In much the same way “gate” became the shorthand for anything dishonorable with suspicions of cover-ups from the Watergate scandal, now “occupy” is the shorthand for anything resembling a common man taking personal, visible action to reject unjust policies. There is no manual to follow, no union to mediate, and no financier to contribute. It’s acting on a primitive, urgent level whose restitution is doing the next, right thing.
I was so excited by a thought this morning that came as a revelation.
Occupy Advent. It’s timely. It’s cool. It’s a clever play on words. More than that it’s meaningful! It’s.. it’s already on Google?!?! http://occupyadvent.blogspot.com/ But I can’t be disappointed that I wasn’t the first to coin the idea. They are using their time, energy and imagination to evoke a change, and I have to say, it’s everything I hoped it could be.
What would Occupy Advent look like? Tents set up around a living manger scene? Protest signs at retail stores? Stripping the house of lights and presents? What other visible displays could show our disregard for the status quo and our hope with the coming Christ?
Could it be letting others see you in daily reflection, seeking silence as an honored companion, giving gifts of joyfulness and good will, setting aside impatience in favor of patient waiting, or nurturing wonder rather than shackling its wildness?
What is the next, right thing to do? Occupy Advent
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
We Are Family, I Got All My Sisters With Me
An old adage states, you can choose your friends but not your family. Sometimes lines blur and the friends that you choose, become part of your family. Or maybe, more wisely, you come to understand yourselves as sisters of a larger family.
I believe my dream was prompted by a discussion in a recent study group. We tried to think more openly about the rich young prince who had been asked to give up his money and follow Christ. The young prince couldn’t let go of his treasure of wealth and had to walk away. It always seems to be a relief in this situation to not have the wealth of a king! But is there something else in your life you hold so dearly, that you might have to decline your invitation and return home so you could linger with your treasure rather than walk beside Christ? We all have things we value: our job, our families, our pride, our pet, our power… that would be just as dire to consider relinquishing as the prince considered his wealth.
I woke up with the dream so vivid that I could write two pages worth of details! There had been some type of huge gathering which brought many of our friends and family together. The next morning I woke up and joined the others who filled two patios. I made my way to the gathering on the left. Who knew manna looked like waffles? I had not arranged breakfast plans, but part of my family was looking out for me. Phyllis had brought enough waffles to share!! Sisters know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I sat down across the table from my sisters Barbara and Gail who were finishing breakfast. “We want you to reconsider” said Barbara. “Wow! That was quick,” as my eyes looked down at the table. I presumed the topic was whether I would reevaluate my decision and return to the church in Garland. As much as I didn’t want to disappoint them; my course would remain with peace and clarity of mind. “We’ll we’ve been rehearsing.” Then Barbara looked at Gail who said “Everyone who has left is gone!” Wait! That could not have been what proficient Gail had practiced! “Help us Anne,” she entreated. With that Anne stood up from another table and asked Kat to sing. How could I turn down an invitation to sing with Kat? She started singing “I Believe.” I had to admit to myself that I added some decent harmony for a song we had never rehearsed, but that’s the way it is singing with Kat, Deb and Shirley. There’s the guided spirit of the fifth participant. I did join Kat in song, but remained seated at the table. No, even singing with my sisters, as cherished a gift as I have ever been given, was not a stratagem that could change the course. Families are used to loving even when they don’t understand.
Then it was time to leave. And like a family vacation, we jumped in the car together. It’s always an adventure when I drive and even more serendipitous because I really had no clue what city we were visiting. The best plan was to start driving to the interstate and take our clues from there. Any exit with the word south seemed to be our best choice to head back to Dallas. All of my normal dependable plans weren’t working. I couldn’t even get into the right hand lane to take an exit because of a convoy of trucks, and the one exit we could have tried we missed by conversation and stories being shared in the car. So further down the highway we drove, still looking for clues of direction but without much trepidation. Eventually we came to a roadside park. The only options were a long straight road ahead saddled by water on either side, leading to a large city, or returning the way we had come. We got out of the car and gazed at the city ahead of us. The buildings lit up the night sky and gave a sense of the city’s energy and vitality. The lights reflected in the water and we tried to guess what city it could be. Someone spotted a whale swimming beside the road ahead! How magical! We properly ooohed and ahhhhed. Were we in Canada? I knew Dennis could probably name the city by the sports arenas that were on the waterfront. We were clueless, but we were enchanted.
