Hope through Justice

I am sharing what I wrote for our church's Advent devotion booklet.  Advent is the season that precedes Christmas in the Christian calendar.

On the first Sunday of Advent we light the candle of Hope.  We remember how the Hebrew people awaited the arrival of the Messiah.  They longed and hoped for the anointed one who would bring them to a time of justice and peace.

When Jesus was beginning his ministry, he returned to his hometown of Nazareth.  At the synagogue he stood up and read from Isaiah and afterwards told those present that the scripture had been fulfilled in him.

                “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

                                because he has anointed me

                                to bring good news to the poor.

                He has sent me to proclaim

                                release to the captives

                                and recovery of sight to the blind,

                                to let the oppressed go free,

                to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”    

                                                                (Luke 4:18-19)

Jesus brought hope to those who needed it the most.

Over Labor Day weekend I had the opportunity to attend the very first Western Methodist Justice Movement retreat at Lake Tahoe called “Stepping Out in Faith.”  I met Methodists from all over the West who are passionate about justice.  We had workshops and discussions on indigenous peoples, women’s reproductive rights, ministry to LGBTQ people, global economics, disabilities, cultural approaches to death, racism and heterosexism, mental health, immigration, and more.  How do we as Christians, and specifically United Methodists, respond to these issues?  We discussed ways we can step out in faith to work for justice.

The speakers at the conference were inspiring.  One statement particularly stood out for me.  “Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have.”  It reminds me of another quote from Harvey Milk.  “The only thing they have to look forward to is hope.  And you have to give them hope.  Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow. . .  Hope that all will be all right.  Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us’es, the us’es will give up.”

As followers of Jesus, we spread the word of God’s love for all people.  We can give them the gift of hope by working for justice, following in Jesus’ footsteps.

Holy God, as we begin this season of Advent, we thank you for your gift of your son, Jesus, who brought hope to a hurting world.  Help us to be like him by bringing love and hope to all your people.  Amen.

Gratitude

This has been a quiet Thanksgiving Day—just the two of us again.  My day revolved around cooking.  My girls are on the other side of the country and spent the day together.  Last night I got calls from both of them about recipes.  We cook a lot of the same dishes because they have wanted to continue making some of the food that has become a tradition in our family.  Somehow this is comforting to me.  We are connected across the miles through food.

It is easy to get so caught up in food preparation that we forget what Thanksgiving is all about.  It is good for us to reflect at least one day a year on what we are thankful for.  Gratitude puts our lives into perspective.  Recently I was talking to my older daughter who was in a negative frame of mind.  She had gone through a rough couple of weeks which included a night in the hospital.  She complained that everything had been going wrong for her.  I had to remind her that she had found a new job this year.  Oh yeah.  We often dwell on the negative in our lives and take the rest for granted.  For this reason it is a good idea to ponder all the things in our lives for which we are (or should be) grateful.

I am grateful for my family.  Tonight I talked to my daughters, my mother, and my mother-in-law.  I wish I could see them in person more often but I am so grateful that we can communicate by phone, e-mail, and social media.  I am glad for the technology that allows me to do this.  I appreciate the times we can spend with extended family; they are precious.

I am thankful for my good health.  I do have more problems as I get older but I can still get out and live my life.  I need cataract surgery and I appreciate how common this procedure has become.  Not only is it quick and painless, but they can implant a new lens designed just for you with your prescription built in.  It’s amazing.  Recently I had an MRI on my hand and I got to see the results.  The doctor could confirm the source of my pain and have a better idea what he is facing when he goes into surgery.  I am certainly grateful for that.  I am glad that I have health insurance that helps my pay for my medical bills and prescriptions.  I am thankful for good, caring doctors, nurses, and other health professionals.

I am thankful for my church—the people there are my family.  My husband and I have no relatives in this state but we know if we need help, there is a congregation full of loving people who will be there for us.  I appreciate the faith and wisdom of these people.  They constantly inspire me.  I have learned so much from both the congregation and the pastors who have served us.

I have never been truly hungry in my life.  I have a warm house and clothes to wear.  I have a husband who loves me and stands by me.  He is my friend and partner in life.  My life has been full of cats and dogs that are part of the family.  I know a lot of amazing, interesting people—I have been blessed by them in so many different ways.  Some are friends and some merely acquaintances but they have all touched me.

I could go on and on.  So could most people.  Even in difficult times, there is always something good to be found.  God created a wonderful world for us to experience.  I am grateful for the love that surrounds me.  I am thankful for my life.

