This past Sunday our Summer Series once again got "bumped" in favor of an ad hoc commentary on current events.
Having recently endured the Republican National Convention and all the anger and vitriol spewed forth there I found myself last week in desperate need of some hope and grace --for myself, my church and our faith, and I set aside my prepared Summer Sermon Series message in favor of talking about what was truly on my heart that day.
I have a file in my computer I call my “come back to later file” where I toss things I want to investigate eventually but don’t always have time right at that moment. These “orphan” notes often turn out to be just the thing I need weeks or months down the line.
And sure enough, there was the trigger that set off a long chain of thoughts and associations in my mind.
In the days just prior to the Democratic National Convention this week the news cycle was buzzing with Hillary Clinton’s choice for running mate, Tim Kaine. Like most Americans, I suspect, I didn’t know a whole bunch about this man, but one quote from his introductory speech in Florida stuck in my mind: “Do all the good you can.” Turns out that phrase is attributed to John Wesley (although even that seems to be challenged now). The longer version reads: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
I like this saying. I like it a lot.
And that saying sent me to my “come back to later” file for this quote from Daniel Berrigan, Jesuit priest and anti-war activist: "The good is to be done because it is good, not because it is going somewhere. I believe if it is done in that spirit, it will go somewhere, but I don't know where.... I have never been seriously interested in the outcome."
The good is to be done because it is good ... We don’t need any reason other than that to do all the good we can, by all the means we can ... as long as ever we can. Period.
And then I came across another quote that had been sitting in that file for awhile, waiting for its moment to emerge. This one is from Writer/Speaker Karen Armstrong, who points out that: Jesus did not spend a great deal of time discoursing about the trinity or original sin or the incarnation, which have preoccupied later Christians. He went around doing good and being compassionate. I wish more people remembered this.
And then as if to confirm that this was to be my theme for this week, a new piece from Singer/Songwriter Carrie Newcomer popped up on my facebook feed, and this is what she had to say:
Having recently endured the Republican National Convention and all the anger and vitriol spewed forth there I found myself last week in desperate need of some hope and grace --for myself, my church and our faith, and I set aside my prepared Summer Sermon Series message in favor of talking about what was truly on my heart that day.
I have a file in my computer I call my “come back to later file” where I toss things I want to investigate eventually but don’t always have time right at that moment. These “orphan” notes often turn out to be just the thing I need weeks or months down the line.
And sure enough, there was the trigger that set off a long chain of thoughts and associations in my mind.
In the days just prior to the Democratic National Convention this week the news cycle was buzzing with Hillary Clinton’s choice for running mate, Tim Kaine. Like most Americans, I suspect, I didn’t know a whole bunch about this man, but one quote from his introductory speech in Florida stuck in my mind: “Do all the good you can.” Turns out that phrase is attributed to John Wesley (although even that seems to be challenged now). The longer version reads: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
I like this saying. I like it a lot.
And that saying sent me to my “come back to later” file for this quote from Daniel Berrigan, Jesuit priest and anti-war activist: "The good is to be done because it is good, not because it is going somewhere. I believe if it is done in that spirit, it will go somewhere, but I don't know where.... I have never been seriously interested in the outcome."
The good is to be done because it is good ... We don’t need any reason other than that to do all the good we can, by all the means we can ... as long as ever we can. Period.
And then I came across another quote that had been sitting in that file for awhile, waiting for its moment to emerge. This one is from Writer/Speaker Karen Armstrong, who points out that: Jesus did not spend a great deal of time discoursing about the trinity or original sin or the incarnation, which have preoccupied later Christians. He went around doing good and being compassionate. I wish more people remembered this.
And then as if to confirm that this was to be my theme for this week, a new piece from Singer/Songwriter Carrie Newcomer popped up on my facebook feed, and this is what she had to say:
A Speed of Soul Thought
Let us remember that the best of humanity is still at work in the world. Remember that the commercial news we are getting is tilted and weighted toward fear and division. Think about it...how many people do you personally know that have reached across some kind of line or another- for family, for friendship, for work, for community, for the food bank...for love of some kind?
I would venture to say that most everyone reading this post can name many people (including themselves) who endeavor to speak and act with kindness and dignity, who were raised to value honest but respectful conversation, who do not believe that callous ridicule or bullying deserves to be lifted up.
Let us speak up and speak out in a way that balances the news of the world with the news of the heart. And remind one another of what is decent and whole and absolutely accessible to us. Let us counteract the first violence [the act itself] and the second violence [when we react with violence] with thoughtful, deliberate connection, open hearted truth and well placed trust.
https://www.facebook.com/CarrieNewcomer/
These are my thoughts this week - so freely gathered from a world of wonderful thinkers and speakers and writers.
Rage and hatred and violence make all the noise and gather all the notice, but I believe, and will continue to believe, to the end of my days and beyond, that goodness and grace reign. In spite of the worst the news can do, I will hold fast to the belief that this world has many, many more good people than broken, hateful people - they are all around us if we just pay attention. Recognize them, greet them, acknowledge them.
This was the message I shared with my church this week . I offer it to you. Bless you all.
Rage and hatred and violence make all the noise and gather all the notice, but I believe, and will continue to believe, to the end of my days and beyond, that goodness and grace reign. In spite of the worst the news can do, I will hold fast to the belief that this world has many, many more good people than broken, hateful people - they are all around us if we just pay attention. Recognize them, greet them, acknowledge them.
This was the message I shared with my church this week . I offer it to you. Bless you all.
RSS Feed