"A Christian is one who is on the way, though not necessarily very far along it, and who has at least some dim and half-baked idea of whom to thank. A Christian isn't necessarily any nicer than anybody else. Just better informed." (F. Buechner "Listening to Your Life" p. 58)
So what makes me a Christian? Well I know I've gone through the proper initiation of baptism. But so have lots of folks who wouldn't claim to be Christian. I've been Confirmed, but see previous comment on that. I do believe certain things about who Jesus is, and I think that's foundational. I try to pattern my life after Christ's, and I believe that's essential.
I certainly have met plenty of Christians who have right belief, but wrong praxis. I've met many folks who've got the praxis part correct, but no belief to undergird it.
I do consider myself on the way. On an earthly pilgrimage with God showing the path, Christ walking with me, and the Holy Spirit, nudging me along. I'm certainly not close to finishing the journey. I know who to thank and I know those who have shared time with me on that journey, and I'm thankful for them as well.
Blessings,
Ed
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Reflections for 2/27/11
"A wedding. A handshake. A kiss. A coronation. A parade. A dance. A meal. A graduation. A Mass. A ritual is the performance of an intuition, the rehearsal of a dream, the playing of a game."(F. Buechner "Listening to Your Life" p. 57)
I'm definitely a fan and practitioner of ritual. While I'd be described as the higher side of broad in my professional practice, personally I love real High Church liturgy. I love the smells and bells. The drama of it all. I especially love it when it is done well and with a sense of joy.
Rituals of course go well beyond religious practice, though they are prevalent there for sure. I have my rituals that sustain me each day. Getting up at roughly the same time. Making the lunches for those departing for the day. Go on my walk. Come back, drink coffee, eat breakfast. Take a shower. Off to work.
Rituals help frame our day to day living. Some might call them habits, but they give a sense of stability in our ever shifting world.
What are the rituals that sustain you? When you get out of them, do you notice? Have you fallen away from some and are now trying to get back on track?
Blessings,
Ed
I'm definitely a fan and practitioner of ritual. While I'd be described as the higher side of broad in my professional practice, personally I love real High Church liturgy. I love the smells and bells. The drama of it all. I especially love it when it is done well and with a sense of joy.
Rituals of course go well beyond religious practice, though they are prevalent there for sure. I have my rituals that sustain me each day. Getting up at roughly the same time. Making the lunches for those departing for the day. Go on my walk. Come back, drink coffee, eat breakfast. Take a shower. Off to work.
Rituals help frame our day to day living. Some might call them habits, but they give a sense of stability in our ever shifting world.
What are the rituals that sustain you? When you get out of them, do you notice? Have you fallen away from some and are now trying to get back on track?
Blessings,
Ed
Reflections for 2/26/11
"When you look at your face in the mirror, what do you see in it that you most like and what do you see in it that you most deplore? If you had only one last message to leave to the handful of people who are most important to you, what would it be in twenty-five words or less?...To hear yourself try to answer questions like these is to begin to hear something not only of who you are but of both what you are becoming and what you are failing to become." (F. Buechner "Listening to Your Life" pp.56-57)
Life often seems to be a series of questions. Some are easy what will I wear this morning? Some a little more complicated? Should I take this job? Others can really keep you up at night. Who am I? What am I doing with my life? Why me?
Yet those really hard ones are in fact the most important ultimately, and yet the ones that usually get pushed to the back of our minds.
We don't take stock of ourselves when things are going well for some reason. These questions seem to scream for answers when we are in a valley period or feel stuck. Perhaps if we took the time to address them when things are going well, they might not feel so overwhelming when we aren't in a good place.
Don't be afraid of that person in the mirror, but have an honest heart to heart with that person. You may be surprised with what you hear.
Blessings,
Ed
Life often seems to be a series of questions. Some are easy what will I wear this morning? Some a little more complicated? Should I take this job? Others can really keep you up at night. Who am I? What am I doing with my life? Why me?