Thoughts on Ferguson

Our news has been flooded with reactions to the announcement that the grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri had failed to indict Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot an unarmed 18-year-old black teenager named Michael Brown.  I feel sorry for his parents.  I am angry at the people who rioted and destroyed property.  I don’t really know what happened that day.  I haven’t read the transcripts.  I know there was conflicting testimony.  I wonder why this officer isn’t being brought to trial.

But mostly I wonder what it must be like for a mother to watch her son leave the house and worry that he won't return, to worry that he will be shot by police--for being black, for being young, for wearing the wrong clothes, for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. . . As a mother I just can't imagine what it's like to be that mother.  A report by ProPublica indicates that young black males in recent years were at a far greater risk of being shot dead by police than young white men—a 21 times greater risk.  As a white mother, I don’t have to face such worry and heartbreak.

Racism is alive and well in this country.  We have to acknowledge this and do something about it.  How do we change hearts full of fear and hate?  I pray for peace and justice in Ferguson and in all the other cities in this country that fail to offer equality for all.

Ice and More Ice

Icicles hang in front of my kitchen window.  Our entire yard is covered with a blanket of snow.  Late falling leaves are scattered across the white landscape.  More leaves lie beneath the snow waiting to be raked.

Nobody was prepared for this storm, especially our highway district.  What was predicted to be a few inches turned out to be 7 ½ inches, a November record for us.  The thermometer has not been above freezing in over a week.  Our nightly lows have been in the single digits.  I know that many places in this country get much harsher weather.  But this is Boise, the “banana belt” of Idaho.  This is unusual for us.  Our highway district didn’t get their plows out on the main roads soon enough and they quickly became rutted and icy.  The unplowed side roads are like skating rinks.  I drive down the road to our house with my feet off both gas and brakes using just the steering wheel to try to keep my sliding van on the road.  I hope that nobody is coming in the opposite direction.

We now have an inversion.  Cold, dirty air is trapped in the valley while nearby mountains enjoy warmer temperatures and sunshine.  I venture out for appointments and scheduled meetings or events.  Otherwise I stay home.  I feel a bit trapped.  I look outside and see my little Honda buried in snow.  The landscape is gray and white, totally colorless.  I am catching up on computer and paperwork but I am restless.  The dog is bored.  I would like to say that I am tired of winter but unfortunately it’s not even here yet.  Winter isn't supposed to begin for a month!  Spring is a very, very long time away.

11/20/2014

 





 

Rachel’s Knoll

In our quest to acquire a bit of beauty for ourselves we have a tendency to destroy it.  I am sitting on Rachel’s Knoll in Sedona, Arizona.  A friend told me about it but it is not like she once knew it.  There is such beauty in the ancient red rocks that surround the knoll.  This has been a sacred place for people for a very long time.

Now there is a golf course below and homes all around.  There in even a home on the knoll.  A development company bought up the surrounding land.  For a while they blocked access to the knoll even though they had agreed to keep it open.  It is open again after a successful lawsuit by Rachel’s children.  We had to go through a gate where there is a guard who questioned us about whether we had been to Rachel’s knoll before.  No.  How did we know about it?  This is private property.  We didn't let him discourage us and he let us in.

Two small tours have been up here since we arrived.  The guide now sitting near me appears to be Native American (maybe Hopi from what he said).  According to him the area in front of us is known as Seven Sacred Canyons.  For some reason, he says, the developers chopped off the “sacred” part of the name and call it Seven Canyons.  To me it is obvious.  This area is not sacred to them—they only see money.  The guide is saying that all human life has a link to this place according to the people who have the longest history here.  This means that we are all connected.  When he first walked up he commented that he doesn’t see the golf course anymore.  It will be gone one day when the water dries up.  It will all go back to the way it was.

I hope he is right.  The buildings, the manicured grass, and the noise of the weed whackers are so out of place.  Rachel’s knoll transcends time and it belongs to us all, a sacred spot.

Written on 10/29/2014

Sedona Ramblings

Red rock formations line the horizon

Carved long ago by wind and water

Their names changing over time

Sacred places for ancient people

The air grows still for a moment

Did someone sit here a thousand years ago?

Was she in awe like me?

A woman whose life was tied to the earth

So different from me sitting here

But perhaps more like me than I know

Someone who had a family to feed

Who had people she loved

Did she feel a presence sitting here?

A spirit that moves through all

Connecting earth and all living things

Did she feel it too?

There is a strong link to ancient times

I feel it watching sun on red rocks

A bond with those who walked here before

Perhaps some part of them lingers still

Watching over this sacred piece of earth

That connects past and present

Bringing us closer to God

Written on 10/28/2014

Fall Has Arrived

It’s here.  The calendar told me so . . . but I was in denial.  The warm days encouraged me to push it aside.  Now there’s no denying it.  There’s a chill in the air in the evening and I grab my robe when I get up in the morning.  It’s true.  Fall has arrived.

