My own experience this week is like seeing a picture of oneself and realizing with sudden and bracing clarity how seriously overweight one is. Sure, the scale had been ticking up a bit, but the picture brings it home in a mor compellingly undeniable way.
This week has caused me to rethink so much about my country, community, and my own life, including 3 decades of military service and what --and whom--I was defending.
As a religion scholar and theological ethicist, I also understand the important role culture plays even in our spiritual lives. Even monks don't pray in a vacuum.
So, I'm seeking spiritual refuge from politics, if not many of my fellow citizens right now. I can follow the commandment to love them, but it doesn't mean i need to seek them out. I know the role the early church played for Christians, and I hope it can play that role for me in the times ahead.
Such a compelling analog for my own surrender to the conventional wisdom of "we and they." Of "we versus them."
It is a weight, and I don't want to carry it around another day. At our cores, I think, nothing can divide us, and I can always reject the idea that a different view or opinion than mine makes the holder of that view or opinion morally inferior to me.
I will seek the same refuge that you speak of.
In a way, I think, this cycle has invited me to stop pretending and to lean into the curve. I found a shadow there, and it is a scary shadow. It's weighty and clumsy, and it has harmed so many people, I think. And it's good not to pretend it away, but to listen to it with compassion and to walk with it as it sheds a few pounds.
After ruminating and praying about how things have bifurcated so intensely, I decided that yes, God is here in the midst of his crazy creation and, more importantly, God's spirit is within me as I try to make sense of where we are. The eyes of my heart are opening with tears in them as I anticipate the challenge of holding fast to the center as it is crumbling and trying to live in a way that builds bridges and loves everyone and maybe even helps create a new center. Love is the center. If we let that go, I am afraid of where we will end up. I am holding onto a verse of one of my new favorite songs..."I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God." I definitely DO BELIEVE that "there are enough of us who share this longing for this hope to have any chance of survival." Right there with you my friend.
No surprise, but this resonates so deeply with me. And I'm buoyed by the idea that maybe, just maybe, there is a new center under construction, a center being built on a foundation of a love that exceeds our understanding.
I find myself wondering how the human divide would be if it weren’t for the media imputing into our minds how to think, how to act and how to shut up.
Would there be a divide? Probably. But I don’t think there would be such emotional outrage if we’re not for their rhetoric. We have all given in to “their” way and have allowed “our” way to fade.
Am I upset with the state of our union? Very much. But I refuse to let myself be told what to think and how to act by “the media” and for that matter, by my fellow man who has gulped down the Kool Aid.
My fellow man is my equal and that is bestowed by God. That’s good enough for me.
I so appreciate your comment. I get (and support) the idea of a more responsible media, but the hard part, of course, is deciding who gets to determine what "responsible" looks like. And there is a part of me that simply acknowledges that as long a people want to be outraged, someone will serve up plates LOADED with outrage. How do you convince people to stop buying a product that tastes so good?
Regardless, I think you hit the nail on the head with respect to staying independent with our thinking, and taking personal responsibility, and honoring the equality of our fellow humans.
Want to run for office? I'd vote for that platform, and you.
Thank you for writing this. I think we are all reeling from this whole election cycle. It took up so much space in our lives and it is, quite frankly, exhausting. And I’m very sad and worried too.
But I work in the medical field, mostly hospice. My view of the political world gets grounded by watching families being torn apart by this noise while their loved one is literally dying. It shows you that this illusion of sides hurts people so much. People who once loved each other so much being torn apart by something they “believe in” but don’t really understand. It makes me pause.
I also get grounded by going out in the community where people are out and about just living their lives, smiling and waving to folks. You just do not witness the hate in real life that you read and see on the news.
I was feeling pretty down yesterday too. God gave me an opportunity to be generous to an older lady who later explained that her husband had died last week at age 95. Taking that opportunity made all the difference. I’m reminded that God strategically set out good works for us in advance and that can be a gift to us as much as to others.
What I am hearing you say. We love and we love and love without expectations, until someday, through some process that only God understands. Loving feels like being loved.
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
Inscribed on the wall of Mother Teresa's children's home in Calcutta.
I hope this hugs your heart. It does mine every once in a while and helps me continue, despite external forces. We love you!
Then, when “parts” need to vent and be acknowledged, I blare Jelly Roll’s song “Liar” and sing along… you know, balance :) lol
Thanks friend. I love this. It helps to know we’re in good company.
Thanks for this, Chris.
