SHINE

Here we are in the season of Epiphany when the Magi brought gifts to Jesus by following the light of God. Here's to a season where all of us are called to, "go easy, be filled with light, and to shine!"


"When I Am Among the Trees" by Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the tree stir in their leaves
and call out, 'Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."

Christmas Blessing

I feel blessed that our Evangelical Lutheran Church of America is lead by our Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. He certainly loves Jesus.
The first time I met Bishop Hanson was in the elevator. We were both working at the Churchwide Offices in Park Ridge, and we were both headed downstairs for midweek morning worship when he realized he wasn't wearing his nametag. In his cleric and huge Bishop's cross around his neck, I told him not to worry, that people would know he's the Bishop. Frustrated, he responded more to himself then me, when he said almost under his breath, "But if I expect others to wear it, I need to wear it too." I have a feeling Bishop Hanson takes wearing his nametag so seriously, not because people won't recognize him otherwise, but because he sees the value in those with power being aligned with those who have less power. In fact, I've seen Bishop Hanson's servant heart on a variety of occasions and he is concerned about the working poor, about women's issues, about children, education, healthcare, and rights for gays and lesbians. This is why I highly recommend either reading or watching his short Christmas Blessing. If you have never seen him before I think you'll sense in his voice, his eyes and his demeanor, the servant of God who is leading our church.

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Office-of-the-Presiding-Bishop/Messages-and-Statements/091206christmas.aspx

What We Need

What we need always seems in competition with what we want. I'm starting to think that much of our life's journey is about either balancing the two, or if it is possible, trying to merge our needs into our wants or wants into needs? Does that make sense?

I'm teaching this class on the Magi from Matthew 2. I've been working on it for awhile now, and everytime I work on it, it puts a smile on my face. A smile because I can't seem to get over what Matthew meant for it to say and what it has become in our culture. It just brings to light for me the power of perception and power.

Frankly I want everyone to hear the message the Gospel writer is trying to get across-- I can't get over how powerful it has been for me. At it's most basic level it reminds me that what we want isn't always what we need and that God remains faithful continually showing us our needs.

If you can make it, the classes are at the main campus of Our Saviour's in the Nelson Fellowship Center, Sunday December 13th at 9 and 10:10 am and Tuesday Dec. 15th at 9:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Advent

Here might be a new way to think about Advent this year...the fact that "its coming depends on us."

From my heroine, Sister Joan Chittister in her book "The Liturgical Year"

"It is while waiting for the coming of the reign of God, Advent after Advent, that we come to realize that its coming depends on us. What we do will either hasten or slow, sharpen or dim our own commitment to do our part to bring it.

Waiting — that cold, dry period of life when nothing seems to be enough and something else beckons within us — is the grace that Advent comes to bring. It stands before us, within us, pointing to the star for which the wise ones from the East are only icons of ourselves.

We all want something more. Advent asks the question, what is it for which you are spending your life? What is the star you are following now? And where is that star in its present radiance in your life leading you? Is it a place that is really comprehensive enough to equal the breadth of the human soul?"