Even though I arrived in Seattle about 5 hours ago, my mind is still driving - perhaps a function of the sheer amount of driving I have done recently. This road trip is not related to search and call, but brings me instead to officiate at a wedding of two dear people I love, who are unable to marry back in Idaho. Even though the State of Idaho battles the "intrusions of big government" whenever it can, it feels justified entering the relationships of consenting adults, and creating legislation that restricts marriage to a commitment between one man and one woman. I'd have more respect for the libertarian spirit so often championed in Idaho if it was applied across the boards, and not just to matters of "the Feds," taxation, and the Second Amendment. Fortunately, this bigoted constitutional amendment is on its way out, and marriage equality is on the horizon. In the meantime, I travel to Seattle to officiate at this most happy of occasions.
Seattle wins the "Most Beautiful Entrance to a City (when entering from the East) Award. Spectacular! Not all cities offer such a breathtaking entrance (think Buffalo or Newark). But this was sheer magic - even with rush hour traffic (more time to enjoy the view) and the torrential rain storm that preceded the entrance to the city (my car is now clean).
I feel like I have been through four seasons in one day! I left Boise on a warm spring day, and travelled across the high desert of eastern Oregon as the heat of the day began to build - that amazing combination of sagebrush desert and desolation that speaks of summer! By Baker City the snow-capped mountains came into view, reminding me of the beauty of fall leading to winter. As I crossed the Columbia, the power of water and spring run off was very much on my mind.
The water tower for Prosser caused me to nod in recognition of a town that would have remained pretty much unknown except for two brothers who liked the color blue and were handy with a football. But blue was not the color for this area - the more traditional color of green made its home here. This was the beginning of my noticing how many different shades of green are present in the great State of Washington!
Turning on to I 90 W gave me a glimpse of breathtaking scenery like Keechelus Lake, and forested hillsides (glorious)! It also provided an important reality check, as I watched the many mile traffic jam build for those poor souls on I 90 E. I guess everyone in Seattle wanted to get an early start on their Memorial Day Weekend plans.
Torrential rain and low cloud on Snoqualmie Pass reminded me of transitional times in the seasons of the year (spring to summer, fall to winter, winter to spring). And then the rain gave way to the sunshine - and a beautiful city!
It takes me awhile to adjust to the different driving styles in different cities. Bay Areas drivers are very different from drivers in Seattle. Here they are surprisingly courteous. The multitude of pedestrians also seem to be surprisingly pleasant - even the woman I almost ran over was courteous (where did all the pedestrians come from - what a shock)! I was relieved to arrive at the hotel before accidentally committing vehicular manslaughter, greet the very happy couple (they are positively glowing), and get settled into my room.
The hotel room windows are open because this grand old hotel does not have air conditioning. The city street sounds remind me of my seminary years spent living in NYC. During the last sixteen days I have experienced the desolation of the high desert (being the only one on the road for as far as the eye could see), the snow and crisp air of the high country, the beautiful but parched landscape of the Bay Area and its traffic jams where cars were standing still for as far as the eye could see, the lush farmland of Washington State, and the abundance of water around the greater Seattle area.
I have lived in cities, and I have lived in remote settings. I have been parched in the desert and drenched in humid climates. I have lived with noise, and I have lived with silence. And although I have preferences, the truth tonight is that I have experienced the Divine in all places. Not just the places that line up with my preferences - but in all places.
In deep snow and scorching sun - in chaotic noise and deep silence - God has been in every and all experiences. Preferences really have little to do with finding God. In fact, experiencing God's presence is not achieved by making sure that external circumstances line up with one's preferences; instead, it is about transcending preferences so one can experience God everywhere. Here. Now.
Wide awake, I listen to the sirens, and busses, and traffic - and think about all the people inhabiting all those sounds. They face an endless stream of opportunities and challenges - joys and sorrows. And God is in the midst of it all. I will hold that thought for them, just in case they are too busy dodging the odd pedestrian to notice.
It has taken me fifty-five years to lose my attachment to place - what a gift! God present in the midst of the cross-walk beeping, or in the veriditas of the forest. The entire earth is holy ground!
