BOMBAS

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dignity, gratitude, prayers of gratitude, remember, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, Veterans Day

I was just looking at a new website – new to me, I mean. It’s called Bombas. Maybe you’ve heard of them. They make socks and for each pair they sell, they give one pair to a homeless person. They say that the one item of clothing most needed by poor or homeless people is socks. At the moment their website says that they have given away 40,000 pairs of socks! (You see why I say it’s not new. I think they have been in existence for about five years, but still, that’s a lot of socks!)

Today I saw a new face of Bombas. It concerned their care for military veterans. I’m amazed at their organization and happy that I found it on the internet in a new way on this Veterans’ Day holiday. The Executive Director of Bombas, Marguerite Bachand, announced today Operation Dignity, a program serving at-risk veterans in their 20s, their 70s and every age between, providing them and their families with emergency, transitional and permanent housing as well as comprehensive outreach and support services, under the title, Operation Dignity. (You can find it on the internet.) Today is a great day to remember the service of our military men and women. If you are so inclined and able, why not give socks for Christmas this year? (…even order them today from Bombas!).

Perhaps the greatest gratitude you can give is through your prayer. Please join me throughout today – and beyond – in offering a bow of gratitude in the prayers we say for all those we know and those unknown to us who have given service to our country and the world. God’s blessing on our Veterans!

“Come Back to Me”

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Gregory Norbert, Hosea, loving presence, remember, return, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

The Book of the Prophet Hosea is replete with messages of love and forgiveness. God sometimes seems more human there than in any other place with regard to the “chosen people,” Israel. In today’s lectionary reading from the Hebrew Scriptures (HOS 11: 1-4, 8-9), we hear Hosea speaking for God saying, “When Israel was a child I loved him…It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms…” but then, disappointed, God laments, “Yet though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer…My heart is overwhelmed; my pity is stirred…” Like a disappointed parent, God is challenged by feelings of anger toward the ones on whom he has lavished so much love and care. But like those parents who love their offspring unconditionally, God remembers who he is: “I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you…” and, like a loving parent, God repents.

My heart is always stirred when I hear the song “Hosea” by Gregory Norbert that speaks of this relationship from God’s perspective. That we have a God so desirous of us, so willing to forgive in any situation, is enough for me to know. It reminds me that God is never absent but rather with me in every moment if I will just wake up to that loving presence that ignites my willingness to live my best possible life. It is in God, as St. Paul says, that we “live and move and have our being.” All we need to do is remember and return.

Remember

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, full potential, growth, Lynn Bauman, Psalm 105, remember, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, unforgetfulness

Psalm 105 is somewhat like a history lesson with the psalmist reminding the people of all the good things God has done to keep a covenantal relationship with them. The call to “remember” is like a bell or a shout that calls the people back in song to each event.

It seems that perhaps we are at such a challenging moment in our history right now and we would do well to remember what good things God has done for us. Sometimes it is the challenge that calls us to our greatest strength. I found that kind of challenge in the face of universal distress in Lynn Bauman’s commentary this morning. He says the following:

To be in an inner state of “unforgetfulness” (or unforgetting) is considered crucial to spiritual attainment and growth. Forgetfulness has dire consequences. It does not allow for the full potential of a human being. A crucial aspect of the practice of remembrance is the invocation of God’s sacred name. To speak God’s name is to remember not only who God is, but who we are in relationship to God. Practice this form of remembrance by choosing one of the divine names and repeat or chant it with inner attention. (e.g. “Holy One, O Holy One”) Live through a day seeking to stay in an inner state of remembering the presence of God. (Ancient Songs Sung Anew, p.268)

Remember

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Abraham, Ancient Songs Sung Anew, God, God is still speaking, Psalm 105, remember, Sarah, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, wisdom

This morning we are called by Psalm 105 to remember our heritage as “children of the Blessed One” as we stand in gratitude for those who have come before us, all the way back to Abraham and Sarah. Verse 5 from the Ancient Songs Sung Anew translation is especially evocative, saying:

Remember, remember everything you can recall, remember every work and wonder, remember every word God speaks to you in wisdom…

There is a large rainbow banner hung high above the door of the Church that houses the office of the Sophia Center proclaiming in large, bold letters that God is still speaking. Are you able to dig deep and be silent enough to hear the messages of wisdom and truth being spoken in your heart this very day?