It’s not that I dislike fall.  It’s just that I have to admit that summer is over and winter is coming.  I do enjoy the early days of fall.  It is beautiful today.  We have a clear blue sky with the temperature hovering around 70 degrees.  I am sitting on my deck enjoying my yard for a while (and trying to ignore the sound of our lawn mower).

The leaves here are just beginning to turn.  As I look around me I see mostly green leaves.  There is a tree across the stream in a neighbor’s yard which has turned to a colorful orange-red.  Near it stands a tree with pale yellow leaves.  In my own yard I see a few bunches of yellow maple leaves in a sea of green—that’s about it.  My vegetable garden is still producing but has slowed down considerably.  I know its days are numbered.

Fall brings out conflicting feelings in me.  It’s a busy time of year.  Activities restart or pick up speed after the relaxed days of summer.  My schedule gets crowded and I am energized.  On the other hand, a beautiful day like today makes me feel lazy.  I want to stay outside in the sun to savor the warmth and the beauty of my yard.  It will be all too soon before I am huddled inside peering through frost-covered windows.  I have things to do inside but perhaps I can linger just a little longer . . . maybe that book I started . . .

10/3/2014

Being Grounded

This morning I got up early and headed out to go door to door for a political campaign.  It was my first time doing this and I was tired when I returned home several hours later.  My week has been filled with evening meetings, errands, phone calls, and time on the computer for a hunger walk, two different interfaith groups, and my church team.  My head is swimming with details not yet organized.

This afternoon I needed to spend some time harvesting vegetables from my garden before watering it.  I wandered in and out of the house, thoroughly enjoying the warm, sunny day.  A squawking great blue heron flew over our stream accompanied by two ducks.  I disturbed a covey of quail on my patio and deck multiple times; they vocalized their distress at my presence and scooted off, their top-notches bobbing.  I pulled a few weeds in the strawberries.  And I found myself smiling.

I am sitting on my deck right now, in between moving the water on my garden.  A squirrel scrambles through the large maple tree above me.  I hear quail and ducks near the stream.  The sky is a beautiful, calm blue.  The air is still.  I catch my breath and I find that I am at peace.  Whenever I get overwhelmed with my busyness, I just need to go out to the garden and reconnect with the natural world.  It grounds me.

9/21/2014

Speaking of Justice

A vast expanse of blue stretches before me –deep blue water, gray-blue mountains, and a pale, blue sky.  I hear the waves hitting the rocks below me.  Two women are deep in conversation two benches down.  My friend sits on the other end of my bench reading her Kindle.  Lake Tahoe is a wonderful location for a conference. 

We have been drawn together by our interest in justice—Methodists mostly from the western part of the United States, clergy and lay people, church leaders.  We have sung songs of justice, prayed, and listened to inspiring speakers.  During workshops we discussed a variety of justice issues, often with passion.

The biggest issue, near to my heart, involves changing our Book of Discipline where it states that “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.”  (This contradicts a statement elsewhere that says that all people are of sacred worth.)  People have been trying to change this since it was inserted 40 years ago.  Homosexuals are not allowed to be pastors under this rule.  Pastors are not supposed to perform gay unions/weddings and churches are not supposed to host them.  The chief supporters of these rules come from the United Methodist Central Conference (Africa) and the southern part of the United States.  Pastors have broken the rules and performed same sex unions; some have lost their credentials.  In some conferences there are openly gay pastors.  More and more churches are joining the Reconciling Ministries Network which actively opposes these rules.  Member churches have inclusive welcoming statements indicating they welcome everybody.

There are other issues on which we would like our church to take a clear stand.  These include the plight of the Palestinians, economic inequality, immigration (especially the children coming over our border), women’s rights, racial inequality, and the environment.  Someone stated that we need to focus the church back on the teachings of Jesus and the principles of John Wesley, our founder, instead of on sin and salvation.

The work of justice is not easy.  We talked about what we want to take to our General Conference in 2016.  One of our speakers was from Zimbabwe.  He told us how Africans focus on community and connection.  We need each other.  We were reminded that we can’t look at one another as other and attach labels.  We need to talk to and respect each other.  In later discussions I think we all agreed that we just don’t know how to do it.  We could not come to complete agreement on where our justice movement should go next.

Sitting here I feel a calmness brought on by the sun and the beauty of the lake.  At the same time the crashing of the waves makes me feel a certain urgency.  Some people will remind us that justice takes time—and history does tell us that.  At the same time there are those who have been waiting a long time, too long, sometimes a lifetime for justice.  How long must they wait?  Now would be a good time for them.  When will there be a time when we have justice for all on this earth?  I think that will be when we truly and fully live in the Kingdom of God.

