I have been sitting in my office as a new playground is being built under my window. The large oak tree I have written about before will now provide shade for the children as they play.It is a beautiful sight…sturdy brown and green metal and heavy plastic with objects that spin, spots to slide, lots of places to climb, hide and rest. There is a tick-tack-toe board built within and a little ‘general store’ for quieter play. I look forward soon to hearing the sounds of children playing beneath my window.

What I heard today was not the sound of children playing but of whistling. One of the workers, digging or pouring cement, began whistling….."Oh, Susannah, Oh don’t you cry for me….for I come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee." I laughed out loud at my desk. It seemed an odd choice…if it was a choice…of songs. Perhaps the tune just floated into his consciousness and he let breath and puckered lips do the rest.

I am imagining that it is a joyful job to install playgrounds. To know that your work will bring joy, laughter, fun to all sorts of children. The playground’s placement under the perhaps 100 year old oak tree reminded me of the Shel Silverstein children’s book The Giving Tree. Do you remember it?

The story involves a young boy and a tree who love one another. The small boy finds shade, rest and fun climbing the branches of the tree.The tree stands watch as the boy becomes a teenager and pays less attention to it but the tree stands firm and watchful over the boy. As the young boy grows into a man he wants material things and asks the tree for money. The tree offer its apples for the young man to sell. Then the man wants to build a house and the tree offers its branches. Next the grown man wants to travel far away to see the world and the tree offers its trunk so the man can build a boat and sail away.

What remained of the tree, stood faithful and firm until the old man returns. The tree has given so much of itself but offers the old man what it has left……. its old stump to rest his weary body. It is a wonderful story of the cycles of life…….of sacrifice…..of faithfulness…..of love.

As our children play on this new playground, may the mighty oak watch them grow and thrive. And may we offer what they need……a place to question,play,doubt,test,contribute,offer their gifts,…..a place to be truly known and valued……a place of sacrifice, faithfulness, and love.

"We are made in God’s image. We find fulfillment in Community, not in isolation."

I’ve been thinking about community this morning. Yesterday as we gathered for worship in the backyard of our parsonage, I was struck with the fullness of community to which I belong. There were all those people I have known for years, those I had just met-‘visitors’, there were those younger than myself, those older, teenagers laying on blankets, babies and small children happy to sit on the grass and feel the freedom of a summer breeze. But yesterday morning our community was even fuller. We worshiped under the shade of the crab apple trees I mentioned earlier this spring, hostas danced all around us and the large Dutch Elms stood full of strength to the east and north of our gathering………adorned with large orange circles. We will lose them soon and we will be less for it.

Community………in a culture that so values individuality it is easy to continue to send ourselves messages that "I can do this alone" or " I have to make this happen" or " I , I,  I". You get the picture. But yesterday as I was privileged to stand in a circle of people that blessed those who were celebrating 25 & 37 years of marriage, I knew community is where I know God. As we blessed the courageous one celebrating three years and two days of sobriety, I knew that it was in this healing circle where the Holy shows up. As one of our young men stood proud and tall and told of his new job which will take him away from us, I knew that the circle moves and reshapes so we become the arms of the Divine holding him and others as they move out into the world. As the children, full of excitement for summer, celebrated last days of school, I knew that to be a part of a community that reflects the fullness of life’s joys and sorrows is what it means to be the Body of Christ.

From what we know of Jesus, he was about the work of creating community…..where ever he went crowds gathered, people ate and prayed, people were healed, people went out and told their friends, and they told theirs, and others were welcomed into the circle. In this living of community we become the ‘incarnation’ (God-with-us) of the Holy in our time.

Where do you find community? Where do you find God? May your circle be wide and full, holding you in the embrace of the Beloved One.

Yesterday was the last day of school in our district. As I sat having my morning coffee, I watched, as I have most mornings this year, the kindergartner that lives across the street get onto the bus for the last day of school. Next year he will be in first grade…..very different from kindergarten….as any six year old will tell you. As any parent will tell you. I have watched him grow over this year from tentative to bold as he  crossed in front of the bus, climbing on now to sit with friends he didn’t know nine months ago.

All over the cities, all across this country, high school seniors are graduating, celebrating twelve years of education, friendships, hardships, goals accomplished and others missed. Still others I know are graduating from college, their lives seeming to narrow-in a positive way- into a more defined pattern and understanding of who they are, what they will do, how they will evolve, what life is asking of them, what they are willing to contribute, sacrifice.

