The Green Arrow

No, that THAT Green Arrow.   

The one on the traffic light pole…   

Driving in South Florida is entirely different from driving the narrow, twisting roads of West Virginia. In WV, the greatest danger is potholes big enough to swallow the car, or at least break an axel…and drivers careening around curves in the middle of the road…and falling off the shoulder-less road and rolling down the mountain…and…other adventures incurred only while driving in a mountainous state where everyone wants to have the right of way, including deer and bears.  But that is entirely another tale, for another day.

When we first arrived in Florida, Abby was still not allowed to drive, following her heart episodes of the summer. I was designated driver for several weeks, which turned out to be a good thing. It helped me grow more comfortable with the wide avenues, six to eight lanes of boulevards, actual shoulders along the road edges, and long, straight, flat stretches of roadway.

What took the most adjustment was the turning lanes. When traffic is flowing from four directions, the lights are vital to avoid entanglements. I still have to remind myself to look beyond the red lights to the green arrows.  The round red and green lights are for the straight ahead traffic, but beyond them are the lighted arrows that direct the turning lanes.

Often, I prepare to stop at a light that is red, only to discover that beyond it is the green arrow, telling me that it is safe and. actually wise, to turn now, lest some vehicle hit me from behind.

For me, there is a lesson in this.  How easy it is to reach a road block in life’s journey, and stop, thinking that the way ahead is closed.  But, when we look beyond the red light, we see a way opening to us in a different direction.  That turning place may lead to an adventure not yet dreamed, and a fulfillment not yet imagined.  Safaris are seldom journeys of straight lines.  We need to be flexible enough to turn, sensitive enough to know where and when to change our course, and stubborn enough not to stop in the middle of the road.

“ And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk  in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.”  Isaiah 30:21

A Reflection from Preaching as Antoinette Brown-Blackwell

 

Posted on October 18, 2009 on Dr. Abby’s and Rev. Carol’s Place http://www.drabbyreynolds.com/2009/10/a-reflection-from-preaching-as-antoinette-brown-blackwell-by-carol-crawford-rowe/

I had the privilege of preaching at a church near by, where I was asked to speak in my Civil War persona as Rev. Dr. Antoinette Brown-Blackwell. The worship service was an interesting experience, with four components that troubled me.

I do not know who normally presents the Children’s Message, but in the absence of the pastor, one of the lay speakers did so. She was doing a great job, reminding them that Jesus is better than their best friend, always present, always loving them. Then WHAM! She told the children that, when they become adults, Jesus will occasionally “smack you upside the head” when you do something that you shouldn’t do, or fail to do something that you should. I know that she was trying to be cute and clever, but she missed by a mile.

And we wonder why the little ones, who sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” with such enthusiasm, disappear from our congregations when they become teen agers and young adults. If I were awaiting the day when Jesus ceased being my friend and began to batter me instead, I also would rather leave while I’m ahead.

I was the guest speaker. Should I have interrupted her to tell those young ones that Jesus does not hit us? I believe that, when we fail to do what is good and just, Jesus lays a hand on our shoulder and says, “I’ll bet you’re sorry that you did that in that way. Would you like me to help you fix it?” I wanted to say STOP! You are not talking about the real Jesus. Being polite to her, I confess to you that, by my silence, I failed those young people as badly as she did.

Why should God cease to be a friend and loving presence, and become a harsh, judgmental taskmaster, just because we grow old enough to recognize our failings and mistakes? Is this really the theology that we want our children to learn?

Second, after this disheartening message, every person in the sanctuary age sixteen and under was led away by a cordon of adults, presumably to engage in some activity more appropriate to their age level than the sermon. Huh?!

I was sharing God’s working in the life of Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the first woman in the United States to be ordained a minister of the gospel. She knew as a young child that God had a plan for her life. That knowledge led to a life preaching peace, love, and inclusion of the marginalized and abused. Was this inappropriate for the young people to hear? When did worship become a venue in which children are not welcomed? When are they supposed to learn their roles in the Church and in the world?

Third, the congregation was right “with” me, as I told of the nineteenth century struggles and challenges. They were smiling, nodding, laughing when appropriate. But when I reminded them that we are called to right the wrongs of the twenty-first century, just as nineteenth century heroes and heroines were called to their time, the congregation froze. The smiles disappeared when I reminded them that Jesus also loves people with purple hair, painted skin, and piercings. Their slogan says that they are ministers in the world, to the world. The nods gave way to stiff-necked stares.

Their minds were closed, as were their hearts. As I looked around the mostly grey-haired group, I realized that their doors were also closed to any who are different from their idea of normal and acceptable. Many of the children who were present at the beginning of the service had come with a grandparent. Their parents were not there, an entire generation, mostly missing. What have we done?