Written on 8/31/2014

A Day to Explore

This morning we awoke to the sound of a generator in the campground.  Once it finally shut off we were just barely able to hear the river over the noise from the large group of Boy Scouts that moved in late last night.  So much for our peaceful campsite.  We realized our plan to leave the campground and go exploring in our car was a good one.  However, one set of neighbors took off in their large ATV and the trailer couple took off in their truck.  The Boy Scouts packed up their gear and hiked off with a couple of pack horses.  We were alone again. 

We didn’t hang around for long—but I did finish my book.  We took our little SUV up a long dirt road to the Carey Dome Lookout.  The tower stands 85 feet tall and is the only metal tower still in use in the Payette National Forest.  Bob said that we might be invited to climb up the tower so I was gazing up at the series of stairs with very narrow railings, wondering if I had the courage to climb up there.  The lookout walked out of the nearby cabin to say hello and said that he had come down for lunch.  He would have invited us up but there was a storm moving by and he couldn't due to lightning concerns.  Phew.  He told us that the tower actually acts as a lightning rod and the current runs through the ground from each of the four corners.  You don’t want to be standing there.  During a storm he sits in the tower on a stool with glass insulators on the bottom to protect him.  Wow.  That would be an experience.  Bob chatted with him for a bit while I petted his very friendly dog and looked at the view.  Unfortunately there was a smoky haze today and the mountains in the distance were barely visible.

We headed back down the mountain looking for the trail to Marshall Lake that the lookout had told us about.  We couldn't find it so instead we drove up Marshall Mountain.  It got very steep and rocky the last one-half to three-quarters of a mile so we parked the car, ate some lunch in a lovely meadow, and then hiked up the rest of the way. The wildflowers were beautiful, surprising for August, but we were over 6,000 feet.  I stopped to take photos.  I spotted some hawks flying around and managed to snap a photo of one perching in a tree using my zoom.  I frightened it when I tried to get closer.  To get to the top of the mountain we had to go cross-country.  Bob found a federal government geodetic benchmark which told us that we had found the high point.

While heading back down the mountain in our car we came across a couple who was also looking for the trail to Marshall Lake.  We wished them luck and moved on.  Once we turned back onto the lookout road and drove a ways, we saw the trail we’d been looking for!  Bad directions, I guess.  It was getting late and we had other plans.

Further down the road we turned into Burgdorf Hot Springs.  We hadn't been there for years.  These hot springs were used in the 1860s by miners.  It is now privately owned.  Driving in we noticed that some of the very old cabins have been fixed up and are now rented.  There are others that are falling down.  Burgdorf is a very rustic resort.  When we paid our $14 for two, the woman proudly told us that they have new outhouses.  The pool has gravel on the bottom and the cooler end is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  The hot end has pools that are 110 and 120 degrees—too hot for me. 

The hot water was very relaxing at the end of the day.  At first we had the pool mostly to ourselves but then some older people from an ATV group came in; they were quite friendly.  The air was cool and there was a nice breeze.  We found half in and half out of the water worked best.  When we began turning into prunes we changed out of our suits and drove back to camp.

We discovered that the campground had filled up while we were gone.  Despite the number of people it’s been fairly quiet tonight.  As the sun was setting I heard the sandhill cranes again—but they sounded different.  I got out of my chair by the fire and saw a pair flying over the river vocalizing.  I’m not sure where they went.  Right now we’re sitting by the campfire listening to the river and waiting for the fire to burn down.  Once the coals are perfect we will roast marshmallows and make s’mores—possibly the last ones of the summer.  Tomorrow we head home.

Written on 8/8/2014

Out in the Woods Again

Once again I am sitting out in the woods next to a river writing in my journal.  I have been busy and this camping trip did not get much planning which probably indicates how much I needed to get away.  The day before we left we were cleaning our deck and patio plus the house for a neighborhood gathering that evening.  After everyone left we talked about the weather and which direction we should head—that’s it.  The next morning I started pulling out the camping equipment but had to take a break for a doctor’s appointment.  I also took time to pick and freeze blackberries so I wouldn’t lose them.  We managed to leave the house mid-afternoon.

For those who know Idaho, we drove from Boise to McCall then ultimately ended up about 40+ miles up Warren Wagon Road in the Chinook Campground.  Amazingly we were the only people here so we got the best spot overlooking the Secesh River.  It was so peaceful.  Just about the only sound we heard was the river.  As the sun was setting I was surprised and delighted to hear the whooping of sandhill cranes.

