Psalm 73
Well, it's been the longest time, hasn't it :-)
I'm part of an online study of psalms, and this past week, we've been trying to deal with psalm 73. Here are some of my thoughts :-)
I've been reading this psalm every day for the past week, and what with the things that are and have been happening around "our" ears internationally, not least the atrocious slaughter of little girls in a Amish school, two things have "crystallized" in my head re. this psalm (and mind you, this is not a scholarly reading, just a pastoral one)
The first thing is, that this psalm, deals head-on with the problem, that there is no visible equation between being a good person, a faithful one, and a prosperous one.
Health, Wealth and Happiness do not automatically follow faith and trust in God.
Being a "good person" does not automatically ensure you a problem-free life.
Having faith and trust in God, however, does equal, that the race to "be someone" to be rich, have parties, the right clothes etc, or "to have" worldly goods, becomes of less importance.
There is a huge ... security in trusting, that just as God looks to the lilies of the valley, he will supply your needs :-)
The other thing I took in from this psalm is, that bitterness and anger are dangerous things. Doesn't really matter who you direct it at. The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is everything that keeps you away from it, even for a very short time. Emotions like anger, bitterness, resentment, jealousy are all that. And these are just the ones on the top of my head.
And what is worse, we all have it !
"My feet had well nigh slipped ..."
Now, don't get me wrong here, I'm not pointing my finger at anyone. I am pointing my finger at everyone. There is a difference :-) For one thing, I'm included in the "everyone" :-)
And I have never met a person, who has not, at some (several) point(s) of his or her life experienced all of these ... hateful emotions.
And the worst, the absolutely worst thing you can do about them is to put the lid on them. To not recognize that they are there, and try to pretend they are not. It's a bit like a closet ... you know ... the closet where you stuff "everything" when you need to just get it off the surfaces of your house, and really don't know what you'll do with it. So, it's stuffed into the closet. Dirty socks and playthings, a box of whatever and kiddies' new shoes.
Now, this closet simile is actually very good :-)
There are things in there that you will miss ! and will not understand where are.
The closet will at the same time constantly nag at the back of your brain, draining you with it's unknown contents and "horrors", and one day, when you try to stuff one more thing in there, "everything" is going to come tumbling out, and that is not a pretty sight. There is dirty laundry that you would much rather not deal with twice, and which you most particularly would have preferred to not contaminate that leather hand-bag that was rather neat when it was stuffed in there.
We do the same thing with lots of emotions. Good and bad. Because we live in a society where the only really acceptable emotion is joy. Oh, a single, quiet tear might be ok, but not anger, not anguish ... nothing too much over the top, and yes, joy can be too much over the top too.
So, we stuff emotions into our mental closet, and when the day comes, where it all tumbles out, what happens is - more often than not - violence.
Violence that can be aimed at yourself, violence that can be aimed at others.
School-shootings and senseless murders. Beating of family and cutting of yourself. Anorexia and bulimia. Drugs from the MD or from the street.
And no, I'm sorry, but these are not grotesques. These are real happenings. Things that happen to normal, well-adjusted, resourceful families who do not deal with their emotions.
So, what to do ?
You have this closet, jam-filled with emotions, and you are really, truly scared to try and take out just one, because "everything" will then tumble out.
Well ... in my eyes, the only thing can be done is, to start
Accept that these emotions are there.
Recognize them.
Reach out to see if there is any help around you (and there will be). Friends. Family. Therapists. Ministers. They are out there, and they will help ... if you will ask.
Sometimes the closet is so jam-packed that you will need professional help. Don't turn it down ! Accept the pills and the therapy that will help you move on. Don't think you can do without the help of others !
Because that is part of it too :-)
You are not alone :-)
And this is where prayer is part of it too :-)
And one by one, you can offer your troubles and your hateful emotions to Jesus Christ.
Pray that he will lift the burden of them off your shoulders.
Take your troubles to the sancutary of God that is your own heart and soul, and rather than take your own counsel, take that of God.
Reach out your empty hands, and feel how God will help you. Sending you messengers, angels, in many shapes and forms. Work-mates, family, professionals. He will send them, but you will have to grasp the opportunity :-)
You may not be rich or powerful, or have a glamourous life with lots of parties and nice clothes, but you may be at peace with God and with yourself.
And to me, that is basically what this psalm is about.
Our yearning to be and to have that which we are not and have not, and how to deal with that, emotionally and in faith.
Now, the only part I actually don't like about this psalm is the ... smugness in the certainty that the rich and powerful are on a slippery slope to destruction. I would much prefer to know, that they too can go to the sanctuary of God that is their heart, that riches and the finding of love, forgiveness and rest, are not mutually exclusive :-)
But I guess it's similar to what the former Chech president (and even former dissident author) Vaclav Havel said : Being a politician demands that a person has extraordiary moral fibre, because when you are a politician it is extremely easy to become morally corrupt.
To my mind it's a bit like that with being a woman (or man) of faith.
It is so very easy to be sucked in and believe that you are righteouss and faithful, and all it really takes is one, tiny, hateful emotion, sneaking in unbidden in your thoughts.
No, to me, this psalm is very much a reminder, that the only offering I have to give to the Lord is that which is not good enough, and the only road I can meaningfully travel towards God is, to give up that which is my own : the emotions that lead away from love.
And that every time I recognize these hateful emotions, that I have to take them out, and beg Jesus Christ to take them away from me.
To not be "a habitation of cruelty", but to strive to keep the sancutary of our bodies and souls as pure as we can (1 Cor 6,19), and to know, that we cannot do so on our own
To me, my own ... helplessness in that regard is not depressing. In some ways it's a great relief. To know, that I cannot do it on my own, that I need help, that I need to reach out to both my God and my neighbour. To give as well as recieve. And the "recieve" part is not the least important one here :-)
To see the angels that God have place around me. Not as glittery pictures of long-haired, sex-less beings, but as the man who holds the door and smiles, the woman who makes room for me on the bus, the neighbour who waves and shouts "hi".
All I have to do is ... recieve :-)
God bless you.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
This will be a really short one, and I'll probably not have time to do much for the next couple of months. I'll try, but ... what's in the horizon is too much work.
BUT, here it is :-)
Sometimes reading two or more un-related texts can be a great eye-opener.
Right now I'm (re-re-re-whatever) -reading Winne-the-Pooh, and have - as always - the text for the next sermon ready on the table.
Now, what I would like you, who read this blog, to attempt is to cross-read with me :-) and allow your mind to dwell on what happens when you relate two un-related texts :-)
Ready ?
Start by reading Matthew 7:7ff
Most people discard this passage out of hand, because they think it is contra-factual. "I asked God to give me .... but he didn't !"
Well ...
Sometimes the price you pay to get what you want, is too high. If your new car is paid with money inherited from a loved one, what would you truly prefer : the car or the person ?
Sometimes, what you ask is interfering with someone else's story with God, and that is not good, in which case God will not grant you your wish. And think. If you ask "life" for a critically ill loved one, and the "life" that is given is a helpless, hopeless suffering ... would you really wish that for anyone ?
You need to be quite clear on what it is that you're asking God to do.
Sometimes you get what you asked for.
Just that !
and really "a new car" ... well ... a model-car can be a new car too :-) Don't think the good Lord doesn't have a sense of humour :-)
And frequently (more often than not, actually) you're asked to do something about it yourself. But I hope to get back to that at a later time (and remind me if I don't :-)
And when you have read the passage from Matthew, and pondered it a bit, please turn to the second chaper of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book "In which Pooh goes Visiting and gets ino a Tight Place".
Consider his strategy for knoking on doors.
Consider his strategy of seeking (and finding)
Consider his strategy for recieving.
And then, consider what you do, when you find yourself - like Pooh - to be Wedged and in Great Tightness.
Do you have a Christopher Robin ?
And are you a Christopher Robin to others in Great Tightness ?
I hope so :-)
God speed :-)
BUT, here it is :-)
Sometimes reading two or more un-related texts can be a great eye-opener.
Right now I'm (re-re-re-whatever) -reading Winne-the-Pooh, and have - as always - the text for the next sermon ready on the table.
Now, what I would like you, who read this blog, to attempt is to cross-read with me :-) and allow your mind to dwell on what happens when you relate two un-related texts :-)
Ready ?
Start by reading Matthew 7:7ff
Most people discard this passage out of hand, because they think it is contra-factual. "I asked God to give me .... but he didn't !"
Well ...
Sometimes the price you pay to get what you want, is too high. If your new car is paid with money inherited from a loved one, what would you truly prefer : the car or the person ?
Sometimes, what you ask is interfering with someone else's story with God, and that is not good, in which case God will not grant you your wish. And think. If you ask "life" for a critically ill loved one, and the "life" that is given is a helpless, hopeless suffering ... would you really wish that for anyone ?
You need to be quite clear on what it is that you're asking God to do.
Sometimes you get what you asked for.
Just that !
and really "a new car" ... well ... a model-car can be a new car too :-) Don't think the good Lord doesn't have a sense of humour :-)
And frequently (more often than not, actually) you're asked to do something about it yourself. But I hope to get back to that at a later time (and remind me if I don't :-)
And when you have read the passage from Matthew, and pondered it a bit, please turn to the second chaper of the first Winnie-the-Pooh book "In which Pooh goes Visiting and gets ino a Tight Place".
