Living the Questions

I remember in High School asking a friend the question, "If the Jews are God's Chosen People then what does that make Christians?" I was a member of the Christian Student Union, and the boy I was asking was the leader of it. Not only was I excited to get into such theological debates because I respected his opinion but also because I had a huge crush on him and wanted to know him better. I don't remember exactly what he said, even though I can remember asking the question.

After four 1/2 years of seminary and six years as on ordained minister I'm stilling asking that question, amongst many others. In fact I just asked someone I respected that exact question the other day. He said that since God's promise was to Sarah and Abraham, that the promise belongs to all of Abraham and Sarah's descendents--Jews, Christians and Muslims. I had never thought about it that way, and told him I would have to think about that.

The third Sunday every other month, starting this February 21st I'll be leading a class where we can "live the questions," called... Living the Questions! It's a time where I hope we can grow in understanding, join in healthy conversation, and not always walk away with answers but always come to love God more. As a pastor I have always thought of myself as a midwife who helps people journey through the hard labor of new life. Come join me 11:30 in the Bonhoeffer Conference Room in the main campus February 21st as we labor together in faith. I'll see you there!

Sacred Envy

I had a great time co-teaching our Epiphany University class called "Can I Call My Neighbor Friend? Muslim/Christian Dialogue" I feel like we engaged in really good conversation about how we as Christians "can love our neighbors as ourselves." Hearing my co-teacher Ruth Nelson's personal passion, learning from Dr. Mark Swanson chair of Muslim-Christian Relations at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and dialoguing with four Muslim neighbors is a step in the right direction. I am encouraged to hear how people around the world are doing the same on a much larger scale. I particularly like the idea of a class called "Sacred Envy," I'll have to keep that in mind...


In December 2009, Melbourne, Australia hosted the Parliament of World’s Religions, a global dialogue of faiths. Sister Joan Chittister, longtime champion of peace, human rights and gender equality attended the Parliament and spoke with AWID (Association for Women’s Rights in Development) to share her perspectives on what the Parliament proceedings mean for women. Here are two responses of hers from a much longer interview...

by Masum Momaya
Sister Joan what was the personal highlight of the Parliament for you?
Sister Joan Chittister: The Parliament of the World’s Religions is a living icon for which we all hope. It is a diorama of many peoples, all of whom express a different face of the Divine, all of them united in holiness, in common commitment to the entire human community, and all knowing themselves to be one in God. This was the highlight for me. Just watching this flow of goodness sweeping back and forth across the great foyer and down the halls of the Melbourne Conference Center was a kind of spiritual vision for me. To see this is to know that wars of religion are both a scandal and an impossibility and that the Parliament is a holy and necessary step to a future without religious wars or theocratic oppression.

Sister Joan what were some "takeaways" that stood out to you in terms of dialogues?
S.J.C.: I participated in a panel on "Sacred Envy." Each of us panelists was asked to describe what we loved about our own religion and about each of the others. Then we were permitted to ask one another the question that most plagued us about another of the religions represented there. It was an impacting moment to hear real questions asked—about freedom of religion in theocratic states or the connection between religion and politics, for instance—and answered without defensiveness and with real depth. It proved the possibility of real interfaith discussion when the discussants talk openly and honestly about the struggles of the faith rather than either defend or decry the concerns of the other. It modeled an important role for religious figures in the modern state.

Never ending

By the time I got to work I had taken off my boot three times, shaking it out, hoping to get the tiny rock that seemed to be irritating my foot every time I took a step. The third time around I realized the little rock was stuck inside my hose and not just my shoe. I had no interest in taking off my hose, searching for the rock, getting it out and putting the hose all back on, so I decided to make a spiritual practice of it. With the devastation and lack of any comforts in Haiti, I decided that with each step that irritated me feeling this rock in my hose/shoes I would remember the people in Haiti and keep them in prayer. Turns out I prayed for the people of Haiti regularly and throughout the day. By the time I had picked up my daughter and made it home, I was ready to remove every speck of dust, rock and you name it off of my wood floors so I could walk barefoot and not worry about trapping another "rock" the next morning when I got dressed- lest I have to be irritated and prayerful all day long. With my daughter comfy in her wrap close to my chest we set about vacuuming every nook and cranny of the house. When we were done, and the vacuum was back in the closet, as I walked around the house, I came upon more "little rocks" under my feet. And all I could think is that the suffering in our world is never ending. This doesn't mean to never vacuum or pray or try to make a dent in it-- but our attitude towards those in need takes repeated help and more than just a one time fix me up kind of thing. So thankfully without a rock in my shoe today, here's to continued remembering and praying for all those in need, especially the Larson family who you can read about at the following link...

http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4403

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?"