Loving Acceptance and an Open Spirit is a Good Place to Start

A Majestic Redwood Tree

To borrow – and probably wholly misappropriate – a phrase from e.e. cummings (and I don't think he would mind), "…here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)" for the spirit to grow, one must be radically, fundamentally, and fully open.

First, we must be open to the truth that there are very few things which we actually, truly know. Second, we must be open to the possibility that the things that we think we know may simply not be true, at least not for everyone. Third, we must be open to the likelihood that there are many different good and positive ways to see and experience life and to live it. Finally, we must be open to the other who may see and experience and live their life quite differently than we do, and then be willing to lovingly accept them as the same child of the living God whom we believe ourselves to be.

One of the deepest wells of Christian scripture is found in the "Sermon on the Mount." Three brief chapters in one of the narratives known as the Gospels outline some of the most profound teachings of Rabbi Jesus. In one section the spiritual luminary, Jesus, talks about the issue of judgment.

Now, understand that in the "historical critical" method of biblical interpretation we do not presume that everything which has been attributed to Jesus was actually said by him; we do not presume that the historical references in scripture are necessarily accurate, at least historically speaking; we do not presume that when the scriptures suggest that God has told someone to do this or that, that God has actually told someone to do this or that. The “Progressive Christian” method of dealing with scripture is to try to sort out, from the volumes of material in the various books of the Bible, what the human beings who wrote the text – who were surely doing their very best to try to understand God from their vantage point at their moment in history – actually might have gotten right about God, Jesus, faith, and how we might live our lives well as the "spirit-beings" whom we are.

So, having said all that, the spiritually discerning reader of this section of the Sermon on the Mount will likely surmise that there is great spiritual value in this concept attributed to the great spiritual teacher, Jesus:

"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged"

In this section from the gospel of Matthew (chapter 7, verses 1 through 5) it is reported that Jesus goes on to say in essence… and just be aware that here I am going to take some rather “open-spirited” poetic license in my paraphrasing…

"in the same way that you're being judgmental of other people, in the end, you'll likely find the same kind of judgmentalism foisted upon you… so my dears (a wonderful phrase I learned from Mr. Rogers), spend the majority of your very limited time on the planet paying attention to working on the troublesome issues within your own heart and soul, and then try to do some real good for others; these are the things that you need to deal with, and stop being so blasted smug and self-assured about how good and wonderful you are; you have plenty of soul-work to do on yourself (yet, in spite of that God loves you with absolute, complete, and unconditional love – pay attention to that great truth first and foremost).  So, you should really take a permanent holiday from criticizing others with such vehemence and vengeance and vitriol, because that kind of behavior does great damage to your own soul."

The Eagle Nubula - stars forming in our galaxy...
and it is quit likely that the universe is expanding

The spirit of Jesus – like that of all of our great spiritual teachers whether they be from Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, or many, many other traditions – never narrows the journey down, but rather, always opens the journey up. The spiritual journey is about the breadth and depth of the capacities of the human heart – created in the image of God – to carry and convey that love, which is God, and about the height to which the spirit can soar and the width commensurate with the ever-expanding universe which the mind of faith seeks to traverse.

Therefore, the spiritual life cannot be marked by a ruthless littleness of spirit. Judgmentalism is one of the ways that we thwart the human soul, and close the heart and mind from experiencing the breadth of God's love as the goal for our own lives. In his book, Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges (an author and faith leader who comes out of the "Evangelical Tradition" of Christianity) addresses a dozen clusters of specific "acceptable" sins that we tend to tolerate in ourselves – such as jealousy, anger, pride, unthankfulness, and judgmentalism. In regard to the issue of judgmentalism he pens these thoughtful and helpful words:

"The sin of judgmentalism is one of the most subtle of our ‘respectable’ sins because it is often practiced under the guise of being zealous for what is right. It’s obvious that within our conservative evangelical circles there are myriads of opinions on everything from theology to conduct to lifestyle and politics. Not only are there multiple opinions but we usually assume our opinion is correct. That’s where our trouble with judgmentalism begins. We equate our opinions with truth." (p. 141)

Well... I have news for you Brother Bridges, this issue of folks hiding their judgmentalism behind the "guise of being zealous for what is right" is sadly just as often prevalent among the Liberal or Progressive Christian community.  Did I mention that jealousy, anger, pride, and unthankfulness also seem to abound with many who would identify themselves as Progressive Christians?  It seems that in this case, the Evangelicals simply don't have a corner on the market.

