Hope-filled Holiday

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anxious, Elizabeth, endure, Mary, Memorial Day, pandemic, persevere, re-connect, rejoice, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Zephaniah

Zephaniah, the ninth of the twelve minor prophets, is a rarely quoted text in the daily lectionary. Thus, it is a memorable moment when we read a message like the joyful one that is the first reading for today. Listen:

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem…Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your midst. He will rejoice with you with gladness and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully because of you…

It was significant today for me to read such an account of emotional experiences as I had just spent a heartfelt half-hour reading about families and other groups that have been spending this weekend re-connecting with loved ones. All across our country people are gathering in celebration of the incipient end of the pandemic. One after another, families and friends tell of the joy they have experienced upon spending time with one another. The stories are full of hugs, kisses, laughter and new stories from over the past year when such behaviors were not allowed. Love was the over-arching theme and the possibility of actually touching one another seemed almost miraculous. All of it gave credence to the second reading for this day from Paul’s letter to the Romans. We would do well to take his words to heart:

Brothers and sisters: Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality…

Above and beyond all that, there was the consummate example of love and hospitality—my favorite in the entire gospel (at least today…) where Mary “went in haste” to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary was a pregnant teenager seriously needing solace and she found it in Elizabeth (undoubtedly held tightly in her arms). How similar are some of today’s stories to Mary’s, how needy are we all of comfort after the past sixteen months!

May we find joy in the Lord as Zephaniah did, camaraderie as Paul and the early followers of Jesus did, and comfort at the possible end to the pandemic as Mary did in the person of her relative. And may we all remember on this Memorial Day to thank God for all the good that has been done for us.

Memorial Weekend

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bravery, C.S. Lewis, Lynn Bauman, Memorial Day, patriotism, surprised by joy, thankful, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

It’s not always easy to feel the joy that’s expressed in Psalm 47, the response in today’s lectionary readings. (“All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God with cries of gladness.”) Usually when we approach this weekend on the calendar there is a deep sense of celebration but, even in happier times, there is a tinge of sadness as we remember all the brave men and women who have given their lives to keep us safe, especially in wartime. This year it is even more complicated as we face this weekend from the midst of COVID 19, the most brutal and dangerous disease of our time, not limited to warring countries but spread across the entire world. There is a lot of fear of infection as well as frustration and anger toward people who seem to disregard warnings of how celebration can lead to infection.

In Lynn Bauman’s commentary on the psalm today I read a paragraph that got me thinking. He says the following:

There are times when, as C.S. Lewis said, we are “surprised by joy.” The psalmist may be caught in one of those moments of surprise when the knowledge of God overwhelms human consciousness and history is seen in the light of divine reality. Have you ever had such a glimpse where everything shifted and you saw the world and your circumstances in an entirely new, transcendent light?

While this may be a little off the mark, I can point to one such experience of a Memorial Day weekend a few years ago when I was watching the celebration from the White House on television. Usually well-done events, this was the first time I remember famous people – either celebrities or military leaders – taking the parts of “real-life soldiers” and recounting their experiences of war. The most touching moment was at the conclusion of each narration when the narrator moved out from the stage to the audience to embrace and thank the real life hero of the story they had just told (or the family if the hero was deceased). The overwhelming sense that arose in me was a mix of gratitude for their bravery and patriotism and a recognition of the strong bonds of camaraderie as they spoke of their comrades-in-arms with whom they had served. I actually felt a joy for the gift of life in the United States where daily we can see or read about diverse outpourings of what can only be named as love of country or fellow citizens. I think at this moment of the healthcare workers who are spending themselves to save lives of people whom they do not know but whom they serve nevertheless…and whom they celebrate as the lucky ones are wheeled from the hospital on their way home.

Tears are indications of sadness, pain or joy and this weekend is about all of those feelings. May we be thankful for the good and forgiving for what we find disturbing this weekend and may we always be grateful, respectful and caring for the life we have been given in this vast, complicated and beautiful country that is ours.

