Perhaps you can
relate – ever had what seemed like profound inspiration? I hear something interesting, it gets
processed through the filters in my brain – my memory, my history, my emotions –
and bang a light goes on/off – whatever.
All of the sudden it makes since, and it weaves its way through me as I
process, developing into what I think are great ideas. However, unlike mathematics, A + B does not
always = C. Too often the ideas,
although exciting, don’t turn to action/implementation/outcome.
There are many
reasons for that reality, lack of knowledge or know how, lack of resources,
lack of energy, health issues, lack of time.
It soon becomes overwhelming, and I realize it’s too big an idea for one
person. Perhaps if I pass the idea on,
someone will take it up – yea right as soon as pigs grow wings. It doesn't take long before I've moved from all that is “lacking,” into the self-pity and blame game. It starts with “I should do this…”“if only I could…”
“why bother I’ll just screw it up…” “no one will listen…” “no one cares…” “why
bother…” “Fuck it another one bites the dust…”
Then I add it to
my list of failures. So how can one
break the pattern? And don’t say, “think
or be positive.” (ok you can say it but…) The next person to tell me to be positive
better be out of foot range, cause my foot will likely find its way to their
ass. Think Positive implies that if I
think happy thoughts somehow shit will magically come to pass. Sorry folks life just isn’t that easy. And yes I often wish it were. It takes a bit of effort and personal
responsibility. Don’t get me wrong,
positive can be a good thing, but not a magic pill.
We, that is the
church (I don’t care which version/denomination/non-denomination) have been
complicit it promoting this magical thinking.
We say things like, “Pray for it, believing and it will happen.” This notion implies that when it doesn’t
happen, it’s because I didn’t believe enough.
Or we will say something like, “sometimes God’s answer is no” or “you
didn’t ask for the right thing or in the right way somehow.” So, we are left with believing that God is an
evil magician, or somehow something within me has the ability to make God do
God’s magic.
It’s not that
there isn’t truth in those statements, simply that it isn’t magic. The truth is revealed within/amongst those
thoughts. Positive thinking can keep us
open to the possibilities. Prayer allows
us the opportunity to vocalize – internally & externally –and meditate on our
thoughts, fears & hopes. Hope can
feed our positive thinking. But the
truth is much simpler & much bigger.
The truth is that on our own we can’t do much of anything. As infants & children, someone or a
number of people, have to care for us and teach us how to do the most basic of
things. Our relationships with one
another become influential. Our biology
becomes a factor. Our community and how
we see ourselves within it or outside of it, becomes a factor. Society and environment become influential. It’s not that God
couldn’t choose to act in such a dramatic and magical way, rather that God has chosen to utilize
what already is.
As a person of faith, I
make certain assumption about the “natural order” of things – I do the same
when thinking scientifically, we refer to what we call “natural laws/principles.” Those assumptions, are based on our
observations filtered through our history, personality, experiences, education
etc. One assumption I’ve come to claim
is that I do not have the power to change one element into another, nor do I
have power over others, sometimes I don’t even have the power to get my ass out
of bed in the morning. My second
assumption is that something, some force, some process has/had the power of
creation – the ability to make something out of nothing. I call that power God.
There is a story
in our sacred writings, which speaks of
Jesus being “tempted.” The first
temptation says in effect “If you are of God, you could transform a rock into a
loaf of bread.” The temptation is not
one of simple hunger rather it is one of identity and power. Jesus response is to claim his identity. Just before this scene God speaks to identify
Jesus as his “beloved son.” Claiming his
identity in relationship to his Dad, Jesus chooses to also let what was created
be what it was meant to be, as Dad intended.
Can anyone say, “Respect!”
Next the
tempter/antagonist/accuser takes Jesus to the center of community life – the
biggest stage around. Lights, camera
action – the spotlight shines – “throw yourself down, Dad’s got ya covered – he
will send out the rescue squad and they will catch you before you hit the dirt – and
everyone will see how awesome you are.” Become
a celebrity and the world will follow you.
I mean get real, how exciting is it to feel admired, appreciated, lifted
up, paid, followed. Glory is very
tempting. And again, with glory can come
power. Jesus response is one of what we
call obedience, not in the since of blindly following another’s will, rather of
trusting that the one in charge has put together an effective & working plan. Jesus is already at the heart of the plan, so
he chooses to stay the course, even through all the injustice, suffering, pain,
grief and death – trusting by faith – Dad has it covered. We can call that one, "humility."
Now we come to the
final challenge. So Jesus is taken to
the highest place available in order to get a good look at the world and all
the nations. “I will let you conquer &
take power over all these nations. All
you have to do is give me the glory and your allegiance.” If Jesus won’t use power to change the
natural order, and he won’t use glory to gain the power of celebrity, perhaps the
power-over or use of force will work. As the Genie in the movie Disney's Aladan stated, "Hail the conquering hero." Jesus response, “pay attention I’m not interested in using power in such
a way. Get lost!” Jesus chooses the way of "Peace."
Throughout the
rest of his life & ministry, Jesus uses not power over, but the power found
in/through/amongst relationships. The
first relationship is with Dad. Knowing
& trusting the love of his parents he understands his role & place
within the family dynamics. The second relationship
is with others, he walks from place to place encountering one person or small
groups of folks at a time. In the gospel
according to Matthew, he uses ordinary things to make happen the miraculous. He touches, he speaks, he takes dirt &
water to make mud packs to cure blindness, he takes a few fish & some bread
and starts passing it around, soon everyone has shared what they have and there
is plenty with enough to spare. The
third relationship is with society and its clashing culture, politics,
economic, and structures/institutions.
He chooses the way of peace rather than force. He chooses to be his human self rather than
taking away human free will. He chooses
to love.
Jesus is able to
love because he knows/is love. He knows
the love of God. He lives that love in
and through each encounter as he journeys.
He pours himself out for loves sake, allowing us to be who we are, and
to freely choose. As he loves, he
teaches/reveals how it happens. It
happens in such a way that as we are loved we become loving. It is not law in the way we tend to think - as
in the movie Dogma (one of my favorites) “Do it or I’ll spank you…” or perhaps as stated in Bruce Almighty "Oh smite me mighty smighter..."rather our
love becomes a natural response and in living into it we get better at it, we
become lovers, we are loved again and can love again.
So how is that
translated into where I started? Well,
in spite of my history or perhaps because of it: I’ve known love. I’ve got some street smarts. I have
learned & grown. I acquired an
education. I developed my gifts &
skills. I became self-aware in such a
way as to become aware of those around me, their lives, experiences, needs,
desires, and hopes. Yet it is process
and the pattern is not linear – more circular and paradoxical in nature. Sometimes I fail and my failure becomes what
was needed. Sometimes I succeed and that
success was tainted. The point is that
through the power of love I’m able to recognize most of my limits as well as my
gifts & skill sets. Through the
power of love, I’m able to care for those closest to me. Through the power of love, I’m able to take
one small step at a time to be loving in the wider communities I’m a part of,
which filters into the wider society and culture, world. I can’t change the world, but I don’t have to. I can take action, one step at a time – but I
have to choose to take the step, then the next and so on. I can use the voice I’ve been given. With, in, through, because of the power of Love, so can you.
Peace be with you
Peace be with you
(As a note &
example – some of my reflections today were directly inspired by the preaching of my
friend & colleague Rev. Mike Keys)
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