Therefore, each day as we rise from a night of slumber, however we begin our day – whether we are one of those people who jump out of bed and throw the curtains open with great exuberance to see and gleefully celebrate the new day dawning, or, one of those people who slowly and gently move from sleeping to waking, perhaps involving the need for calm quietness and possibly something warm with caffeine in it – it is imperative that if we seek to live the life of spiritual growth and renewal, we begin each day trusting in the idea that "loving acceptance and an open spirit is a good place to start." Regardless of those we encounter, whose lives may be steeped in some kind of destructive judgmentalism, our goal is to greet each living creature, created in the image of God, in the spirit of "Namaste'."

Not by Bread Alone… Yes, But Bread Still!

Gathering around meals - "food" - is a central act
of human community

Here is a haunting statistic reported at a meeting that I attended yesterday morning with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida: "…if Interstate 4 were lined with children suffering from hunger just from our Central Florida communities and they were standing ‘shoulder to shoulder’ and you began to drive at 55 miles per hour beside that line of children it would take you over 30 minutes of driving before you would come to the end of that line (shoulder to shoulder – I mean shoulders touching!)."  Add to that, people are being arrested for sharing their food with the hungry in downtown Orlando.  Add to that, in the midst of our recent recession more children than ever before in the history of the United States of America have fallen under the poverty line and many of them are going to bed hungry every night.  Add to that, we are still the richest nation in the world with its largest economy.

It is in the spirit of Jesus that the Christian community was founded nearly 2000 years ago.  Christianity in its most faithful form provides an opportunity for the spiritual development of individuals and communities around the principles of loving compassion lived out in ways that create communities and environments where every person is loved and valued.  Each human being, especially those who are most vulnerable, can find the opportunity for wholeness, hope, and healing if we are truly living out the Spirit of Jesus.

A scene from the "Spice Market"
Istanbul, Turkey

One report from the Christian Scriptures suggests that when Jesus was in a struggle with a dark force of destruction (the antiquated biblical ideology states that he was, "tempted by the devil") he was encouraged to use his power for self-serving interests (turning stones into bread).  His response was quite simple, "human beings do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."  Indeed, we do not live by bread alone, we also require spiritual nourishment.  People of faith, whatever their religious identity may be, believe that we are far more than simply a combination of chemicals organized by biological processes into soul-less creatures.  We are spirit at our very core, and those of us who travel the journey seeking to live a faithful life believe that the human spirit is connected and imbued with the divine.

Through the various religions and spiritual conceptualizations in the world we will characterize this relationship to the divine in many different ways.  We will see and understand the journey through various matrices.  We will organize ourselves and our communities defined by those various principles in a variety of ways.  But at the end of the day, the best of all of our traditions, religious concepts, and spiritual understandings, will be marked by a central and core belief that we are called to love and care for one another as we share this journey called life.  People of honest and sincere faith would likely agree it is not all about bread alone: nevertheless, everyone should have enough bread – enough food!  Our world is rich with resources, thank God, and the truth is there is enough for everyone.   Yet in our own community, in our nation, and in the “world which we all share” there are still people who go hungry every day.