Consider his strategy for knoking on doors.
Consider his strategy of seeking (and finding)
Consider his strategy for recieving.
And then, consider what you do, when you find yourself - like Pooh - to be Wedged and in Great Tightness.
Do you have a Christopher Robin ?
And are you a Christopher Robin to others in Great Tightness ?
I hope so :-)
God speed :-)
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Some issues have come up in my parish over the past couple of days, that reminded me of "poverty". And it has reminded me, that poverty is very much a state of mind. It has nothing to do with the bank-balance (or lack thereof :-) ... at least when we are dealing with literate women, the kind that can afford and knows how to use a computer.
So ... Here's my point : You can be broke or you can be poor.
I have frequently been broke, but I don't think I have ever been poor.
I have had months, where I - with a sinking heart - realized that (the equivalent of) that 50 $ bill was my total budget for the next 4 weeks, once the rent had been paid.
I'm still standing, and so is my family.
Being broke and having too few money in your purse means living with that hole in the sock, slightly longer than is comfortable, means more macaroni without cheese, lots of potatoes, it means second-hand clothes, and not very much of the nice stuff, but you'll live.
Being poor on the other hand, is a state of mind, where you deny yourself, and deny your own dreams, wishes and work ... or, go overboard the other way, spend far more than you have, because you feel so sorry for yourself, and "everyone else" (wonder who they are, btw, never met them in any of the neighbourhoods I ever lived in :-)... "everyone else" has "every thing", and they are happy because they have "every thing", and I'm unhappy, becaus I have no-thing
... does anyone see the flaw here ?
Being poor means feeling sorry for oneself.
Being poor means depriving oneself (and those closest and dearest to same self) of joy.
Being poor means believing that money is the problem.
Well, here's the news :
Money isn't the problem. Just as it isn't the solution.
What might be a solution to the poverty-issue is a change of mind.
Money is a tool. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Some tools are suitable for one kind of work, other tools are suitable for other kinds of work.
We wouldn't dream of using hammer-and-nails to put a quilt together, they are inapproriate tools for that. But we also know, that needle and thread wouldn't get far with a faulty faucet ;-)
So : money, being poor, being rich, being broke, having too much or too little or not the right things or ... is very much a question on how you use the tool-box of your life :-)
First step is : getting your priorities straight.
And here I can - finally - use one of my favourite quotes : Personal isn't the same as important.
If being slim, wearing nice, fashionable, designer-clothes is your personal goal, then that's nice, but it does not automatically follow, that this goal is important. At least not if you compare it to the need for you and your family to survive.
You may be able to afford that dream / goal, but what if you can't do so, and still have new brakes for the car ? (and if you can afford a car, you're not poor, no, really, you're not !)
New brakes for the car aren't romantic or exotic, but they are essential, if you want to be a safe driver.
But even new brakes, or a car, is not as essential as food, necessary to keep your household together.
Food is essential
Brakes are important.
The new coat with the right tag on the back is just personal.
So. Let's face it. We who can afford our own computer, and access to the internet do not have serious money-problems. We can prioritize our spending, and if you put "needs" first and "importants" next, you might well be surprised at how many "wants" you can also afford most of the time :-)
Yes, I know, there are people, a terrifying amount of people, who cannot afford to eat every day, who have no place to sleep, who are wearing clothes that have been handed down so many times, that they should have been handed into the trash 4 times ago.
Compare yourself to those, and THEN tell me you are poor !
No. For people with their own computer, poverty is a state of mind.
So, what to do about it ?
I would start by praying :-)
I would pray to find enlightenment, wisdom and love to help me through this poverty of mind, and then I would practise opening my eyes.
Seeing what I have, rather than what I haven't.
Seeing what is there, rather than what is not.
Seeing, that I don't have to have it all, but that less actually IS more in most cases.
You are not poor.
You may be broke this month, but ... remember the lillies of the field. They neither work nor prepare, and yet, they are clad in more splendor than even king Solomon.
So ... let your poverty go. Find out if you're broke this month or not, and start prioritizing.
Needs first.
Importants second
and only when those two have been met : Wants
God speed on this particular journey :-)
So ... Here's my point : You can be broke or you can be poor.
I have frequently been broke, but I don't think I have ever been poor.
I have had months, where I - with a sinking heart - realized that (the equivalent of) that 50 $ bill was my total budget for the next 4 weeks, once the rent had been paid.
I'm still standing, and so is my family.
Being broke and having too few money in your purse means living with that hole in the sock, slightly longer than is comfortable, means more macaroni without cheese, lots of potatoes, it means second-hand clothes, and not very much of the nice stuff, but you'll live.
Being poor on the other hand, is a state of mind, where you deny yourself, and deny your own dreams, wishes and work ... or, go overboard the other way, spend far more than you have, because you feel so sorry for yourself, and "everyone else" (wonder who they are, btw, never met them in any of the neighbourhoods I ever lived in :-)... "everyone else" has "every thing", and they are happy because they have "every thing", and I'm unhappy, becaus I have no-thing
... does anyone see the flaw here ?
Being poor means feeling sorry for oneself.
Being poor means depriving oneself (and those closest and dearest to same self) of joy.
Being poor means believing that money is the problem.
Well, here's the news :
Money isn't the problem. Just as it isn't the solution.
What might be a solution to the poverty-issue is a change of mind.
Money is a tool. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Some tools are suitable for one kind of work, other tools are suitable for other kinds of work.
We wouldn't dream of using hammer-and-nails to put a quilt together, they are inapproriate tools for that. But we also know, that needle and thread wouldn't get far with a faulty faucet ;-)
So : money, being poor, being rich, being broke, having too much or too little or not the right things or ... is very much a question on how you use the tool-box of your life :-)
First step is : getting your priorities straight.
And here I can - finally - use one of my favourite quotes : Personal isn't the same as important.
If being slim, wearing nice, fashionable, designer-clothes is your personal goal, then that's nice, but it does not automatically follow, that this goal is important. At least not if you compare it to the need for you and your family to survive.
You may be able to afford that dream / goal, but what if you can't do so, and still have new brakes for the car ? (and if you can afford a car, you're not poor, no, really, you're not !)
New brakes for the car aren't romantic or exotic, but they are essential, if you want to be a safe driver.
But even new brakes, or a car, is not as essential as food, necessary to keep your household together.
Food is essential
Brakes are important.
The new coat with the right tag on the back is just personal.
So. Let's face it. We who can afford our own computer, and access to the internet do not have serious money-problems. We can prioritize our spending, and if you put "needs" first and "importants" next, you might well be surprised at how many "wants" you can also afford most of the time :-)
Yes, I know, there are people, a terrifying amount of people, who cannot afford to eat every day, who have no place to sleep, who are wearing clothes that have been handed down so many times, that they should have been handed into the trash 4 times ago.
Compare yourself to those, and THEN tell me you are poor !
No. For people with their own computer, poverty is a state of mind.
So, what to do about it ?
I would start by praying :-)
I would pray to find enlightenment, wisdom and love to help me through this poverty of mind, and then I would practise opening my eyes.
Seeing what I have, rather than what I haven't.
Seeing what is there, rather than what is not.
Seeing, that I don't have to have it all, but that less actually IS more in most cases.
You are not poor.
You may be broke this month, but ... remember the lillies of the field. They neither work nor prepare, and yet, they are clad in more splendor than even king Solomon.
So ... let your poverty go. Find out if you're broke this month or not, and start prioritizing.
Needs first.
Importants second
and only when those two have been met : Wants
God speed on this particular journey :-)
Thursday, March 16, 2006
More Lenten thoughts.
"What are you giving up for Lent ?"
I remember the first time I was asked that, and I was sort-of ... flabbergasted. What do you mean ? We don't hold Lent in this country or this church. You don't have to give up anything. Why should you! I mean, that was back in the old days, where people thought you were more righteous if you didn't eat or didn't have sex or ....
But we are in enlightened times now. We don't have to do that old nonsense.
But then the idea began to grow on me.
Over the years, I have talked with a lot of people, Christians as well as non-Christians, and during these talks, I have come to realise, what Lent means to me.
Lent means a quiet time.
A time for reflexion.
In the church-year it is placed between the joy of Christmas and horror of Good Friday as well as the joy of Easter day. And is there a better time than this to settle down and reflect on what Jesus did for us in becoming man ?
To reflect, pray, meditate, study, and get to know more about your relationship with God.
... but to most of us, time for this is hard to find, and that's where I find the "giving up for Lent" very, very useful.
Now, if you usually buy a glossy magazine every week, and settle down and leaf through it on the day you get it, you spend ... what ??? 2 $, 5$ ??? and an hour. Every week.
Will it be a hardship for you to give that up for 7 weeks, and spend an hour with God every week instead ? ... perhaps even send the 14-35 $ to your favourite charity ?
And if it will be a hardship, then I'll have to ask you : who is running your life anyway ?
You or some industry ?
Most of the things we consume are things that ads everywhere tell us we "deserve".
The companies thunder out messages of "You deserve ..." or "Be good to you ..." or "Because only the best is good enough for you ..."
And we have started to believe them ... and to believe in the underlying message : that you are only good to you if you buy our product.
Well ... if you really want to be good to you, then I will suggest that you free yourself from the vicious circle of buying, buying, buying, and start working on the circle of giving, giving, giving instead :-)
Not necessarily give things or money.