Laughter from people down on the street - the sound of the brakes from a passing bus. A plane making its approach to the airport - and, in the liminal space, I am back in the chapel at SFTS with my fellow students (who graduate tomorrow) singing: "Surely God is in this place; Holy Ground. Surely God is in this place; Holy Ground."
It is all Holy Ground - Sallie McFague was right - creation is the Body of God. We stand on Holy Ground, whether we are sleepless in Seattle, or preparing to graduate in San Anselmo. Or living in the Sudan.
Such thoughts might radically alter how we respond to creation! Perhaps even how we respond to one another - and to God!
Happy in my sleeplessness,
Kim
Friday, May 23, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Sabbath Trending High
It is smokin hot today in San Rafael, California. 90 degrees is unseasonably warm - in a place that is bone dry. From my hotel window I can see the shades of brown overtaking the ever hopeful greens on the hillsides. The palm trees around the pool look pretty healthy, but the pool isn't seeing much traffic this afternoon. One old soul sits in the shade reading his paper, but everyone else is out at meetings, or sightseeing at Stinson Beach, or enjoying their room's amenities.
I opted to stay in today so I could hit "send" on my last DASD paper by noon. I had until the 15th, but truth be told, I should have finished it a month ago. Interestingly, I found myself resisting the subject matter, and needed the deadline to push me along. Finishing ahead of deadline almost feels virtuous. Better be careful, or pride will surely follow!
By choosing the DASD/DMin program at SFTS, I consciously chose a program that takes longer to complete, because of the DASD component - a component that must be completed over a three-year cycle (no shortcuts). The time is needed for formation - it is not just a matter of learning the material; it is a matter of living the material. That cannot be rushed.
But with the last paper sent, all my requirements for the DASD are completed - finished - and every moment of the three years was needed, and was worth it. I am glad I did not shorten the formation process. Every moment was used.
I can understand why some folks stop once they compete the DASD - it is certainly the most important part of this journey. I have 3-two week electives remaining, and my written project. If the house sells quickly, I may do one of the electives remotely this summer. Otherwise, forward progress waits for another year. Although I use my DASD training in every aspect of my ministry, it feels (profoundly) like the best coursework I have ever undertaken for myself. The written project at the end of the DMin - that will be my gift to the greater church.
Having sung the praises of the DASD program, it does have one challenging side - it never ends. I hit "send" with the paper, took a deep breath, did a mental celebratory happy dance, and then started thinking about one of the themes in the paper that required follow-through and implementation: Keeping Sabbath.
I have never kept Sabbath. When I have taken my day off, I invariably use it to catch up or get ahead with laundry, housework, and all the zillions of tasks that are part of living in the modern world. This day in no way resembles a Sabbath - it is definitely a day off. And between errands and paperwork and all the things I cram into this precious time, there is nothing that resembles rest. And rarely is there any playtime. It is just another work day - only the nature of the work changes!
I have made a commitment to begin observing Sabbath - a 24 hr period in which I do not work. No catching up on the laundry or writing a paper (or blog, for that matter). No technology - unplugged for 24 hrs. No TV (most programs give me nightmares). A time to spend resting, playing, and enjoying God's company.
I suspect that keeping Sabbath is going to be a struggle (work is familiar for me; rest and play are not). I already know this is going to be one hell of a growing edge. I suspect that keeping Sabbath will have some positive consequences - increased awareness of God, greater balance in my life, as well as some stress reduction. But it is important that I do not keep Sabbath because of the perks - that amounts to using Sabbath for my own ends, which is not all that different from using the day to catch up on laundry. William McNamara calls the practice of keeping Sabbath time "holy leisure," and claims that we modern church folk are terrible at it. Which is all the more reason for committing to keeping Sabbath.
When I mentioned my Sabbath commitment to my son, he shared that NPR has been doing segments on Sabbath keeping, and that it is a hot topic right now. Wow - it is rare that I am ahead of a popular trend. Who would have thought that Sabbath keeping would become trendy - how God must smile. It takes us thousands of years to benefit from wisdom freely shared long ago - maybe we will get it this time.
