I have plenty of time

Life changed a lot about 4 weeks ago when I met with the Bishop. It seems that I will have to study a least one year at an Episcopal Seminary. This was not always the case as there were plans for local formation – however it is the case now. My family and I have talked about this and prayed about this.

We reached a consensus that my commuting to Virginia or New York City would not be good for any of us. Taking a long story and making it short, we are selling the house and moving to Alexandria Virginia where I will complete my final two years of seminary training. It is a big adventure for all of us and a bit scary and it certainly is stress inducing.

We signed with a realtor two days ago. For the last two weeks we have started to prepare our home for the sales market. Oops, it is no longer our home, it is now a property to be marketed and sold – that is taking some getting used to.

What strikes me is that much of what we have been doing, and will be doing in the prep work are all things we have talked about doing before and just never got around to doing. The walls that I have painted needed painting before. The microwave needed to be replaced before and now it has been replaced. The clutter that is being tossed or donated could have gone away long ago. It is a long list of to-do items none of which are surprises or revelations. It is just now we have a deadline and so they are getting done.

How often is this the case for the important things in our life?

What about the friends we intend to call? Or the musical instrument we want to learn to play? Or the family member we have not spoken with in so many years? Or the person we need to look at and say “I love you” or “thank you”?

Well these things can wait because the deadline is kind of fuzzy. We don’t know when we will die, or when they will die so there is no hurry. Right? After all the realtor needs to get the property (not home) on the MLS system so that deadline is coming quickly. The other things can wait.

Each year we walk with Jesus for the 40 days of Lent and then Holy Week. All so that He can die and be resurrected. We know precisely when this will occur and our schedules can be adjusted accordingly. It is our own mortality that is not on our schedule.

In the last week I have painted, replaced a microwave, and fixed little items here and there. I am glad to have done these things; but I also told my family that I was sorry I did not do these things sooner so we could enjoy them. There is other unfinished business too. I guess I better get them done now so we can all enjoy them for what I hope is a long time.

Diane, I love you. Parr, you are my son, my beloved, and with you I am well pleased.

Shalom,

Emmanuel - God with us

This past weekend, with several clergy traveling and Deacons busy, I was asked to assist the Celebrant for three services. I am not ordained so there are limits to what I can do, however, I can allow the Celebrant time for prayer and reflection during the service. I was asked to do this by setting the Eucharistic table. Performing this honored task allows the Celebrant time to pray and be centered just prior to beginning the actual Eucharist. This is a wonderful act of service.

During the service the Celebrant asked that I assist in administering the Eucharistic Host to the congregation. It is often that I serve the Wine, however it is unusual for a layperson to serve the Host. Many Priests do not approve of laity serving the Host, though the rules of the Church do allow it. I have always taken great joy in serving the Communion Wine; the Eucharistic Host is an even more blessed service. It is more intimate and powerful.

While serving, there were two young children who came forward with their arms folded across their chest. This indicates that they do not partake in Communion, however, they did want a blessing. I have never been instructed in this. This was a first for me.

This moment reminded me that rather than calling the equipped God equips the called. I learned this while I was trying to dodge my own calling with one of my many excuses. And sure enough, God equipped me as needed.

That Sunday morning, as each of the two children approached me I simply knew what to do. It was as if I had someone standing next to me whispering instructions into my ear. The first child smiled, as did mom who was watching. The second child looked up at me with the big wondrous eyes of a child and said “Amen.” Yes, God equipped the called.

It was that confidence and knowledge that came to me as I needed it. The next day in a prayerful moment at the start of class I was reminded by the reading that Emmanuel translates as “God with us.” Yes, God equips the called and God is with us.

Peace be with you as you walk with Emmanuel.

One Father

This past weekend I had the wonderful experience to attend a Bar Mitzvah. What a great way to recognize a young man’s progression in life. The service, the prayers, the songs were very joyous. My wife, son and I were honored to be in attendance.

Sunday morning when I attended church the full experience of the Bar Mitzvah became apparent to me. In the temple, this young man read many passages in Hebrew (without vowels or punctuation). One of the passages he read was from Isaiah chapter 6. On Sunday morning the assigned Old Testament reading was from Isaiah chapter 6. This same passage was read in churches and synagogues on the same weekend all around the world.

For all the differences between the Christian and Hebrew faiths, there we were reading from Isaiah chapter 6 on the same weekend.

