Category Archives: General thoughts

Bombs Manhunts Dying

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Last week was awful in many ways.  I recently blogged about the Boston bombing but that was Monday!  What happened after was even more surreal.  Watching the media folks fall all over themselves trying to make a story when there wasn’t a story yet was irritating.  How many ways can you repeat the same thing without adding anything to the conversation?  Then, something happened, they put video and photographic data together and found suspects.  The manhunt was very disturbing.  I’m not sure what was worse, knowing that someone had put horrible bombs down beside innocent people and walked away or that the search for the suspects led to an insane exchange of weapons firing with Boston locked down. It was like watching a crazy movie but it was real. Is Congress watching?  Gun control would be helpful now!

I found myself feeling anxious, and ill at ease.  I wanted to be near my husband to feel safer.  These young men were very effective terrorists.  I, for one, was scared.  I wasn’t in Boston but I was so distressed I’m sure my level of health decreased for the week.  I had to cry.  Then the faces of the suspects seemed so normal.  Over and over you heard people who knew them say they would never have believed this behavior possible from them.  As the information is coming in it seems there may be more to this than we thought.  I’m sure we will be hearing about this for a long time.

I prayed a lot this week for the families of those killed, for the people in the Boston Marathon, for people living in the area, and for peace.  I needed some peace.  As I write this I am thinking of 4 deaths at our church.  It has been a time of great loss. I have faith and it gives me comfort even in the sadness, the fear, the pain.   God’s love gets me through.  Keep praying!

BOSTON

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I am sitting at the computer working when a news flash catches my eye – Bombs going off in Boston? I stop to look at the news – it is like watching a movie.  Is this real?  The reports are sketchy but sensational, someone is dead, many injured.  They are talking about the Boston Marathon.  Thousands gather for the run and all the celebration and joy surrounding it. But as it is winding up a bomb filled with sharp pieces of metal and ball bearings explodes sending these things at high velocity into the flesh and bone of innocent people. There is talk of blood and the sounds of those in pain.  People are terrified. They run, but they help each other.  The police are there to help.  What was a scene of joy and triumph becomes chaotic and tearful.

What kind of person thinks up things like this?  Why would anyone ever want to cause so much damage to the fragile bodies of human beings?  Did they even consider that a child might be there?  These questions go through my mind.  I just can’t even imagine wanting to hurt others like that.  Protest, maybe.  Make a large sign perhaps but to hurt innocent people?  It simply does not make any sense to me.  There must be great pain to bring on such a lashing out.

As a person of faith I must consider that God is crying too.  Why do we do this to one another when God created us to be loving toward each other.  I pray for the people of Boston, and for all of us who are hearing about this tragedy.  Hopefully, the authors of such a nasty act will be found and apprehended and brought to justice.  God is likely weeping for them as well. Save us from ourselves. Still it is in these times that the good side of humanity also shines forth.  Hope survives. And yet, the rest of the world suffers worse atrocities, daily.  A reminder that we are all connected.  Maybe in our pain we will see theirs more clearly so that hope remains alive.

Music Music Music

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I was privileged to attend the Spring Convocation at Eden Theological Seminary this week.  The topic of the Brueggemann and Kulenkamp  Lectures was  Music: an essential element of the progressive Christian movement.  Three inspiring and gifted speakers, Paul Vasile, Minister of Music at Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City,  Rev. Cynthia Wilson, Dean of Students at Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Chicago,  and Dr. Christopher Grundy, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Eden shared their experience and passion for music as a means of spreading the message of Love in the world.

I was moved by the singing of music, by the presentation of what this progressive movement is and what is can mean to the church as a whole.  Music is and always has been a passion of mine.  It struck me that music is sacred and is part of the whole creation.  I was thinking how wonderful that musicians share their experience of the sacred in notes and rhythms and was then struck with the idea that all creation does that very same thing.

Consider the rhythm of the ocean, the sound of the birds or insects, the pulsing of the blood through the body which calms a child at her mother’s breast. Even the ticking of a clock or sirens marking the care of one in need can produce emotion in us.  Music serves that purpose – an awakening of emotion in the human.  It stands to reason that music is essential for any movement that involves the seeking for and encountering the holy.

Then I thought about how silence plays an important role in any music.  The rest, the pause, the time to breathe is filled with Spirit!  What a lovely couple of days and the joy of sharing that with people who care about sacred music.  It is my prayer that the awakening in the soul connects each so intimately with God that the only outcome is love outpouring to serve, to care, to reach higher awareness of others’ needs so that all may be in harmony.

HOLY WEEK

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Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week. It is a week that marks the center of the Church Year. It is the most sacred time of the year for me. I find myself thinking about the life of Jesus and the risks he IMG_0141atook to promote God’s view of the world where all are loved, all are precious and equal in the eyes of God. We all have differing gifts but we are each loved and cherished by the God who created us. Sharing that message in that time was dangerous because the power structure kept the poor at the bottom suffering greatly, while those at the top basked in glory with much wealth. The message is the same today. Here in the U.S. we run the risk of falling into that same social situation if we don’t remember to care for each other and for the poor in particular. My last post showed a dollar amount that could end poverty. I was astonished and while I realize it isn’t a simple task wouldn’t it be nice if people just thought about it. If in this week of remembrance of Jesus and his commitment to God’s desire for love in the world, we would try to think in that way – that God is wanting us to build up those who are hurting even if it requires sacrifice on our part? Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, we are only asked to sacrifice a little. It might make the celebration of Easter that much more bright, meaningful and real. Maybe we will be moved to action.

Troubling statistic

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A friend posted these figures on Facebook today.
The world spent $1735 Billion on war in 2012.  It would take $135 Billion to TOTALLY ERADICATE poverty.
That’s less than a tithe. We could do so much more to change the world by defeating poverty. Do you think war would be less necessary if there were no longer poverty or is it in fact war that causes (or at least maintains) most of the poverty in the world?   Food for thought.

I saw God today

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True friends are rare and enrich your life by their very presence. Today I spent time with a friend who let me be myself and listened as I shared some hurts and some irritations. I never felt judged. I spoke the truth without fear that I’d lose my friend. This blessing reminds me that God’s love is often carried to us in the form of a simple gesture like a touch, a smile, a shared idea, or eye contact. The holy presence is so evident in these special caring persons.

A shout out to Mom and Dad

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I’m fresh back from a soul nurturing visit home with brother and sister. I always get fed with unconditional love there. God loves me especially well through my family. It was a good time there and hard to leave. I can see mom and dad in each of us. They gave so much love to us with beautiful life lessons. I miss them both. The comfort is knowing they are with God and God is in turn with me bringing all that love back again and again. Thank you, oh most holy One, for your love and a shout out to Gerald and Beatrice Clifton, the best parents ever!