Do you keep Sabbath?
With fear, trepidation and excitement at trying something new,
Kim
I opted to stay in today so I could hit "send" on my last DASD paper by noon. I had until the 15th, but truth be told, I should have finished it a month ago. Interestingly, I found myself resisting the subject matter, and needed the deadline to push me along. Finishing ahead of deadline almost feels virtuous. Better be careful, or pride will surely follow!
By choosing the DASD/DMin program at SFTS, I consciously chose a program that takes longer to complete, because of the DASD component - a component that must be completed over a three-year cycle (no shortcuts). The time is needed for formation - it is not just a matter of learning the material; it is a matter of living the material. That cannot be rushed.
But with the last paper sent, all my requirements for the DASD are completed - finished - and every moment of the three years was needed, and was worth it. I am glad I did not shorten the formation process. Every moment was used.
I can understand why some folks stop once they compete the DASD - it is certainly the most important part of this journey. I have 3-two week electives remaining, and my written project. If the house sells quickly, I may do one of the electives remotely this summer. Otherwise, forward progress waits for another year. Although I use my DASD training in every aspect of my ministry, it feels (profoundly) like the best coursework I have ever undertaken for myself. The written project at the end of the DMin - that will be my gift to the greater church.
Having sung the praises of the DASD program, it does have one challenging side - it never ends. I hit "send" with the paper, took a deep breath, did a mental celebratory happy dance, and then started thinking about one of the themes in the paper that required follow-through and implementation: Keeping Sabbath.
I have never kept Sabbath. When I have taken my day off, I invariably use it to catch up or get ahead with laundry, housework, and all the zillions of tasks that are part of living in the modern world. This day in no way resembles a Sabbath - it is definitely a day off. And between errands and paperwork and all the things I cram into this precious time, there is nothing that resembles rest. And rarely is there any playtime. It is just another work day - only the nature of the work changes!
I have made a commitment to begin observing Sabbath - a 24 hr period in which I do not work. No catching up on the laundry or writing a paper (or blog, for that matter). No technology - unplugged for 24 hrs. No TV (most programs give me nightmares). A time to spend resting, playing, and enjoying God's company.
I suspect that keeping Sabbath is going to be a struggle (work is familiar for me; rest and play are not). I already know this is going to be one hell of a growing edge. I suspect that keeping Sabbath will have some positive consequences - increased awareness of God, greater balance in my life, as well as some stress reduction. But it is important that I do not keep Sabbath because of the perks - that amounts to using Sabbath for my own ends, which is not all that different from using the day to catch up on laundry. William McNamara calls the practice of keeping Sabbath time "holy leisure," and claims that we modern church folk are terrible at it. Which is all the more reason for committing to keeping Sabbath.
When I mentioned my Sabbath commitment to my son, he shared that NPR has been doing segments on Sabbath keeping, and that it is a hot topic right now. Wow - it is rare that I am ahead of a popular trend. Who would have thought that Sabbath keeping would become trendy - how God must smile. It takes us thousands of years to benefit from wisdom freely shared long ago - maybe we will get it this time.
Do you keep Sabbath?
With fear, trepidation and excitement at trying something new,
Kim
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Lightening the Heavy Load
Tonight's entry comes from Reno, Nevada - the city that makes pink neon casino fronts and adjacent green backlit buildings "work" (somehow). The drive today was mostly relaxing, and road construction delays gave me ample opportunity to stop and enjoy the scenery. There were beautiful blue and yellow wildflowers, and the sand dunes in very windy Nevada looked spectacular. I used a different word to describe the sand storms generated by the high winds. The friendly people at Sawtooth Station are doing well - hoping that the winds die down so spraying can be done (crops, I assume). And the "best sign of the trip thus far" no longer resides with "Chicken Dinner Road," but was won by one of the TA stores on I 80 between Winnemucca and Reno. The sign was a great reminder that even in Nevada, the devil is in the details. Either the text needs to be proofread before the big flashing electronic sign is turned on, or there are some bulbs missing in the display. Either way, when you have the letter "u" in place of the letter "o" in the word slot, your large flashing sign does not read: Winning Slot Machines!!!!! One can only hope it was an error.