Yet those really hard ones are in fact the most important ultimately, and yet the ones that usually get pushed to the back of our minds.
We don't take stock of ourselves when things are going well for some reason. These questions seem to scream for answers when we are in a valley period or feel stuck. Perhaps if we took the time to address them when things are going well, they might not feel so overwhelming when we aren't in a good place.
Don't be afraid of that person in the mirror, but have an honest heart to heart with that person. You may be surprised with what you hear.
Blessings,
Ed
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Reflections for 2/25/11
"Nothing in American history is more tragic surely than the relationship of the black and white races." (F. Buechner "Listening to Your Life" p. 55)
Racism is one of the many "isms" that infect our country. In spite of much progress in this realm it is still quite active and playing in our society. The election of Barack Obama, the first African-American President brought it back to the surface as an issue I believe.
I know that my Diocese is trying to address the issue through training workshops. I've been to one, and frankly I think its a good start but missed the point. We watched a video and the first scene is the KKK burning a cross. In my opinion that allowed all us good white folk to check out. Hey we don't burn crosses, we're not part of that terrorist organization. And could fall comfortably back into our notion that some of our friends are black and can't we just sing "We shall overcome" and go back home.
For me the biggest problem with trying to address racism is that no one can seem to agree on a definition. And that prejudice is often seen as a synonym for racism and it isn't. Racism, like all the "isms" is about power over based on race, gender, age etc. I may not be a bigot, but there are still elements of racism that I probably subconsciously hold.
Unlike many of my white clergy colleagues I grew up in an integrated school system. Metuchen was not lily-white, though sections of it surely were. I actually had in my K-12 experience six teachers of color. That may not seem like a huge number, but how many suburban schools have that many? I know that three of them I really liked and felt affirmed by. I also know that it felt like three hated me and made my life miserable. I doubt the difference in our race had much to do with it, but it gave me an appreciation for what my black classmates must have occasionally felt. I also will add that being an integrated school was not easy for me. My parents thought it was great, but I spent most of my time being afraid, especially in elementary school, I was a very easy target. Also being one of the smarter kids, there was only a few of the black kids that were with me, and I don't recall any males.
It wasn't until college that my built up racist views really got called into question. There I found black students who were at a minimum my intellectual equals, and in some cases were even smarter than me. I began at that point to let a lot of internal garbage go.
I also have had the benefit of working under black leaders. It is another really good way of breaking down that wall. In my own church I have had people of color in leadership roles. Steps towards eradicating racism.
I have a feeling that really the only way we will ever truly come close to eliminating racism, is through relationships. When we can get past the "some of my best friends are black" mentality. When we can really listen and not get defensive when folks who aren't white, let us know how the world works for and against them, it will be even bigger steps towards that goal.
And of course the first steps always begin with me.
Blessings,
Ed
Racism is one of the many "isms" that infect our country. In spite of much progress in this realm it is still quite active and playing in our society. The election of Barack Obama, the first African-American President brought it back to the surface as an issue I believe.
I know that my Diocese is trying to address the issue through training workshops. I've been to one, and frankly I think its a good start but missed the point. We watched a video and the first scene is the KKK burning a cross. In my opinion that allowed all us good white folk to check out. Hey we don't burn crosses, we're not part of that terrorist organization. And could fall comfortably back into our notion that some of our friends are black and can't we just sing "We shall overcome" and go back home.
For me the biggest problem with trying to address racism is that no one can seem to agree on a definition. And that prejudice is often seen as a synonym for racism and it isn't. Racism, like all the "isms" is about power over based on race, gender, age etc. I may not be a bigot, but there are still elements of racism that I probably subconsciously hold.
