Realizing Peace

As we prepare for the second Sunday in Advent and prepare to light the second advent candle, peace, this image has been captivating my mind. This mural was created a few weeks ago at a lock-in at Webster Groves Christian Church. The youth and spiritual mentors (with some assistance by John and Carolyn) created several mixed media murals. I have been sitting with the questions, what is peace, what does peace look like in our world, how do we live peace? And this image keeps coming to mind.

In the image peace is constant. It encircles and holds together all the colors. Peace is vibrant and alive. I recall watching as the youth created this mural. They took great care and work to make the peace sign. They used a pattern, a hula hoop, to make the circle. Perhaps there is not one set pattern for peace, but several models of non-violent action by Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Jesus set before us that can help us create a pattern for peace in our lives.

After the peace sign was carefully constructed, they spattered paint everywhere! It was an active process that included laughter, joy, movement, energy, and the willingness to let go. They had planned to use hands to construct the peace sign. But after it was made, they realized it needed other direction. Peace demands that we listen deeply and are willing to let go of our best laid plans.

Maybe I am reading to much into this sign, or maybe, just maybe the creation and existence of this piece of art is helping to realizing the process of peace in my journey. Thanks again to all the hands and hearts that constructed these pieces!

An Urban Silence

Last week I traveled to San Francisco to participate in the Bethany Fellowships. Research revealed that many new pastors do not stay in the ministry past five years, so Bethany was created to help new pastors develop patterns of sabbath, retreat, and rest in ministry. The group meets twice a year for a five day retreat in a different parts of the United States. Each day of the retreat has a different focus. On Wednesday, we were invited into 24 hours of silence.

The last time I went on retreat I spent the day of silence on the retreat center grounds. I watched the sunset and a turtle crawl out of the woods. This past Wednesday, I got on a train and rode into downtown San Francisco. It was amazing to be still and yet moving on the train. Through the window of the train I watched the fog crawl over the mountains. Upon arrival in downtown San Francisco, my companion Dietra and I, boarded a MUNI light rail in silence. We rode past the bay, pier after pier.

Then we wandered the streets trying to find fresh seafood. In silence we found a sandwich restaurant, not our first choice, but a place to eat. Then we wondered the streets to the museums. After some confusion on the streets, we found the Museum of the African Diaspora. It was powerful to listen to the stories of African people who traveled to United States in slavery, escaped slavery, and fought for their freedom. As I sat and watched a video of Dr. Howard Thurman, my heart swelled. I was overcome by the courage, passion, and conviction of my brothers and sisters.

My day of silence was filled with energy, sounds, and life. God was alive and well on the streets of San Francisco that day. I was thankful that I was silent, aware, and watching. Time and
time again I have experienced God in the beauty of a sunset or calm of water. In San Francisco I experienced God in the drums beats, the rush of people going in and and out of shops, the stories at MoAD, and in Urban life.


For more information about the Bethany Fellowships, visit http://www.bethanyfellowships.org/.
For more information about the Museum of the African Diaspora, visit, http://www.moadsf.org/

Chasing Balloons

During Christian Education this past week we talked about the movement of the Spirit. While considering the elusive nature of the Spirit and its movement in our lives, we chased around balloons. We, the church, laughed, danced, and twirled as we tried to keep the balloons from touching the ground. The wind came and blew the balloons in all directions. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. The work of the Spirit is a mystery, but when we are lucky it can involve some dancing, twirling, and lots of laughter.

Spring Wonderland

On Saturday I went to the Botanical Gardens. It was a warm, sunny day, and spring flowers were in bloom. Several individuals took advantage of the wonderful spring day. The gardens were packed.

When I first arrived, everywhere I turned I had to stand in a line. I was a bit annoyed. I wanted to roam free and dance near all the flowers. Instead, I had to wait to take pictures until people moved back.

As I looked closer at my companions I saw a mother and father dancing with delight with their infant as they were surrounded by new life emerging from the ground. I saw small children running up to flowers touching them and laughing. I saw an elderly couple juggling a camera as they tried to capture all the life that moved around them. In an instant I was surrounded by new life, not just flowers, but people joyously celebrating the season of spring.

During holy week we are invited into a time of reflection where we examine the tension of life and death. Tonight we are expected to get a hard freeze. It seems more appropriate to talk about death as winter gives us (hopefully only) one more round of cold. But, we know the ground is anxious and already beginning to give new life.

Walking down the paths at the Botanical Gardens, I found myself renewed and re-energized by all the life that surrounded me. New life will come as it has seasons before. New life will have a hard time preserving through all the elements.

May your heart be surprised by the beauty of a tulip or the scent of a hyacinth. Dance with joy and delight as new life comes!

Surprises

Tonight I opened up a coloring book from college. It was given to me by my mother in a college care packet. Inside the middle of the book was a note. My mother had written words of love, care, and encouragement and, "take time to relax, eat right and nurture yourself. Listen to your inner voice."

Years later these words of encouragement, care, and good advice, still have meaning in my life. These days I have been trying to discern how to honor my voice, eat right, find time to relax, and nurture myself. It was a wonderful surprise to find these words years after college, words that still speak to my life.

Pray without Ceasing

At many points in my life I have heard Paul's phrase, "pray without ceasing," and I begin to worry. Can I really pray without ceasing? Do my hands have to be folded together all the time? How in the world will I see where I am going with my eyes closed in deep meditative prayer all the time?