Although this will be a busy week, it is also a time to unwind and relocate center. The driving will help, as will my time in California. My traveling companions this trip are old friends. I am re-reading Jeff Foster's "The Deepest Acceptance: Radical Awakening in Ordinary Life." Letting go and acceptance continue to be growing edges for me, and I hope that a second read of this very good book will help me to have a heart-grasp of the ideas. Walter Brueggemann's new book "Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now" has already stopped me in my tracks - in a good way - and given me much to ponder. I assume Richard Rohr will do the same in his new book "Silent Compassion: Finding God in Contemplation." Ditto for Henry Cloud, as I find myself, a year later, re-reading one of his best books on leadership: "Necessary Endings." Anam Thubten and Pema Chodron also came along for the ride - they remain faithful companions on my journey.
The place that has most of my attention tonight is the last paper for my DASD/DMin work for this year - this is also the last assignment for the DASD, which will be completed with the submission of this paper. The course is on discernment, and the focus has been our own discernment journey - noticing how we notice God at work in our life. The assignment was brilliant - during the Fall of 2013, we had to make ten journal entries (approximately one per week) whenever we would notice something in or around us that had a "God resonance" to it. After completing the entries, reading the texts for the course, and attending Intensive, we were instructed to go back to these ten entries and analyze them as if there were a text, looking for evidence of God's
leading/guidance/presence/challenge/comfort/etc. Engaging the course readings, lectures, small group experiences and journal entries, we were to observe what had taken shape - what had evolved - how God speaks through all of this.
The unfolding results are profound and elegant in their simplicity. I am amazed. And I have to stop saying "I don't know" - because I do know; I do have the answers to some key questions and concerns that have weighed heavily on my heart. The answers have been there all along, waiting until I was ready to hear them. And live them.
Sometimes we make things harder than they need to be. What a blessing when truth mirrors us back simplified (thank you, Joni, for that image - even if slightly reimagined from your "Refuge of the Roads").
May heart and humor and humility also lighten my heavy load - and yours,
Kim
Although this will be a busy week, it is also a time to unwind and relocate center. The driving will help, as will my time in California. My traveling companions this trip are old friends. I am re-reading Jeff Foster's "The Deepest Acceptance: Radical Awakening in Ordinary Life." Letting go and acceptance continue to be growing edges for me, and I hope that a second read of this very good book will help me to have a heart-grasp of the ideas. Walter Brueggemann's new book "Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now" has already stopped me in my tracks - in a good way - and given me much to ponder. I assume Richard Rohr will do the same in his new book "Silent Compassion: Finding God in Contemplation." Ditto for Henry Cloud, as I find myself, a year later, re-reading one of his best books on leadership: "Necessary Endings." Anam Thubten and Pema Chodron also came along for the ride - they remain faithful companions on my journey.
The place that has most of my attention tonight is the last paper for my DASD/DMin work for this year - this is also the last assignment for the DASD, which will be completed with the submission of this paper. The course is on discernment, and the focus has been our own discernment journey - noticing how we notice God at work in our life. The assignment was brilliant - during the Fall of 2013, we had to make ten journal entries (approximately one per week) whenever we would notice something in or around us that had a "God resonance" to it. After completing the entries, reading the texts for the course, and attending Intensive, we were instructed to go back to these ten entries and analyze them as if there were a text, looking for evidence of God's
leading/guidance/presence/challenge/comfort/etc. Engaging the course readings, lectures, small group experiences and journal entries, we were to observe what had taken shape - what had evolved - how God speaks through all of this.
The unfolding results are profound and elegant in their simplicity. I am amazed. And I have to stop saying "I don't know" - because I do know; I do have the answers to some key questions and concerns that have weighed heavily on my heart. The answers have been there all along, waiting until I was ready to hear them. And live them.
Sometimes we make things harder than they need to be. What a blessing when truth mirrors us back simplified (thank you, Joni, for that image - even if slightly reimagined from your "Refuge of the Roads").
May heart and humor and humility also lighten my heavy load - and yours,
Kim
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)