk below. I strongly encourage you, however, to sign on for the daily word that the brothers offer. <friends@ssje.org> Transcript: God loves you and you may be, at this moment, or you may be able to remember some moments, where you felt that to the core of your being. But what happens when the weather changes and that feeling has gone away? Well, I would say two things. One, I think love is ultimately not a feeling it’s a decision and it’s God’s decision and God adores you. You make God’s day. You’re the apple of God’s eye. God loves you. That’s the truth. Some days you may get in touch with the feeling that encompasses that. But I would say number one, cling to the truth. That’s of your essence. You are loved of God and God has hopes of spending eternity with you. Second of all, especially if the feeling of love is lost on you right now, write this on a piece of paper “God loves me” and keep that piece of paper with you. I’d encourage you to cart that piece of paper with you through the day and tuck it under your pillow at night. And you might say, “And when I do that will I feel that God loves me?” I don’t know. I don’t know if you will or not. But I think the truth of that has every potential of sinking into the reality of your being because it’s a decision and its God’s decision and the invitation for you is to cooperate with that decision. God is operating with love in your life and your response to co-operate with the truth of it. You’ll catch on. You’ll catch on. - Br. Curtis Almquist Love Life: Living the Gospel of John Here’s a slideshow of the photos I took on my walk last week. In some form or other I’ve posted all of them before, and yet, each picture is always different because the moment is different. As I walk I say the Jesus Prayer; Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me. Behind those words is my prayer that I will be less judgmental, more loving. Love is all God asks of us. Sounds simple; but I sure need help in this regard. Walking and praying moves me forward. |
Contact me
bobbifisher.mac@mac.com Archives
August 2023
Categories
All
|