Give time.
Give yourself !
THAT is a precious gift to give.
And give yourself and your thoughts to God. Just 10 minutes of every day during Lent. Or even 5 minutes. Ever day.
To my way of thinking, that's true pampering of yourself, because it's a pampering of your soul and spirit, and it will - both in the short and the long run - be far more beneficial to both you and your family than time given to a glossy magazine or browsing for more stuff to buy on the internet or at the Mall.
And giving up shopping for unneccessary stuff is surely not giving up something meaningfull, is it ?
Now. If you have a hard time with giving up something like that (and mind you, this is only an example, I don't live your life, so I couldn't possibly begin to have an informed opinion on how you should live it), then you will have to ask yourself what it is you are finding in those activities.
I realised a good while back, that to me it's quiet-time and alone-time.
And if you cannot find time for that at home, take the dog for a walk, even if you don't have one, and go stand in the drizzling rain for 5 minutes somewhere where you can be alone.
Or take your book of reflection with you to the toilet. Yes, even young children can learn to respect, that when an adult closes the door, they are meant to stay out and not bother her.
Or get up 5 minutes before the rest of the family, and take your quiet-time there.
I know, it seems hard at first, even the 5 minutes ... but really ... giving up 5 minutes of sleep for 7 weeks should be possible for anyone :-)
Yes. You too :-)
And then spend the 5 minutes in prayer. Say the Lord's Prayer, or pray freely. Talk to God about what your wishes and dreams are for today. Not necessarily big stuff, but reflect on what you wish. For yourself and those you love.
Thank Him for your breath and your heart-beat. Give thanks that you have a bed to get out off.
And as you let the words form themselves into prayer, try ending with a minute or so of listening.
Trying to hear the voice of God.
And if you listen really hard, I'm sure you will hear a blessing.
Go with God.
"What are you giving up for Lent ?"
I remember the first time I was asked that, and I was sort-of ... flabbergasted. What do you mean ? We don't hold Lent in this country or this church. You don't have to give up anything. Why should you! I mean, that was back in the old days, where people thought you were more righteous if you didn't eat or didn't have sex or ....
But we are in enlightened times now. We don't have to do that old nonsense.
But then the idea began to grow on me.
Over the years, I have talked with a lot of people, Christians as well as non-Christians, and during these talks, I have come to realise, what Lent means to me.
Lent means a quiet time.
A time for reflexion.
In the church-year it is placed between the joy of Christmas and horror of Good Friday as well as the joy of Easter day. And is there a better time than this to settle down and reflect on what Jesus did for us in becoming man ?
To reflect, pray, meditate, study, and get to know more about your relationship with God.
... but to most of us, time for this is hard to find, and that's where I find the "giving up for Lent" very, very useful.
Now, if you usually buy a glossy magazine every week, and settle down and leaf through it on the day you get it, you spend ... what ??? 2 $, 5$ ??? and an hour. Every week.
Will it be a hardship for you to give that up for 7 weeks, and spend an hour with God every week instead ? ... perhaps even send the 14-35 $ to your favourite charity ?
And if it will be a hardship, then I'll have to ask you : who is running your life anyway ?
You or some industry ?
Most of the things we consume are things that ads everywhere tell us we "deserve".
The companies thunder out messages of "You deserve ..." or "Be good to you ..." or "Because only the best is good enough for you ..."
And we have started to believe them ... and to believe in the underlying message : that you are only good to you if you buy our product.
Well ... if you really want to be good to you, then I will suggest that you free yourself from the vicious circle of buying, buying, buying, and start working on the circle of giving, giving, giving instead :-)
Not necessarily give things or money.
Give time.
Give yourself !
THAT is a precious gift to give.
And give yourself and your thoughts to God. Just 10 minutes of every day during Lent. Or even 5 minutes. Ever day.
To my way of thinking, that's true pampering of yourself, because it's a pampering of your soul and spirit, and it will - both in the short and the long run - be far more beneficial to both you and your family than time given to a glossy magazine or browsing for more stuff to buy on the internet or at the Mall.
And giving up shopping for unneccessary stuff is surely not giving up something meaningfull, is it ?
Now. If you have a hard time with giving up something like that (and mind you, this is only an example, I don't live your life, so I couldn't possibly begin to have an informed opinion on how you should live it), then you will have to ask yourself what it is you are finding in those activities.
I realised a good while back, that to me it's quiet-time and alone-time.
And if you cannot find time for that at home, take the dog for a walk, even if you don't have one, and go stand in the drizzling rain for 5 minutes somewhere where you can be alone.
Or take your book of reflection with you to the toilet. Yes, even young children can learn to respect, that when an adult closes the door, they are meant to stay out and not bother her.
Or get up 5 minutes before the rest of the family, and take your quiet-time there.
I know, it seems hard at first, even the 5 minutes ... but really ... giving up 5 minutes of sleep for 7 weeks should be possible for anyone :-)
Yes. You too :-)
And then spend the 5 minutes in prayer. Say the Lord's Prayer, or pray freely. Talk to God about what your wishes and dreams are for today. Not necessarily big stuff, but reflect on what you wish. For yourself and those you love.
Thank Him for your breath and your heart-beat. Give thanks that you have a bed to get out off.
And as you let the words form themselves into prayer, try ending with a minute or so of listening.
Trying to hear the voice of God.
And if you listen really hard, I'm sure you will hear a blessing.
Go with God.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Lenten thoughts
As many of you will know, I'm a pastor, and as part of my pastoral duties, I teach the confirmands-to-be. This is - at times - a mixed pleasure, or - to put it more bluntly - It is downright awful when the little beasts think that they don't want to learn anything today or just plain check out whether this pastor is as tough as she seems.
I'm not a qualified teacher, and it shows.
On days like that, I can get no work done for the rest of the day, because by the time they leave, I have a migraine.
At this time of the year, things are - in spite of everything - usually in fairly plain waters, with no major upsets, and with at least a decent faking on the kids' part, that this is interesting. We have gotten to know each other, and they abide by the rules of my class-room (which are "courtesy and consideration" btw)
This year's class is problematic for a number of reasons, too longwinded to get into here, so I'll stay with the lesson I had with them on Thursday. To me, the proceedings high-lighted an essential part of the problem.
We have Lent, so I told the story of the Temptation of Christ in the wilderness.
How Satan comes and challenges Jesus at the end of His 40 days of fasting.
Stones to bread. Throw yourself from the high cliff. Dominion over the world.
Now, the challenge with "Throw yourself from this cliff. If you really are the son of God, the Angels will catch you". The kids could relate to that one, because they know it. It's the old "I dare you to ..." game, that they have all been subjected to, and which most of them have subjected others to, so, we could get a bit of a talk about that.
The transformation of stones to bread meant nothing to them. They have never been hungry in all their lives.
That's ok.
That is how blessed we are in this part of the world. But even when I translated it into "not getting what you want" they didn't understand it either. Of course they get what they want ! Every time.
Now that was scary enough, but what actually terrified me was, that the last challenge, the temptation of power, meant nothing to them.
Not because they find power uninteresting, but because they have it !
-Have you never wished "If only I could decide ..." whatever ?
Nope
-So, you're happy to let your parents decide ?
They don't decide what I do.
-Don't your parents have something to say over what you do ?
Nope. I do what I want to, no matter what they say.
-What about homework. Don't you ever wish that you didn't have to do it ?
Nope, because I just don't do it when I don't feel like it.
-Do you ever feel like making home-work ?
Nope.
-And are there any repercussions ?
Nope.
-Don't you get any flack for not doing it?
Oh, yeah, they yell a bit, but that's it.
....
-What happens when your mother tells you to clean up the mess of your rooms ? Do you do as you're told ?
Nope. No reason to. She'll forget soon enough.
-So you just don't do it ?
Right.
-And what happens when she finds out you didn't do it ?
Nothing
-Nothing ?
Well, she yells a bit, but that's it.
...
-Don't you, just occasionally, wish that you could decide whether you should do or don't do this, that or the other ?
Nope. I never do anything I don't want to. They stopped making me do so a long time ago.
...
Yes, reads like a 2-person conversation, but in reality it was 20 kids, who - with very few exceptions - all agreed, that this is how it is.
These kids could not relate to the "dream of power", because they have absolute power !
They are 13 years old, and run their own lives, and that of their families too.
... and they have no guidance over and above their own immediate desires ... which are gratified immediately.
"Jane Doe got this-and-that, so I want this-and-that and I want it now, and I'll make everyone's life in this family Hell until I get it !"
So to avoid family Hell, the parents just pay up. And do so immediately. It's easier that way. And by now, by their having reached the grand age of 13, they no longer have to threaten or throw tantrums, they just point, demand, and get.
There is nothing in their lives they are afraid to loose, because "I'll just get another one", and if it is no longer available, it's probably just old junk anyway.
There is nothing they feel obliged to do "Why should I bother ? Someone else will do it for me if I just leave it, and if no-one does, why should I, it isn't important then"
There is no thing they wish for, aim at or dream about, because they have never, ever been without any thing in their spoiled little lives ... except parents and other caretakes who are shouldering their responsibilities as adults.
And the great big hole in their lives, the hold where love and caring should be, aches and aches, and to dull that ache, they demand more ... and get more ... things.
