(Ir)Reverend Ramblings

There is an old gospel song with the line, “I love to tell the story”, repeated frequently in the refrain. Today is the 70th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Some 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were killed there between 1940 and 1945. About 300 Auschwitz survivors returned there today to mark the occasion when Russian soldiers overtook the camp and freed the people held captive there. This might well be the last such gathering where survivors are still around to remember.

As painful as it is to remember, I think it is important to retell that sad story of terror and death. The Holocaust was a terrible chapter in modern history. The fact the anti-Semitism is on the rise in some countries is a shocking reality.

Some might say we should let the past be the past, it does no good to keep bringing up those horrible experiences. But for the people gathered there, as painful as it is, they stand as witness to the tragedy and say the world must remember their story so that it will never happen again.

January 24th marks the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s death. When I think of Churchill I think of a bulldog! I was not quite 10 when he died so my knowledge of him is all from reading or the remembering of others. Nonetheless he remains one of those larger-than-life figures in our history. His grandaughter was interviewed on tv the other night and she spoke of him with such fondness. She was just 21 when he died but she had spent lots of time with him in her adolescence and he was a loving grandfather.

Today at our “Women’s Morning Out” we studied two Biblical heroes. Deborah and Jael. Their story is told in the book of Judges. They were political and military heroes. They were involved in the invasion of Canaan and they were brutal in the overtaking of their enemies. Especially Jael. (If you want to read her story it is Judges chapter 4.)

In trying to understand how someone who engaged in such military and political murder could be idealized we had to remind ourselves of the places of violence in our own history where a hero emerged and Winston came to mind. He was a political and military hero who is remembered with gratitude and pride because he faced down evil and was persistent in overcoming the enemy.

That said, we spent time this morning puzzling as to why Deborah and Jael were Biblical heroes and why their actions were seen as blessed by God. The Biblical writer of Judges presented them as agents of God’s favour for the people of Israel. I suppose in some ways we do the same for Winston Churchill. From our side of history he saved many and he is a hero. It leaves me wrestling with the notion of violence, war, and heroes.

How do you reconcile violence that is perpetrated for good?

I am taking a refresher course on hospital visitation. It is being offered at our local hospital by our Chaplain Toni and members of the Hospital Chaplaincy Committee. It is excellent as it reminds us of some of the tools we need when visiting people in the hospital, or in fact, visiting anyone who needs pastoral care and support.

The first session was on “Spiritual Distress”. Toni asked us to consider what would bring about spiritual distress. Or, put another way, what upsets our beliefs and values?

I have been living with that question ever since. In the setting in which it was posed the obvious answer is being hospitalized and being ill. But Toni pushed as to go a little deeper with that. So if we are hospitalized what upsets our beliefs? It could be our belief that God is all powerful. Or, if our belief is that God is loving and wants only the best for us the distress comes with the question “so why am I sick?”

Spiritual Distress could come to us through many aspects of living – a broken trust – a failed relationship – a death of a loved one – fear of violence – global threat – any one of a number of things could bring about doubt, fear, sadness, worry, all leading to spiritual distress.

In her book Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith Anne Lamott writes “I have a lot of faith. But I am also afraid a lot, and have no real certainty about anything. I remembered something Father Tom had told me–that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.”

In 2 Timothy 1:7 it says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love.” Just the same sometimes our spiritual equilibrium is upset. That is when the power of community and the strength from others can bear us up.

Maybe today you could be the one to offer encouragement and support through a kind word, a helpful question, or a shared cup of coffee. In sitting with others in the emptiness, the mess and the discomfort we can be the one to bear the light of Christ.

In The Hobbit , Gandalf says, “Some believe it is only a Greater Power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”

Well, I do believe in a Greater Power and I do believe that that force holds power to counteract evil but I believe that that Greater Power works through the acts of kindness and love shown by humble folk like you and me.

Occasionally, on a Monday, I tune into the Ellen show on television. Ellen DeGeneres has led the way in tv land as a lesbian. She has faced challenges because of her sexual orientation but she has maintained a balanced and loving presence and she closes every show with, “Be kind to one another.” Recently she spoke out to a Christian pastor who, in social media, condemned her lifestyle. Her response was firm but also humourous – as only Ellen can be, and she spoke well.

It seems too easy for righteous people to condemn when what the world really needs is kindness. So many people are hurting and in my experience hurt people hurt other people. Gandalf was correct in saying the best way to turn aside evil is through acts of love and kindness.

So … do something kind for someone today. If someone does something kind to you … then pay it forward. It could stop some evil in its tracks.

Yesterday, Monday, my day off, I spent time sorting through old files and purging my filing cabinet. It’s kind of a new year process to get things in order for the year ahead.

In one of the files I came across an old record of my cheques. You know, those little booklets that you get from the bank to record all your expenditures. It was from the year 2007. It was pretty interesting to scan through it and see how I was spending my money. I was stunned to see that I am still giving the same amount to many of my charities despite the rate of increase in every other area of my spending. Someone once said, “If you want to see where your heart is look at your cheque book.” Of course, now with the use of credit cards and debit cards, cheques are almost passé. Coincidentally, while I was sorting through my paperwork I had a phone call from one of my favourite charities. I send them a cheque once a year but like every other organization they wanted me to sign up for a monthly donation on one of my credit cards. I declined saying I like to send an annual cheque.

An Oxfam report recently announced that 1% of the population control almost half the world’s wealth. They are campaigning against such wealth inequality noting that it is a problem for everyone. They advocate for a program that will redistribute wealth in such a way that there will be universal education and everyone will be made better off.

Jesus had a lot to say about money. In fact he spoke more often about money and our use of it than he spoke of any other issue. Yesterday was an important exercise for me to see how I am spending and how I am sharing. It was a good January discipline.