This cycle, I believe, does not stop with those ‘commencements’. Each day is an opportunity to step onto the bus for the first time, to move your mortarboard tassel from right to left, to dream once again of the answer to the question ‘now what?’ This cycle is not confined in the years we have walked the Earth….it is the gift that comes with the rising of each new day and our commitment to our own unfolding at whatever age we find ourselves.

It is written in The Talmud: "Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, "Grow, grow." Whether that blade is newly sprung from the seed, has been tromped on countless times, or has withstood the winds of time, the urging is still the same.

As people of faith, we are called daily to bring the message of hope,abundant living and growing into the world….to those who need to hear, for those who long to hear, for those who have never heard. Every day is a Commencement……………now what?

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."  John 10:10

Blessings on your weekend…………..

I had the privilege of spending some time in New York City this week. I always enjoy the energy and excitement of this amazing city. Monday was a particularly rainy day and people were scurrying around, both tourist,workers and residents searching for a place to stay dry. At one point we chose St. Patrick’s Cathedral, shaking our soaked umbrellas out and slipping inside for well….sanctuary from the storm. The humidity hung in the air, a maintenace worker was busy inside the doors carrying out the futile and thankless job of mopping the wet floor. We stood still for a moment and were bathed in the beauty and the comfort of the stone, stained glass, the sounds of many languages being whispered.  An organist practiced, people prayed quietly in pews, a few others slept with their worldly belongings beside them on the floor.

I began to make my way around the outer wings of the church looking at the various statues that surrounded the main sanctuary. St. Jude, St. Andrew, St. Brigid(a favorite of mine) and of course, St. Patrick. Candles glowed, tokens of flowers, pictures, pieces of paper had been left by the faithful. But my eyes fell upon this sign above a small wooden box affixed to the wall: Alive & Well Offering: One Dollar.

I looked around for an explanation but saw none. Alive & Well Offering…….perhaps it is the place to give thanks for answered prayer. Alive & Well Offering…….perhaps it is simply the box where offerings are made because, at this point in someone’s life, they just realize they are…alive and well, that is.

There are very few, if any, ‘charmed’ lives. We all have tragedy, sorrow, loss, grief, disappointment, at some point in our lives. Sometimes it seems as if these negatives are all that exist. If we look around our world, we see countless human beings who may have only known the difficult way, the way of hopelessness, despair.  May our prayers surround them.

Today, I am alive and well…….how about you? I pray it is so for you as well. Alive & Well Offering? One dollar? Seems like quite a deal!

"If the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘Thank You’, that would suffice."
                                                                                            Meister Eckhart, 13th Christian mystic

One of the first phrases we teach children is thank you. Almost immediately after ‘Mamma’ and ‘Daddy’ and ‘Bye-Bye’, comes ‘thank you.’ There is a certain sweet simplicity to hear a small child, just learning to speak, utter the words that sometimes only a parent can understand…something that sounds like ‘thank you’. While being given a toy, a Cherrio or cracker, to hear the infant’s emerging voice say those words brings pleasure and delight to all around.

Thank you. Simple words, really. We say them all the time….to the person who bags our groceries,  the gentleperson who holds a door as we struggle with things in our hands, our child who passes the milk in the morning, the neighbor who shares some newly picked spring flowers. Thank you. Polite words we learned at a very early age.

But thank you as prayer goes deeper. Thank you as prayer connects us with the on-going love and care of our Creator. Thank you for my life…for my living…for the beauty that surrounds me, for those that stand with me, for the food that is a gift of your earth, for the air, the Sun, the Moon, the water, oh….so many things for which to utter the words "thank you."

What is the place of your gratitude today? What gift has appeared in your life that has surprised you and filled you with wonder? How has the Holy One shown up and taken your breath away today?

The syllables are few, the intention deep. Let us pray.

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it."  Hebrews 13:2

Sometimes as I am trying to fall asleep at night, I will think back over the day and recall all the things I have done, all the people I have encountered. Of course, age being what it is, this gets more difficult each year.However, some days certain people I have encountered remain clear in my memory.

A few weeks ago a young man came into the church and asked to speak to a minister. I met him in the front lobby and I proceeded to listen to his story, some of it rambling,much of it unclear and jumbled. It was clear he needed something, I was unsure what. He was troubled, hurting, questioning. I was not as articulate as I would have liked. I did not in any way feel helpful.I felt as if I had failed him. He left the building and I was unsure what had actually happened during our conversation. The meeting haunted me for days.