A vendor at the water's edge of the
beautiful Bosphorus Straights

Of course, the word "bread" is also used in the common vernacular to mean “money.”  Now consider the words, "human beings do not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God."  It is perhaps true that what stands most often in the way of our ability to share what we have in meaningful and life-giving ways is our attempt, each of us, to amass more and to share less.  We have become too comfortable with the idea that greed is good.  We have allowed our pursuit of stuff, our petty amusement with the things we own, and our arrogance connected to the size of our bank accounts and our investment portfolios to guide our every waking decision.  In such an environment there is little hope for those who traverse the journey of life in the most meager of circumstances.

At the "Spice Market"

The Christian Scriptures contain warning after warning for the human race regarding the pursuit of our own wealth, comfort, and ease while we ignore, or worse still, demean and harm the most vulnerable and fragile among us.  Righteousness in biblical terms is not about a small minded set of moralisms; it is about creating a world within our own communities which provides – through loving compassion, generosity, and fairness – for the needs of each human being.

There is a beautiful scene in one of the sections of the Christian Scriptures: it suggests a setting of some sort of final, cosmic judgment.  I prefer to think of it in the context of each of us coming to the end of our own journey in life.  In my scene, as my life is beginning to fade (I hope that's a long time in the distant future, but really, who knows?)...

I see myself sitting, let's say on the beach near the water's edge, and beside me is my friend and teacher Jesus, and he says to me,  'I was just thinking about that time, when I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you went and got me a drink of water, I was sick and you stopped by to see me, I was in prison and you came to visit me, I was alone and afraid and uncertain about the future and you were honestly concerned about me, you did your best to help me.'  I look at the 'spiritual presence of Jesus' at that moment in complete confusion and say,  'honestly, I don't remember doing any of that for you.'  At that point, my teacher and friend says to me, 'oh, you misunderstood what I was saying, you see, because I am the divine reality of life I am present in every living creature, and every human being. Every time that you honestly did your best to show loving kindness and compassion toward another by your actions, I experienced that kindness, so in a very real sense all of those things, the only thing in life that really matters, you did those things to me.'

Now, I don't necessarily think that this fanciful conversation will actually happen as my life is coming to an end.  But if it did, well… I guess I would hope that my teacher and friend, the divine spirit of Jesus - which I continually seek to guide my life - might be able to offer such words.  In any event, I do believe that living a life of loving and just compassion is simply why we are here.

So, You Have Enemies?

As I prepare for a lunch meeting today with two of my best friends - an Islamic Imam and a Jewish Rabbi (we meet for lunch regularly), we also do "Interfaith Discussion" programs in the community, and we work together on a number of other important interfaith initiatives in Central Florida - I am reminded that each of our faith traditions have something to say about enemies. In each case the best of our traditions call not for the destruction of the enemy, but rather for means whereby we can find a way to co-exist. Here is one of the great truths for me:

Almost no one seeks to make someone an enemy,

but having enemies is too often a part of life. 

This may in fact be more true for those who hold positions of leadership and responsibility in the community. If you state an idea, or clearly indicate a direction that you believe should guide life or community, or if you challenge someone in a way that makes that person uncomfortable you may well find yourself with an enemy. It is likely an unintentional outcome of some interaction. So, I will state it again, almost no one seeks to make someone an enemy!

All the great sages of all the faith traditions in the past (and currently for that matter) understand that dealing with enemies from time to time is a part of life. As with other faith traditions Christianity, in the Spirit of Jesus, has some rather clear statements about dealing with enemies in as positive and life-giving a way as possible. Jesus is remembered as saying, for instance, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," and also, "...love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your God is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."  Even the early church leader, Paul, weighs in on this when he suggests, "feed your enemies."  Too lofty?

We may think so, but here's the thing: without this high calling we run the risk of living in the ongoing cycle of violence and vengeance which has too often come to define our society and world.  We need "lofty," and we need people who commit themselves to these high and noble ideals in very practical ways.  This is critical work for the spiritual mind and heart.  I think that it cannot be achieved solely through biological processes (yet, this is a discussion for another day: how biology is both affected by and part of the holistic connection of spirit/mind/body).  Part of the work of spirituality for each of us is to learn the way of peaceful co-existence with our enemies, the bullet points are these:

• Love your enemies and pray for them - it means prayers of support and kindness, I'm pretty sure.