And that’s where the dream stopped, but it’s not where our journey ends. One of the admissions shared at the study group, was the fact that she would have a hard time letting go of her church, an option that may be in her future as a graduate student. I could sympathize completely, but I am also certain that family relationships can endure and God’s hand will guide us through reunion and hope to a united kingdom aglow with lights and saints.
My Lenten devotional the next day echoed the thoughts as a rector shared his decision to change congregations: “I can’t solve this neatly with a clever phrase or Biblical insight. It’s too early... I just know nothing can separate us from the love of God. Relationships here will be disrupted, but the journey with God will go on for all of us. This new thing God is doing in my life will also mean a new thing in theirs. God is forming us all.” (Thomas Ehrich)
I believe my dream was prompted by a discussion in a recent study group. We tried to think more openly about the rich young prince who had been asked to give up his money and follow Christ. The young prince couldn’t let go of his treasure of wealth and had to walk away. It always seems to be a relief in this situation to not have the wealth of a king! But is there something else in your life you hold so dearly, that you might have to decline your invitation and return home so you could linger with your treasure rather than walk beside Christ? We all have things we value: our job, our families, our pride, our pet, our power… that would be just as dire to consider relinquishing as the prince considered his wealth.
I woke up with the dream so vivid that I could write two pages worth of details! There had been some type of huge gathering which brought many of our friends and family together. The next morning I woke up and joined the others who filled two patios. I made my way to the gathering on the left. Who knew manna looked like waffles? I had not arranged breakfast plans, but part of my family was looking out for me. Phyllis had brought enough waffles to share!! Sisters know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I sat down across the table from my sisters Barbara and Gail who were finishing breakfast. “We want you to reconsider” said Barbara. “Wow! That was quick,” as my eyes looked down at the table. I presumed the topic was whether I would reevaluate my decision and return to the church in Garland. As much as I didn’t want to disappoint them; my course would remain with peace and clarity of mind. “We’ll we’ve been rehearsing.” Then Barbara looked at Gail who said “Everyone who has left is gone!” Wait! That could not have been what proficient Gail had practiced! “Help us Anne,” she entreated. With that Anne stood up from another table and asked Kat to sing. How could I turn down an invitation to sing with Kat? She started singing “I Believe.” I had to admit to myself that I added some decent harmony for a song we had never rehearsed, but that’s the way it is singing with Kat, Deb and Shirley. There’s the guided spirit of the fifth participant. I did join Kat in song, but remained seated at the table. No, even singing with my sisters, as cherished a gift as I have ever been given, was not a stratagem that could change the course. Families are used to loving even when they don’t understand.
Then it was time to leave. And like a family vacation, we jumped in the car together. It’s always an adventure when I drive and even more serendipitous because I really had no clue what city we were visiting. The best plan was to start driving to the interstate and take our clues from there. Any exit with the word south seemed to be our best choice to head back to Dallas. All of my normal dependable plans weren’t working. I couldn’t even get into the right hand lane to take an exit because of a convoy of trucks, and the one exit we could have tried we missed by conversation and stories being shared in the car. So further down the highway we drove, still looking for clues of direction but without much trepidation. Eventually we came to a roadside park. The only options were a long straight road ahead saddled by water on either side, leading to a large city, or returning the way we had come. We got out of the car and gazed at the city ahead of us. The buildings lit up the night sky and gave a sense of the city’s energy and vitality. The lights reflected in the water and we tried to guess what city it could be. Someone spotted a whale swimming beside the road ahead! How magical! We properly ooohed and ahhhhed. Were we in Canada? I knew Dennis could probably name the city by the sports arenas that were on the waterfront. We were clueless, but we were enchanted.
