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Rector's Blog
Thursday, January 20, 2005
A friend sent me an article from Time Magazine on a new analysis of the life-cycle viewed through the lens of sociology. Time magazine says observers have identified a new step that has emerged between adolescence and adulthood. "Twixters" are in the their twenties, clearly no longer children, but who are also not yet adults.
The article explores possible social conditions that may be driving the trend: 1) a lack of economic opportunity, 2) a breakdown of culture, 3) a college education that perpetuates adolescence or, 4) a general enjoyment of life free from inconvenient obligations among people in their 20's.
Sampled here were several "Twixter's" perspective on marriage:
"It's a long way down the road. I'm too self-involved. I don't want to bring that into a relationship now."
"I want to get married but not soon. I'm enjoying myself. There's a lot I want to do by myself still."
"I have my career, and I'm too young. It's commitment and sacrifice, and I think it's a hindrance. Lo and behold, people have come to the conclusion that it's not much fun
to get married and have kids right out of college."
The article talks about how commitment in general is low on the priority list of this emerging social phenomenon. It is a period of self-exploration, self-expression, and self-discovery. And, the article suggests, it is a developmental stage that is here to stay.
I found the article to be more than just a little disturbing. Community cannot deepen and be truly sustaining without people capable of commitment. The "self-discovery" language sounds too much like an excuse for non-responsibility taking.
I have been concerned for some time that as a culture we have been failing our children -- indulging too much, challenging to little, perhaps even justifying behaviors that, in another age, would have led to starvation.
I see it in the church all the time. Newcomers come into our parish -- from "out there." It takes a while, one to two years perhaps, for people to begin to discover that we are serious about making commitments to support one another, with our time and with our money. The quality of our community only rises to the quality of our commitment.
What has happened to character? Honor? A sense of personal dignity? Forgive me for this: Twixters need a good hard kick in the, well, pants.
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Wednesday, January 12, 2005
In a follow up piece on the Tsunami of Sumatra, the New York Times ran an article expressing survivor's views seeking understanding of the tragedy. Scholars use the word "theodicy" to talk about this kind of thing. It means, "justifying God" and refers to humanity's inexhaustible attempt to discern the mind of God.
Human nature demands a reason for tragedy. People seek a divine motive. They try to reason it out. But, reason's limit manifests itself in grief. The mind just spins and spins and spins. It tries to track an explanation in a chain of infinite regression where every explanation falls short. But where the mind fails, the heart takes over.
And so in Sri Lanka people are trying to work it out.
Poorima Jayaratne says, "Most of the people who lost relatives were Muslim." She is a Buddhist.
T. G. David, another Buddhist, a farmer and a strict vegetarian says, "Fishermen are taking life," he said. "Farmers have no problems."
A. P. Sethuraman, a Hindu says, "Many bad things happen along the seaside," he says. "You must live the right way."
Ramzy Mohammad a Muslim says, "He (Allah) got angry and washed up the water,"
If you find these explanations unsatisfactory, it's okay. They are not really explanations. These are sounds grief makes, grief masquerading as reason.
The article quotes one Christian perspective. It jumped out at me as a significantly different than the other perspectives. It is not an attempt at theodicy. It is a challenge of faith.
Charles Hewawasam, a Roman Catholic says, "The dead have sacrificed their lives for us to teach a lesson: be together, treat one another as human beings."
Is the New York Times preaching? Or, is the journalist really just reporting conversations on the street?
It seems to me you can't summarize the essence of faith better than this. Jesus speaks to us from the cross. He doesn't justify the ways of God. He challenges faith and faithfulness. In the midst of tragedy, as we look to God for justification, God directs us back to one another.
"Be together, treat one another as human beings."
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Wednesday, January 05, 2005
A dear friend and former priest associated with our parish stopped by the office today to say hello, John Huntington.
John is the former CEO from the aero-space industry. After leaving St. Tim's he went to lead the church in Colorado. We spent about an hour in conversation -- how I miss his gracious, gentle and fearless wisdom.
