Shining Spirit

Even if dark clouds come floating by, they won’t stay.
Even if you are not aware of the sun shining,
it is.
Even if you wonder whether you are loved,
you are.
Even if you think you can’t,
you can.
“I can do all things through Christ,
who strengthens me”
You don’t belong to yourself;
you belong to God.

My grandfather sold men’s clothing in a very nice downtown Dallas establishment. And, believe me, he was a sharp dresser. He knew how to match a tie to a suit or which shirt looked best with a double-breasted sport coat. In fact, once a month the clothing store put on a little fashion show to highlight the latest merchandise, and Grandfather was a model in the show. He was dapper and he loved to show it.

I started my business career at the same Dallas store, but unlike Grandfather who was selling clothes on the first floor, I was in the basement, in a stock room, counting, sorting, and making sure the salesmen got all the correct items they needed. Not very glamorous, but necessary.

I don’t remember any Gospel verses that describe Jesus as a man of style, or any that tell us he was concerned about or conscious of how he looked. On the other hand, I recall more than one mention of how the religious leaders, the Pharisees, loved to look good in front of people. Appearance mattered to them, even if they had to fake it. And this was especially true about their religious appearance; “holier than thou” might have been their mantra. Well, they might have looked good on the outside, but they failed the inside test. And Jesus never let them off the hook: Be what you say your are. Show us how much you care, don’t just tell us. Roll up those embroidered sleeves and get your hands dirty.

That language, that approach to faith, hasn’t changed over the centuries. He’s still saying the same thing, except now it’s to us. Don’t wear your religion, weave it into every aspect of your life. Jesus could spot a phony a mile away…still can. It occurs to me that Appearance + Action = Authentic. Well, look at me! I’m a formula creator! Never mind.

As this day begins to unfold, to
gain life and breath as a living entity,
I bring the beat of my heart to you as
an act of my gratefulness, the breath
that sustains me, the magnificent mystery
of the human mind. I bring my whole
self and I lift my hands in praise for
the sleep and rest of the night, the dawning
day with its challenges and possibilities,
for the promise of your presence, and for
the certainty that in my trust and unknowing,
I will know you. My soul is in your hands,
my life makes sense, this day and every other,
only as I share it with you. You lead, Christ of Life,
and I will follow with song and rejoicing. Amen.

The author of God’s Little Devotional Book tells a wonderful story about the Argentine professional golfer Roberto de Vincenzo, a name I remember from long ago on a TV show called Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf. Memory lane seems to be one of my best walking paths.

de Vincenzo had just won a golf tournament, received a substantial winner’s check and was loading his clubs into his car in the parking lot when he was approached by a young woman who told him that her young daughter was seriously ill and that if the child did not receive an operation, she would die. Without hesitating, the golfer pulled a pen out of his pocket, endorsed the winner’s check over to the woman, and placed it in her hand. Her smile was beautiful as she turned and walked away.

A couple of days later, one of de Vincenzo’s friends, having heard about Roberto’s amazing generosity, called him on the phone and said: “What did you do? The woman who took your money is a fraud. There is no sick child.” The caller waited through a silent moment, waited for de Vincenzo’s eruption of anger, and he almost dropped the phone when he heard these words: “That’s the best news I heard in a long time.”

How you and I hear that story and respond to it says a lot about both of us. What if I gain everything and lose my soul? Generosity requires risk. Yes, Jesus. I hear you.

I’m sorry to be the bearer of unhappy news, but…are you sitting down?…churches are not perfect. Take a deep breath. The reason? They are made up of people, folks like you and me. Come to think of it, friendships aren’t perfect, either. Marriages? Book clubs? HOA Boards!!? This tells me several things, and this is the “something to think about” part: you will wear out the tires on your car before you find the perfect neighborhood; it’s hard to see the speck in your neighbor’s eye when you have a log in your own; the little phrase in the Book of Hebrews is right…”be satisfied with what you have”. Trust me, just because it’s new and shiny doesn’t mean it’s better. Chasing perfection is exhausting, a waste of time, and usually expensive. There is another helpful saying that sums it up: The grass may look greener on the other side, but it still has to be mowed. Just something to think about as we search for perfection in people, places and things. Afterthought: There was a man who lived a long time ago, a man who sought perfection but found truth instead. In a letter to his friends, Paul thought back over his former way of living and his present situation, then concluded: “I’ve learned how to be content with whatever I have.” He began to look at life through grateful eyes, and he did that because he came to the fundamental principle that applies to us all: I’m not perfect; therefore, how can I demand perfection of others? Then he topped off the letter by saying: Even so, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Not of myself…only through Him. Got it?

Steven Charleston, former Bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Alaska, a leading voice for justice for indigenous peoples, college professor and president, author of a dozen books on spiritual growth and formation, is a voice of wonder and warning. Charleston’s book entitled Spirit Wheel: Meditations from an Indigenous Elder contains the following meditation/prayer. May it bless both heart and mind on this good day.

Justice Never Bends To Fear

Beware of any generation that seems lost without a leader.
That search may become a dangerous thing to do.
A society that is fearful, money-worried
Anxious for order, hungry for law
A nation of wall builders, accustomed to war
Watching enemies without and enemies within
Afraid its glory will fade:
Longing for the strongman grows, ever so quietly
While people look the other way.
Help us, O Spirit,
Not to flirt with forces so ancient and so evil.
Rather let us put our trust in you
That justice never bends to fear
Nor freedom to false gods of power.
Amen and Amen

Pray, please, for all nations in this world,
for leaders of nations
for sanity and goodwill to prevail
for a broader and deeper trust in
the Creating God, the One who
blesses and lives among us in the Spirit.