We heard the cranes again as the sun rose and we lay in our sleeping bags.  It was a bit chilly when we got up but hot coffee and French toast alleviated that.  Soon the sun was warming our campsite.  We relaxed—I read and Bob napped in his hammock.  Soon a truck with a trailer pulled in—we had neighbors.  They left for a while then came back and we heard the sound of a chain saw.  It woke Bob up from his nap.  It seems that many people come in with chain saws these days—with no thought or consideration for their neighbors.  It’s now evening and a camper drove in with a trailer containing an ATV.  We’re waiting to see how noisy they’ll be.  It’s quiet right now.

About mid-afternoon we decided we needed some exercise so we headed out on the trail to Loon Lake along the Secesh River.  We hiked here 18 years ago when we took a weekend backpack trip with our girls and camped at Loon Lake.  It’s about a 10-mile round trip and we had no intention of going that far today.  We simply strolled along the trail, stopping in the shade for a water break, taking photos, inspecting the flowers, and taking in the scenery.

There was a huge fire in this area about 15 years ago and on the first part of our hike we were surrounded by dead, blackened trees and lots of colorful purple fireweed.  As we moved along the river narrowed as we came into a canyon.  The river ran more quickly over the rocks and there were stands of green trees and a wider variety of vegetation.  At one point we startled a young deer on the path.  I tried to get my camera out but the deer was frightened and ran away.  We passed just five people—two on foot and three on mountain bikes, all returning from Loon Lake, I think.  We walked for a couple hours then decided it was time to turn back.  It’s always interesting to see what you missed going the opposite direction.  On the other side of the river we saw what looked like a terrace of bright yellow flowers apparently thriving in a damp location.  We noticed fascinating rock formations carved out by the fast-moving river.  Once back at our camp we looked at the topo map while sipping cold soft drinks.  We were surprised to learn that we had hiked about 5 miles total.  Perhaps that’s enough exercise to rationalize eating a couple of s’mores tonight.

Written on 8/7/2014

Exploring the Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Once again I am sitting by the Salmon River.  It is mid-morning and the sun is shining through the fir tree above me.  I am enjoying the sound of the river and the birds singing.  After two full days here it is time to pack up and go home.  I’m not sure that I am ready.

On our first day here we stopped at the ranger station to check on trail conditions and the status of the large fire to the west which is creating smoky conditions in the Sawtooths.  We decided to drive to the 4^th of July Trailhead in the White Clouds, a place we had been about 30 years ago.  The terrain had changed; there had been a fire through the area several years ago and now bare, dead lodge pole pines stood watch over small new trees and a variety of colorful wildflowers.

After a quick lunch in the parking area we hit the trail which was mostly uphill.  I was thankful for my boots because this is a very rocky area.  We crossed the creek a number of times.  Most of the crossings were easy –at first a bridge and later on a few good rocks.  The only challenge offered a choice of a log or rocks.  Bob chose the rocks; the pointy ones required that you keep moving.  The log was not even and required careful footing but I was able to stop and calculate my next step.  My favorite part of the hike was the beautiful wildflowers.  I stopped many times to take pictures.  4^th of July Lake itself is not so impressive; the peaks behind it are what make it a pretty spot.  We decided to go a bit further up to the ridge.  We stopped at a tiny unnamed lake which had large patches of snow above the opposite shore.  The view was worth the extra climb.  Later we realized we had been near 10,000 feet elevation.  No wonder I was a bit out of breath!  We hiked about 5 miles total.  We managed to return to our camp before too late.  Bob was really looking forward to the dutch oven chicken.

Yesterday we headed down the highway in the same direction although we didn’t get as early of a start as planned.  We were tired—we’re not as young as we used to be.  It was disappointing to see the Sawtooths covered in a smoky haze.  We stopped at the Redfish Lake Visitor Center and happened to catch an open house, complete with champagne and scones, for the display of art of the Sawtooth area.  They had both photography and paintings, including a couple by a church friend.  After a conversation with the hostess, we drove over to the day area and ate our lunch by the lake, using rocks as stools.  Now well into the afternoon, we drove over to the lodge and caught the shuttle boat over to the Redfish Lake inlet.  It was nearly 3:00 p.m. and we needed to be back by 5:00 p.m. to catch the shuttle.  I filled out a permit at a box at the trailhead and we walked into the wilderness.