And I was chilled to the bone.
Horrified.
How can children like that ever learn to love ?
How can children like that ever learn to dream ?
How can children like that ever grow up and become adults ?
And how can parents abuse their children in that way ?
How can they place the burden of decision on the children ?
How can they bear to let their children think, that they can get every thing without doing any thing themselves ?
Is this preparing children for the real world ?
How can the so-called adults around these children face themselves ?
The so-called adults ought to know, that with that kind of youth, these kids will become adults who has never experienced any kind of consequenses in their lives ? It doesn't matter what they do or do not. They get it the way they think they want it. Every time !
To my way of thinking (which, mind you, comes straight from the Stone-age) these so-called adults have taken so much from their children, and they have only given them things.
These so-called adults HAVE given their children stones, when they could have fed them with good, nourishing bread.
And what is the bread then ?
Well, from the top of my head :
The joy of achievement, in spite of obstacles.
The freedom of childhood, which is not having to carry the burden of responsibility. These children, are not requested to, but have been given, willy-nilly, the burden of being the know-all and do-all of their own lives, and their parents and other adults around them, have given them nothing with which to carry that burden.
The joy of being loved.
Knowing that there is "right" and "wrong", and that you can choose either. And that any choice you make has consequences. Right now, but also further down the road.
Knowing that you are not the do-all and be-all of your own life. That you are part of a family, and that this partnership entails responsibilites as well as bonuses.
Knowing that the family is not "just" the biological entity, but also the family of God.
And I'm sad. Very, very sad.
I only have 5 sessions left with these kids, and I really can't see how I can do anything about this ... except pray.
Pray, that God will open their eyes and souls.
Pray, that God will help them find a way to get bread, rather than stones.
Pray, that God will also help them realize, that bread IS better than stones.
... and pray, that the ill turn their parents and other responsible adults have done them (the way I see it) will be turned to good by He, who is the source of all good.
As many of you will know, I'm a pastor, and as part of my pastoral duties, I teach the confirmands-to-be. This is - at times - a mixed pleasure, or - to put it more bluntly - It is downright awful when the little beasts think that they don't want to learn anything today or just plain check out whether this pastor is as tough as she seems.
I'm not a qualified teacher, and it shows.
On days like that, I can get no work done for the rest of the day, because by the time they leave, I have a migraine.
At this time of the year, things are - in spite of everything - usually in fairly plain waters, with no major upsets, and with at least a decent faking on the kids' part, that this is interesting. We have gotten to know each other, and they abide by the rules of my class-room (which are "courtesy and consideration" btw)
This year's class is problematic for a number of reasons, too longwinded to get into here, so I'll stay with the lesson I had with them on Thursday. To me, the proceedings high-lighted an essential part of the problem.
We have Lent, so I told the story of the Temptation of Christ in the wilderness.
How Satan comes and challenges Jesus at the end of His 40 days of fasting.
Stones to bread. Throw yourself from the high cliff. Dominion over the world.
Now, the challenge with "Throw yourself from this cliff. If you really are the son of God, the Angels will catch you". The kids could relate to that one, because they know it. It's the old "I dare you to ..." game, that they have all been subjected to, and which most of them have subjected others to, so, we could get a bit of a talk about that.
The transformation of stones to bread meant nothing to them. They have never been hungry in all their lives.
That's ok.
That is how blessed we are in this part of the world. But even when I translated it into "not getting what you want" they didn't understand it either. Of course they get what they want ! Every time.
Now that was scary enough, but what actually terrified me was, that the last challenge, the temptation of power, meant nothing to them.
Not because they find power uninteresting, but because they have it !
-Have you never wished "If only I could decide ..." whatever ?
Nope
-So, you're happy to let your parents decide ?
They don't decide what I do.
-Don't your parents have something to say over what you do ?
Nope. I do what I want to, no matter what they say.
-What about homework. Don't you ever wish that you didn't have to do it ?
Nope, because I just don't do it when I don't feel like it.
-Do you ever feel like making home-work ?
Nope.
-And are there any repercussions ?
Nope.
-Don't you get any flack for not doing it?
Oh, yeah, they yell a bit, but that's it.
....
-What happens when your mother tells you to clean up the mess of your rooms ? Do you do as you're told ?
Nope. No reason to. She'll forget soon enough.
-So you just don't do it ?
Right.
-And what happens when she finds out you didn't do it ?
Nothing
-Nothing ?
Well, she yells a bit, but that's it.
...
-Don't you, just occasionally, wish that you could decide whether you should do or don't do this, that or the other ?
Nope. I never do anything I don't want to. They stopped making me do so a long time ago.
...
Yes, reads like a 2-person conversation, but in reality it was 20 kids, who - with very few exceptions - all agreed, that this is how it is.
These kids could not relate to the "dream of power", because they have absolute power !
They are 13 years old, and run their own lives, and that of their families too.
... and they have no guidance over and above their own immediate desires ... which are gratified immediately.
"Jane Doe got this-and-that, so I want this-and-that and I want it now, and I'll make everyone's life in this family Hell until I get it !"
So to avoid family Hell, the parents just pay up. And do so immediately. It's easier that way. And by now, by their having reached the grand age of 13, they no longer have to threaten or throw tantrums, they just point, demand, and get.
There is nothing in their lives they are afraid to loose, because "I'll just get another one", and if it is no longer available, it's probably just old junk anyway.
There is nothing they feel obliged to do "Why should I bother ? Someone else will do it for me if I just leave it, and if no-one does, why should I, it isn't important then"
There is no thing they wish for, aim at or dream about, because they have never, ever been without any thing in their spoiled little lives ... except parents and other caretakes who are shouldering their responsibilities as adults.
And the great big hole in their lives, the hold where love and caring should be, aches and aches, and to dull that ache, they demand more ... and get more ... things.
And I was chilled to the bone.
Horrified.
How can children like that ever learn to love ?
How can children like that ever learn to dream ?
How can children like that ever grow up and become adults ?
And how can parents abuse their children in that way ?
How can they place the burden of decision on the children ?
How can they bear to let their children think, that they can get every thing without doing any thing themselves ?
Is this preparing children for the real world ?
How can the so-called adults around these children face themselves ?
The so-called adults ought to know, that with that kind of youth, these kids will become adults who has never experienced any kind of consequenses in their lives ? It doesn't matter what they do or do not. They get it the way they think they want it. Every time !
To my way of thinking (which, mind you, comes straight from the Stone-age) these so-called adults have taken so much from their children, and they have only given them things.
These so-called adults HAVE given their children stones, when they could have fed them with good, nourishing bread.
And what is the bread then ?
Well, from the top of my head :
The joy of achievement, in spite of obstacles.
The freedom of childhood, which is not having to carry the burden of responsibility. These children, are not requested to, but have been given, willy-nilly, the burden of being the know-all and do-all of their own lives, and their parents and other adults around them, have given them nothing with which to carry that burden.
The joy of being loved.
Knowing that there is "right" and "wrong", and that you can choose either. And that any choice you make has consequences. Right now, but also further down the road.
Knowing that you are not the do-all and be-all of your own life. That you are part of a family, and that this partnership entails responsibilites as well as bonuses.
Knowing that the family is not "just" the biological entity, but also the family of God.
And I'm sad. Very, very sad.
I only have 5 sessions left with these kids, and I really can't see how I can do anything about this ... except pray.
Pray, that God will open their eyes and souls.
Pray, that God will help them find a way to get bread, rather than stones.
Pray, that God will also help them realize, that bread IS better than stones.
... and pray, that the ill turn their parents and other responsible adults have done them (the way I see it) will be turned to good by He, who is the source of all good.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Those cartoons ...
Right now, Danish media - and quite a lot of non-Danish media - is filled with stories about Muslim outrage at a set of cartoons, originally printed in September 2005 in a Danish newspaper.
And yesterday, Saturday February 4th, the conflict escalated, when Syrian protesters burned the Danish and the Norwegian Embassy.
So, here's this Danish pastor's view.
First : The printing of the cartoons was - in my opinion - a piece of teen-age idiocy. It was a "nyah-nyah-nyah, we don't need to show anyone any courtesy or respect, neither Christian nor Muslim". Unfortunately, that is the way much of the media in this country treats anything religious. It isn't turned against Muslims specifically (even if few Muslims will believe that). Christians get their (big) shovel of flack too, because the "general opinion" in this country is, that if you believe in God (any God), you are - automatically - ridiculous. People like me have learned to live with it :-) But I do believe it was a first major stab at a non-Christian community.
Second : Once they were printed, and the protests came from Danish Muslims, the newspaper could have gone out and said : We didn't realise that it was such a sensitive subject, and that it could be seen as such an affront, we apologize ... and the story would - in all probability - have ended there.
Third : We are now in October 2005. Ambassadors from Muslim countries expressed concern, and asked for a meeting with the Danish Prime Minister. At this point, someone should have reminded the man (PM), that courtesy doesn't cost anything. He ought to have taken the meeting, and spent time explaining to the ambassadors that the press and the government are two completely seperate entities in this country, rather than sending them a letter saying so. In a face-to-face meeting, he could also have shown them Danish cartoonist Roald Als' depiction of himself as a caveman to prove his point. And to show that it isn't Muslims "everyone" is after, he could then have shown them Monty Pythons "Life of Brian" or Jens Jørgen Thorsens (rather boring) Jesus-film.
