(Ir)Reverend Ramblings

Yesterday was the winter solstice; the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Places near the North Pole get only twilight, no daylight at all. I don’t mind the darkness, I find it comforting and that fact that it closes me in makes me feel secure. But I know that is not the case for many. Several people have mentioned to me that this has been such a gray and dark autumn season that depression and anxiety is on the rise for those who experience SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

Even though I do not mind the darkness I am also keen to look for signs of light and bits of sunshine through the dark wintry days. I stumbled on to one of those reminders of love yesterday. We have a church teddy bear named Theo. Theo has been part of my life since the mid-1980’s. He comes to church with me and then goes off to Sunday School, or what we call here Faith Trek. The kids scramble to get the chance to hold him and when I forget to take him with me I am given firm reminders to bring him next week.

Theo has liturgically appropriate outfits for each season of the church year. He wears red during Pentecost, green in Epiphany, purple in Lent and blue during Advent. He also has Advent hankies, the little squares that tuck into his pocket. Each hanky has the word of the day written on it…Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Yesterday was “Love” Sunday and when I pulled out the hanky I was reminded, as I am every year, of two children, brother and sister, who had Theo one Sunday many years ago. This is because while they were caring for him that morning in Sunday School they found a pencil and wrote their names on his hanky! There under the word “LOVE” in child-scrawl is written “Katie and Jeff”. Every year when re-discover their names I am awash with memories of those two and the many children who have held Theo over the years. They were a sweet pair and I was very fond of them as I have been of many of the little ones who have populated my various congregations. It is always delightful to hear of their activities and achievements years later.

While speaking of Theo, I should mention that he has had quite a history, he has gone to camp, spent nights in the hospital with ailing children, gone on retreat, had sleep-overs, attended parties, he was even a guest at a wedding! Seeing Katie and Jeff’s names was the little bit of sunshine that started my day yesterday. A reminder of love on the darkest day of the year. Katie and Jeff are adults now fully established in their careers and probably have no idea that I still think of them every year (unless they happen to read this blog) but seeing their names reminded me of the thread of connection that runs through life and the role that the church can play in connecting people. It can happen in profound and significant ways or in simple ways, like asking a child to hold the church bear. The impact and power of relationship flows both ways when friendship and mentorship is lived out in community. This reminder is the flash of light on the dark, winter days of December.

As part of our preparation for Christmas here at BUC we offered a course on Handel’s Messiah. It included both study of the words – all taken from scripture – and reflection and information on the music. This idea came from one of our members who has sung Messiah over 50 times in various choirs and who loves the music. She made the suggestion to me in August and I said I would lead the Bibles study part if she would lead the music appreciation aspect of it. We had a great time.

We were to meet ten times but winter weather forced us to cancel two of the session. Nonetheless, we crammed everything into eight gatherings s and then, as a group, went to hear our local Cellar Singers present Messiah. The music really is glorious and our appreciation of the words and the music was enhanced because of our study together.

Of late I have been very troubled by the global news. It seems that terrorist activity is striking every corner of the globe and the slaughter of innocents is staggering. It would be so easy to give up faith and hope when faced with the tragedy that is revealed on the news.

The words from Isaiah that are used in Messiah are words written at the time of exile. The people had been devastated by foreign invasion and had been driven from their homeland. They despaired ever returning home to security and peace. Isaiah speaks to them with comfort and reassurance. These were the words that Jennens, the lyricist, used to bring the element of comfort and hope to begin this magnificent piece of music.

While I love the Hallelujah chorus, after watching the evening news, I really need to hear the reassuring opening words of Messiah, “Comfort ye, comfort ye me people,” (Isaiah 40:1)

The count has started. Counting the candles I mean. Each Sunday we light an Advent candle to mark the weeks to Christmas. I like Advent. It puts a spiritual lens on Christmas preparations, it encourages us to slow down, to look inward, to think of Jesus.

This festive season can prompt emotional turmoil for many. Separated and divided families find it difficult, sometimes even traumatic, to sort out family times over the holidays. People with limited income find the drive to shop and purchase and give very stressful. Folks that live with emotional turmoil find these days even more challenging. All this seems a painful development from the humble birth of one who came to incarnate God’s love.

Advent helps me keep focus. Each day of this season reminds me I am preparing for the birth of Jesus not the onslaught of commercialism. Each week reminds me that the day draws near to celebrate the birth of one who changed the world. The long dark nights of December remind me how important it is to notice the light that shines in the darkness. Advent reminds me to keep hoping, to work for peace, to delight in joy and to recognize love. Happy Advent.

