I was reading Keeping the Sabbath Wholly and she mentioned a posture she used to have. It said, "A plan for peace: Let all the Christians of the world decide that they will not kill each other." But what about everybody else. Won't they just kill us off. That's a stupid plan.
Or is it? What if the Christians could do that? then when we have gotten it right, we invite the other children of Abraham to agree not to kill each other. Then when we all have it going on, we pursue the same arrangement with all of our brothers and sisters around the world.
"if" can be a very BIG word - almost paralyzing. But "if" between you and me is a very little word, a very do-able word. If we, you and me, decide not to kill each other, maybe we could decide not to hurt each other. Then maybewe could decide to help each other. If we could do that, maybe we could decide to help others as well. Shalom, y'all.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
I Had A Dream
I had a dream last night that was fun and intriguing. Upon waking I had the feeling that it has to do with this sabbatical that I have just begun. During my walk at dawn more details came back to me. I am sure that it relates to this holy, gifted time. Other interpretations are possible, but for me this is what I received.
I am at some diocesan function because there are so many people I know through the diocese and so many clergy. It is probably an ordination or institution of something of that sort. The facility is somehow familiar to me. We begin with a nice luncheon out on the lawn. Rows and rows of tables nicely decorated. It is bright and sunny but not hot. I even have a jacket on, which is unusual. I am sitting with a young mother and her daughter of about 3. The mother is in a bright yellow sundress and the little girl is in pink. At functions like this I usually sit with people I know, but even though I don't know these people, we are having a great time. We are really communicating and laughing a lot. It seems like I am joking with the little girl and she is giggling like she will never stop. When it is time to get ready for the service we feel like we have known each other for ever. They go their way and I go mine. I enter the room where all the clergy are gathering to vest. I don't like to get vested until the last moment, so I am visiting with my friends. For some reason I go in and out of this room often. Everytime I go out, I find a part of the church that is new to me, and each one is bigger, brighter and more beautiful. Each new place I go I see and visit people I know and people I don't know. There is great joy in each encounter. the last time I come back everyone is vested and lining up for the procession. As I try to get vested I keep doing messing up or forgetting something. When I am finally ready, the procession is already in the church and there is no way for me to get in. Without feeling upset or embarrashed I simply take up my vestments, wad them up and put them under my arm. Then I walk outside and it is even brighter and more beautiful.
The setting tells me that on sabbatical I will go to places that seem familiar but have some new experiences waiting for me. I will try some new things and meet some new friends. Some will become significant people in my life. The vesting area experience represents for me one of the main activities of my ministry. I love Sunday mornings at 'my church.' It is where I get nurtured and energized, and it is where I experience joy. Going in and out seems to mean that I will do some of the same things I usually do but I won't be stuck in the same old rituals and dogma. Wandering into these new places within the familiar setting is exciting to me. I will be meeting freinds old and new and see the joy and energy they bring to their places of minsitry. I am excited about how the members of 'my church' will be stepping up to new challenges and accepting the responsibilities of leadership, which is what I charged them with before I left. Struggling to get vested really happens sometimes on Sunday. I forget to put things on in the right order: cincture, stole, pectoral cross and microphone. But it also means that I struggle with the way we 'do church.' We have become too invested in 'doing church' and have left behind the way Jesus taught us to be the church. Unvesting and leaving without worshipping with the rest of the community is a little confusing or troubling because of the implications of leaving the church. But I don't think that is what it means. I see it as going my own way during the sabbatical and being with God on my own and for myself. Stepping into the glorious new creation is committing myself to seek His presence and allowing His love to pour over me as the sun pours overme in the old setting which is become new.
I am at some diocesan function because there are so many people I know through the diocese and so many clergy. It is probably an ordination or institution of something of that sort. The facility is somehow familiar to me. We begin with a nice luncheon out on the lawn. Rows and rows of tables nicely decorated. It is bright and sunny but not hot. I even have a jacket on, which is unusual. I am sitting with a young mother and her daughter of about 3. The mother is in a bright yellow sundress and the little girl is in pink. At functions like this I usually sit with people I know, but even though I don't know these people, we are having a great time. We are really communicating and laughing a lot. It seems like I am joking with the little girl and she is giggling like she will never stop. When it is time to get ready for the service we feel like we have known each other for ever. They go their way and I go mine. I enter the room where all the clergy are gathering to vest. I don't like to get vested until the last moment, so I am visiting with my friends. For some reason I go in and out of this room often. Everytime I go out, I find a part of the church that is new to me, and each one is bigger, brighter and more beautiful. Each new place I go I see and visit people I know and people I don't know. There is great joy in each encounter. the last time I come back everyone is vested and lining up for the procession. As I try to get vested I keep doing messing up or forgetting something. When I am finally ready, the procession is already in the church and there is no way for me to get in. Without feeling upset or embarrashed I simply take up my vestments, wad them up and put them under my arm. Then I walk outside and it is even brighter and more beautiful.
The setting tells me that on sabbatical I will go to places that seem familiar but have some new experiences waiting for me. I will try some new things and meet some new friends. Some will become significant people in my life. The vesting area experience represents for me one of the main activities of my ministry. I love Sunday mornings at 'my church.' It is where I get nurtured and energized, and it is where I experience joy. Going in and out seems to mean that I will do some of the same things I usually do but I won't be stuck in the same old rituals and dogma. Wandering into these new places within the familiar setting is exciting to me. I will be meeting freinds old and new and see the joy and energy they bring to their places of minsitry. I am excited about how the members of 'my church' will be stepping up to new challenges and accepting the responsibilities of leadership, which is what I charged them with before I left. Struggling to get vested really happens sometimes on Sunday. I forget to put things on in the right order: cincture, stole, pectoral cross and microphone. But it also means that I struggle with the way we 'do church.' We have become too invested in 'doing church' and have left behind the way Jesus taught us to be the church. Unvesting and leaving without worshipping with the rest of the community is a little confusing or troubling because of the implications of leaving the church. But I don't think that is what it means. I see it as going my own way during the sabbatical and being with God on my own and for myself. Stepping into the glorious new creation is committing myself to seek His presence and allowing His love to pour over me as the sun pours overme in the old setting which is become new.
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