Walking along the pace is brisk in some places and much slower and methodical at others. The path so concrete, laid out as clear as day, but then seemingly disappearing, leaving those travelling it to take stock… to figure the way forward that safely, or maybe wisely, fits them best. Yet, sometimes the “where I am” and “where I want to be” do not meet, or maybe just not yet.
A process that makes time, and the taking of it, not only a good thing, but also a necessary thing. Overall, a journey building upon itself before coming to the end of the trek, or this one, on this plane, at least, and landing on stable ground, or rather learning to be steady on whatever the ground may be.
While some building may call for a single column as if marking the way, some calls are for branching out, and lending support. Still rising, tall and strong, a new look on a familiar way, always moving, continuing the journey, sometimes quick, slower at others, maybe even coming to a pause, but ultimately, always moving toward, if not with, greater depth.
Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed. – Heb 12:13
Stepping out and looking up, the night time sky awakens me. Alongside the darkness, the clouds, visible above and behind the tree tops, create a contrast that draws me in. Between them and the sky that is speckled with the light of stars from far away, the scene is even more compelling. There are so many dimensions, and on this night, as opposed to one where the clouds leave no room for the stars, all seem to bring something to the picture in a way that works together and makes it whole.
So much of what’s good and honorable in the world, is not unlike this scene. That is, the parts not only brought together, but also taking care to make room at the table, and in our hearts, for each other. Coming back to the night time sky on this evening, taking in its different parts once more, I imagine each of them embodying, “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will” (Psalm 40). For although we are different, we are very much the same. And, our well-being and the picture that we make is collective—always tied together.
As Martin Luther King, Jr. Day approaches, thank you Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for standing up and speaking out, for your words and the actions that flowed with them, and most of all, for the spirit with which you shared them with the world.
“In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be… This is the inter-related structure of reality.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Each time I have had the opportunity to travel west through New York, coming across the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor brings me back decades to being a young student, and a favorite social studies lesson that included an explanation of how canals work. I recall listening with great interest about the way that locks and channels along the way, made it possible for canals to bridge the gap where differences of altitude were previously an obstacle.
A few days ago, I attended a virtual meeting featuring two speakers who were former governors of different political affiliations. The topic they discussed was the importance of public service. Both emphasized that in their experience, engaging on a personal level with a wide array of people was critical, and how a lack of openness to each other and ongoing dialogue leads to polarization. In other words, when you get to know people and learn about their lives, you connect in a way that lends itself to trying to work together with respect and courtesy, despite any differences of opinion. It reminded me of locks (or stops) and channels on the canal, working together to level things off, close the space between, and create a solution to overcome the difference that was otherwise impossible.
October 4th is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, who was born into a very well to do family in the 12th century. He lived a lavish lifestyle in his younger years, but in his early 20s, he became disillusioned with the material life and all that came with it, and walked away from it. From that point he increasingly embraced a life of prayer from which his words and actions, through the grace of God, flowed. He is quoted as saying, “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”
St. Francis’s life started in a very different space, more than comfortable, and far away from the experience of most. In the end though, he had closed the gap and found the greatest of riches, in doing so.
In current day times, there is too much distance between… too much space across so many arenas, and it is wreaking havoc. It can seem that there is not a lot that one can do. However, we can always decide what kind of channel we want to be, and we can always seek inspiration that helps us to shorten, or even close, the space between, and rise above the deficits that may be.
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will remain. – John 15:16
Peace Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
As I gazed out across the quiet, mostly still water, there were a number of Canadian geese slowly making their way to the other side of the pond. They appeared to be in a sort of formation. It was one that could be labeled more interesting or captivating than their typical landside behavior and the annoyance caused by the parting “gifts” they often leave behind.
Although the geese were not in a straight line, they were all pretty much in a row. They were moving together, eventually all in the same direction and with a similar, if not the same, purpose. They were united, even if only by the species to which they belong; not all that different than any other species.
Oftentimes amidst disagreement or unrest, it may seem that all we have is the knowledge that we are the same, but also simultaneously not the same.
When at an impasse, it can be tempting to throw up one’s hands and not only walk away, but also to stay away. While sometimes, this is necessary and perhaps truly for the best, Jesus cautions his disciples not to do so too easily or too quickly. For even in weighing the pros and cons and allowing them to inform and guide decisions, the heart—in all its depth, and holding knowledge of a different kind—can be left behind or squeezed out.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that ‘every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:15-20
We are to help each other to stay true… to stay in formation—connected—so that we do not get lost and so that the equation does not leave cunning intellect and surface emotions to dominate and direct rather than Wisdom.
In the final analysis, I believe in man, in spite of men – Elie Wiesel
I recall summer days during childhood when my father would attach sprinklers to a few hoses spread around the yard to water the grass. Then, every so often, he would move each sprinkler to a new location to ensure each section of grass was watered. I remember looking forward to “sprinkler days” back then especially on long, hot, humid days.