Unlike many of my white clergy colleagues I grew up in an integrated school system. Metuchen was not lily-white, though sections of it surely were. I actually had in my K-12 experience six teachers of color. That may not seem like a huge number, but how many suburban schools have that many? I know that three of them I really liked and felt affirmed by. I also know that it felt like three hated me and made my life miserable. I doubt the difference in our race had much to do with it, but it gave me an appreciation for what my black classmates must have occasionally felt. I also will add that being an integrated school was not easy for me. My parents thought it was great, but I spent most of my time being afraid, especially in elementary school, I was a very easy target. Also being one of the smarter kids, there was only a few of the black kids that were with me, and I don't recall any males.
It wasn't until college that my built up racist views really got called into question. There I found black students who were at a minimum my intellectual equals, and in some cases were even smarter than me. I began at that point to let a lot of internal garbage go.
I also have had the benefit of working under black leaders. It is another really good way of breaking down that wall. In my own church I have had people of color in leadership roles. Steps towards eradicating racism.
I have a feeling that really the only way we will ever truly come close to eliminating racism, is through relationships. When we can get past the "some of my best friends are black" mentality. When we can really listen and not get defensive when folks who aren't white, let us know how the world works for and against them, it will be even bigger steps towards that goal.
And of course the first steps always begin with me.
Blessings,
Ed
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Reflections for 2/24/11
"It is supposed to be good for the heart, the lungs, the muscles, and physical well-being generally. It is also said to produce a kind of euphoria known as joggers' high. the look of anguish and despair that contorts the faces of most of the people you see huffing and puffing away at it by the side of the road, however, is striking. If you didn't know directly from them that they are having the time of their lives the chances are you wouldn't be likely to guess it." (F. Buechner "Listening to Your Life" p. 55)
I'll admit it I'm not into running or jogging. Even when I was in peak physical condition in high school, I didn't like running. My problem now is that I don't believe my knees can take the pounding, compound that with the extra baggage I still carry on my frame.
I have been going to the gym regularly now since May of last year. I'm not a gym rat, but it has become a part of my routine. I wouldn't say I like it or come out with an excercisers' high. But I know that I do feel better physically than I have in years and I also know that by continuing to go, I will continue to improve and there will ultimately be less of me to love.
I believe a similar statement could be made about spiritual practices or just about any activity we do to better ourselves. On the outside we may not always give off an aura of happiness or satisfaction. Inwardly something different is going on.
I'm reminded of Jesus' statement that when you fast don't distort your face so that others may see your fasting. Do the actions without the dramatics. I suppose this is true of almost everything that we do. When we're doing it for all the right reasons, no one should be able to tell just by looking at our outward appearance.
Blessings,
Ed
I'll admit it I'm not into running or jogging. Even when I was in peak physical condition in high school, I didn't like running. My problem now is that I don't believe my knees can take the pounding, compound that with the extra baggage I still carry on my frame.
I have been going to the gym regularly now since May of last year. I'm not a gym rat, but it has become a part of my routine. I wouldn't say I like it or come out with an excercisers' high. But I know that I do feel better physically than I have in years and I also know that by continuing to go, I will continue to improve and there will ultimately be less of me to love.
I believe a similar statement could be made about spiritual practices or just about any activity we do to better ourselves. On the outside we may not always give off an aura of happiness or satisfaction. Inwardly something different is going on.
I'm reminded of Jesus' statement that when you fast don't distort your face so that others may see your fasting. Do the actions without the dramatics. I suppose this is true of almost everything that we do. When we're doing it for all the right reasons, no one should be able to tell just by looking at our outward appearance.
Blessings,
Ed
Reflections for 2/23/11
"If you lose yourself in your work you find who you are. If you express the best you have in you in your work it is more than just the best you have in you that you are expressing."(F. Buechner "Listening to Your Life" p.55)
I don't know that I get lost in my work too much. I probably guard against work taking over my life. I certainly give the proper attention to what I do, and usually attempt to give my best when I'm "on." But I find who I am is more complex than just a priest.
Now the things I do well and enjoy the most in my work are being present for others and listening. Those are two skill sets I need to be effective in the other parts of my job. What I've found to be true is that it is actually the best of what I have to offer outside of work.
I try to be present and a good listener to my family and friends outside of the church. Only they can tell if I've been successful in that.