Fourth : The cartoons appeared in September 2005. Someone has had an interest in keeping the story, and the rage, alive, and have been conscientiously fanning the flame since then. This (or probably "these") someone carries a lot of responsibility for bringing the situation this far.
Fifth : It's always the idiots who gets the press. Right now, it's the idiots at Jyllands-Posten, the idiots in the Danish government, and the idiots in the Middle East who get all the big pictures, all the stories, all the attention.
Sixth : This is a very good reminder to all of us, that Christians can poke fun at Christians, and Muslims can poke fun of Muslims, but don't try to mix the faiths. It is bad taste for a Christian to tell jokes about Muslims, just as it is bad taste for Muslims to tell jokes about Christians. This holds true, not just for religious jokes, but for gender-jokes and nationality-jokes as well.
Seventh : And what am I going to say to the congregations gathering in the churches I serve, today ? I really don't know ... which is possibly why I am spending this Sunday morning writing this blog.
I have written a nice sermon, based on today's lectionary, but I'll probably not hold it. I feel that I must adress the issues inherent in a situation which now includes the burning down of embassies.
I will probably remind everyone (and "everyone" in the following includes myself), that the great majority of Muslims around the world are, like the great majority of Christians, peace-loving people, who just want to live their ordinary lives.
I will remind everyone, that stupidity comes in all forms, shapes, faiths, colours, genders and ages, and that any community, no matter how you define it, has it's share of idiots. The bad thing happens, when one set of idiots turn to violence, and the worse thing happens, when another set of idiots decide to answer in kind. This pulls the not-quite-idiots into the conflict, and instead of having just two minor groups of idiots, shouting at each other, you suddenly have a mob ... and it is a well-known fact, that the IQ of a mob, any mob of any faith in any country in this world, dwindles proportionally with the number of people in the mob.
The bad thing has happened. I just hope and pray, that the worse will not.
I will remind everyone, that the fact that "this group" has idiots in it, does not mean that "this group" is a bunch of idiots. Therefore the Danish community "in general" should not take out our frustration, anger and fear on the Muslim community of Denmark.
And what more ?
Pray for illumination.
Pray for understanding.
Pray for peace.
Please pray with me.
Thank you, and God bless you.
Right now, Danish media - and quite a lot of non-Danish media - is filled with stories about Muslim outrage at a set of cartoons, originally printed in September 2005 in a Danish newspaper.
And yesterday, Saturday February 4th, the conflict escalated, when Syrian protesters burned the Danish and the Norwegian Embassy.
So, here's this Danish pastor's view.
First : The printing of the cartoons was - in my opinion - a piece of teen-age idiocy. It was a "nyah-nyah-nyah, we don't need to show anyone any courtesy or respect, neither Christian nor Muslim". Unfortunately, that is the way much of the media in this country treats anything religious. It isn't turned against Muslims specifically (even if few Muslims will believe that). Christians get their (big) shovel of flack too, because the "general opinion" in this country is, that if you believe in God (any God), you are - automatically - ridiculous. People like me have learned to live with it :-) But I do believe it was a first major stab at a non-Christian community.
Second : Once they were printed, and the protests came from Danish Muslims, the newspaper could have gone out and said : We didn't realise that it was such a sensitive subject, and that it could be seen as such an affront, we apologize ... and the story would - in all probability - have ended there.
Third : We are now in October 2005. Ambassadors from Muslim countries expressed concern, and asked for a meeting with the Danish Prime Minister. At this point, someone should have reminded the man (PM), that courtesy doesn't cost anything. He ought to have taken the meeting, and spent time explaining to the ambassadors that the press and the government are two completely seperate entities in this country, rather than sending them a letter saying so. In a face-to-face meeting, he could also have shown them Danish cartoonist Roald Als' depiction of himself as a caveman to prove his point. And to show that it isn't Muslims "everyone" is after, he could then have shown them Monty Pythons "Life of Brian" or Jens Jørgen Thorsens (rather boring) Jesus-film.
Fourth : The cartoons appeared in September 2005. Someone has had an interest in keeping the story, and the rage, alive, and have been conscientiously fanning the flame since then. This (or probably "these") someone carries a lot of responsibility for bringing the situation this far.
Fifth : It's always the idiots who gets the press. Right now, it's the idiots at Jyllands-Posten, the idiots in the Danish government, and the idiots in the Middle East who get all the big pictures, all the stories, all the attention.
Sixth : This is a very good reminder to all of us, that Christians can poke fun at Christians, and Muslims can poke fun of Muslims, but don't try to mix the faiths. It is bad taste for a Christian to tell jokes about Muslims, just as it is bad taste for Muslims to tell jokes about Christians. This holds true, not just for religious jokes, but for gender-jokes and nationality-jokes as well.
Seventh : And what am I going to say to the congregations gathering in the churches I serve, today ? I really don't know ... which is possibly why I am spending this Sunday morning writing this blog.
I have written a nice sermon, based on today's lectionary, but I'll probably not hold it. I feel that I must adress the issues inherent in a situation which now includes the burning down of embassies.
I will probably remind everyone (and "everyone" in the following includes myself), that the great majority of Muslims around the world are, like the great majority of Christians, peace-loving people, who just want to live their ordinary lives.
I will remind everyone, that stupidity comes in all forms, shapes, faiths, colours, genders and ages, and that any community, no matter how you define it, has it's share of idiots. The bad thing happens, when one set of idiots turn to violence, and the worse thing happens, when another set of idiots decide to answer in kind. This pulls the not-quite-idiots into the conflict, and instead of having just two minor groups of idiots, shouting at each other, you suddenly have a mob ... and it is a well-known fact, that the IQ of a mob, any mob of any faith in any country in this world, dwindles proportionally with the number of people in the mob.
The bad thing has happened. I just hope and pray, that the worse will not.
I will remind everyone, that the fact that "this group" has idiots in it, does not mean that "this group" is a bunch of idiots. Therefore the Danish community "in general" should not take out our frustration, anger and fear on the Muslim community of Denmark.
And what more ?
Pray for illumination.
Pray for understanding.
Pray for peace.
Please pray with me.
Thank you, and God bless you.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Lectionary readings :
Isaiah 40:26-31
Romans 4:18-22
Matthew 14:22-33
I'm very late with this one. Sorry, but ... life.
Jesus ... and Peter ... walking the stormy waves of lake Kinnereth.
It's a very, very well-known image.
To walk on water is - at least in this country - synonymous with doing everything right, and getting maximum benefit from it.
... which could be said to be slightly odd, because the benefit gained by the two people who do walk on water in this story, is being tortured and executed ...
But the story is so well known, that jokes are being told, which pivot around this one, and they would not be told, if you had to start people out with the gospel-story.
And yet, it is one of the "uncomfortable" stories.
Because ... frankly ... we know, we the sensible 21st century people of the western world, we know that it is not possible to walk on water unless it is frozen.
So quite a lot of ink, and quite a few forests, have been spent explaining away the uncomfortable miracle (and this is a very frequent occurence with the miracle-stories in both the Old and the New Testament).
The problem about that, however, is, that if you take away the miracle, you take away the story, and also the things we might learn from it, disregarding whether we believe the miracle or not. In order to understand the story, we need to accept the miracle. It isn't just part of the story, it is the centre of it, and the part from which the rest gains it's significance.
So, let's try to look a bit closer at the component parts.
First there's the storm.
Now, whenever we encounter a storm in the bible, and there is water involved, we have an internal reference to Genesis 1, where the spirit of God blows over the waters of chaos and calms them (for a more direct picture of this, Psalm 104 might be useful, as might Psalm 89).
What is essential is, that the waters represent chaos. Not neccesarily evil, but that which opposes the creative order of God.
So, when Jesus walks through the waters, in the storm, we are not dealing with an ordinary little miracle. This is God, the creator of Heavens and Earth, who once again subdues the threatening waters.
What is more, at his command, Peter can do the same !
And this is where the story can get a very personal connection indeed.
No so much with regard to water-walking capabilites or the lack thereof, more with regard to doing the impossible.
Because we can do the impossible.
When God commands, we can do it, just like Peter did !
And when it happens, to us as it does to Peter, that we suddenly realise that we are doing something we can't, and we fall off, plump into the murky, stormy waves of life at it's really bad, it's good to know that we can do something.
We can ask for help !
And we get it.
Just like Peter did.
To me, love is walking on water. It's a dangerous business, where we constantly fall through. It's a risky endavour at best, where we are at our most vulnerable, and where our lives are constantly on the line.
And no, I'm not talking of the big, romantic / erotic love here.
I'm talking of the "everyday" love, which makes the world and our lives work, and a powerful (the most powerful) expression (to my mind) is the love between parent and child.
We have all been children, and as such, we know how very hurt and bewildered we are, when our parent/s do not see us or love us. And being children, we take the burden on ourselves. When mom / dad doesn't love me, it must be because I am not loveable.
That is an awful way to hurt a child. It is a terrible wound to get.
... and as parents, we do the same.
We put the burden on our children, when we find ourselves unable to cope, and to love them. And let's be quite frank about this : there are times when we, as parents, do not love our children. It might be just a split-second where we wish them at Jericho (or worse places) and we might feel horrible with ourselves for feeling that way. But the emotion, however fast you squash it, is there. What is worse ... the child will pick it up !