He reminded me of the essence of our common life in faith as a covenant community. He said, "A spiritual covenant is an enduring promise written on the heart that establishes or affirms a relationship."
So simple.
God cannot enforce a relationship with us. We cannot enforce a relationship with one another. The richness and depth of our journey together is nothing more than an interest and a willingness to journey together. The challenge is to endure through disagreement, disappointment, and struggle.
The fruit of our commitment?
Life with one another in partnership with God.
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Tuesday, January 04, 2005
I recieved this email in response to the Christmas Eve sermon. I talked about one parishioners experience with a local school. In an effort to be inclusive the school features different teaching modules honoring the diverse cultures in our region. During Hanukah the school showed the children a Menorah talked about the Jewish holiday in a way our parishioner very much appreciated. She wants her daughter to grow up with an appreciation of the different traditions of the world.
But when it came to Christmas, in the its respect for cultural diversity, the school represented Christmas with a snowman and a reading of "Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer." Here is the email I recieved in response to my sermon,
I had an experience similar to Christine Foster. Last year I was in charge of booking musical and theatrical groups to perform at Claire's school. In November I booked a theatrical group to perform what they billed as "Joy in the Winter World," which was to be a survey of the world's winter holidays. They did a bang up job of reenacting Hanukkah (those brave Maccabees), detailing Ramadan (fasting and prayer), and celebrating Diwali (festival of lights). The description of Christmas consisted solely of the "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" editorial from 1897. (Apparently Christmas, unlike the world's other winter festivals, has a history limited to the last 100 years or so.)
After the performance, I was asked to give the group a review. Like Christine, I questioned why the origins of the Christian holiday were omitted. In an area like Silicon Valley and in particular at Claire's school where over 42 languages are represented, I am still astounded that the answer was "Everyone already knows about Christmas."
Yes, everyone may KNOW about Christmas, but apparently not everyone truly knows about CHRISTMAS.
Thanks for a sermon that I'm still thinking about.
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Monday, January 03, 2005
I received an email from a parish mother today. I share it with the world in witness to the power of a faithful community at work in the spiritual formation of children. Nicholas is four year. Julie writes:
"Nicholas and I were watching Extreme Home Makeover tonight and a young boy on the show was blind. Nicholas expressed his confusion at first because he thought only grown-ups were blind and we talked briefly about how sometimes children are blind, too.
"A few minutes later he said to me, "But Mom, God came to the earth." I confirmed that, yes, God had come to the earth. Then, he said it again. "But Mom, God came to the earth."
"It dawned on me what he was trying to understand in his head. I said, "Oh. You mean so that the blind can see." He said, "Yes. And people that can't walk can walk. And, people that can't hear can hear."
"Just when you think they're not paying attention, out pops the evidence to prove that they've been listening all along.
"As I realized what his question was, I felt a lump in my throat. How would I explain this to him? How could I tell this to him so that he would understand?
"I sat with him and confirmed again that Jesus had come to earth. He said, "No. God came to
earth." I said, "Well, Jesus is God." He corrected me, "God's son." Once we had that straight, then we talked about how sometimes people that are blind are healed and they can see again. I went on to describe that when we don't understand something, that is sometimes called blindness. And, that when we learn about it and understand it, then we can "see" it better.
"I gave an example of something that I had explained to him earlier in the day. I told him that
Jesus came because we are confused and don't always understand how much God loves us.
"He didn't ask any more questions and seemed satisfied with the answer. Though, I wonder how he is processing our conversation."
I can easily see Jesus at prayer. He is praying to God the Father in some lonely place. And he asks, "Abba, I wonder how the disciples are processing our conversation."
That's the point, isn't it? It is more in "processing the conversation" than in "learning the answers" that the Holy Spirits works in our lives to turn us into people who learn how to love with the power that Jesus loves.
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Archive:
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02/01/2005 - 02/28/2005
03/01/2005 - 03/31/2005
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05/01/2005 - 05/31/2005
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