• Help your enemies if they come to you or if you see they need help - with a heart of compassion - a bridge of new or renewed friendship just might be built on such a foundation, if not, do it anyway (without expecting to get anything in return).

• Show mercy to others and live in non-judgmental ways - refuse to put your spectator's chair on the sideline waiting for them to "mess up" so you can "get 'em" - there is nothing good or life-giving in such behavior.

In a world where ideological intransigence, smug self-righteousness, and 'destroy the other at all cost' attitudes are far too prevalent, we are in desperate need of those who seek the spiritual maturity to stretch their lives toward this understanding.  Lofty?  Indeed.  Hard?  You better believe it.  The only real hope for a broken and beleaguered human race and planet?  Absolutely!

Confession time: I am still far from living this vision out in my own life.  But it is my goal, everyday.  Join in the revolution of compassion and kindness.  May we each find our way in - as the Dalai Lama suggests as regards enemies - tolerance, patience, and forbearance.  It is only by this path that we become co-creators with the Great Spirit of Life of a world that is fit to live in.

The Rapture "Is" Coming

The spire of a Turkish Mosque

In my study at the Church there is a thick file.  It is entitled: "Second Coming Nonsense" and the labels have fallen off several times over the years because the glue on the backing finally disintegrates; I began the file nearly 25 years ago.  Early in my ministry I began to counsel with people who were concerned about reports of "The Rapture" coming soon.  Over the years, with each occurrence of someone "predicting" that the second coming of Jesus was imminent, I have clipped and filed the articles about these self-appointed "seers" and their divinations.

As of now the score is: “fortune-tellers” …zero – “no rapture theologians” …well, a lot!  The notion of the “rapture” as an idea in fundamentalist theology comes from – as with so much bad theology in the world today – some misunderstood passages of scripture read by people who call themselves “biblical literalists.”  Many of us in the Christian faith do not think this way, nor do we claim to be “literalists” when it comes to interpreting sacred texts of Jewish and Christian scripture.  A sharply marked difference in theological understanding, and the life of faith comes from these two diametrically opposed ways of treating the Bible; we might say that those of us who work from the “historical-critical” method of biblical interpretation take the Bible “seriously” not “literally.”

Many of us would argue, based on good biblical scholarship, sound human reason, and a simple adherence to basic scientific principles that there will NEVER be a rapture; at least not in any sense that the literalist crew has proposed.  While you’re getting out your dictionary to look up the word “heretic” let me suggest another way to think about this idea known as “rapture.”

Ancient Obelisk in Istanbul

The term means, “taken up.”  When fundamentalist literalist folk use it they mean that the “true Christians” (perhaps they are kin to “real Americans”) will be gathered up to Jesus, who comes in the clouds (scripture language) to take the believers ‘out of the world’ before the great tribulation begins – and, just to confuse the matter there are vast varieties of scenarios which include pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trib, etc. – there are so many things wrong with all of this it is hard to know where to begin.  So, I will simply say, from the perspective of many of us these ideas are fraught with terrible theology – that is to say, we simply don’t believe a loving God, more to the point a God who “Is Love” operates this way... ever... period.  So, if this isn’t the way to think about this notion of rapture, how might we consider this non-biblical term created out of bad theology.  Can we redeem it?  Perhaps… try this out…

"Rapture" is - from a certain perspective - coming to every living creature in this sense: eventually we will be – if not “taken up” – taken away from this plain of existence.  To every living creature there is, as the old Wisdom writer in Ecclesiastes suggests, “a time to be born, and a time to die.”  In between those two poles of existence we have this wonderful, God-given opportunity to live!  In that sense, we will all be “raptured” (die) one of these days.  With such awareness can come two possible responses: we could become fearful and move into attitudes and places within our own soul that do not bring forth or nurture life; or, we can become tuned in to the gift of life we have, each and every day, and use it to bring the love of God to the world around us.