And when this happens, we plunge into the stormy waves, drowning.
Now, I'll probably (possibly, hopefully) write much, much more about love in this blog, because the love between parent and child is one of the most powerful forces in the lives of most people, and therefore, one of the most powerful descriptions of the relationship between God and man.
In this post, however, I'll just remind you, that you can reach out and ask for help.
... and that you should.
Love is walking on water, and to do that you need to have your spirit, firmly fixed on the only one who can do it, the only one who can help you do it.
So ... Open your spirit to recieve the love that comes, always, from God your parent (!)
Open your ears and hear the command, that you should love as you are loved.
Reach out, and let Him take you by the hand, guiding you, holding you, helping you.
And walk safely on the stormy waters of your life :-)
God bless you.
Lectionary readings :
Isaiah 40:26-31
Romans 4:18-22
Matthew 14:22-33
I'm very late with this one. Sorry, but ... life.
Jesus ... and Peter ... walking the stormy waves of lake Kinnereth.
It's a very, very well-known image.
To walk on water is - at least in this country - synonymous with doing everything right, and getting maximum benefit from it.
... which could be said to be slightly odd, because the benefit gained by the two people who do walk on water in this story, is being tortured and executed ...
But the story is so well known, that jokes are being told, which pivot around this one, and they would not be told, if you had to start people out with the gospel-story.
And yet, it is one of the "uncomfortable" stories.
Because ... frankly ... we know, we the sensible 21st century people of the western world, we know that it is not possible to walk on water unless it is frozen.
So quite a lot of ink, and quite a few forests, have been spent explaining away the uncomfortable miracle (and this is a very frequent occurence with the miracle-stories in both the Old and the New Testament).
The problem about that, however, is, that if you take away the miracle, you take away the story, and also the things we might learn from it, disregarding whether we believe the miracle or not. In order to understand the story, we need to accept the miracle. It isn't just part of the story, it is the centre of it, and the part from which the rest gains it's significance.
So, let's try to look a bit closer at the component parts.
First there's the storm.
Now, whenever we encounter a storm in the bible, and there is water involved, we have an internal reference to Genesis 1, where the spirit of God blows over the waters of chaos and calms them (for a more direct picture of this, Psalm 104 might be useful, as might Psalm 89).
What is essential is, that the waters represent chaos. Not neccesarily evil, but that which opposes the creative order of God.
So, when Jesus walks through the waters, in the storm, we are not dealing with an ordinary little miracle. This is God, the creator of Heavens and Earth, who once again subdues the threatening waters.
What is more, at his command, Peter can do the same !
And this is where the story can get a very personal connection indeed.
No so much with regard to water-walking capabilites or the lack thereof, more with regard to doing the impossible.
Because we can do the impossible.
When God commands, we can do it, just like Peter did !
And when it happens, to us as it does to Peter, that we suddenly realise that we are doing something we can't, and we fall off, plump into the murky, stormy waves of life at it's really bad, it's good to know that we can do something.
We can ask for help !
And we get it.
Just like Peter did.
To me, love is walking on water. It's a dangerous business, where we constantly fall through. It's a risky endavour at best, where we are at our most vulnerable, and where our lives are constantly on the line.
And no, I'm not talking of the big, romantic / erotic love here.
I'm talking of the "everyday" love, which makes the world and our lives work, and a powerful (the most powerful) expression (to my mind) is the love between parent and child.
We have all been children, and as such, we know how very hurt and bewildered we are, when our parent/s do not see us or love us. And being children, we take the burden on ourselves. When mom / dad doesn't love me, it must be because I am not loveable.
That is an awful way to hurt a child. It is a terrible wound to get.
... and as parents, we do the same.
We put the burden on our children, when we find ourselves unable to cope, and to love them. And let's be quite frank about this : there are times when we, as parents, do not love our children. It might be just a split-second where we wish them at Jericho (or worse places) and we might feel horrible with ourselves for feeling that way. But the emotion, however fast you squash it, is there. What is worse ... the child will pick it up !
And when this happens, we plunge into the stormy waves, drowning.
Now, I'll probably (possibly, hopefully) write much, much more about love in this blog, because the love between parent and child is one of the most powerful forces in the lives of most people, and therefore, one of the most powerful descriptions of the relationship between God and man.
In this post, however, I'll just remind you, that you can reach out and ask for help.
... and that you should.
Love is walking on water, and to do that you need to have your spirit, firmly fixed on the only one who can do it, the only one who can help you do it.
So ... Open your spirit to recieve the love that comes, always, from God your parent (!)
Open your ears and hear the command, that you should love as you are loved.
Reach out, and let Him take you by the hand, guiding you, holding you, helping you.
And walk safely on the stormy waters of your life :-)
God bless you.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Lectionary readings :
Genesis 15:1-6
Hebrews 11:1-6
Luke 17:5-10 (but please read from the beginning of the chapter)
A bit messy, particularly since the original (held Sunday) is very much based on some proverbial phrases and puns in my native language.
Sometimes I need to read more than just the lectionary-reading to get a handle on what the texts of the day is about. This is the case today.
And if I do that, 3 rather heavy subjects come up :
Faith
Forgiveness
Servitude
... try coupling them with
Faith
Hope
Charity
Fairly good match, eh :-)
To me these 3 (both sets) are Christian duties.
You have a duty to forgive, when you are asked to do so ! If someone sins against you, you and regret that, and ask your forgiveness, you have a duty to forgive them, because you are God's, and God does forgive trespassers who ask forgiveness.
You have a duty to trust in God. To believe that you are something, because you are God's, and whatever is God's is most certainly not worthless.
You have a duty to serve God, because you are God's creation, God's creature, God's child.
So, the short-hand version could be :
You are not your own, you are God's
And that can be quite hard to know and to live.
To know that you have a duty, at all times, to strive to be what you are ... God's
Not strive to be God or to be god-like. You are created more God-like than you think in ordinary life, seeing that you are created in the image of God :-), no, the duty I'm writing about here is the duty to do as you are told and say "Thank you " afterwards.
Because that is what a servant has to do.
What s/he is told.
Go about your life and your duties, Christian and secular, in the best way you can.
And that really doesn't fit into the 21st century very well.
"I deserve ..."
"I'm entitled to ..."
"I want ...."
... And frankly, its not fair to expect me to just give and give. I have rights you know !
... rights ?
Aren't all your rights founded in the most unreasonable, un-fair ... fact of them all ? That you are alive ! That you are a living soul !
Did you deserve being born ?
Is your being alive a right that you have earned ?
Have you paid for just one of your heart-beats ?
No. You haven't have you :-)
You just take it for granted .... as most of us do most of the time.
But that shouldn't make us forget that life itself is something we have been given freely in the first place.
Just because it is to our advantage, it doesn't mean that it is fair and just :-)
And then there is love.
"No-one ever loved me !" cries the wo/man in despair.
But that is not true !
Someone loves you.
Present tense.
And He has loved you so much, that He took on flesh and blood and became all human.
For you !
He loved you so much, that He lived a full, human life.
For you !
And He died, because He was fully human. And His death was cruel and painful. Not so that you should suffer, or feel bad about putting Him through suffering, no, He did it to set you free from suffering.
He lived and died, and broke the gates of Death, so that you can know that you are loved !
He lived and died, and broke the gates of Hell, to give you the means to open the gates of Heaven.
For your neighbour and for yourself.
... life and love ...
Not exactly things of little or no matter.
But they are, what your duties are founded in.
That you have been given.
... naturally, life and love isn't exactly trendy, and you can't get a new one in 3 months when this one becomes unfashionable ... on the other hand, I find them somewhat more useful in the long run than a new pair of jeans or the accessory of the month.
So, the un-fairness that the duties of Faith, Forgiveness,and Servitude (or Faith, Hope and Charity) are founded on, is the un-fairness that you have been given.
Life, love and eternity.
... perhaps not the height of fashion, but still ... it is something, isn't it :-)
God bless you
Lectionary readings :
Genesis 15:1-6
Hebrews 11:1-6
Luke 17:5-10 (but please read from the beginning of the chapter)
A bit messy, particularly since the original (held Sunday) is very much based on some proverbial phrases and puns in my native language.
Sometimes I need to read more than just the lectionary-reading to get a handle on what the texts of the day is about. This is the case today.
And if I do that, 3 rather heavy subjects come up :
Faith
Forgiveness
Servitude
... try coupling them with
Faith
Hope
Charity
Fairly good match, eh :-)
To me these 3 (both sets) are Christian duties.
You have a duty to forgive, when you are asked to do so ! If someone sins against you, you and regret that, and ask your forgiveness, you have a duty to forgive them, because you are God's, and God does forgive trespassers who ask forgiveness.
You have a duty to trust in God. To believe that you are something, because you are God's, and whatever is God's is most certainly not worthless.
You have a duty to serve God, because you are God's creation, God's creature, God's child.
So, the short-hand version could be :
You are not your own, you are God's
And that can be quite hard to know and to live.
To know that you have a duty, at all times, to strive to be what you are ... God's
Not strive to be God or to be god-like. You are created more God-like than you think in ordinary life, seeing that you are created in the image of God :-), no, the duty I'm writing about here is the duty to do as you are told and say "Thank you " afterwards.