My own experience this week is like seeing a picture of oneself and realizing with sudden and bracing clarity how seriously overweight one is. Sure, the scale had been ticking up a bit, but the picture brings it home in a mor compellingly undeniable way.
This week has caused me to rethink so much about my country, community, and my own life, including 3 decades of military service and what --and whom--I was defending.
As a religion scholar and theological ethicist, I also understand the important role culture plays even in our spiritual lives. Even monks don't pray in a vacuum.
So, I'm seeking spiritual refuge from politics, if not many of my fellow citizens right now. I can follow the commandment to love them, but it doesn't mean i need to seek them out. I know the role the early church played for Christians, and I hope it can play that role for me in the times ahead.
John,
Such a compelling analog for my own surrender to the conventional wisdom of "we and they." Of "we versus them."
It is a weight, and I don't want to carry it around another day. At our cores, I think, nothing can divide us, and I can always reject the idea that a different view or opinion than mine makes the holder of that view or opinion morally inferior to me.
I will seek the same refuge that you speak of.
In a way, I think, this cycle has invited me to stop pretending and to lean into the curve. I found a shadow there, and it is a scary shadow. It's weighty and clumsy, and it has harmed so many people, I think. And it's good not to pretend it away, but to listen to it with compassion and to walk with it as it sheds a few pounds.
That is the refuge, or at least maybe it is.
Ć
Thanks, Chris.
After ruminating and praying about how things have bifurcated so intensely, I decided that yes, God is here in the midst of his crazy creation and, more importantly, God's spirit is within me as I try to make sense of where we are. The eyes of my heart are opening with tears in them as I anticipate the challenge of holding fast to the center as it is crumbling and trying to live in a way that builds bridges and loves everyone and maybe even helps create a new center. Love is the center. If we let that go, I am afraid of where we will end up. I am holding onto a verse of one of my new favorite songs..."I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God." I definitely DO BELIEVE that "there are enough of us who share this longing for this hope to have any chance of survival." Right there with you my friend.
Linda,
No surprise, but this resonates so deeply with me. And I'm buoyed by the idea that maybe, just maybe, there is a new center under construction, a center being built on a foundation of a love that exceeds our understanding.
Thank you, friend.
I find myself wondering how the human divide would be if it weren’t for the media imputing into our minds how to think, how to act and how to shut up.
Would there be a divide? Probably. But I don’t think there would be such emotional outrage if we’re not for their rhetoric. We have all given in to “their” way and have allowed “our” way to fade.
Am I upset with the state of our union? Very much. But I refuse to let myself be told what to think and how to act by “the media” and for that matter, by my fellow man who has gulped down the Kool Aid.
My fellow man is my equal and that is bestowed by God. That’s good enough for me.
Will, Thank you for this.
I so appreciate your comment. I get (and support) the idea of a more responsible media, but the hard part, of course, is deciding who gets to determine what "responsible" looks like. And there is a part of me that simply acknowledges that as long a people want to be outraged, someone will serve up plates LOADED with outrage. How do you convince people to stop buying a product that tastes so good?
Regardless, I think you hit the nail on the head with respect to staying independent with our thinking, and taking personal responsibility, and honoring the equality of our fellow humans.
Want to run for office? I'd vote for that platform, and you.
Ć
Thank you for writing this. I think we are all reeling from this whole election cycle. It took up so much space in our lives and it is, quite frankly, exhausting. And I’m very sad and worried too.
But I work in the medical field, mostly hospice. My view of the political world gets grounded by watching families being torn apart by this noise while their loved one is literally dying. It shows you that this illusion of sides hurts people so much. People who once loved each other so much being torn apart by something they “believe in” but don’t really understand. It makes me pause.
I also get grounded by going out in the community where people are out and about just living their lives, smiling and waving to folks. You just do not witness the hate in real life that you read and see on the news.
Janice,
Such wisdom in this. In all of it. This struck me in particular:
"It shows you that the illusion of sides hurts people so much."
That is my prayer for Monday. For discernment to see the illusions for what they are, and for the courage let the wind carry them away."
Thank you,
Ć
I was feeling pretty down yesterday too. God gave me an opportunity to be generous to an older lady who later explained that her husband had died last week at age 95. Taking that opportunity made all the difference. I’m reminded that God strategically set out good works for us in advance and that can be a gift to us as much as to others.
Genau!
Dan,
Thank you for this.
What I am hearing you say. We love and we love and love without expectations, until someday, through some process that only God understands. Loving feels like being loved.
100% yes!
Ć