Is what you do for work utilizing the best in you? Or are your gifts and talents revealed elsewhere? Does work seem to take over your life, or do you have time for other things as well, that make up who you really are?
Blessings,
Ed
I don't know that I get lost in my work too much. I probably guard against work taking over my life. I certainly give the proper attention to what I do, and usually attempt to give my best when I'm "on." But I find who I am is more complex than just a priest.
Now the things I do well and enjoy the most in my work are being present for others and listening. Those are two skill sets I need to be effective in the other parts of my job. What I've found to be true is that it is actually the best of what I have to offer outside of work.
I try to be present and a good listener to my family and friends outside of the church. Only they can tell if I've been successful in that.
Is what you do for work utilizing the best in you? Or are your gifts and talents revealed elsewhere? Does work seem to take over your life, or do you have time for other things as well, that make up who you really are?
Blessings,
Ed
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Reflections for 2/22/11
"Jobs are what people do for a living, many of them for eight hours a day, five days a week, minus vacations, for most their lives. It is tragic to think how few of them have their hearts in it. They work mainly for the purpose of making money enough to enjoy their moments of not working." (F. Buechner "Listening to Your Life" p. 54)
I have had two jobs in my life that I could see that if that had been what I did for all of my life, I'd fully understand what Buechner is saying.
I spent one summer working for the Department of Public Works in my hometown. As a summer job, it actually was somewhat fun. We were done by 4:00 pm, it involved mowing lawn, and frankly there was an awful lot of goofing off. And even when I moved up to being on the garbage truck, the work was a little harder but actually more fascinating. Outside of the physicality of it, though it wasn't all that challenging but it gave me a steady salary. I know I wouldn't feel so romantic about that summer if I had to do the same thing all year round.
I also was a bank teller for a year. That too is something that was necessary at the time, needed health benefits and no Sundays.
What is true of both jobs was how much of a sense of TGIF there was. How people couldn't wait for the day to be over, and how often the day dragged.
I have known folks who have to work those kind of jobs. They have bills to pay. They look forward to their vacations and retirement. But the day to day grind seems rather joyless.
I'm thankful for my work, not only because it helps pay the bills, but because I really do enjoy it, 95% of the time. I too will retire at some point, but it isn't the driving force for me at the moment.
If you are fortunate to have work that you truly love it is a great thing. If you are stuck in "dead end job." Where to quote the Loverboy song "everybody's working for the weekend.," then I hope you have some outlet for your creativity. Something that gives your life meaning and purpose, well beyond paying the bills.
Blessings,
Ed
I have had two jobs in my life that I could see that if that had been what I did for all of my life, I'd fully understand what Buechner is saying.
I spent one summer working for the Department of Public Works in my hometown. As a summer job, it actually was somewhat fun. We were done by 4:00 pm, it involved mowing lawn, and frankly there was an awful lot of goofing off. And even when I moved up to being on the garbage truck, the work was a little harder but actually more fascinating. Outside of the physicality of it, though it wasn't all that challenging but it gave me a steady salary. I know I wouldn't feel so romantic about that summer if I had to do the same thing all year round.
I also was a bank teller for a year. That too is something that was necessary at the time, needed health benefits and no Sundays.
What is true of both jobs was how much of a sense of TGIF there was. How people couldn't wait for the day to be over, and how often the day dragged.
I have known folks who have to work those kind of jobs. They have bills to pay. They look forward to their vacations and retirement. But the day to day grind seems rather joyless.
I'm thankful for my work, not only because it helps pay the bills, but because I really do enjoy it, 95% of the time. I too will retire at some point, but it isn't the driving force for me at the moment.
If you are fortunate to have work that you truly love it is a great thing. If you are stuck in "dead end job." Where to quote the Loverboy song "everybody's working for the weekend.," then I hope you have some outlet for your creativity. Something that gives your life meaning and purpose, well beyond paying the bills.
Blessings,
Ed
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