Do you ponder, struggle, assess how you spend your money? Is the support of charities a part of your monthly expenditure? Is giving an act of spirituality for you?

There is a song I remember, it starts with, “Friends, let us each other, love is the gift God gives”. I am humming that song tonight because I have had a week filled with friends. This has included a coffee break with a friend; two lunches with friends – one a rushed one on a work day, the other leisurly with several cups of tea at the end; making plans with life-long friends for a winter weekend get-away; and connecting with friends by email and Facebook. Friends are the free gift that makes life rich!

In the little rural church I attended as a kid there was a small stained glass window at the front with the words “Greater love has no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” (Sorry about the exclusive language but I am just quoting the window!!!) Friendship is a part of our scriptural story. Ruth and Naomi were friends and despite their age difference they stuck it out together through meagre and threatening times. David and Jonathan had a deep friendship such that when Jonathan died David was plunged into deep grief. Jesus built a loving friendship with the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus and it seems that he often stopped there for a meal and a visit. When Jesus shared his last meal with the disciples he said, “I no longer call you servants, I call you friends.”

Friends are the ones who lift us up when we are down. They keep us grounded when we are about to spin out of control. They share our memories and help us imagine the future. They wipe our tears, they make us laugh. Friends are the gift God gives.

If you are a Facebook follower you know that Thursday is the day people post old photos – throwbacks – to take us back to days gone by. They are often funny – the hairstyles, the clothing, the goofy looks strike us as hilarious these years later when styles have changed.

Today a woman from a previous congregation posted a couple of photos from her wedding and a couple from her best friend’s wedding. Each of these ceremonies took place a number of years ago. I officiated at each wedding. They are significant because her best friend, who had been her Maid of Honour and for whom she had been the Matron of Honour, died last Saturday. Death came when she was only 41. She has been living with cancer for a year or so, the disease beat her, even though she fought valiantly to defeat it.

It was delightful to see the “throwback” photos of her and to be reminded of her as a smiling happy bridesmaid and a radiant bride. She leaves behind two young sons, a grieving extended family and many devastated friends. It will be a hard day for that congregation many of whom have rallied round to support her, her husband and their children over these last months.

Any death is sobering and reminds us of our mortality. The death of a vibrant, young mother just seems unfair. The Psalmist wrote, “So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” We number our days and we realize that life is a gift that can change in a heartbeat, or the stopping of a heartbeat.

While, often Throwback Thursday photos make us laugh, they can also remind us of happy, fleeting days. In the joy let us thank God and in the grieving let us lean on God’s love.

The tragic news from France continues to unfold. More violence. More death.

Here in Bracebridge the snow continues to fall. It is beautiful. It slows us down. Leaving the building inevitably means brushing off the car. At intersections it means edging out slowly to see around the snow banks. People stop to help neighbours that are stuck. Motorists slow for pedestrians who must walk on the street because the sidewalks are plugged with snow.

Today brings to mind the words of the beautiful hymn written by Christina Rossetti in 1872 …

In the bleak mid-winter, frosty wind made moan
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone,
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak mid-winter, long ago.

Today is a day of snow on snow on snow. It is a day to pause, to recalibrate from the heavy hatred heard in new reports and to sit in awe of the beauty of creation.

Who knew cartoons could cause such tragic violence? The implications of the murdering rampage that took place yesterday in France is staggering. Extremists burst into an office and murdered employees of the Charlie Hebdo magazine and then, on the street, gunned down two policemen who had responded to the emergency call. This was an extremist reaction to the political and religious satire for which the magazine was renowned.

The editor of the magazine, Stephane Charbonnier said in an interview some time ago that he would “rather die protecting freedom of speech than hide out like a rat”. It seems his words were more of a prediction than a reflection. Now his country is gripped in both panic and anger as police chase after the suspects while fears swirl that they might strike again. Seven people have been arrested and detained but not the two prime suspects.

Equally there is fear for the Muslim community of France that there will be a backlash and innocent people will be hurt. Muslim leaders, and leaders of other faith groups and political leaders have condemned the act. The reality is that the ones who wrought this violence are terrorists not religious people. They are violent murderers not people of faith.

Sometimes, when an event like this happens, I am paralyzed as to what to do or how to think it through. It is so removed from my quiet life in Muskoka but so much a part of the global community in which I am a member. I will do what I can. Today I commit myself to prayer. I will pray for the families of those who were killed and for all those who are trying to bring calm to a very troubled situation. I will pray for Muslims in France and around the world – this will be a time of great fear. I will pray that people understand that this is the action of violent, angry men not followers of Mohammed. I will pray for political and religious leaders of every stripe asking for wisdom and calm. I will pray for peace.

Yesterday was Epiphany so I spent the evening packing away Christmas for another year. We like to keep our tree and decorations up until Epiphany. I know some people can’t wait to get the tree down once the 25th has passed. Not me. I think it is a gene I inherited from my mom. Once she left her tree up until Easter! That was unusual but you get the drift.

Epiphany is symbolized with stars, light, wisdom, insight and understanding. This afternoon I had to drive to Huntsville. The late-afternoon sun hung low in the sky but it still shed enough brilliance so that the snow-laden evergreens sparkled and glistened. It was stunningly beautiful and it was a perfect Epiphany afternoon.

The season of Epiphany stretches from Christmas to Lent. It is the season that bridges the birth of Christ to the suffering of Christ. It is the season that fills our imagination with wonder and brilliance. It is also the time we keep (or break) our New Year’s resolution and they might just lead us to insight and understanding. I love Epiphany!

Do you have a feeling of deepening understanding or insight? Do you think this season could lead you deeper in your spiritual journey?

BTW – one of my New Year’s resolutions is to write more regularily on my blog so … if I manage to keep that resolution … stay tuned!