Today I had a conversation with my spiritual director about prayer. I sat down and she asked her usual question, what's been going on? I shared with her that yesterday I created two paintings. As I prepared to paint with Japanese Ink, I made a cup of tea and lit a candle. I told her I have been lighting candles daily this Lenten season. I walk into a room, grab a lighter, and ignite a wick. The light has offered me nuggets of calm and peace in my day. And when I see the flame dance on the wick, I have small moments of delight. She suggested that the light of the candle is an extension of the light, spirit living within me.

As I continued to share with her about my prayer life I lamented that I am not praying as often as I hoped in this time of lent. She paused and said, "what about those candles you have been lighting or those painting you made? Those are expressions of the presence of God deep within you." I realized that although intentional moments of prayer are needed (weekend retreats, prayer with other people, etc) the acts of my life are indeed acts of prayer and I am already doing it!

Indeed, spirit, life, God's presence is already deep in our daily actions. Perhaps, praying without ceasing means something a bit different than I had originally thought...

Meeting Jesus

Last week we began the journey into the Lenten season. Over the past few days I have been thinking about the life of Jesus and what it means for me follow. In the midst of my contemplative reflection a friend came to visit.

We traveled St. Louis for two and a half days exploring different parts of the city. At one of our vacation locations, we met Tom and Julie. They shared their food (extra-ordinary potato chips). Then Tom shared some wisdom with us. He reminded us that life is short and it is best to really nurture those specials relationship in your life. He said there will be only a hand full of people who will be with you throughout your life, so treasure those relationships and tend to them. He proceeded to instruct us to cherish mother, father God. Julie tried to encourage her husband to be quiet, but eventually shared her wisdom too. She shared about nurturing a relationship with an old college roommate. They had remained friends for over thirty years. It was a profound moment for both my friend and I. As we left, we both felt like we had met Jesus.

I suspect that's the thing about meeting Jesus. In the sharing of food and conversation, Jesus shows up in unexpected places and around unexpected tables. May our hearts always be open to warmth that we might find from a stranger (especially those who possess an abundance of wisdom and yummy potato chips).

Being Alive

Last weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Columbia, MO for a youth conference. There I heard Mark Yaconelli speak about Contemplative Youth Ministry. Mark's premise is that we are spiritual beings in need of others to help remind us to take time to notice God's presence in our lives and give thanks. He equips youth ministers and workers with ancient spiritual practices as a way to become more invested in their own spiritual life. Mark discovered that if the adults are invested in their spiritual lives they will be more prepared to help teach, guide, and be open to the spiritual lives of the youth (and all of those around them).

One of the things Mark focused on was the idea of being alive. At first glance, this concept seems a bit odd. If you are breathing and reading this blog you are alive, right? Mark defined being alive having the ability slow down and notice the beautiful sunset, having an investment in the lives of others, having healthy relationships, and the ability to be present with others.

I was quite taken with this concept. How often do I stop to give thanks for the huge mysterious moon in the sky? Do I tell my friends and family that I care for them as often as I would like? Do I let the stress of my day control my mood and ability to be present?

Some days I may do a better job of being alive than others. Other days I will need someone in my life or in creation to remind me of what it is to be alive. There lies the value of sharing this journey with others. We are all spiritual beings in need of others to help remind us to see God's activity, take notice, and give thanks.

For more information about Mark Yaconelli and Contemplative Youth Ministry Visit: http://www.ymsp.org/welcome.html

In the Bleak Midwinter

Last week I participated in a worship service called, "In the Bleak Midwinder." The service was intended to focus on our state of being in the cold, harsh, mid of winter. The weather the day of the service was sunny and 60 degrees.

Today that service seems appropriate. As I gaze out my window a light wintry mixture continues to fall. The world seems quieter and most everyone is seeking refuge indoors. Many children, students, and employees are celebrating a snow day. The clouds brought a gift of rest and a break from our daily routines packaged in a white wet mix.

During the service there was time to mediate and focus the winters of our lives. We heard a poem and prayer about the harsh death of winter. Even though I am experiencing the bleak midwinter, I find myself quite glad. Today I experienced the calm the snow brought in the bleak midwinter. I suspect if I lived further north I would be praying for more sun and warmer temperatures and understand the word bleak more fully.

Winter can be a harsh time of clearing and of death, a time for us to mediate and reflect on our lives. May it also be a time of calm and rest in the bleakest of moments.

take this bread

For Christmas I received a book called, take this bread, by Sara Miles. This is a memoir of a twenty-first-century Christian. Her story is captivating. The back cover of the book sums up her story, "Early one morning, for no earthly reason, Sara Miles, raised an atheist wandered into a church and received communion, and found herself transformed-embracing a faith she'd once scorned..." Miles discovers a religion centered on real hunger, real food, and real bodies. She turns the communion table, where she first received the bread, into a food pantry.

The image is profound. The communion table, where we share bread and the cup week after week, a place for people who are hungry to receive food. In my estimation, Miles takes Jesus' invitation to heart and discovered a way to make it real for all people in her community. I am captivated by her bravery and her openness to God's invitation.

Each week that I have come to the communion table since I have been reading Miles' story, I have thought about the food pantry spread out on the communion table. I have thought about how we are all connected by sharing a meal at Jesus' table. Through Christ, we share the table with St. Gregory's Episcopal Church serving their community grapes, beans, bread, and numerous other groceries as part of their communion celebration. It turns out there is room for more than bread and wine at the table.

Miles has got me thinking about the table. What does it mean for all to truly be invited to the table? How can we extend the welcome and share a meal together throughout the week? How do we share bread with our neighbors? In this book, I am finding more questions than answers and I am quite grateful.