Doing Our Best for the Most

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freedom, Memorial Day, precautions, sacrifice, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Lately I often have to look at the date at the top of my phone screen to see the day and the date because nothing is routine right now. I also keep the calendar where I write and can see an entire month spread out before me. No surprises that way. It is my “safety net” and keeps me somewhat up to date.

Speaking of dates, however, it surprised me to realize that Memorial Day is this coming Monday at the end of this weekend, rather than the next! It seems so early and it is true that it is as early as it possibly can be since the next Monday begins June. (Not rocket science, you may say!) I wondered why there was so much distressful conversation about “social distancing” already in the lead-up to the holiday. Pictures of crowded beaches give me a sinking feeling and I wonder what the infection numbers will show next week and beyond…

I’m disappointed at the need of people to disregard the precautions that we must take to be safe, but our difficulty with the concept of such restriction and lack of freedom of choice is understandable for those of us privileged to live in the United States of America. We have been founded on the notion of freedom as essential to life in all manner of things. I feel the pull myself when I receive coupon in the mail for sales at my favorite store and realize it would put me at risk to go there. I miss meetings with my Wisdom Practice Circle (soon to be by Zoom) or my book study group (already by Zoom – but not quite the same). I’m getting used to the internet life that we are left with but will never be satisfied with virtual meetings over handshakes and hugs.

All of that having been said, I hope we can reflect on what Memorial Day is about and think of the sacrifices of all those who died to keep us safe. Might we not be able to find ways to live for the same reason?

The Whole Song

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America the Beautiful, brotherhood, God Bless America, heroes, liberating, Memorial Day, patriot, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Songs and pictures have a way of inspiring emotion and passion in ways that the spoken word often fails to do. I find this true especially of prayer as well as in patriotic lyrics and the faces of those who serve in branches of our military – especially on holidays like today. The sung prayer of Irving Berlin named God Bless America surely helped people hold hope through World War I and before that America the Beautiful reminded Americans of the great gift of the land and the country that is ours.

I’m a fan of going beyond the first verse of any song. I get frustrated when hymn singing is truncated, leaving praise or messages about correct behavior hanging, incomplete. I say that with regard to patriotic songs as well as Church hymns. For instance, the fourth verse of How Great Thou Art takes us all the way to heaven but leaving off at the end of verse three can be deflating at best. (Just my opinion, of course.)

On this particular holiday, the best example of my argument is the aforementioned America the Beautiful. The refrain that begins each time with “America, America” is only the same in verses one and four. Great prayers are put forth in verses two and three, graces that we need as much as “brotherhood” (or sisterhood!). As a matter of fact, the entire verses are worth repeating here…so read on and see if you don’t agree.

1. O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesties, above the fruited plain… America, America, God shed His grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.
2. O beautiful for Pilgrim feet, whose stern impassioned stress a throroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness…America, America, God mend thine every flaw. Confirm thy soul in self -control, thy liberty in law.
3. O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life…America, America, may God thy gold refine till all success be nobleness and every gain divine.
4. O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years, thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears…America, America, God shed His grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

Amen. God bless us all. Amen.

Memorial Day Weekend

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an instrument of praise, celebrate life, creation speaks, defend, Lynn Bauman, Memorial Day, praise, presence of God, psalm 67, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

We sit today in the middle of what is celebrated during this weekend as the beginning of the summer season (although the calendar announces that late in June). Memorial Day weekend sees us stretching back to remember those brave people who have defended our nation in times of war and who have served throughout our history in all manner of capacities to preserve our freedom. By extension, we celebrate life: family, friends, colleagues – with picnics, baseball games in parks, laughter and prayer for peace in gathered communities of faith. At this hour we live in hope of weather that supports our plans, but in reality that doesn’t matter much; it is our presence together that creates the success of the day.