I was reminded of a few lines of a poem by Rumi….. " Be grateful for whoever comes, Because each has been sent, As a guide from beyond."…..  We come into contact with countless people during each day. Some we know. Some we love. Some annoy us. Others confound us. Some bear gifts. Others bring trouble. So many people…….on and on.

Rumi seems to be saying that each, if well received,bring guidance for our journey. Like the apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews, Rumi invites us to be open to the arrival of the stranger, the unexpected ones in our midst.  Strangers, those who just show up for a talk, seeking answers to their deepest questions, can be angels…..messengers of God. Strangers well received can help us to see the Holy in the movement of our daily life…….and the Holy within.. 

I wonder what happened to that young man. I pray he is well and safe. I am grateful for his visitation.

While reading an article by Barbara Brown Taylor recently, I realized she and I have at least one thing in common."I spend a lot of time with the followers of Jesus. Some exercise their ministries as clergy while others do the trickier work of ministering while they do business, take depositions, teach school or care for grandchildren. They come from a wide variety of churches. Many serve as leaders in their congregations. Others have left institutions that no longer engage their energies or imaginations. What they have in common is their fascination with Jesus."

A fascination with Jesus……these words found in the ‘Faith matters’ column of April’s Christian Century magazine, caused me to sit taller in my seat. A fascination with Jesus. It would make sense that in ‘my line of work’ I would be surrounded by people who have a fascination with Jesus. But, like Brown Taylor, I also have many friends outside the institutional church that share that same fascination, those who spend time devouring the latest book on the historical Jesus but have generally given up on church. At parties, these same people will find interesting ways to bring up questions, to enter into the fascination dance, to once again try to make further sense of this central character of the Christian faith. And themselves.

For some people Jesus is simple. For me, I fall into the always questioning, always trying to understand, a little doubt here, a little faith there fascination with Jesus. I am humbled and amazed by his deep knowledge of God’s movement and call upon his life, by his attention to healing, by his alignment with the poor and the marginalized, by his justice and unconditional love. I love the stories he told and the room there is to walk around in them, how they challenge me to see myself in the characters. I am frightened by his willingness to die for all he believed, all he was.

I am sure his life calls me to follow.  Most often that is where things get tricky. Brown Taylor writes:" What if ministering in his name meant answering questions with more questions? What if it included refusing to do for others what they must do for themselves? What if it meant maintaining a critical distance from our most beloved institutions, declining to fulfill the roles assigned to us?"

I guess my fascination with Jesus doesn’t call me to ask the question "what would Jesus do?" Instead, it calls me to ask "What would I do?" See, now it gets tricky.

I once attended a Sunday School program that had a song that began:"You are a Promise, you are a Possibility, You are a Promise, With a capital ‘P’, You are a great, big bundle of Potentiality." Granted, it was not particularly great music or great writing, but the kids performing believed that message at that moment in time, so it seemed quite powerful. I thought of that little song-bite last night as I sat at our younger son’s final orchestra concert for this year.The concert featured the seniors playing ensembles and solos accompanied by the students who still have a few years before heading off into the world.

Many of these students began playing an instrument in fourth grade. Some have studied privately, others  have relied on the public school music program to mold their taste, their talent, their enthusiasm into something that is bigger than their individual gifts or hard work. All this was done under the guidance and inspiration of a fabulous teacher……someone who has given his life to recognizing and nurturing the promise,possibility and potential of regular, ordinary children who happened to want to play an instrument.

A disclaimer: I have taught elementary and middle school music so I am biased. I believe the act of bringing people together to make music, whether instrumental or vocal, teaches us life lessons that go far beyond the music created. We learn to listen, to compromise, to be the melody and the harmony, to be silent and rest, to rely on others and to be a leader. Above all, there are the lessons of what can happen through practice, perseverance and the pursuit of beauty.

I thought of all that last night as I listened to the finale of these young people’s high school music career. As adoring parents took pictures and the cable TV station filmed, as each one stepped forward to take their final bow, my eyes also fell upon their director. Seeing his visible pride and love of these students, I thought of the movie "Mr. Holland’s Opus". In this film, Mr. Holland works diligently throughout his life composing a symphony, a work he sandwiches between the duties of teaching high school music. In the end he learns that his symphony was really his students….those lives he touched, changed, shaped….those in which he had helped grow their promise, possibility, potential.

Each day in classrooms across this country, teachers see the opus of their lives come to fruition. Symphonies are composed, novels are written, mathematical equations are developed,science experiments are accomplished. Teachers see this,not always through the curriculum they teach, but through the promise,possibility and potential of the young people who have come into their lives.