I had never been in this area before and I was eager to get a closer view of the peaks I had seen from a distance for many years.  Of course this was uphill again, although not as high as the day before.  At first the peaks were blocked by thick stands of trees.  The stream was running high and loudly made its way over rocks and fallen trees.  I stepped off the trail for my first photo.  The higher we hiked the more chances I had to glimpse the tall peaks between the trees.  Although the climb was tiring, I rounded each bend in the trail eager to see what was around the corner.  I took lots of photos.  As the time grew closer to when we needed to turn around, Bob encouraged me to go a bit further.  He ended up sitting and waiting for me—he is 10 years older than me.  It was worth the extra push.  I came to an opening where the trail leveled out and the mountain peaks could be seen on both sides of me.  Beautiful flowers of all colors popped up between the rocks.  Breathtaking.

It was time to turn around.  We arrived a bit early but had to wait for a second shuttle because there were so many people.  Once back on the other shore, Bob wanted a beer while I just wanted ice cream.  We sat and enjoyed these at a picnic table while watching families on the beach play.  A blue grass band was setting up on the lawn in front of the lodge so we spread out our blanket among many other people and listened to the music for a while.  Once back at camp it was time for a dinner of hot dogs (roasted over the fire on skewers), baked beans, broccoli, and dutch oven berry cobbler.  Our sleeping bags and air beds felt good last night.

It’s about time to pack up the car and return to the complexities of the world.  Life is so simple here.  I guess that’s why it’s so refreshing.

Written on 7/20/2014 

Mountain Renewal

It’s early morning and the sun has not quite peeked over the nearby ridge.  The air is still chilly but the sun will soon remedy that.  It is quiet except for the rush of the Salmon River below me and the songs of the birds in the trees above me.

I have been waiting for this—the chance to escape to the mountains.  A change of scenery is always good but I find a type of renewal up here that I find nowhere else.  From the majestic peaks and amazing rock formations to the tiniest, most delicate flower in an alpine meadow, this beautiful country leaves me in awe.

And here comes the sun!  Time for breakfast.

Written on 7/18/2014

The End of a Hot Day

The heat of the day has subsided and it is finally cool enough to sit outside on our deck again.  I can hear the roar of traffic in the distance but rising above that noise are the songs and chirps of our neighborhood birds.  A plane flies overhead but I can’t see it through the canopy of our large maple trees.  I hear the sputter of a neighbor’s sprinkler watering a thirsty lawn.

I love the late evenings here just before sunset.  There is a peace that has settled over everything, a relaxation after the intense heat of the day.  I came out here to find this peace for myself.  I take a deep breath and exhale, attempting to empty my mind of its clutter.  Graceful branches reach towards the sky as if searching for something.  I am searching too.

Change

Change is inevitable but that doesn’t mean we do it easily.  Today a new pastor stood before us in our sanctuary.  A fellow church member posted that she was very emotional this morning but she enjoyed the service.  Our former pastor was well-loved and had her own unique way of conducting worship.  Already there are changes in the service.  I think this new pastor made a favorable impression on the congregation.  However we will have to take time to get to know each other during this transition.  Change is not easy.

When things are not going well, I think we are much more open to change.  It may seem that anything is better than the status quo.  However, when life is going smoothly, we can become complacent.  We may be reluctant to take on new challenges.

I believe that change is necessary for growth.  We are forced to adapt to the new circumstances.  There are new opportunities for learning and new challenges.  Whenever I take on something new, I am a bit nervous at first but I am also excited.  I can’t wait to see what develops.  I find myself growing as a person.

Although we really didn't want our former pastor to leave and I think we could have learned much more from her, I see opportunities for our congregation with this change.  Our new pastor comes to us with lots of experience and a different perspective.  We will learn new things from her and she may cause us to grow in new and unexpected directions.  We just have to open our hearts and minds and embrace this change.  Who knows where we will go next?

Mountains and Justice

A couple nights ago we were crossing the Sierra Nevada in California.  The sun was just setting and the songs of Peter, Paul, and Mary burst from our van’s CD player.  The snow-capped mountains were spectacular in the fading light.  My heart was full of gratitude for the Creator’s wondrous gift.  But there was something more.  Those old Peter, Paul, and Mary songs always stir something in me.  They are a call for justice.  I continued to gaze at those beautiful mountains.  God gave us an amazing world which not only includes natural wonders but also an incredible array of creatures that inhabit it.  This includes the very diverse human species.  We are not made to sit still.  We are charged with caring for our planet and all who inhabit it.  We are meant to do good works and this includes working for justice for all God’s people—everyone.  We are to connect with our fellow human being and be love in this world.  We are God’s hands and feet.

Written on 6/2/2014

Finding Balance

I have concluded that it takes constant effort to keep one’s life in balance.  At the beginning of this year, I became an activist of sorts.  While I have felt strongly that I have done the right things, even getting arrested, I now feel it is time to seek some balance.