Because that is what a servant has to do.
What s/he is told.
Go about your life and your duties, Christian and secular, in the best way you can.
And that really doesn't fit into the 21st century very well.
"I deserve ..."
"I'm entitled to ..."
"I want ...."
... And frankly, its not fair to expect me to just give and give. I have rights you know !
... rights ?
Aren't all your rights founded in the most unreasonable, un-fair ... fact of them all ? That you are alive ! That you are a living soul !
Did you deserve being born ?
Is your being alive a right that you have earned ?
Have you paid for just one of your heart-beats ?
No. You haven't have you :-)
You just take it for granted .... as most of us do most of the time.
But that shouldn't make us forget that life itself is something we have been given freely in the first place.
Just because it is to our advantage, it doesn't mean that it is fair and just :-)
And then there is love.
"No-one ever loved me !" cries the wo/man in despair.
But that is not true !
Someone loves you.
Present tense.
And He has loved you so much, that He took on flesh and blood and became all human.
For you !
He loved you so much, that He lived a full, human life.
For you !
And He died, because He was fully human. And His death was cruel and painful. Not so that you should suffer, or feel bad about putting Him through suffering, no, He did it to set you free from suffering.
He lived and died, and broke the gates of Death, so that you can know that you are loved !
He lived and died, and broke the gates of Hell, to give you the means to open the gates of Heaven.
For your neighbour and for yourself.
... life and love ...
Not exactly things of little or no matter.
But they are, what your duties are founded in.
That you have been given.
... naturally, life and love isn't exactly trendy, and you can't get a new one in 3 months when this one becomes unfashionable ... on the other hand, I find them somewhat more useful in the long run than a new pair of jeans or the accessory of the month.
So, the un-fairness that the duties of Faith, Forgiveness,and Servitude (or Faith, Hope and Charity) are founded on, is the un-fairness that you have been given.
Life, love and eternity.
... perhaps not the height of fashion, but still ... it is something, isn't it :-)
God bless you
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Readings :
Jeremiah 17:12-14
1st Letter of John 2:28-3:3
Gospel of John 4:5-26
- - -
"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
- - -
It is told, that when everything began, the earth was emptiness and nothing. But God brought a spring of water forth, and it watered all of the earth.
And God planted his own garden there, at the spring. The garden we call Paradise. East of Eden. And from this spring and this garden the 4 rivers of life went to all the corners of the world and brought life.
Because life and water belongs together.
And that is why creation cannot flourish and grow without the river that carries the water of life.
- - -
It is also told, that when the patriarch Jacob had finished his two times 7 years of servitude with his wifes' father, his uncle Laban, he longs for home.
The home of his father.
But ... there is a teeeeeny tiny problem.
Back then, he fled his home, in mortal fear for his older brother... quite reasonable fear ... seeing that he had cheated his elder brother out of everything : heritage and blessing. Actually, Jacob is a cheater ... and a heel (the name "Jacob" can mean "heel" ... interesting, eh ?)
But he leaves, packs up his wifes and concubines, children, servants and animals, and leaves.
And as the caravan draws closer to home, he becomes increasingly ... afraid.
So, he splits up the caravan.
Sends animals and servants in several contingents to his brother to soften him.
Takes what is left and split up in two, sends one set with one wife, the other set with the other. And at last he stands alone.
Stands at the brook of Jabboq and has to cross the river.
Everything he fears is on the other side ... but so is everything he loves.
And he stands, poised between fear and longing. Debating ... perhaps even battling within.
And finally, as the sun sets, he sets foot in the water and prepares to cross.
But halfway over, he is stopped.
Someone stops him, prevents him from crossing.
And finally, his object is clear. He will cross !
And so ... they fight.
They fight all night. And during the fight, Jacob realize that this is no ordinary man. This must be an angel !
And when dawn comes, the angel tries to leave ... but Jacob holds him. Hold on to him for dear life.
"I will not let you go until you bless me !"
And the angel strikes Jacob. Hard. So hard, that he will limp for the rest of his life, and still, he does not let go.
And it works. He gets his blessing ! ... and a new name.
And as the sun rises, Jacob comes out of the river, out of the water. A new man. He has fought the hardest adversary of them all : himself and his own, inner deamons and fears. He has fought a messenger of God. And he has won.
A new blessing.
A new name.
A new life.
- - -
It is also told, that a man walked in the desert. A mad man. A wild man. Preaching repentance. Preaching salvation. And baptizing. He takes people and submerge them in water, symbolically drowning what was there of evil and sin. Bringing them up again, cleansed and ready to start a new life.
He worked at the river of Jordan and we know him as John. John who baptize. John the Baptist. And one day, a man comes to him, who wants to be baptized. A man, who wants to be drowned and reborn, ordained to a new life.
And John recognizes the man.
Not because he sees him as cousin Jesus from Nazareth, but because he sees the son of God, his Saviour. And John sinks down, whispering : You should baptize me. I cannot ordain you.
But Jesus just smiles and says : Let that happen which should happen.
And they go into the river, together. And John takes Jesus down, under the waters, and when He comes up, a light bursts out from Heaven, the Spirit of God comes down, in the shape of a dove, and a voice is heard saying : This is my beloved son.
In the imperfect baptism of John, Jesus is acknowledged as the son of God, and He takes on the burden of being that. Of being our life in both life and death.
- - -
And then we arrive at our own baptism.
I know that this is one of the bones of contention between the many versions of Christianity that abounds, and for that reason, I will not go into details or imply that one is "the right one" and that the others, therefore, are wrong.
Just a few notes, that I hope will be ... in-offensive to most that call themselves Christian :
The "ordinary water", which in my corner of Christianity is whatever comes out of the tap that day, is transformed into the water of life when we use it to baptize. Not through magic, but through faith.
The watermark that is put on the person baptized, be it a baby or a grown-up, is for life. It can never be taken off !
When we are baptized, we are marked, for eternity, by the spring of life.
When we are baptized, the little seeds of our faith are watered, and can grow into big trees ... given time :-)
When we are baptized, we are given access to that well of water which gives life.
Here and forever more.
God bless you
Readings :
Jeremiah 17:12-14
1st Letter of John 2:28-3:3
Gospel of John 4:5-26
- - -
"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
- - -
It is told, that when everything began, the earth was emptiness and nothing. But God brought a spring of water forth, and it watered all of the earth.
And God planted his own garden there, at the spring. The garden we call Paradise. East of Eden. And from this spring and this garden the 4 rivers of life went to all the corners of the world and brought life.
Because life and water belongs together.
And that is why creation cannot flourish and grow without the river that carries the water of life.
- - -
It is also told, that when the patriarch Jacob had finished his two times 7 years of servitude with his wifes' father, his uncle Laban, he longs for home.
The home of his father.
But ... there is a teeeeeny tiny problem.
Back then, he fled his home, in mortal fear for his older brother... quite reasonable fear ... seeing that he had cheated his elder brother out of everything : heritage and blessing. Actually, Jacob is a cheater ... and a heel (the name "Jacob" can mean "heel" ... interesting, eh ?)
But he leaves, packs up his wifes and concubines, children, servants and animals, and leaves.
And as the caravan draws closer to home, he becomes increasingly ... afraid.
So, he splits up the caravan.
Sends animals and servants in several contingents to his brother to soften him.
Takes what is left and split up in two, sends one set with one wife, the other set with the other. And at last he stands alone.
Stands at the brook of Jabboq and has to cross the river.
Everything he fears is on the other side ... but so is everything he loves.
And he stands, poised between fear and longing. Debating ... perhaps even battling within.
And finally, as the sun sets, he sets foot in the water and prepares to cross.
But halfway over, he is stopped.
Someone stops him, prevents him from crossing.
And finally, his object is clear. He will cross !
And so ... they fight.
They fight all night. And during the fight, Jacob realize that this is no ordinary man. This must be an angel !
And when dawn comes, the angel tries to leave ... but Jacob holds him. Hold on to him for dear life.
"I will not let you go until you bless me !"
And the angel strikes Jacob. Hard. So hard, that he will limp for the rest of his life, and still, he does not let go.
And it works. He gets his blessing ! ... and a new name.
And as the sun rises, Jacob comes out of the river, out of the water. A new man. He has fought the hardest adversary of them all : himself and his own, inner deamons and fears. He has fought a messenger of God. And he has won.
A new blessing.
A new name.
A new life.
- - -
It is also told, that a man walked in the desert. A mad man. A wild man. Preaching repentance. Preaching salvation. And baptizing. He takes people and submerge them in water, symbolically drowning what was there of evil and sin. Bringing them up again, cleansed and ready to start a new life.
He worked at the river of Jordan and we know him as John. John who baptize. John the Baptist. And one day, a man comes to him, who wants to be baptized. A man, who wants to be drowned and reborn, ordained to a new life.
And John recognizes the man.
Not because he sees him as cousin Jesus from Nazareth, but because he sees the son of God, his Saviour. And John sinks down, whispering : You should baptize me. I cannot ordain you.
But Jesus just smiles and says : Let that happen which should happen.
And they go into the river, together. And John takes Jesus down, under the waters, and when He comes up, a light bursts out from Heaven, the Spirit of God comes down, in the shape of a dove, and a voice is heard saying : This is my beloved son.
