22 Saturday Jun 2019
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Corinthians, goodness, grace, Matthew, psalm 34, taste, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, worry
As I read the lectionary texts for today, I thought that the following lines – one from each reading although not in sequential order – created a fine message for a Saturday. Or any day.
1. My grace is sufficient for you. (2 COR)
2. Do not worry about your life. (MT 6)
3. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
(PS 34)
27 Friday Jan 2017
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engagement, Hebrews, internal shift, Mark, realization, Reign of God, response, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, worry
Some time ago, I came somehow to a deep conviction that worry is a waste of time. I say “somehow” because the realization came without effort from me. It was as if I had awakened from dreaming about someone and the person was standing in front of me. I hadn’t called or texted the person with an invitation. I hadn’t sent a plane ticket or a check for travel. The person had just appeared in the flesh, totally touchable and present. I have often tried not to worry about things: getting good grades, arriving to events on time, being well enough prepared for presentations, and the self-talk usually assuaged the nervousness somewhat at least. In the big issues: personal relationships and world poverty – not so much.
The moment of realization was like one of those lamps that lights up without a switch; it just has to be touched for the light to illumine the darkness. It’s not that I am not aware of things to be concerned about. I might say that I am even more engaged than before but my engagement is different now. I recognize what is before me (or happening in the larger world), I assess what my response needs to be and then I act accordingly. Don’t get me wrong; I am not inured to violence or terrible tragedy. I simply have a better grasp on what I can do about things and go about doing that, leaving the rest to God. It has truly been a gift in my life – the foundation of which is probably my practice of centering prayer.
I am grateful for this internal shift which is verified in the lectionary readings for today. The Letter to the Hebrews (10: 32-39) is reminding readers of times of suffering when they had endured and urges them not to “throw away your confidence” but rather to continue on and ultimately to receive what God has promised. In the gospel (MK 4), Jesus makes the comparison of the Reign of God to a farmer who scatters seed, sleeps and rises night and day, watching the seed sprout “he knows not how.” Of its own accord the land yields fruit. As is often the case for me, the psalm speaks the loudest message of how we are to work without forcing a result.
Put all your trust in God, on earth accomplish good; it will provide for you its richest food. Make God, as Lord and master, your delight and the desires of your whole heart God will fulfill. Give up your life to God and for the good of all, commit it to the One who acts for you, for God can take and make it shine with light, and bring you back to right-relationship in full. Grow still, be quiet, and wait patiently within, and in that silence put your trust in God…(PS 37: 3-7) Ancient Songs Sung Anew
18 Saturday Jun 2016
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I have wasted a lot of energy in my life worrying about outcomes: what might or might not happen in certain situations or because of certain events. I use the verb “wasted” rather than “spent” because of finally coming to the “right answer” to the question of Jesus in today’s gospel. (MT 6:24-34) He asks, “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life span?” The answer is unequivocally “No.” All we have is the present moment. Jesus expands on the issue of worrying to anything in life (what to eat or wear…) and the answer is the same: it doesn’t help! All it gets us is headaches or emotional distress. The advice of Jesus is that we seek first God’s kingdom and spend some time observing creation – the way the world works, the cycles of the seasons – and (although he doesn’t say this we might intuit it) give up our need to control everything about our lives. Surrendering to “the now” isn’t easy but in the long run, when we learn to do it, it is much less stressful than the alternatives.
That certainly sounds simplistic when we consider the sad state of things in much of the world. I’m not suggesting that we give up trying to better our situation or that of others. I’m only recommending that we let go of outcome: do our best and let God be in control. It takes a lot of practice and probably won’t be totally achieved by some of us until our last breath but open hands can receive more than tight fists any day so today I say to myself and anyone who will hear: Let’s open up and get in the game!
