Facing challenges

Unto the Ages…

Some days the clouds rise upward, an example of striving and reaching higher, as if believing in the best, for the best. Knowing better, doing better. On others though, they seem to drift across the sky, as if allowing themselves to be carried along in a somewhat orderly, but carefree kind of way. Maybe that’s good too.

There are also days when the clouds seem to sit in place, still as can be. Then there are ones where they seem to vanish entirely, leaving only a shade of blue or gray behind. Although perhaps tempting to toss these kinds of days, where the clouds seem less than what they can be, aside, they also hold a message or way of being that can be very much in need.

At the end of a week that saw the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who signified an age and a large part of the history around the world, on the same day as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that leads into the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and tragic events, impacting so many around the world, the readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Tm 1:12-17; and Lk 15:1-32), remind us about the truth of how relevant and valued we are to God and each other.

With a heart and mind drawn to history, let’s focus on the first reading and the passage in the Book of Exodus in which Moses implores God to refrain from taking wrath against the Israelites who are falling away and have been worshipping false idols. We can see that Moses intercedes on their behalf by speaking the truth of their shared history with God and calling for that to take precedence. This is something he keeps returning to and keeps trying to remind others about, along the journey. Moses remembers aloud God’s promise of life—a long line of descendants—and a place to live—land as a perpetual heritage—to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. This is not to say that the people who have gone astray can or should do whatever they want, but rather to highlight the importance and necessity of commitment to each other and God as well as for faithfulness to include interceding on behalf of others for what is truly good and just. It’s a real sense of “you are our God… we are your people… together, we belong to you and each other.”

God listens to Moses, considers what he has to say, and turns away from the wrath he had intended to do. Through it all, the key is that Moses holds onto the truth, we are all relevant and valued—and refuses to be separated from the Israelites or from God. It’s all about the attitude toward relationship and unity. A great example of how One can make a difference.

So, the question that repeats itself throughout the ages, regardless of what’s happening in the clouds or the landscape all around me is… Is my desire to be united with God and others greater than my desire for the things that ultimately serve mostly or only me? And, in what ways do I believe in and commit to the best, for the best?

The Lord said to Moses,
“Go down at once to your people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
‘This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’
“I see how stiff-necked this people is, ” continued the Lord to Moses.
Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.
Then I will make of you a great nation.”

But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying,
“Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt
with such great power and with so strong a hand?
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,
‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky;
and all this land that I promised,
I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'”
So the Lord relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people. – Ex 32:7-11, 13-14

Yes, and…

Kahlil Gibran wrote, “The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious of the rose.” Looking at the circumstances occurring around the world today, one might wonder how on earth it is possible to not see thorns and weeds run amok. However, also happening around the world at the same time as all these daunting occurrences are ones that inspire and give cause to celebrate.

Perhaps within these days, too, there is opportunity to hold a broader view and to seek the hope that is awaiting in each moment, in each act of love, kindness, mercy, and compassion. But first, a pause. Maybe there is a letting go or taking up that needs some space to allow it to unfold. These kinds of times are also often great for working through unrest and moving closer, if not to the side of peace.

Imagine a rose without thorns. Is it perfect? Is it incomplete? Either way, honesty urges taking in the entire picture, whether of something familiar or something unknown. For that is when truth comes into view, and with it, a return to what is real. Yet, all along the way, Wisdom softly calls, although we may evolve, sometimes resist, or dig in, there is always something greater happening here. In fact, there is always something greater happening everywhere. Yes, and it is worthwhile to behold.

Lord, you have been our refuge through all generations. – Psalm 90:1

Considering All Things Under The Sun…

Bound south on a highway,
But still looking up,
Such a beautiful bridge,
Sleek and strong,
Yet even it can’t contain the sky.
From arc to bow and then its arch,
A towering touché, but still,
Not missing a pace,
It trusts and holds in place,
Still, it knows its place.

Continuing south, only now on a byway,
Only now, looking out,
Such a beautiful scene.
Ocean all around,
Deep and dark blue,
Carrying sparkles of light.
Then, a group of rocks
Hanging out in the seaweed
As it sways with each movement.
There’s a smaller one in the middle
On which three creatures steadily wait.
Still looking out and
Taking in a magnificent sight,
So peaceful and quiet,
Inside and out.
Next, I see them looking up.
Another touché, but still,
Not missing a pace,
They trust and hold in place,
Still, they know their place.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. – Mt 11:29

Peace Dwells Within…

That which was spoken long ago,

Holds true still, even in this day and age.

Peace, it dwells within,

And cannot come from that which is external.

Listen to Paul, who once was murderous Saul,

Filled with conviction,

Really hate, disguised as a passion he thought was right.

The Lord opened his heart,

Corrected his vision,

And led him to turn from his ways.

His conviction remained.

His passion transformed,

From one that was steal.

Redeemed one might say,

By the Way that is true,

By the One who is always waiting,

For the other to come around.

Peace is about embracing possibilities,

Seeking Grace and gratitude,

Being open to ways that differ,

And accepting differences,

Without surrendering to them.

Peace comes in discovery

As well as in re-discovery,

In going out into the world,

Remembering in whose image all are created,

Holding true to oneself,

And allowing others to do the same.

Peace, it dwells within,

But its effects go well beyond.