A man in prayer at the Ulu Cami Mosque
Bursa, Turkey

The former leads to a sad and broken existence, the latter leads to a life filled with the possibility of hope and joy and most importantly, love.  My hope and prayer is that each of us might allow this notion of “rapture” (our eventual transition to whatever is next, beyond this current realm of our existence) to become the context for seizing all of the wonder, joy, grace, mystery, and majesty that is “life.”  So yes, for each one of us, in our individual lives, there is a rapture coming: so the question is, what will we do until then?  I pray you find peace and joy in your journey, and may your own rapture be far in the distant future.

(The pictures in today's post are from the artful photographic eye of Dave Krepcho, one of my fellow travelers on the recent trip to Turkey, with many thanks for his gift, and his willingness to share)

Spiritual Gifts

Women Praying at the Tomb of Ozman Gazi in Bursa, Turkey
Founder of the Ottoman Empire

Upon my return from Turkey, late Sunday evening, I began the process of unpacking.  I had brought a few small gifts for loved ones, and Mickey and my Dad were close at hand so that I could give them what I had brought for them.  I am a poor shopper; shopping is not one of my gifts.  I do enjoy having gifts to give to others - and I try to consider what they might like or enjoy - in my limited abilities, I simply do the best that I can.  We had taken gifts to Turkey to give to the families, they were from the Church - hand knitted "Prayer Shawls" from our Monday night Prayer Shawl ministry group - in a small gift giving ceremony with each family I read the poem that is affixed to each shawl, it speaks of wrapping the recipients in love and care.  These gifts were received with such joy and appreciation.

But here is a tradition that I did not expect: When you come to someone's home in Turkey, they give you a gift!  Imagine our surprise – we who had been so generously hosted – when, as we prepared to leave each home, gifts were given to us by our host families.  Already they had opened their homes, fed us like Sultans, treated us with love and kindness, these were gifts aplenty.  But then to also give us something to take with us... such kindness!  The idea of gift giving is an ancient - and I would suggest "a spiritual" - concept.  It comes from a prayerful (read spiritual) heart.

On the left the European Continent, on the Right the Asian Continent
The suspension bridge unites two continents

Last night I had the privilege of meeting with our Vacation Bible School teachers.  Each year they allow me to share a few thoughts along with the Reverend Talia Raymond and the Reverend Karen Duncan regarding the scriptures to be used to frame the theme of each day of VBS.  The daily themes this year are “Body, Mind, Spirit, Gifts, and Journey.”  Each is considered in the context of what it means to share in covenant community.  This is our highest calling, to see the world as our covenant community as we stretch our lives out from our smaller covenant communities whether they be family, faith community, or close friends to this small blue-green sphere we call our home.  We each have gifts to bring to the great enterprise of building a worldwide covenant community.  It is a spiritual work, and requires the discipline of love, even in the face of spirits of destruction and hate.  The Rabbi whom I try to follow teaches: “love your enemy, do good to those who persecute you.”  It is this spiritual discipline and gift that, like the bridges over the Bosphorus which unite two continents, can unite the human community in a covenant of love and compassion.  People who attempt to live life from a spiritual center are called to a different way of living in the world.  This Rabbi I mentioned also said, "The meek shall inherit the earth."

Entrance into the Dolmabahçe Palace - Istanbul, Turkey

This pathway, bringing our gifts of love and compassion to the world, is the only way that we help to create a world "fit to live in."  It is the pathway of life, the intention of God for all of creation.  We cannot control what the other will do, or how they will behave, we are called to live our lives - and our lives only - for the good of the other.  May each of us find the pathway into the palace of life; it is a palace not made with hands, but possessing gifts of eternal value: faith, hope, and love.  May God who IS LOVE, guide you on your journey.

YouTube Videos from Turkey are linked below:

Obelisk at Hippodrome, Istanbul

Sufi Dance - Worship, Bursa

Master Potter, near Sulcuk