Psalm 67, the lectionary offering for today, can be considered, writes one commentator, as an international hymn of praise. Lynn Bauman says that our task as contemporary creatures is not simply to pray for ourselves, or narrowly for those around us who are dear to us, but to give voice for the whole earth. This is what it means to become “an instrument of praise” through which the whole creation speaks. Imagine yourself as creation’s voice, as an instrument through which those without voice can enter with praise the presence of God. Ancient Songs Sung Anew, p.166)

May the blessings of this weekend be great and may our gratitude mend division so that true peace may find a home in our hearts!

Memorial Day

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friendship, Memorial Day, Peace, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, veterans, war, wounded warriors

Last night I watched the Memorial Day Celebration from the grounds of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. I thought it was just going to be a patriotic concert in honor of the Veterans of War. It was that, but much more.  I found it difficult – as I hope everyone does – to watch the scenes of battle flashed on the big screens behind speakers that were paying tribute, but this year I was taken in by the stories of relationships forged in the shared experiences of real people who fought in those wars. Actors took on the characters of those who had written of their experiences, inviting hearers into the harsh realities that remained so vivid to this day. At the conclusion of each narrative, the actor(s) left the stage to embrace the real-life heroes of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars who were present in the audience. There was a new emphasis as well on the women who have served our country from the early days to the present, stories of women who were not allowed to serve in combat so they found other ways by volunteering in various roles. Their stories spoke of valiant perseverance and love of country and were precursor to the experience of the first woman Silver Star recipient – in the audience with her parents- who had served and saved her comrades in the war in Afghanistan.

In addition to the proud and prayerful singing of God Bless America, there were many touching songs not usually heard in such a gathering, notably: He Ain’t Heavy; He’s My Brother, that culminated the story of life-long friendship of the two WW II prisoners of war. I thought then of my own father who never spoke of the battles but only of the comrades with whom he shared a depth of experience that can only truly be understood by those who were there. But the window that was opened by the the stories called for gratitude and compassion from those of us who have only experienced war by association.

Today, then, I pray for all veterans, especially those “Wounded Warriors” suffering from the physical or psychological effects of their service. May we all honor their service and pray for a day when war is eradicated from the world leaving peace to reign on earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advice for Weekend Festivities

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family, groups, guard, Memorial Day, mouth, psalm 141, summer, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, watch

I smiled as I read the psalm response in today’s lectionary readings. I thought it a good thing to remember on this weekend when many families and other groups gather from near and far to celebrate the unofficial start of summer – although the actual date is still nearly a month away. Here’s the line that stood out as good advice if the conversation gets at all contentious.

O Lord, set a watch before my mouth, a guard at the door of my lips. (PS 141:3)

Who Are You Carrying?

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America, Carry the Load, flags, freedom, Memorial Day, serving our country, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Last night on the NBC Evening News there was a clip about an organization and month-long event called Carry the Load. It was initiated by a retired Navy Seal whose purpose is to remember those who have served our country in the military or as first responders in emergencies. This year over 15,000 people participated in some way in a trek that covered 2,000 miles over 27 days. When asked “Who are you carrying?” (rather than “Why are you doing this?”) each of these diverse people told of a family member or group of which they were a part during a conflict somewhere in the world. Most jarring for me was the young man who said he was carrying his grandfather who had served in Vietnam. It reminded me that my contemporaries have over 40 years of memory of that dark time in our history. For some who survived, the load is still heavy. For those whose loved ones never came home, it is the same.

Many of us will have picnics or other gatherings today which will rekindle the bonds of family or friendship. We will welcome the summer season (although in the midst of disastrous weather in some parts of the country) and hope for some “slower” time in the next few months. We will see American flags and feel the gratitude that comes from living in a land of freedom. I will think of my father who served in North Africa and Sicily during World War II and told only stories of camaraderie – never of the war itself and who was proud to have served his country. It is my privilege to carry him (not a heavy load) and many others, remembering the stated purpose of this day and praying for a time when peace will be achieved everywhere in the world.

Who are you carrying today?