20 Saturday Jun 2015
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birdsong, complex consciousness, complicated lives, dawn, flowers, give thanks, Jesus, Kahlil Gibran, Matthew, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust, winged heart, worry
When I woke at 4:35 this morning – much too early to greet the day – the birds were singing so loud I doubted that I would be able to go back to sleep. Fortunately, I did drift off and woke again just before six o’clock. When I did there was absolute silence, a deep breath, perhaps, for the birds – just a pause that brought to my mind and heart a favorite line from Kahlil Gibran: To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. (The Prophet) The silence didn’t last long; the birds are at it again, singing for all they’re worth. In my waking state, I realize their connection to Gibran’s words and consider how willing the birds are just to be themselves. I know all the arguments about how much our lives are complicated by our complex consciousness but sometimes I wish it were simpler to respond to life as the birds do. Jesus talks about that in today’s gospel – and about flowers as well, calling us to recognize how special they and we all are just because we are, rather than for what we can do or achieve. (MT 6:24-34) We needn’t worry about anything but rather trust that we are always held in God’s love. And that was worth waking up for this morning!
21 Tuesday Oct 2014
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One of my morning rituals as I drink my first cup of coffee is to check obituaries in the newspaper where I live. Having lived and ministered in the same area for 43 years, this practice has become a way to remember and pray for families that I have encountered during different periods in my life. I am constantly more conscious of the diversity of ages of people who have died – from the very old to the very young – as well as the manner in which they passed, whether quickly or after a long period of suffering.
In today’s gospel selection (LK 12:35-38) Luke recounts the parable of the servants who are waiting for their master to come back from a wedding feast. He cautions them to be ready no matter what time he comes. For me, this parable highlights the necessity of finding a balance between vigilance and peace in life. I need to be ready at any time to let go of this life (which has been very good to me!), knowing that I have done my best to love God, others and myself each day. At the same time, I need to be calm about what I feel is as yet unfinished and not worry about what death will be like when it comes. This is not always an easy task but waking up every day choosing to walk forward into whatever awaits is a willingness practice that I find reassuring. Trusting that God and I are on the same wavelength keeps me putting one foot in front of the other – moving as I’m able, always toward the light.
21 Saturday Jun 2014
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The birds were up very early this morning and they were in good voice, waking me long before my alarm had a chance. Although it’s now officially summer we have been enjoying birdsong and lovely flowers for quite awhile. I am always amazed that no matter how diligent or dismissive I am, flowers thrive and bring joy with colorful beauty to the world. It’s a perfect time to hear Jesus say, “Consider the lilies of the field…the birds of the air…Will God not much more provide for you? So do not worry…” (MT 6:24-34). I always knew I wasn’t supposed to worry but recently, blessedly, the truth of that concept dug deep into my spirit and now I understand at some elemental level the truth of how useless worry really is. Worry about what may or may not happen is a waste of energy because when whatever it is does not happen we are just left depleted for no reason. Is it not better to trust God and do our part to forestall a potential situation so that we still have all our energy if it does, in fact, happen? Easily said, of course. What if, each time we recognized worry rising up inside, we visualized God holding out large, capable, willing hands to us inviting us to hand over the worry. Perhaps after awhile, if we did hand it over, this practice would sink down into our souls and allow the trust necessary to face situations with confidence, hearing clearly the conclusion of this text as Jesus says, “Your heavenly Father knows what you need. Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness…Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself…”
02 Sunday Mar 2014
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The gospel for today (Mt 6: 24-34) speaks of what I find most reasonable yet hard to achieve in life: not worrying. When anxiety creeps into our thoughts, a common experience for some of us, we can tell ourselves not to worry. Others can also tell us not to worry. Couched among lovely images about birds and flowers as well as human needs of clothing and food, Jesus asks the ultimate question: Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? His other questions sound as if he’s saying, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Sometimes we might be thinking of cataclysmic events that are possible so our answers might seem worth the worry. If we think of it, however, he’s right. Worry can never change outcome. Awareness might, careful planning could, right action will in some cases – but worry? Never.
Coming to grips with the ineffectiveness of worry is not just a one-time decision but I encourage reflection on the possibilities of its realization. At some moment in the recent past, after years of trying to be calm in the face of occasional events and situations that held the possibility of overwhelming me, I was finally given the grace of “surrender to what is” which somehow allowed me to let go of anxiety and do the best I can. I finally got the point that Jesus is trying to make here and, I can say honestly, that realization was worth the wait! It changes nothing that I cannot change but it changes me in the face of it all.
The Sophia Center for Spirituality 