My siblings and I used to run through the lines of water at times to cool off, or around them at other times to avoid getting wet. Still other times, we would pick the sprinkler up when least expected, aiming it at the others, whether wanted or not, for a surprise cooling off. And then, every so often, one of us might slip away to remove the sprinkler head, replace it with the “super spray” nozzle and proceed to provide a more powerful cooling off experience for the others. Overall, we had a lot of fun, and admittedly some “disagreements” too.
There were three sprinklers altogether. Two of them were straight and about a foot long with several holes along the length. The sprayer would move from one side to the other, from 0 to 180 degrees, shooting lines of water along the way. Then there was the “wacky” sprinkler. It had three prongs that came out from the center which would rotate around, 360 degrees, as it sprayed a line of water sideways from each prong. The circular motion caused the lines of water to be wilder, and perhaps crazier, than the lines of water that the other sprinklers emitted. Despite its flair and pizzazz, the “wacky” sprinkler was the least desirable for cooling off. However, at the end of the day, both types of sprinklers accomplished their job, watering the grass sufficiently. And, while the “super spray” nozzle was great for sibling sneak attacks, it was less effective and not considered as an option for watering the lawn.
With events that have transpired across the world this past week, and what seems a continuous growing trend of intolerance and inability to dialogue in dignified and respectful ways, somehow I found myself thinking of the “wacky” sprinkler spraying water in every which way. Yes, it was wild and crazy, but it still had a purpose and value so we tolerated it and used it as it could be used. Then there was the “super spray” nozzle with its harsh and often cold rush of water, but even that, if used properly could be used to water the lawn.
There are many happenings throughout the world that can be upsetting and downright improper. Sometimes, it can be easy to become enflamed by what we cannot comprehend and by what seems “way out there” to us. It can be tempting to join the frenzy or to turn away and refrain from any kind of engagement. Somewhere in between, there are answers and there is common ground. Somewhere there is the fountain, the spring… the Source that provides life rather than strife. It is up to each of us to seek it and to work toward it, so that we may come together rather than be torn apart.
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope” – Lady Bird Johnson
About a week ago, I received a gift of flowers—pink, red and white tulips. When I first opened the box in which they were delivered, the tulips were cold and the petals closed like a clenched fist, but still beautiful. After cutting the end of each stem at an angle, I placed the tulips in a glass vase with plant food and some water. I continued to add water as needed and in the warmth of my home, the petals loosened over the course of the week. Each flower transitioned from being fully closed to being in a state of full bloom; different then when they first arrived…even more beautiful.
Thinking back over the course of the past week, it strikes me that the tulips needed much more water in the first day or two than they did in the days beyond that. I remember at times looking at the flowers and the vase, and feeling surprised that more water was needed again. In fact, I think I added water 2-3 times in those first couple of days.
As I sit facing what are now fully opened tulips, I think about the work required to get to this point. I needed to continue to add water to the vase while the flowers needed to continue to take the water in. There was collaboration. Both things needed to occur in order for the tulips to fully open.
Overall, one might say that the environment needed to be conducive to growth. That is, there needed to be give and take, and room for change…inside (the vase) as well as outside. It is not really all that much different from human relationships. When the environment is conducive, it is much easier to work together, to give and take, and to allow room for change in a manner in which all may flourish.
As The Wizard of Oz cast took their bows, I felt a surge of emotion. What a blessing to witness such a production and to see the smiles on all of those faces. In the moments before the curtain closed, I found myself holding back tears as I marveled at the journey to this point.
While I only know the specifics of the journey and the growth that belongs to two of those many faces, I found myself feeling so happy for, and proud of, all of them…the whole team. I had seen the way they worked together and encouraged each other. My heart so touched by it.
In just three short weeks, there were roles assigned, parts learned, direction given and taken, and a whole lot of collaborating, cooperating and working together. Talk about tasting and seeing the goodness of God! There was value placed in every part of the show from the smallest of roles to the biggest; no one part was bigger than the whole.
These children and teens led by young adults had accomplished what often seems to be virtually impossible in the adult world. That is, genuine harmony (not just getting along to go along). They were able to focus on being the best they could be, individually and collectively; and never at the expense of any one member. They were able to cheer each other on, lift each other up, and to see and celebrate each other’s gifts.
They did not tear each other down. They did not allow their differences or envy, jealousy, fear, anxiety, or insecurity to get in the way. No, instead they were driven by the common desire for the show to succeed. This did not mean there were to be no mistakes or that there was an expectation of perfection. In fact, one of my favorite moments of the show was when something did not go according to plan and everyone rallied around each other and improvised. There were no fingers pointing or eyes rolling. It was so interesting, too, to see how the vibe from the backstage and then the stage carried over into the audience. It was so refreshing to be in such a positive, life-giving environment.
So how did this happen? I believe it happened by adhering to the golden rule and treating each, and every, person with dignity and respect. That is what good leaders do. Not only that, but they also inspire others to follow their example. Thank you, Heather for allowing the Spirit of God to shine, lighting the way for others.
HopeThatFloats 
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