In the imperfect baptism of John, Jesus is acknowledged as the son of God, and He takes on the burden of being that. Of being our life in both life and death.
- - -
And then we arrive at our own baptism.
I know that this is one of the bones of contention between the many versions of Christianity that abounds, and for that reason, I will not go into details or imply that one is "the right one" and that the others, therefore, are wrong.
Just a few notes, that I hope will be ... in-offensive to most that call themselves Christian :
The "ordinary water", which in my corner of Christianity is whatever comes out of the tap that day, is transformed into the water of life when we use it to baptize. Not through magic, but through faith.
The watermark that is put on the person baptized, be it a baby or a grown-up, is for life. It can never be taken off !
When we are baptized, we are marked, for eternity, by the spring of life.
When we are baptized, the little seeds of our faith are watered, and can grow into big trees ... given time :-)
When we are baptized, we are given access to that well of water which gives life.
Here and forever more.
God bless you
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
This is born from some correspondence that came after the first "real" post on this re-surrected blog ... and Martha, this is "your fault" really :-)
With my former post in mind, are are we now throwing ourselves to the floor, screaming "I wanna !!! " ?
Probably not.
It is such an ingrained (and important) part of our identities as Christians, that we should "do unto others ..." and that we must "love our neighbour" ... and that we should show proper humility
And this is where the message gets really tangled.
Because if we act like a greedy, screaming 3-yr old, we are not being humble and we are most definitely not acting in a way that will endear us to our neighbours :-) and we might be demanding something that isn't ours.
First : Loving our neighbour and dealing with others as you would like them to deal with you, and being humble doesn't mean lying down on the floor, imitating a door-mat !
Neither does it mean that you should try to become invisible.
Second : You are not demanding something that isn't already yours ! And God has enough love to go around. Trust me (or rather : trust Him) on this. Love, Christian Love, the kind that Paul calls agape in Greek (and which is usually translated into "charity") isn't used up or worn out by spreading. Quite the contrary. It isn't a piece of soap that becomes smaller and smaller the more you use it.
So, are you afraid to tell God, "I'm here. You know that, but I'm just finding out. Please show me the Gate of Heaven." ? because that will be too .... demanding ?
Or because "someone else" might go without if you get ? And really, you can manage ...
Or is it because you are actually afraid that you WILL get ? and you feel that you don't deserve it ?
Don't be afraid :-)
You are not depriving anyone, by asking God to give you what is already yours.
You are not cheating by asking to know, in your soul, what you have already been given.
You are not greedy, if you ask for clarification.
You don't have to say "I know others might need this more".
And, most importantly, do you really want to question God's wisdom ?
If God sees fit to give you, shouldn't you just open yourself, heart and hands, eyes and spirit, and say "Thank you" ?
Frankly : You need, what God wants to give you.
What is more : Others need your faith and your love !
Just as they need the love of God.
So ... go for it :-)
God bless you.
With my former post in mind, are are we now throwing ourselves to the floor, screaming "I wanna !!! " ?
Probably not.
It is such an ingrained (and important) part of our identities as Christians, that we should "do unto others ..." and that we must "love our neighbour" ... and that we should show proper humility
And this is where the message gets really tangled.
Because if we act like a greedy, screaming 3-yr old, we are not being humble and we are most definitely not acting in a way that will endear us to our neighbours :-) and we might be demanding something that isn't ours.
First : Loving our neighbour and dealing with others as you would like them to deal with you, and being humble doesn't mean lying down on the floor, imitating a door-mat !
Neither does it mean that you should try to become invisible.
Second : You are not demanding something that isn't already yours ! And God has enough love to go around. Trust me (or rather : trust Him) on this. Love, Christian Love, the kind that Paul calls agape in Greek (and which is usually translated into "charity") isn't used up or worn out by spreading. Quite the contrary. It isn't a piece of soap that becomes smaller and smaller the more you use it.
So, are you afraid to tell God, "I'm here. You know that, but I'm just finding out. Please show me the Gate of Heaven." ? because that will be too .... demanding ?
Or because "someone else" might go without if you get ? And really, you can manage ...
Or is it because you are actually afraid that you WILL get ? and you feel that you don't deserve it ?
Don't be afraid :-)
You are not depriving anyone, by asking God to give you what is already yours.
You are not cheating by asking to know, in your soul, what you have already been given.
You are not greedy, if you ask for clarification.
You don't have to say "I know others might need this more".
And, most importantly, do you really want to question God's wisdom ?
If God sees fit to give you, shouldn't you just open yourself, heart and hands, eyes and spirit, and say "Thank you" ?
Frankly : You need, what God wants to give you.
What is more : Others need your faith and your love !
Just as they need the love of God.
So ... go for it :-)
God bless you.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Good Sunday afternoon.
Today's blog is a short sketch of a sermon ... a skeleton, you might say.
Today's readings in my corner of Christianity was :
Psalm 8
Collossians 1:15-19
Mark 10:13-16
- - -
Now, in this corner of Christianity, we baptize children, and we read the passage from Mark every time. It's part of the baptismal readings. This means, that both I and the regular church-goers think we know all about it.
But think.
Unless you receive the Kingdom of Heaven like a litltle child, you won't be admitted at all !
This makes it quite ... essential to find out what sets a child apart from adults ... apart from size and physical development.
The ... traditional take on this passage, frequently makes me slightly nauseous. It's something with glittery pictures, and quite un-child-like children in clothes that stay clean and whole, and a Jesus who is slightly blonde with a good hair-day, well-coiffed sheep ....
I'm sure you get my drift.
This isn't even fairy-tale ! because fairy-tales know that children aren't necessarily good and obedient and well-behaved and ....
... well ... they aren't ... as anyone who has had any kind of close interaction with real children will know :-)
"The innocent ones" are selfish little buggers with a keen eye on what's in it for them. And that's not because they are evil. That's because they haven't yet acquired that thin layer of varnish which enables adults to have a hidden agenda.
A 3-yr old who wants an ice-cream can nag and scream and physically throw himself around to an extent which can be painful in the extreme to the parent, and most 3-yr olds knows in detail how long it will take for the parent to cave in. And believe me, if it usually takes 30 minutes, that's how long they will scream ! They aren't stupid ! ... and they know what they want.
And if we take this with us into today's Gospel, we get a picture which is very far removed from the traditional "pretty picture" version.
So, here's my suggestions, based on that reading :
Seek the Realm of God with the same, one-eyed determination that a 3-year old can use to get an ice-cream. Do not budge ! Shout, scream and DEMAND that you get access !
Because ... what's in it for you is good :-) and you know it !
What's in it for you is life, which is not measured in hours and days and years, but in heartbeats.
What's in it for you is the peace, which is not just absence of violence, but which is growth and joy. Creation at work with Creator. God and man re-conciled.
What's in it for you is love, comfort, grace, acceptance, help ... everything a child needs from a parent.
So ... storm against the gates of Heaven ! knowing that the answer to the childish question of "What's in it for me" is ... everything !
You are a child of God :-)
Be that :-)
God bless you.
Today's blog is a short sketch of a sermon ... a skeleton, you might say.
Today's readings in my corner of Christianity was :
Psalm 8
Collossians 1:15-19
Mark 10:13-16
- - -
Now, in this corner of Christianity, we baptize children, and we read the passage from Mark every time. It's part of the baptismal readings. This means, that both I and the regular church-goers think we know all about it.
But think.
Unless you receive the Kingdom of Heaven like a litltle child, you won't be admitted at all !
This makes it quite ... essential to find out what sets a child apart from adults ... apart from size and physical development.
The ... traditional take on this passage, frequently makes me slightly nauseous. It's something with glittery pictures, and quite un-child-like children in clothes that stay clean and whole, and a Jesus who is slightly blonde with a good hair-day, well-coiffed sheep ....
I'm sure you get my drift.
This isn't even fairy-tale ! because fairy-tales know that children aren't necessarily good and obedient and well-behaved and ....
... well ... they aren't ... as anyone who has had any kind of close interaction with real children will know :-)
"The innocent ones" are selfish little buggers with a keen eye on what's in it for them. And that's not because they are evil. That's because they haven't yet acquired that thin layer of varnish which enables adults to have a hidden agenda.
A 3-yr old who wants an ice-cream can nag and scream and physically throw himself around to an extent which can be painful in the extreme to the parent, and most 3-yr olds knows in detail how long it will take for the parent to cave in. And believe me, if it usually takes 30 minutes, that's how long they will scream ! They aren't stupid ! ... and they know what they want.
And if we take this with us into today's Gospel, we get a picture which is very far removed from the traditional "pretty picture" version.
So, here's my suggestions, based on that reading :
Seek the Realm of God with the same, one-eyed determination that a 3-year old can use to get an ice-cream. Do not budge ! Shout, scream and DEMAND that you get access !
Because ... what's in it for you is good :-) and you know it !
What's in it for you is life, which is not measured in hours and days and years, but in heartbeats.
What's in it for you is the peace, which is not just absence of violence, but which is growth and joy. Creation at work with Creator. God and man re-conciled.
What's in it for you is love, comfort, grace, acceptance, help ... everything a child needs from a parent.
So ... storm against the gates of Heaven ! knowing that the answer to the childish question of "What's in it for me" is ... everything !
You are a child of God :-)
Be that :-)
God bless you.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
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