“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?”
A Happy Easter to you all! It was wonderful to join with others in our Campus community at our Campus Easter Sunrise Service this year as we heard and rejoiced in prayer and praise; “Jesus Christ is ris’n today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!”
Would you think your Chaplain a bit looney if I tell you I believe in angels? I believe that God is an active presence in the world and I am persuaded that angels are not just a figment of an overactive imagination. Rather than it being an ever-shrinking area, the bounds of spiritual experience continue to expand for me as I get older. I have listened to an increasing number of people who hesitantly shared an other-worldly experience with me so I know those mystical experiences are real. Studies have found that 77% of people believe in angels. It seems like there has always been a fascination with the subject of angels. We have seen countless books, movies, television shows, songs, paintings and a host of other things that emphasize the existence and presence of heavenly beings. The collectibles industry in particular has gotten in on this big time, and there are all kinds of pictures, statues, ornaments and other likenesses of angels to be found.
Angels are part of almost every religion and generally seem to have the role of messenger. Many traditions believe in guardian angels who serve to protect whichever person God assigns them to and present prayer to God on that person’s behalf. In the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” an angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. Remember Clarence? Every time a bell rings, an angel gets it’s wings. There are four visitations of angels associated with the birth of Jesus. The great musicians of the world have used angels in their compositions. Most familiar is probably from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, When at Night I Go to Sleep, fourteen angels watch do keep. Handel includes an aria with these words: “Angels, ever bright and fair, take, oh take me to your care.” And children love the spiritual, All Night, All Day, angels watching over me my Lord.
The book of Hebrews says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The angels around us may not look like what we expect. We never know to whom we are talking, whom we are welcoming or turning away, to whom we are offering a much needed embrace or a cold shoulder, for the strangers who come into our lives come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and conditions.*
I miss her. I miss our four-legged friend who shared our home for almost 14 years. Jasmine, our sweet Pug, was named after the Disney Princess in the movie Aladdin. We chose her from the litter because she was round and puggly and playful and she was a great dog. We recently had to bear the heartbreak of saying goodbye to Jasmine as she struggled to breathe due to collapsing trachea, a common condition for Pugs. I’m a die-hard dog lover who has always had at least one and sometimes a few companions to grow old with. Sometimes non-pet friends wonder why we do it? Why is it, that even though we know all the work and responsibility involved, even though we know we will have to bear the eventual heartbreak of watching our pets grow old, even though we know we will someday lose them altogether-why, then, do we still regard the prospect of sharing our homes with cats or dogs (or fish, or rabbits, or what have you) with such unalloyed joy? Anatole France said, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
We have a special bond with our pets. They unconditionally love us. Who doesn’t love opening the door from a hard day to be greeted by a happy dog or a purring kitty? Pets make us healthier and happier. They become our companions, each having their own personality and enjoying certain pleasures. Jasmine loved to find a pile of laundry or anything available and she would climb on top and rummage around in it until she found a spot to sit. She would sit in front of me and whine until I would give her another treat. She had a favorite spot under the Christmas tree. I love hearing the stories of the pets who share your homes and I share the grief and devastation you feel when you lose your special family member. Will Rogers said, “If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die then I want to go where they went.” I believe we will see our animals again in the eternity of heaven so as hard as it is when they cross that rainbow bridge I am comforted by that bond of love which is never broken.*
How could I believe my eyes? Men and women- many of them young adults -embroiled in violence – state troopers behind armor- pictures of swastika emblazed-confederate flags- wherever I turned on TV – internet -airwaves- the same scene bombarded me. Is this the democracy, land of the free and home of the brave, where I grew up singing about our “sweet land of liberty”?
A kaleidoscope of emotions engulfed me: anger, agony, fear, aching for the victims. I yearned to share my feelings. On the internet, I read that many communities were already planning prayer vigils, most to be Sunday evening, August 12. Late Saturday night I decided to email a few resident friends who hold concerns similar to mine about shifting values and priorities for our nation. I invited then to join me Sunday evening at 6:00 for a time of reflection and prayer. Sunday morning I notified our Spiritual Life staff about my intentions, and Chaplain Andrew Moore announced the vigil at our Campus Vesper Service. During that service Chaplain Andrew used this prayer, which speaks of our desire to overcome evil with love.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne. Amen.