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. – Col 3:15

Sunrise at sea

In The Spirit…

Looking out across the way, noticing the strokes with which nature paints the scene before my eyes, I am captivated. The variations of color and light both hold their own and come together. A symphony embracing one another, yet at the same time providing the contrast that makes it fully come alive. Ripples in the sky, and ripples down below. With all that is going on, it’s interesting how all these differences join to form a work of beauty, instead of tearing at each other, or falling all apart.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. – 1 Cor 12:13

Solemn Joy…

“Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that came down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

The above quote seems so apropos for the world of today despite it being written many decades ago. Interesting how in every age there are things about which one can say, what’s old is new, and what’s new is old, or in other words some things are timeless.

Entering the 3rd week of Advent, the readings invite us to avail ourselves of God’s promise,

The Lord, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
he will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals. – Zep 3:17-18a

To step over the darkness of our times,

God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the Lord,
and he has been my savior. – Is 12:2

And into the ever-present joy and light of the Lord.

Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. – Phil 4:4-7

As we wait in hope for the coming of the Lord, in what ways does the wisdom of God’s word resonate? How is the Spirit of the Lord present in these moments of waiting? In what ways do they create inspiration? And where do they spark peace and love… joy and light?

The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”

Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people. – Luke 3:10-18

With Whom…

Pulling into an open lot along a scenic road, initially it seemed as though there was no place from which to view the water. Bushes and trees were all around, as if a fortress blocking the way to the water gently waving behind it. However, stepping out into the fresh air, with each movement closer, possibilities arose, until at last, nearer still and despite any preconceived notions, a path, narrow as could be, but still present, a way through appeared.

Oftentimes, there is much more than one might see or think there to be, yet it can be tempting to refrain from asking, disregard the invitation, and instead turn back, embrace presumptions from afar, and choose a side, rather than trusting that call, choosing to discover (ask and receive), allowing paths to appear and Truth to become known.

In the passage below, what resonates most with you at this moment? Which person(s) do you identify with and in what ways? How do you desire to be, and to live? Where is God in that desire?

The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The Israelites said to them,
“Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!”

Then the Lord said to Moses,
“I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.

On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in,
let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days.
So Moses and Aaron told all the Israelites,
“At evening you will know that it was the Lord
who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord,
when he hears your grumbling against him.
But who are we that you should grumble against us?”

And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening
and in the morning your fill of bread,
and hears the grumbling you utter against him,
who then are we?
Your grumbling is not against us, but against the Lord.”

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole Israelite community:
Approach the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.”
But while Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community,
they turned in the direction of the wilderness,
and there the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud!

The Lord said to Moses:
“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the Lord, am your God.”

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?”
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
“This is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.” – Exodus 16:2-15

Getting There…

Among memories of summers past, some of the hotter days rise to the surface. I remember moments, as a child, of hopping from one foot to the other, ooh-ing and ah-ing, while traversing the cement deck or driveway barefoot in route to the cooler green grass on the other side. Along the same lines, there was the trek from the parking lot at the beach, to the water. Whether we entered near a ramp or the stairs leading down to the beach, there was always a tricky section, of varying width and riddled with stones of various sizes or dry shifting sand, to cross before reaching the sand that was flat and smooth and then the water that was cool, and sometimes exhilarating, while at others more serene.

As I think back on these times, equally vivid are the pain and the payoff. There was no way to get from one side to the other without experiencing some level of being uncomfortable and some portion of less or much less than ideal. Yet, the promise of arriving on the other side, the hope of what it held, the lessons learned, and the experience waiting over there, made the effort worthwhile and far outweighed the negatives. It always does.

I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness. – St. Teresa of Calcutta

If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts. – Psalm 95

Awash…

As each wave comes ashore, along the way it covers all that is lower lying. Sometimes stacking up, it covers higher ground too. Then as it recedes, it pulls back toward the ocean all that is loose or unanchored, leaving a murky mixture of unsettled sand and water behind.

The movement is constant, the intensity waxing and waning, turning motion into commotion at times. Yet, standing in the water, witnessing and experiencing the ebb and flow, toes, then feet and more, under water, swaying… sometimes shifting for better footing, sometimes falling over, but ultimately finding the way, and keeping balance amid conditions of low visibility.  So much like the days we are in, so much tossed about, up in the air, or sinking.

Still though, in between the waves, and even within, there is Hope. There are always moments of clarity where despite murky water all around, the anchor, tried and true, still holds, and the floor of sand with its assorted pebbles, rocks, and shells can be seen. For water that moves always comes clean. Always, always, refreshing the soul… renewing the heart.

May God enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call. – Ephesians 1:18

Awash

Peace, piece by piece…

As we remain afloat in a sea of COVID-19 and political, social, and financial unrest, we are in the midst of much that aspires to debilitate and obliterate. As it carries on, sometimes it can seem like this state of disarray could go on forever. However, despite it all, progress comes as waves of truth and courage continue to rise. More and more join in, standing up and speaking out, seeking to overcome the past, and to affect long awaited change.

Sometimes, it is a matter of coming to see, that as the big things knock us out or push us back, our peace lies in the little things. The little things, like the way a squirrel gathers acorns, one at a time, teach us wisdom and move us forward. Step after step, it is the little things and all that is in between, that truly push us ahead and lead us to the places where we need to be.

“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” – John Wooden

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