And, last of all, at the door, while people were politely shaking my hand, with the compliments that really mean; “I’m not going to take THAT message with me into my world this week”, an elderly man took my hand and said, ‘I’m old fashioned. I believe that God created people to fulfill certain roles”.

I have been condemned before, for being a woman called to ministry. Perhaps that is why my answer came so fast. Smiling, I patted his shoulder and remarked, “Oh, so you believe that a woman belongs in the kitchen. Or, are you willing to allow her into the living room, if she needs to vacuum the carpet?”

The howls of laughter from the surrounding women made it all worthwhile! But I traveled home, saddened in spirit, for the empty shell that our religious institutions have become. To quote an old and dear retired pastor friend, “Who wants to spend their lives in an institution?”

And I felt Jesus’ hand on MY shoulder, as he spoke to me. “You are called to be my messenger. What they do with the message is their responsibility”. Help us, Lord, please help us!

Walk Softly, and Carry a Shepherd’s Crook

Yesterday morning, a young mother just a few miles from here killed her four teen-age and pre-teen children, before taking her own life.  I did not know her, but my heart aches for her and her entire family.  Who of her neighbors and extended family had an inkling of her pain, pain so debilitating that continuing life was unbearable?  Yes, there was a history of problems – problems in relationships, problems with the law, and, undoubtedly, problems with a hopelessness so deep that she could see no glimmer of relief.

I wonder what help was offered her.   I wonder what judgment was heaped upon her.  I wonder how many hands were extended to her in blessing, how many fists raised against her in condemnation.  I can not help her now.  The question for me remains:  Would I have reached a hand to her if I had known her?  Or would I have joined the legions who criticize and damn?

Teddy Roosevelt suggested that those who go far “speak softly and carry a big stick”.  That may be true, especially in this land of lions and alligators, but I think that we are called to embrace the cry of the prophet Micah, to live justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Good Shepherd (6:8).

It is better, I think, to extend the shepherd’s crook to rescue people from the brink, than to raise the stick to club them into despair.

God of us all, help us to see each other through your loving eyes and embrace each other with your understanding heart. 

I wept for joy, and then sorrow.

This past Sunday in Church, I found myself with tear filled eyes, as I sniffed and stifled the sounds of my crying, not wishing to make too much of a spectacle of myself beyond those immediately around me.

The service was not particularly centered on Mother’s Day, although Father Thomas spoke about Mary, the Mother of God, during the children’s sermon.

No, it was something more.  

 

As we sang the hymn, “I heard the Voice of Jesus Say”, I broke into tears of joy as I thought about the words, and how in love I am with Jesus.  I thought about the past 30+ years of knowing and serving my Lord, and the joys of being near His heart.  I thought of how so many are missing so much by their disregard for the life changing power of the Creator of the Universe.

And then I cried again. More tears of joy as we sang “It is Well With My Soul” during Communion.  I got as far as verse 2 and the words, “that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed His own blood for my soul”, before I lost it and had to just sit there, giving heart felt praise to my King and Lord.

I came home elated, full of joy and love, and rejoicing that we have such a Savior as this who loves us so much.  I came home even more in love with Jesus, if that was even possible.

Then it happened, less than 24 hours later.  I wept again.  It was not from joy, but from deep pain and sorrow, that I wept.

Today I read a post from the United Methodist Reporter.  It was entitled, “Big Meeting, Small Change – GC2012 leaves many with blues”

In the article, the author quoted Dr. Dixon Hall, a delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, 

“Anyone watching the show (and that’s what it was) on Friday can tell you that when you have United Methodists standing on tables, shouting down the presiding officer, and engaging in personal attacks on and off the floor of the plenary session, we have more than walked away from reason. We have run from it,” Dr. Dixon Hall wrote on her blog.

There is so much in this article regarding the sad affairs of one of the largest mainline denomination in the world.

I wept as I read these words from Dr. Hall.  I wept for the Church I have loved, and still love.  I called out to God to show the people of the United Methodist Church how to move forward into the 21st Century as the people of God, full of love, compassion, and unity, not hate, law, and division.

And it is not just the United Methodist Church.  I see so many who call themselves Christians acting in extremely judgmental and hateful ways.  I see so little of the Love of Jesus Christ in the circles called Christianity.  

No wonder so many in the world look at Christianity as a joke.  And no wonder so many are walking away from the Church, declaring they are spiritual, but not religious.

How this must so break the heart of our God.  If I wept, I can only imaging how much more so my Lord and Savior has wept.