Perhaps this urge has been spurred on by the arrival of spring in all its beauty.  Nature has a way of sparking creativity.  My first urge is to pull out my camera to capture what I experience.  I have tried drawing and watercolor in the past.  Watercolor can be freeing if you just let the paint flow.

About a year ago I began doing glass fusion at a local studio.  It is fun to put layers of glass together and see what you get when it comes out of the kiln.  I have tried jewelry, plates, bowls, and candleholders.  I love how the glass sparkles as the light passes through the bright colors.  I plan to spend some time at the glass studio soon and see what I can create.

When we spend too much time on one thing, our lives are out of balance.  Too much work, paid or volunteer, is not good for us.  We need time to explore—physically, intellectually, and spiritually.  We were made to be creative, in the image of our creator.  I am seeking to find the right combination for me.

Written on 5/27/2014

A Perfect Spring

I am sitting on the deck outside my bedroom listening to birds chirping and frogs croaking.  It is late afternoon on a beautiful, sunny spring day.  In this area spring weather can be quite unpredictable—very warm one day and a frost the next morning.  This year, once spring had truly sprung, we have had mostly sunny, warm days. 

I have been working hard in my yard, but I have been taking breaks to sit and enjoy the day.  My husband and I have been eating most of our dinners on the patio. While we eat we can hear the songs of robins, red-wing blackbirds, chickadees, and more.  We can watch adult chickadees flying up to the birdhouse above our heads to feed their hungry, chirping babies; their dedication is admirable.  Cattails rustle in the wind and bright yellow irises line the stream that runs through our property.  Large white blossoms cover the black locust trees.  From where we sit we can see many of our roses that have just begun to bloom. 

As the sun begins to set, I will take one last walk through the yard before heading inside.  Perhaps I’ll hear the owl calling again as the night becomes still.

Easter Thoughts

Today is Easter, the most holiest of days in the Christian faith.  It is the day that we believe Jesus rose from the dead.  Lent, the 40 days preceding Easter, is a time of reflection.  The last week, known as Holy Week, can be emotionally intense if one is tuned in to the series of events.  On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to the cheers of a crowd.  Adding to the drama, Pontius Pilate, a Roman governor, rode into the city through another gate at the same time.  On Maundy Thursday, Jesus ate a Seder meal with his disciples.  Depending on which Gospel you read, he either shared bread and wine with them, the first Communion, or he washed their feet.  That night, betrayed by his disciple, Judas, he was arrested as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus was sentenced to death, tortured, and was nailed to a cross to die the most horrible of deaths.  This is where we are left until Easter morning.  It is a dark time.

I grew up with these stories, but never gave much thought to them.  Now I have questions.  What does this mean to me personally?  How does this affect how I live my life?  After more careful study of the Gospels, I have learned that they don’t agree on details.  We don’t really know what happened or how Jesus was resurrected.  It’s a mystery.  Clearly, whatever the details, something fantastic occurred.

How does this help me today?  The resurrection is a story of love, a story of hope.  Can I look at it with fresh eyes?  To be honest, I needed a little hope this past week.  We all have our dark days and I was there.  I know I can always find people worse off than me, but truly when you step into a dark hole, even for a short time, it blots out all the light.  I was in pain—physical and emotional.  How does the resurrection give me hope?  I do know that God turned a horrible death, Jesus’ death, into something amazing and wonderful.  God took the worst, most evil thing that humans could do and turned it upside down.  How does this help me?

I don’t really think God will rescue me or my loved ones—although that doesn't stop me from wishing it so.  But God does love us.  We are the body of Christ—his hands and feet in this world.  He is our example to follow.  I get so discouraged with what I see around me—hunger, corruption, poverty, greed, injustice, hate, ignorance, intolerance. . . and the list goes on.  It is overwhelming.  It affects us all.  Jesus was a radical who was killed for standing up to authorities.  Do I have even a fraction of his courage to stand up for what is right?  When I am dealing with physical or emotional pain, can I endure it and be able to still live my life as a follower of Jesus?  Can I be useful?

God showed us the power of love in the resurrection of Jesus.  We learned that death is not the end.  Love can conquer all.  Spreading that love is our job.  That’s what the Kingdom of God is all about—here and now. . . but not quite yet.  We get glimpses of what it might be. . . and we can feel it at times.

I know I could spend the rest of my life asking questions but never learn all the answers.  One answer leads to another question.  However, there is one thing of which I am certain, even on my dark days—there exists great love even among all the bad things, love that overwhelms and flows through all.