And that’s where the dream stopped, but it’s not where our journey ends. One of the admissions shared at the study group, was the fact that she would have a hard time letting go of her church, an option that may be in her future as a graduate student. I could sympathize completely, but I am also certain that family relationships can endure and God’s hand will guide us through reunion and hope to a united kingdom aglow with lights and saints.
My Lenten devotional the next day echoed the thoughts as a rector shared his decision to change congregations: “I can’t solve this neatly with a clever phrase or Biblical insight. It’s too early... I just know nothing can separate us from the love of God. Relationships here will be disrupted, but the journey with God will go on for all of us. This new thing God is doing in my life will also mean a new thing in theirs. God is forming us all.” (Thomas Ehrich)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Six Small Months
I have a strange measure of time passing - Coffee filters. It seems like a pack of 200 coffee filters will last forever, and I’m always surprised when I reach the last few. Six months have passed, the coffee filters are almost used, and it’s about time to resupply. Six small months from June to December; enough time to harvest a pumpkin from a seed, enough time for six different litters of mice, but only one pale-throated three-toed sloth. :-) I perhaps didn’t accomplish all that I wanted to do in my six months. I still haven’t made it to Potter’s House or Whitesboro or who knows where else, but I realized earlier this month that my desire/drive to visit different churches has subsided. It's okay to be still and know God - through the community at Preston Hollow. I wanted to share that I have started the process of transferring membership to Preston Hollow. We have been fortunate to be led to welcoming churches and look forward to a new facet of God's outstretched arms.
I don’t think I was called out of my comfort to be the next missionary to Haiti, or the next fiery prophet… my friend at work suggested maybe it’s just a call to become more dependent on God. I am convinced that this is a necessary step of my journey. I’m convinced it took different propellants to move us from comfort, but I am convinced that good will be the victor. BTW – teaching did not at all rise high on my spiritual gifts inventory… I am convinced the Breakfast Club will find a voice of wisdom and vitality to add to their compassion and servanthood. I am convinced that Garland has passed a wave of changes and that a peace with conviction, stability and perseverance is settling, but not limiting, what the congregation is charged to carry out in Christ’s name.
As someone who can never make a decision, the word convinced is a rarity. I am convinced that I am a loved child of God. I am convinced that our paths will continue to cross and encourage. I will continue to pray for you! I love you!! n
Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who indwells you has something He wants to do through you where you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.I cried the first time Anne introduced this benediction. As we shared with our neighbor it hit too close to home that not only did my partner have a purpose, but I did too. I always said FPC Garland was a dangerous place…. You find yourself in places you never expected to be. It encourages you to grow within the life of the congregation, it empowers you to live as Christ’s hands out in the community, and it challenges you to question how grace and faith are changing our world. My life has changed, my hands have changed, and my world has changed – thanks be to God! And thanks to my church family in Garland!
Richard C. Halverson
I don’t think I was called out of my comfort to be the next missionary to Haiti, or the next fiery prophet… my friend at work suggested maybe it’s just a call to become more dependent on God. I am convinced that this is a necessary step of my journey. I’m convinced it took different propellants to move us from comfort, but I am convinced that good will be the victor. BTW – teaching did not at all rise high on my spiritual gifts inventory… I am convinced the Breakfast Club will find a voice of wisdom and vitality to add to their compassion and servanthood. I am convinced that Garland has passed a wave of changes and that a peace with conviction, stability and perseverance is settling, but not limiting, what the congregation is charged to carry out in Christ’s name.
As someone who can never make a decision, the word convinced is a rarity. I am convinced that I am a loved child of God. I am convinced that our paths will continue to cross and encourage. I will continue to pray for you! I love you!! n
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