The Gospel of John records that Jesus, upon arriving at the home of Mary and Martha, learning that Lazarus has died and had been placed in the grave, “wept”. 

The writer says it was because Jesus love Lazarus so.  Or did Jesus weep because he knew, that no matter how much he did, there would still be people who would act with hate, fear, and injustice, all in the name of God?

 

Creating Family

Mother’s Day is gone for this year.  Father’s Day is approaching, followed by all the holidays where we traditionally spend obligatory time with members of our families.  Yet there are many who have no family, or do not have the Norman Rockwell ideal relationships with family members.  As a pastor/ therapist / psychiatric nurse, and just- plain-friend, I have heard countless numbers of complaints regarding the lack of family connections.  Estrangement and perceptions of neglect haunt everyone from time to time.

There is no reason to be without a family.  Those who know my personal story are aware that I am a believer in adoption, which is nothing more, and certainly nothing less, than creating a family that goes beyond the boundaries of blood.  Adoption does not have to be a legal process.  Sometimes, it is recognizing and accepting heart ties that are stronger than legal ties.

I know a woman whose grandchildren live far from her, but who is regularly visited and honored by her brother’s grandchild.  She chooses to mourn the lack of what she does not have, instead of embracing that other grandchild, who does honor her and give her the gift of time.  What a tragedy we bring into our own lives, when we fail to recognize that family is loving presence, and not simply shared DNA.

Are you lonely?  Go find someone who needs your friendship.  Does no one visit, phone, give you gifts, invite you to dinner? Visit, phone, gift, invite someone to share a meal or a cup of tea.    Has your family of origin forgotten, failed, disappointed, and abandoned you? You are chosen to be part of God’s family. Create from that vast multitude of relatives a family with whom you can share love, offer grace, and enjoy your personal safari.

Loving Like Jesus

 

Loving Like Jesus by Dr. Abigail Elizabeth Reynolds

 

John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

So many times, we look around at our given situation, and ask: Where is the love in all of this?  Sometimes, it is a result of our feeling unloved.  At other times, it is the result of our feeling unloving toward the situation, and the players involved.

Yet, here, in the Gospel of John, we are called by our Lord to LOVE!  Not just those we want to, but to LOVE one another.  And to go even a step further, we are called to LOVE as Jesus loved!  To love those no one else is going to love!

Many years ago, I was standing in the queue at Heathrow International Airport for a flight to the US. There was a woman a few persons in front of me who had terrible psoriasis.  Her arms and legs were exposed, as she wore a short sleeved blouse and skirt.  Her hair was somewhat disheveled, and she could have used a shower.

People were attempting to avoid her and keeping their distance, afraid of somehow coming into contact with her.  Most of those around her were business men and women in their pin-striped suits.

This poor woman had several large suit cases and bags that she shuffled toward the ticket counter as the line moved slowly forward.  At last, she was next in line.  When the ticket agent said next, she attempted to push all her belongings to the far agent who beckoned her.

And then it happened.  A big burly man from the back of the queue stepped forward, wearing his rumpled suit, unshaven, and smoking a big, smelly cigar.  He reached down to the bags and said, “Let me help you, Ma’am” , and then immediately took her bags to the agent’s window.

The most unlikely person demonstrated the qualities of Christ, demonstrating compassion and love by helping one no one else wanted to be involved with.

So how does Christ love?  Jesus goes beyond the boundaries of what is expected.  And he is loving to those whom others do not expect us to love.

I want so much to be like Jesus.  Don’t you? As Saints on Safari, we are called to love as Jesus loves.

Lord, help me to see those who are lovable only to you, and then to love them as you love them.  Amen.

 

 

 

Gratitude is a Matter of Perspective

We picked up a real estate brochure today at the super market.  One of the featured homes was an entire floor of a high rise building on Singer Island, a little up the coast from us.  It was reduced from three million dollars to two-and-a-half million.  Four bedrooms, several baths, and a room for just about any purpose that residents could desire, and yet – The building offers guest suites for visitors, so that they do not have to intrude into the residents’ personal space.  I find that interesting.

Please know that I am not condemning those who choose to live this way.  God loves rich people, too.  I simply can not understand, or identify with, such a life, when there are so many in our world who are grateful simply for a blanket and a corner of the pavement where the wind does not blow.

 

Yet, it is easy to be self-righteous and complacent, believing that our minimalist style of living makes us better stewards of what God has given us to share.  The prophet Micah says it this way:  He has showed you what is good, and what the Lord requires of you.  Do justice.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly with God.  (6:8)

No matter how much we may have, or how little, gratitude, fairness, compassion, and a humble spirit are more beautiful than a fortune in the bank, or in the condominium.