My copy of Nan Merrill's book, 
Psalms For Praying, is showing 
its age.  Lots of marginal notes
have found their way to the pages.
It's just that good, these remarkable
Psalms restated in the book.  Here
is a sample that I offer as a good
Thursday prayer.

With my heart's ear I hear the injunction
to pray for my enemies, even those
who persecute me.  How can I, weak
and fear-filled, heed this difficult teaching?
Help me to understand the way of your
precepts, and give me strength to 
follow through.  My soul is willing,
O Merciful One, yet the body would 
flee.  Who is the enemy from whom I
run, but the fears hidden in the shadows
within.  Strengthen me according to
your word; lead me gently into the Light.
Amen

Rejoice in the blessings that come your
way today, and then give them all away
with gratitude.

This morning I walked through the tears of the earth,
over damp meadow grass, through the weeping stream
as water washed over its time worn stones,
producing, this day, the unbearable scream

of a parent who has lost an adorable child,
or a love, once cherished, but now denied.
My every foot plant through the whole mournful walk
caused all living things to sob or to cry.

Why? the Fox asked. Why this fate?
And his voice was joined by the Mockingbird’s plea:
Do you not see before you the wound that you’ve caused?
We grieve the deaths of magnificent trees

who stood strong and tall day after day,
and now just look, what do you say
to the squirrel whose family was crushed in the ground,
to the birds, my own, whose songs are now sounds

of the painful cracking of living hearts?
Why! Say why the necessity came
to fell these ancient and elegant trees
and cause this relentless, unbearable pain.

And there, strewn before me on the forest floor,
severed limbs, broken branches, piles of debris
that yesterday stood so regal and proud,
earth’s gracious gift of magnificent trees.

This morning I walked through the tears of the earth
and I looked to the open, sun-filled sky,
to the Eagle floating in the shifting wind
as his call echoed down, please tell me why.

I had breakfast with a friend the other day and while attempting to solve several world problems, I looked around the little cafe to see other pairs or small groups of folks quite intent in their conversations, clearly working on issues of worldly import. When it became apparent that my friend and I would not come up with a solution to the Conservation of Natural Resources issue, we shifted gears and topics. We started a game of “do you remember…” and since both of us, my friend and I, have extensive pasts (we’re old) we began to turn on lights in seldom used rooms. For instance: what TV show had characters with the following names: Ming the Merciless, Dale Arden, Dr. Zarkov? The lead actor was a very handsome Olympic Gold medalist in swimming, Buster Crabbe. Coming back to you now?

Flash Gordon was a TV treat back in the 1950s. If Flash said it, it had to be true. He always got the upper hand because he was virtuous, a soldier for the good. Every kid I knew wanted to be Flash, a name that became associated with courage, intelligence, strength and inevitable victory over the evil Ming week after week. What’s in a name?

How about the name “Christian?” Historians tell us that the word was first used in the city of Antioch long after the death and resurrection of Christ. It is associated with the travels of Paul and Barnabas, described in Acts 11 in the New Testament. But here’s the most interesting part: the word Christian means “little Christs”. Those of us who subscribe to the Christian faith are “little Christs” Now, that has all kinds of implications, doesn’t it. What if we all understood our calling and purpose in life to be “little Christs” for our community and our world? But, that’s exactly what we should be doing, isn’t it. We shouldn’t claim the name if we don’t live the life. Imagine what our communities would be like if, when we leave church every Sunday morning, we acted like “little Christs.”

Flash fought the evil Ming week after week. But when the series ended, it was all over. Jesus lived, died, and lives again in the minds, the hearts and the hands of “little Christs” and he calls to us to be diligent in honoring the name Christian. Can you imagine yourself to be a “little Christ” in the world around you. Wasn’t it Albert Einstein who said “imagination is a preview of coming attractions in life.”

Imagine that. Press on.

For some people, the major question of the day is “What shall I wear?” Usually that person has lots of choices. What matches? What compliments? That one is too tight around the middle. I feel rather “burgandy” today…that’s the color, not the liquid. There is, traditionally, appropriate attire for funerals and weddings and going to church. Remember when people actually dressed up to go to church. Now the issue is not dressing up, it’s showing up. Anyway…

Here’s where I make a slightly tongue-in-cheek suggestion that the Bible could use an update in some of its wording. There are a number of reasons that I am not a member of the Literalist Society when it comes to reading the Good Book, and Ephesians 6 is a good illustration of my dilemma with Bible words: it tells me how to dress for the day. Body armor, a helmet, a shield, a sword. Wouldn’t it be better to say: if you want to put on Christ for the day, wear a ball cap for your head, a pull-over shirt, Nikes for your feet, shorts because the temperature is going to be about 105 degrees today. Maybe carry a walking stick for the trip from the air-conditioned house to the air-conditioned car to the air-conditioned Mall? When was the last time you saw someone walking down Oracle Road in full body armor?

But, we know that Ephesians 6 is not about clothes for comfort. What the writer is describing is a PF 200 for the soul. I dare not go outside for any extended length of time here in Arizona in June without sunscreen protection. The same principle applies to the soul. It’s tough out there. Dress appropriately. So, I hope you will take this into account as you dress each morning. To think about the well-being of the soul is a wise thing to do. Above all, put on Christ. Intentionally and consciously, wrap yourself in Christ each morning, then make choices about a pull-over or a button-up.

“How does this look, honey? Does this match? Okay, I’ll try another shirt. What’s wrong with my socks?” This getting dressed each morning is becoming quite a chore. “How about this one, sweetie?”

Dress for the occasion. Dress for life. Put on Christ.