Why I show up at church

For me, faith has never been about duty or obligation. Faith is saying “Thank You” for life and for the undeserved gift and experience of grace. A faith community is a gathering of grateful people who say and sing in myriad ways, “How can we serve?” “How can we make a difference?”

Now in retirement, most Sundays are DONSA (“Days of No Scheduled Activities”). Yesterday’s Sunday School lesson about healing helped me reflect on our son’s decades with a disabling illness. Yesterday’s worship helped me explore giving and receiving forgiveness “seventy times seven.”

We heard Nikita Gill’s poem, “Hearts Like Wildflowers, Hearts Like Yours”: I hope you are blessed with a heart like a wildflower. Strong enough to rise again after being trampled upon, tough enough to weather the worst of the summer storms, and able to grow and flourish even in the most broken places.

From “In the broken places,” by Yi, Medium, March 28, 2019

Discharging the “loyal soldier”

The theme for a recent church retreat was “Paradox: When Loss is Gain,” from Richard Rohr’s book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. Rohr cited a Japanese ritual (described in the link below) that “discharges” returning warriors to live peacefully in their community.

Donald Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election has inflicted great damage upon our nation. The Japanese ritual helped me realize that his refusal inflicts great damage upon himself. He could have had a place of honor at Joe Biden’s inauguration, but he deprived himself that privilege.

“Discharging the loyal soldier” caused me to reflect on times when I’ve continued to fight a battle or hold a grudge after an issue was settled. For the well-being of our nation–and for his well-being–may he discover the blessing and closure of allowing himself to receive the gift of an honorable discharge.

A brief review of Rohr’s book by blogger Eric quotes Rohr’s account of the Japanese ritual of “discharging the loyal soldier,” in “Falling Upward,” an April 1, 2019 post at Eric ASP.

A weekend refreshment

Amid the stress of our individual lives and our planetary, political concerns–from the high country of Colorado’s mountains–comes a refreshing affirmation of patience.

An excerpt from mindful blogger/photographer Rita Clagett’s February 5 post in Morning Rounds:

I’m so grateful for my increasing surrender to patience. …

… Allowing things to be as they are …. doesn’t mean you like what’s happening, it means that you understand this is how it is right now, and that frees you to move forward and do what’s within your ability to do about it.…

… My expectations of myself and others have softened to more reasonable levels, I’m a better listener, I rarely ‘should’ on anyone else and no longer castigate myself for missteps. 

From “Patience,” by Rita H. Clagett, Morning Rounds, February 5, 2024

A conspiracy of grace

Yesterday, I was hurrying from a Zoom meeting to a coffee shop meeting with friends. Shades Creek Parkway was blocked for storm damage repair, so I re-routed myself back through Vestavia Hills. Already late, I realized I forgot my wallet. Coffee is optional and I love the guys in the group. But, my mind was focused on avoiding rush hour traffic sans driver license. I called Cathey to say I would be home sooner than expected, but without shrimp from Trader Joe’s for the Christmas party.

As feelings of frustration and failure passed, I realized that I was unintentionally getting exactly what I needed–an uneventful drive home, with time to reflect in solitude. I felt wrapped in an envelope of silence, like swaddling cloths for a baby or linen cloths at journey’s end. The silence, using Wesley’s words, was “strangely warm,” comforting, renewing, restoring. When I returned home, I re-read Sunday’s Affirmation of Faith. I felt surrounded by a conspiracy of grace:

We believe that joy is a sacred gift, existing on a plane deeper than happiness, stemming from the truth that we belong to God. We believe that joy is not meant for isolation. Joy is meant to be shared, weaving us together in laughter and in hope. And when joy feels impossibly out of reach, we believe that part of being sacred community is leaning on one another. So together we say: I will share my joy when yours runs out. You will share your joy when mine runs out. And in so doing, we will both see God. Amen.

From “Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills recover from EF1 tornadoes,” by Jon Anderson, Homewood Star, December 11, 2023

Take your time

The heart surgeon to students observing the surgery: “You have about one minute to perform this particular task, so it’s very important to take your time.” That’s my approach to birthday 73.

Advent began a new rhythm–posting Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Monday morning I was aware something was different as I scrolled my inbox more leisurely. I read less hurriedly. I took my time.

I’ll read Sean Dietrich more often. If you missed it, I recommend “The Blind Dog.”

Too often I hurry through Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations. An excerpt from “We Are What We See“:

… contemplation is largely about … recognizing the unconscious reservoir of expectations, assumptions, and beliefs in which we are already immersed. … A new idea held by the old self is never really a new idea, whereas even an old idea held by a new self will soon become fresh and refreshing. Contemplation … fills our reservoir with clear, clean water … to encounter experience free of our old patterns.