That got me to think about all the similarities between the Christian and Hebrew faiths. This area is certainly not my expertise. However, I suspect we are more alike than many people would care to admit. Clearly, there are differences – many are very obvious and fundamental. Our differences make us and our faiths unique. But when it comes to stewardship of the earth, love for your neighbor, respect for others our guiding principles are the same. We share the Hebrew Bible, and we share a faith and love in the LORD our God. We both pray for guidance, and we pray for the departed and we pray for those in need.

Our similarities allow us to walk together and work together, to laugh together and cry together. We are all brothers descendant from Abraham; we can celebrate our commonalities and respect our uniqueness.

Shalom my brothers and sisters, shalom.

Hear it for the first time - everytime

Have you ever driven to work the same way for so long that you stop noticing the scenery along the route? The streetscape is there, but the details have disappeared. Businesses along the way may come and go but it is so familiar that you no longer notice the changes. You may even drive the familiar roads and as you approach a particular section you suddenly wonder “How did I get here? I don't remember the last 10 miles.” Sometimes it seems we are on autopilot, the scenery goes by like a blur.

That can happen with scripture too.

How many times have you heard the 23^rd Psalm? How many times have you heard the creation story?

When was the last time you really listened?

This January term I am taking a course on Speech for the Preacher and Presider. This is helping me to see how I can use my voice and my body to communicate more effectively. Interestingly, most of the people in the class were already skilled, and everyone in the class is getting better. But as I often find in seminary, there is the course material that we learn, and there are the unintentional lessons that hit us, or me, like a ton of bricks.

Susan, our professor, made a comment about the wonderful interpretation of the 23^rd Psalm that was written by Bobby McFarrin as a gift to his mother. I of course went to YouTube and found the recording.

It was as if I was hearing the 23^rd Psalm for the first time. It could have been the beautiful harmony of the a capella group. Or it could have been the feminine role of God that Bobby McFarrin used in his interpretation. Regardless, it was wonderful.

For many, God needs to be a white male that looks like Merlin the Magician, or perhaps Albus Dumbledore. I don't think that God can be type cast with such rigidity. After all, we are made in His image. So He looks like you and me. And the last time I looked around that included men and women, and people of color, and people of differing sexual orientations and the variations goes on and on...... But I am getting sidetracked, so back to my original thought.

Today in class I had the opportunity to read the poem “The Creation” by James Weldon Johnson. This creation story brought the creation story of Genesis back to life for me. It was as if I read it for the first time.

I wonder how many people, like myself, have heard scripture passages so often and done so poorly that the passage goes by like a blur? Wouldn't it be wonderful if every time you heard the same passage it was like the first time that you heard it?

Peace be with you,

Simple Pleasures

Today is my first day back in class since December 22nd. The time off flew by quickly, but that is another story. And yes, being in class with the other students is a pleasure. However, today was also the first day of the seminary library book sale. Its a secret, but students were offered a preview of the sale before the public was allowed in. Yes it was a room full of simple pleasures. When a dollar will not typically buy a cup of coffee it is amazing that it will buy you a book.

So lets see some of the simple pleasures a dollar afforded me today. For my historical reference there is a copy of the 1940 Hymnal and the 1916 Hymnal. My theological library had a gaping hole filled in with the purchase of a King James Bible. This copy is from the 80's; something that is verified by the dates written in the margins by the previous owner indicating when they read a particular passage.

My new old copy of Lesser Feasts and Fasts opened to reveal the prayers for the prophet Martin Luther King Jr. A week after his birthday celebration they prayers still sound sweet.

There were two books examining The Book of Common Prayer and two books on the Eucharist and Sacraments.

Never knowing when one might need a prayer or collect there are two books full of wisdom. The Book of English Collects encompasses prayers from England, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa and the United States. Then there is The Collects of Thomas Cranmer. Written in the 1500's these are timeless and are the foundation of the prayers of the Anglican Church.

Perhaps the prize find of the lot is also the thinnest paperback among a stack of voluminous hardcover books. Walk with Jesus: Stations of the Cross by Henri Nouwen. With Lent approaching this book will lead me along a powerful journey that is the Stations of the Cross. Henri Nouwen has been a favorite since I was first introduced to his writing and I am looking forward to this journey with him.

This stack of books was purchased for less than a trip for two to Starbucks. It has brought me pleasure to find them and will bring me further pleasure to explore and get lost in them. As I pulled book after book from my messenger bag my wife smiled, she was especially proud to learn how little I paid for the stacks. I also found two CDs by Grover Washington Jr. and Wynton Marsalis. These provided musical inspiration for a quick dance lesson across the kitchen floor for our 13 year old son.