4/20/2014

My Transformation to Leader and Activist

I was a shy kid.  Throughout my childhood and teen years people who didn't know me referred to me as quiet.  Some people even say that about me now.  It is never a compliment.  When I was young I thought that my shyness meant that I couldn't be a leader.  However, when it became necessary to assume a leadership role in our small high school church youth group, I learned that I could do it.

If my younger self could see me now, she would be amazed.  If somebody told me 40, 30, 20, or even 10 years ago what I’d be doing now, I wouldn't have believed it.  My shyness is mostly gone, although it can rear its head in large groups of strange people.  I have learned that I am truly an extrovert; being with other people energizes me.  I can be talkative at times but I do have the tendency to hang back, especially in groups, and think carefully before I say something.  I have learned that I am able to lead a group to accomplish goals.  I find myself continually stepping outside my comfort zone.  I ask myself how I got into this.  I don’t know what I’m doing.  I don’t have experience.  Somehow things work out.

My first memory of stepping up was when I was a teen.  I remember initiating a collection at my church for people in a disaster area.  I don’t remember much but I remember feeling moved by the plight of these people.  Fast forward to 30 years ago when I was a new resident of the state of Idaho.  I became a VISTA volunteer for a project to establish a surplus food warehouse in Idaho because I felt very strongly that I was being called to do it.  I had no experience—just a college degree.  At that time I hated making phone calls.  I remember hovering over my phone with a written script in front of me, gathering my courage to make a cold call to a trucking company to get free transportation for food.  As time went on, I got more comfortable making calls to strangers to request help.  When we held a grand opening for our first warehouse, I not only planned the ceremony that included the governor, but I was interviewed on TV.  This was not the sort of thing this shy person was comfortable doing!

After my experience as a VISTA, I was asked to lead the new missions and outreach team at my church.  I had no experience leading any sort of church team but I said yes.  Just a few weeks before the local CROP Walk, I was asked to jump in and do the arrangements, even though I had never taken part in the walk before.  I used my position as missions and outreach chair to recruit people from my church to participate in the CROP Walk.  I have continued to participate in CROP, one way or another, since that time.

When my older daughter wanted to be a Girl Scout, I became a leader.  And when we lost the leader of our Girl Scout Service Unit, I volunteered to be Service Unit Director.  I had no experience with any of this but I realized that I was needed.

I have held a number of leadership positions in my church.  About 6 years ago I was asked to chair the Discipleship and Evangelism team, now called Welcome, Invitation, and Membership.  I was still trying to figure out, as a team member, what the team was supposed to be doing so I asked a lot of questions.  I thought carefully about this and prayed before saying yes.  When a new pastor came, suddenly my team was in charge of redecorating our narthex.  Are you kidding?  I had zero experience.  It was somewhat controversial (change!) and people didn't hesitate to tell me what they thought.  We hired an interior decorator and did fundraising.  I had never raised that much money for anything before.  I was lucky to have some good people on my team and our project was successful.

The Reconciling Ministries team was formed to oversee our church’s efforts to live into our statement that we welcome everybody—with a special emphasis on LGBT.  This became an independent team a year ago and I am chair.  Once again, I didn't really know what I was doing.  As a team we ended up starting an LGBT support group and participated in the Pride rally, parade, and festival.  I began attending LGBT events and making connections.  While I was in contact with reconciling United Methodists in Oregon, there are no other reconciling congregations in Idaho.  I was a bit jealous of the work the Oregon churches were doing together.  I knew there were other faith communities that welcomed LGBT people because I saw them at the Pride Festival.  As chair of my church’s reconciling team, I reached out to these others and then I expanded the list.  We held our first meeting in November and named ourselves the Interfaith Equality Coalition.  I was amazed at the turnout at the first two meetings.  We have shown up at the Statehouse multiple times in support of LGBT rights.  I think we have made a difference.  What’s next?  We’ll see.  On one hand, I am very excited about this coalition but then I wonder how I got myself into this.  I've never done this before.  How do I lead this?  My pastor assures me that I don’t need her help.  I doubt myself yet I’m excited and ready to move forward.

My contacts with the LGBT community have caused me to participate in a sort of activism that I have never done before.  My passion for justice for LGBT people led me to get arrested for civil disobedience at our Statehouse a month ago.  I have continued to participate in other protests, observation in the gallery, and prayer vigils.

I guess I’m an uncomfortable Christian, a term used at my church.  As a follower of Jesus, I am constantly nudged to go out and do more.  God pushes us out of our comfort zone and encourages us to be love in this world.  The shy little girl is now an older woman who continues to gain courage and step out where there is no assurance of success—just a desire to make the world a bit better.  I can’t wait to see what happens next.