At 6:00PM on that Sunday evening, nine residents gathered to share reactions and seek guidance in responding thoughtfully to the terror in Charlottesville. Barbara Glenn read to us a message just received from Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. She was the minister of the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Phoenix until her election in June as national president of this denomination. Here is a portion of that email entitled “Love Showed Up Today in Charlottesville.”
‘Today was a tragic day. We came to Charlottesville to bear peaceful witness but were met with hate and racist violence. My heart has been broken, and I am deeply troubled by what is happening in this community and cross this country. This morning faith leaders went to Emancipation Park to block the entrance and prevent the Unite the Right rally from taking place. The message was clear – to stand with the community to say that hate has no place here. The white nationalist protesters we faced chanted Nazi slogans between sexist and homophobic slurs. And they had automatic weapons, paramilitary uniforms, and clubs….They had their guns and shields. We had our songs, our faith, our love. And we had each other.’
And here on this campus we have each other. Our reactions to changes in this nation will vary. As we respond to the steady stream of “breaking news,” may we seek to understand divergent views. May our love for justice and peace leave no room for hate.
Guest Author this week is Rev. Dosia Carlson, Beatitudes Campus Resident
Liaison is Rev. Andrew Moore, Associate Chaplain of Spiritual Life
In the past few weeks, I have had conversations with many of you about the recent losses of innocent life in Britain due to both terrorism and tragedy. These most recent barbarous attacks, as well as the Grenfell Tower fire have left my country reeling, with people struggling to make sense of such intense feelings of anger and the depth of sorrow after such loss.
I can tell you from the heart, that what makes Britain a wonderfully unique place to live and work, is its cosmopolitan identity and socially diverse peoples. Every corner of the earth is represented in the cities of Manchester and London where these tragedies have taken place. Cultures blend in the streets, in the markets, in the schools, and the very real way in which the communities affected by these tragedies have pulled together in these past weeks is a tribute to their dynamism. The one abiding blessing of these past few weeks is to have seen people of every faith, ethnicity and background supporting one another.
Photographs of a memorial wall on the façade of a church in London have been shared around the world to bear testimony to this spirit. Many of the prayers written on that wall, representing many faiths, are heartbreaking. They are raw. They are from the heart. They are a modern lament rooted in anger and confusion. “Our loss is heaven’s gain,” says one – while another writes: “pray for our community”, and most simply and poignantly of all, perhaps – “we are one.”
As I have wrestled myself with the intensity of human suffering being felt in places which are so familiar to me, there is one part of the bible which has resonated with me as I have prayed for all involved.
The Book of Lamentations, in the Hebrew scripture, deals explicitly with the personal consequences of loss and mourning brought about by communal suffering – in that case the destruction of Jerusalem- : “The thought of the affliction weighs me down,” writes the author.. “I cannot get it out of my mind; I am bowed down by it.” And, just like many of us are perhaps feeling when we see again images of the burnt out tower block, or the aftermath of terrorist destruction he adds: “my soul is bereft of peace.”
It is only after he has truly expressed his anger and pain that the writer of lamentations can eventually move on to affirm, in hope and – despite everything – that: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.” May we all, in whatever anguish or sorrow we face, remember that same truth, and share it readily with others.
Back when the West was being settled the major means of transportation was the stagecoach – we have all seen them in western movies. What you might not know is that the stagecoach had three different kinds of tickets: first-class, second-class, and third-class. If you had a first-class ticket that meant you could remain seated during the entire trip no matter what happened. If the stagecoach got stuck in the mud, or had trouble making it up a steep hill, or even if a wheel fell off, you could remain seated because you had a first-class ticket.
If you had a second-class ticket you also could remain seated…until there was a problem. In case of a problem, second-class ticket holders would have to get off until the problem was resolved. You could stand off to the side and watch as other people worked. You did not have to get your hands dirty. But second-class ticket holders were not allowed to stay on board. When the stagecoach was unstuck you would get back on and take your seat.
If you had a third-class ticket, you would definitely have to get off if there was a problem. Why? Because it was your responsibility to help solve the problem. You had to get out and push or help lift to fix a broken wheel or whatever was needed because you only had a third-class ticket. I believe that God intended for us all to have 3rd class tickets because we all need to be a part in helping to solve the problems in this world. Those who feel they have 1st class tickets can bemoan the state of our country and complain about what’s happening and they sit there watching everyone else do the work. 2nd class ticket holders can stand on the sidelines as well, passively marking the passage of time until the train starts again. 3rd class ticket holders are co-creators with God getting the job done. How are you participating in bringing heaven to earth?