Interesting how our perspective changes. In my past life this would not have measured as a great pleasure. Simple pleasures cost a great deal more then. But tonight as we said a blessing before dinner my wife interjected at the end “and thank you for the wonderful stack of books.”

Peace be with you,

A Coat of Many Colors

There was a photo in this morning’s paper of one my classmates, he was involved in a Martin Luther King celebration. His photo reminded me of the diversity of the incoming class. While some schools are represented by a bastion of white males the overwhelming feature of this class is its diversity.

By any measure we are diverse. Ages range from 22 to 60 something. Ethnic origin does not encompass a full spectrum but it is close. Married, single, newly married, divorced, and same gender partnered are all represented in quantities sufficient to eliminate “token” categories. Faith traditions that range from conservative Biblical literalists to non-Trinitarian and from high liturgy to spiritual are all represented.

This presents a broad array of views and opinions in discussions. It is amazing how the professors balance this along with their own faith. The varying ideas have been eye opening. I am hearing interpretations and perspectives that I never before was able to see. I don’t necessarily agree with all that I hear, but I am listening and processing the views. The diversity of ideas has been an education in itself. It is an important feature of our individual formation. The breadth and diversity of this seminary education makes this experience unique. It is a challenge and a treasure.

Each of us has come together in community to form a fabric of many colors and textures. The strength of this quilt is it diversity.

Peace be with you,

Guns and Roses

During orientation for 1st year seminary students we were given the opportunity to write about a topic and possibly waive a normally required course on research and writing techniques. We were asked to choose between two current news articles and develop a response to the story in 20 minutes. The story that I wrote about concerned bringing guns to church. Well about a week ago another story came to light about a proposed Georgia law that would permit guns in churches. Guns in church is a whole different discussion; what has been sticking with me is one of the comments posted in response to the article. “Armed Geek” wrote:

Luke Chapter 22 NIV
35Then Jesus asked them, 'When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?'
'Nothing,' they answered.

36He said to them, 'But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.'

38The disciples said, 'See, Lord, here are two swords.'
'That is enough,' he replied.

The belief that Christians should be unarmed sheep for the slaughter is both unbiblical and morally repugnant.

So here is a Bible quote that justifies carrying guns. Wow – Jesus says we should carry guns.

But I am not too sure about Jesus packing heat. Two of my professors (thanks to Julia and Greg for the wisdom) have mentioned looking at what comes before and after a passage to understand that passage. Also, is the interpretation of the passage consistent with the message of the whole book or Bible? Does “Armed Geek’s” Bible quote hold up to this examination?

In this passage Jesus is about to face persecution and arrest. He knows this is coming. He is also preparing his disciples for the probability that they too will be arrested. Following this passage Luke shows us Jesus’ response to the use of swords later in this chapter. When one of the disciples cuts off the ear of the slave of the high priest Jesus says “No more of this!” and heals the slave with a touch. Then he turns to the priests, police, and elders saying “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit?....But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!” (NRSV 22:51-53). Here Jesus has aligned the use of swords with the power of darkness. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

What came before this passage? Peace and love! I can’t find a passage about Jesus striking with a sword, carrying a sword, or wanting a sword. Jesus lived as a pacifist. Why would he now want swords? We know that Jesus liked to talk in parables, liked to use metaphors and generally confuse his disciples. Well I would suggest (and so do a lot of good Bible commentaries) that “Armed Geek” is quoting one of Jesus’ metaphors. The disciples took his statement at face value and so did “Armed Geek.” The response to this could be as Jesus said in exasperation "It is enough."

It is enough using Bible passages out of context. It is enough trying to distort the teachings of our Savior to further a cause – a cause that is not supported by the life and actions of Jesus. Jesus showed us love and compassion; that is not congruent with violence and guns. “Armed Geek’s” interpretation of the passage is not congruent with the life and teachings of Jesus, nor is it congruent with the disdain for the sword that follows in the same chapter. It does not stand up to the exercise of actually reading the Bible.

However, “Armed Geek” should be comforted to know that the disciples also got it wrong. Jesus was simply preparing them for persecution and for learning to live with the realities of the sword being used against them. The disciples, and “Armed Geek,” are not to actually use a sword, but they are to stand strong with the strength of the sword, not the violence of the sword, in their hearts. I remember news footage of Vietnam War protests. The protesters placed flowers in the barrels of the rifles carried by the National Guard Troops and the police. That is how I believe Jesus would have faced a gun, he would have calmly placed a long stem rose in the barrel of the gun.

Peace be with you,