There is the bumper sticker that says: If you are reading this, thank a teacher. As the school year draws to a close once more, young people will walk into the world, our world. My prayer is that each of them will have known a teacher who has helped them see the promise they bring, the possibility in their life, the potential to be a part of the unfolding of the world in this day.

And to Mr. Schlueter……..applause and deep gratitude.

Have a wonderful weekend………………

As the United Methodist clergy gather for their annual meeting each year, they engage in what may seem to others around the country as an odd ritual. At the end of the final day, all the names of the clergy serving throughout the entire state are placed in a hat. One name is drawn out and that person will be what is called the "conference preacher" for the following year. What that means is this: for one whole year someone gets to think about, pray over and plan for one sermon to be delivered to their colleagues and members of the churches gathered for the yearly meeting.

To some this simply seems cruel….a whole year to obsess over a 20-30 minute sermon. To others it may be a golden opportunity to craft the message they have always wanted to deliver. To still others……well, does the phrase "fear of God" mean anything to you?

For the most part everyone takes it in stride, seeing it as one more opportunity to do what preachers do…..study the scriptures, discern the call within the words, pray over the scripture, think about their context, their audience, write a draft, and another, and perhaps another…….and then commit themselves to the words and message they believe God is placing in their heart .It is after all, in the larger picture, one sermon among hundreds, if not thousands, that they will preach over their lifetime.

Today as that sermon was given during worship, I wondered…..if given this opportunity to ‘preach a once in a lifetime sermon’…..what would most people’s message be? If you asked the person on the street,"What would you like to tell your family, your friends, those with whom you work, if you had their undivided attention?" What is the sermon buried deep within you?

I believe one of our deepest human longings is to be heard….really heard. To have someone listen to our fears, our dreams, our hopes, our doubts and beliefs is a tremendous and powerful gift….for both speaker and listener. When we truly are present and listen to  the heartfelt words of another we give witness to their life.

What would your sermon be? What words of wisdom and faith do you have waiting in your heart that the world really needs? What piece of scripture or sacred writings have taken root within you and have grown so full and tall that they need to have voice in the world? What simple, concise phrase guides your walking in the world?

A word of advice….don’t wait for your name to be pulled out of the hat! Go ahead……preach it.

Miracle….an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs….an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing or accomplishment….Merriam-Webster Dictionary

I haven’t actually thought much about miracles lately. There was a time when many friends were engaged in the study of A Course in Miracles which seemed to help them engage more fully in every day life, see the Divine in their living, chart a course for a positive, spirit-filled way of being in the world. I was intrigued but never took the time to pursue the study further. As a product of the scientific age, most of us don’t speak much of miracles….even in the church. Sometimes we casually say things like "what a miracle!" when little oddities happen…..everything from a diagnosis reversed to a difficult class passed to the teenager who picks up their room without being asked.

Miracle…from the Latin miraculum..….. ‘to wonder or marvel’. Last night our Bishop gave us this challenge:"If you want to see a miracle….you have to be a miracle." What does it mean to be a miracle? Do you think of yourself as a miracle? Do you think of your life as a miracle? What about your work? Are you creating miracles today?

As people of faith,our primary story begins in the Creation Story. This story of chaos, creativity, connection, also reminds us that we are created in the Image of God. Miracle. That same story describes the "extremely outstanding or unusual event" of our interconnection with all…..water, air,sky, earth, Sun, Moon(full last night, by the way), plants, animals, one another, the Holy. Throughout the scriptures we read story after story of transformation…"an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs…think Moses, Mary,Esther, Joseph, Paul, Sarah, Abraham, Jesus. All created in the Divine image.

A favorite poem by Mary Oliver begins:" I am a woman of sixty years and glory is my work." Everyday I am invited by the Holy One to wake up and fully claim that I see God’s image in the world. Everyday I am invited to marvel at the cotton-candy of clouds floating through the blueness of Midwestern sky. Everyday I am asked to look deeply into the eyes of those I love and really see who they are.  Everyday I am urged to notice the small, but beautiful simplicities of Creation….the dandelion, the variance of the color green, how the chipmunk in our yard can make such a huge noise with such a small body, the impossibility of a baby’s eyelashes. Miracles…………..

Everyday I am…you are….also invited by the Holy One to wake up and fully claim that we reflect God’s image into the world. It is a daunting task. Being an Image of God. Being a miracle Seeing miracles.The good news is that we are not alone. We are co-creating with the Miracle Worker.