I have, like you I suspect, been keeping an eye on the news as the story of the situation in Ferguson, Missouri unfolds. Violence has erupted in the wake of the Grand Jury’s decision that there is not enough evidence to lay charges against the police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen.

There is no doubt that the police officer shot Brown and that Brown is dead. What is in doubt is the sequence of events, the cause, and the intent. There is no doubt about the violence, reflecting the deep divide that exists between black and white, and the perception of justice. What is in doubt is how much of what is reported reflects the actual angst of the people of Ferguson, some of whom, no doubt, are standing up in peaceful protest and others who are taking advantage of this horrible situation to loot and vandalise. Last night President Barack Obama urged the people of Ferguson to react peacefully to the grand jury’s decision not to indict the policeman. He reminded the American people that their country is built on law and the law has decided.

That is the hard part of this situation, and many situations, when it is not so clear cut but filled with ambiguity and interpretation. The law may make a clear statement but is it just? Michael Brown’s parents have made a statement saying, in part, that while they hoped for accountability they do not want to see unrest and violence.

This whole situation is one more chapter in the long, unfolding history of the great divide that exists in the US, and is somewhat reflected in Canada, between the people that make of their nation and the history that brought them together.

I agree with peaceful protest. I believe that freedom of speech and the right to object is part of a healthy nation. I do not agree with looting and vandalism. However, I understand how, when one feels up against unrelenting injustice to remain peaceful can be impossible. I guess the great divide also remains in my thinking as I struggle to understand how one speaks out for justice and fairness when it seems the ‘deck is stacked against it”.

The situation in Ferguson is not one that will effect me directly but it does cause me to reflect on my Christian ethic of right and wrong, the law and protest of it.

Where do you stand on this? Do you think there is a role for protest? What about violence? Is it different in war when the government sends soldiers to another country to carry out organized violence? My mind is firing in all kinds of direction and I would be interested to know what you think. Post a comment below and join the conversation.

I have been away on a Retreat this week. It was at Five Oaks, the United Church Education Centre at Paris, Ontario. I am always grateful for a ‘time out’ at Five Oaks and get there maybe once a year. The centre is 62 years old. It was built in the booming hey-days of the United Church when the future was filled with optimism as the church was busy erecting new churches everywhere across Canada and Sunday school classrooms were bursting with children. The church faces a very different reality now and like many sectors within our denomination the future of places like Five Oaks is uncertain.

Nonetheless I had a marvellous few days there reflecting and considering the theme, ‘Reconnecting with True Self’. There was a group of 14 of us and the conversations were rich and the learning deep. Often, to kick off the conversation our leaders, Mardi and Fred would use a piece of poetry asking us to then note a phrase or word resonated.

At one time my Friday blog would always include a piece of poetry. I got away from that practice but today, this Friday, I offer one of the poems from the Retreat. May it carry you into the weekend and be a blessing for you.

Invitation by Wayne Muller
Remember. Remember who you are.
Remember what you love.
Remember what is sacred.
Remember what is true.
Remember that you will die.
And each day is a gift.
Remember how you wish to live.

I bumped into someone last night who said, “So have you decided November is a blog-free month?” Ha ha, good question, no it is not a blog-free month but, as I explained, I find that sometimes I sit down to write and I can’t think of one topic to focus on because my mind is flooded with too many topics and then I find I just can’t write about anything! I guess that is what authors call writer’s block. Anyway his comment was enough of a poke to get me going and so here I am. Finally.

What to write about today… Community, that is the topic. This week has been a week of community. Tuesday, many gathered at the cenotaph as Canadians spent time remembering our past and worrying about our future. It is always a significant day as people, young and old, gather as a public witness.

Last night I attended a retirement celebration for someone who has dedicated her career to caring for the watershed of Muskoka. It might be wrong to call it a career as I think it was her vocation – a life-long commitment to care for our water, our environment, our planet. Retirement parties are always bittersweet, for while we celebrate with the person entering a new phase of living, it marks the end of an era. That was certainly the mood last night with the room filled with many people from many aspects of our community to honour and celebrate the work of this one person.

Today, as I write, the building here is humming with activity as every room is filled with people bustling about in preparation for our Christmas Marketplace tomorrow. Baking is being carried in, hand-crafts and second-hand treasures are being placed, art work is being displayed, and goods and services are being catalogued for the Silent Auction. It is a great day as this faith community prepares to share hospitality and to offer a shopping opportunity (!) to the community.

Sometimes when I watch the news, or even movies or television and I get overwhelmed with the violence and negativity. But when I refocus and think instead of the power of community, the goodness of people, and the beauty of individual’s who give without hesitation then I am reminded of what is truly important and that the real power of humanity comes in community.