Remember…

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Abraham, Ancient Songs Sung Anew, God's faithfulness, Psalm 105, remember, salvation history, thanks, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Psalm 105 presents us today with a review of what we sometimes call “salvation history,” going back to Abraham and reminding us of all the great figures and stories of the ancient Hebrew people. What was most meaningful to me, however, as I read was the sense of connection – present to past – and the continuity of God’s actions in the life of the world, God’s faithfulness throughout all time, and even until now. It was the introductory verses that gave this sense of gratitude to me. Listen…

O God, we rise in thanks to call upon your name; we rise to spread the tidings of your deeds. We rise to sing you songs of praise, recounting every work and word in music’s voice. We rise to sing in honor of your holy name; let every seeker’s heart rejoice and search for you with all their strength until they stand before the beauty of your face, remembering.

Remember, remember everything you can recall; remember every work and wonder, remember every word God speaks to you in wisdom. Remember too that you are children of the Blessed One… (Ancient Songs sung Anew, p. 265)

Deeper into Stillness

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ears, eyes, hear, heart, John Philip Newell, light, listen, Praying With the Earth, presence, recognition, remember, Romans, silence, St. Paul, stillness, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Everything is so still this morning. It reminds me of the line in Paul’s Letter to the Romans where he says that “all creation is on tiptoe, waiting for the children of God to come into their own.” That image is my favorite translation because it is so visual but also because it implies for me an intense use of both ears and eyes. We won’t see it if we have our eyes closed and we won’t hear it if we’re not really listening. Even if all of our five outer senses are engaged, there needs to be an interior readiness for the in-breaking of God’s presence. I’ve come to the conclusion that it is an incremental thing, sparked either by our own silence or by a communal encounter of recognition. Deeper than silence, the stillness becomes palpable and we know something that we didn’t know before – indescribable but deeply true. Again it is John Philip Newell whose prayer suffices for this morning.

It is when we are still that we know. It is when we listen that we hear. It is when we remember that we see your light, O God. From your Stillness we come. With your Sound all life quivers with being. From You the light of this moment shines. Grant us to remember You at the heart of each moment. Grant us to remember. (Praying with the Earth, p. 44)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Remembering

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dreaming, dreams, eyes, heart, holy name, Psalm 105, remember, rise, seekers, sing, songs of praise, St. Patrick's Breastplate, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, tidings, voice, wisdom, wonder

Most nights I wake up knowing that I have been dreaming but without any sense of the content of the dreams. This morning as I read an alternate translation of the psalm for today, several quick dream images jumped into view. They seem unconnected and inscrutable but I wonder if they were brought forth by the call of the psalm which is a lovely way to begin the morning. Listen:

O God, we rise in thanks to call upon your name; we rise to spread the tidings of your deeds. We rise to sing you songs of praise recounting every work and word in music’s voice; we rise to sing in honor of your holy name. Let every seeker’s heart rejoice and search for you with all their strength until they stand before the beauty of your face, remembering. Remember, remember everything you can recall, remember every work and wonder, remember every word God speaks to you in wisdom…(Ps. 105: 1-5)

I am fairly certain I’ve used those words before. This morning it has the feeling of the famous prayer of St. Patrick’s Breastplate, first calling to God and then to ourselves, urging remembrance. No matter, I suppose, if it is a repetition since new eyes will see it today, just as I see it with new eyes and feel the call more deeply in my heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Conversation

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acknowledge, conversation, curious, deeper level, family, gather, Margaret Wheatley, messy, recognize, remember, slow down, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, travel, Turning To One Another

I’ve been thinking lately, because of recent experiences in a number of situations, of the value of good conversation for deepening understanding and recognition of how similar we are, even in all our diversity. It wasn’t a surprise, therefore, when my copy of Turning To One Another, a book by Margaret Wheatley that I’ve had for years, showed up when I wasn’t looking. The book is subtitled “simple conversations to restore hope to the world.” This morning I read what might be a good reflection for those of us who are preparing to travel – near or far – during this Independence Day holiday time. Here’s some of what she said:

I first fell in love with the practice of conversation when I experienced for myself the sense of unity, of communion, that is available in this process…Although we each benefit individually from good conversation, we also discover that we were never as separated as we thought. Good conversation connects us at a deeper level. As we share our different human experiences, we rediscover a sense of unity. We remember we are part of a greater whole. And as an added joy, we also discover our collective wisdom. We suddenly see how wise we can be together. For conversation to take us into this deeper realm, I believe we have to practice several new behaviors. Here are the principles I’ve learned to emphasize before we begin a formal conversation process:

1. we acknowledge one another as equals
2. we try to stay curious about each other
3. we recognize that we need each other’s help to become better listeners
4. we slow down so that we have time to think and reflect
5. we remember that conversation is the natural way humans think together
6. we expect it to be messy at times.

If you have the opportunity to gather with others this weekend, especially with friends and loved ones that you don’t often see, (or even if you stay at home) I hope that you will remember the adage that “what is seldom is wonderful” and take counsel from Meg Wheatley in your time together. Safe travels, everyone.

 

Things Visible and Invisible

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awareness, consciousness, John, Mary Magdalene, ministry, Peter, possibility, remember, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, thin places

I  was just watching the steam rise and dance around the rim of my coffee cup. That means my coffee is hot and my bedroom is cold. A bird just flew past outside my window with nothing to hold it up but the air and reminds me of the marvel of airplane travel. This morning’s gospel (JN 6:16-21) has the disciples in a boat – a familiar theme – and says that “the sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.” Occasionally it seems that those fishermen who could probably read the weather well in most cases were surprised by sudden winds – not unlike the tornadoes that have devastated whole towns in our country recently. All of these meandering thoughts remind me that there’s more to life than meets the eye and sometimes we’re called to believe in what we are unable to see or understand.

Next weekend I’m leading a 24-hour retreat based on four of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus so I’m wondering what it must’ve been like for Mary Magdalene in the garden, the disciples in the Upper Room, the two travelers on the road to Emmaus and Peter and friends on the beach where Jesus fixed them breakfast. Jesus appears in substantial ways (“in the flesh”) but walks through walls or disappears when recognized, so he is obviously different while seeming the same. (Thomas could certainly attest to this fact.) What are we to make of these stories? Is the point to reassure those he visits that all is well? If so, his messages to Mary Magdalene (“Don’t cling to me!”) and Peter (“When you’re old, you’ll be led down ways you would rather not go…”) were certainly lacking in encouragement. It does seem rather that Christ is trying to tell those left behind that now the ministry is theirs. He has done what he came to do and now they must carry on. They have everything they need – all that he taught them and the example that he gave. The work will be to remember the lessons and to look for him in places outside of the norm – the “thin places,” the Celts would say. Listening for him in the wind and catching his look in the faces of those to whom we serve breakfast in a homeless shelter, hearing his voice in the garden we are weeding or on our morning walk…these are the moments of encounter that cannot be predicted.

So today is a new beginning. The steam is gone as I take the last gulp of my coffee but I remember the way it swirled around the rim calling me to consciousness and possibility in this day. Being alive and trusting that Christ lives in me as my deepest self is enough for me. What about you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering

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covenant, generations, God, honor, partners, Psalm 105, rejoice, remember, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

This morning I found in an alternate translation of Psalm 105:3-9 a striking translation of the psalmist’s call for us to remember all that is contained in the covenant that God made and keeps with all generations. I repeat it here as a reflection for today.

We rise to sing in honor of your holy name. Let every seeker’s heart rejoice and search for you with all their strength until they stand before the beauty of your face, remembering. Remember, remember everything you can recall, remember every work and wonder, remember every word God speaks to you in wisdom. Remember too that you are children of the Blessed One; your heritage goes back to Abraham and Sarah. Remember that you are servants of the Lord and chosen ones like Jacob by your God, who is the Mighty One and Master over all, whose will prevails and works succeed forever. Remember that you are partners to a covenant, a promise made and kept for many generations.