I took time to check Robert Hubbell’s source for some disconcerting news about a climate conference:

From “Cop28 president says there is ‘no science’ behind demands for phase-out of fossil fuels,” by Damian Carrington and Ben Stockton, The Guardian, December 3, 2023

Thanksgiving 2023

This morning, we listened to a brief, encouraging Thanksgiving 2023 video greeting from Robert B. Hubbell and his wife Jill Bickett. We were inspired by his upbeat view of today’s challenges, especially his perspective about Benjamin Franklin, a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention at the age of 81.

Happy Thanksgiving!

From a 9:26 minute video, “Thanksgiving 2023,” by Robert Hubbell and Jill Bickett.

A spirit of thanksgiving

Today, with gratitude for all that gives life meaning, my mind returns to early American thanksgiving celebrations, including proclamations by George Washington in 1789 and Abraham Lincoln in 1863. These are important components of our national identity.

I’m grateful for our Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. The story of these amendments, and James Madison’s leadership, is instructive for us today as some Republican leaders want to re-write the US Constitution. Here’s the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

May it long endure.

“Baptist Joint Committee gains faith and justice center, grows religious liberty work,” by Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service, March 6, 2023

An essential conversation

In addition to teaching Ethics courses, Theodore “Ted” Weber (1928-2023) was the chapel worship leader during my junior year of seminary (1973-74). During my middler and senior years (1974-76), the chapel leader was Don Saliers, who gave this tribute to Weber.

One of my Weber classes was Christian Political Thought. We studied the history of church/state relationships and various theological attitudes toward government (such as monarchy, democracy and theocracy). Weber ended our last session with a simple “conversation.”

He said the long history of Christian political thought can be understood as a conversation between Romans 13:1-7 and Acts 5:29. The general rule is for Christian citizens to be loyal to their government–obey laws, pay taxes, etc., because governments prevent anarchy.

But, sometimes one must be a conscientious objector to governmental injustice or oppression. Peter said we resist because “we must obey God rather than human beings.” American civil disobedience has been inspired by Old Testament prophets, Jesus, Peter in Acts 5:29, Gandhi and Bonhoeffer.

From “Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists,” Thomas Jefferson, January 1, 1802 (from the Library of Congress)

Beyond the veil

Sometimes I’m aware that I’m in a “thin place,” where I get a glimpse of transcendence beyond the curtain we call death. So far, those named to my 2024 “faculty” are still breathing, but thanks to memory, extant writings, and the Internet, our faculty need not be limited to those who are yet alive.

I’m engaged by the practical theology of Francis and Clare of Assisi; Charles and John Wesley; and Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. I’m inspired by the imperfect but essential Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. The prophets King and Lewis changed me in the moment and now eternally.

I’m better for encounters–now eternal–with Gordon Cosby and Elizabeth O’Connor, with Fred Shuttlesworth and Phyllis Tickle, and with professors Ted Runyon, Bill Mallard and Ted Weber. This tip of the iceberg “list” of instructive family, friends, mentors and colleagues is a blessed memory.

Of Romans 16, Fred Brenning Craddock (1928-2015) said, “Don’t call it a list.” Laughter and tears were evoked by his classic sermon (available via YouTube), “When the Roll is Called Down Here.”

ETHIC$

Recent posts focused on my 40+ years in the stock market. I’ll wrap-up this series with three posts about ethics. I consistently fail, but my goal is to integrate ethics into all my financial decisions by living with an attitude of abundance, not scarcity and a glad and generous heart.

My life in the market began with an investment club of friends who enjoyed making collaborative decisions. I have remained in the market because I could see its potential to provide supplemental retirement income and to provide a way to help medically disadvantaged family members.

In 2010, the first $1000 distributed from my IRA was a direct gift to a United Methodist college we were trying to keep afloat. This year, 40% of my IRA distribution goes directly to our congregation. Some US tax laws include provisions that encourage generosity to charitable organizations.

One of my early investments was the PAX World Fund, the first “socially responsible” mutual fund, founded in 1971 by United Methodist clergy Luther Tyson and Elliot (Jack) Corbett, who pioneered in ESG investing (environmental, social and governance consciousness).

Tomorrow: climate change, clean energy, and compensation for corporate executives. Sunday: social justice and the threat to democracy by the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of a few and the dangerous growth of white Christian nationalist movements.

From Generous Frugality: an alternative approach to money, by Canadian (now New Zealander) Brenda Wang