This past weekend several of the D.O.K. women gathered at The Bishop's Close for a quiet day. The Close was donated to the Diocese of Oregon in 1957 and it includes an old, quirky, beautiful house and the Elk Rock Gardens, 13 acres of wonderfully landscaped paths and plants. The weather was not “perfect,” but it didn't rain, it wasn't cold, nor was it blistering hot. Despite overcast skies and a few spittles of raindrops that never lasted, the women spent their time in the garden in silent prayer, meditation, or soaking in the beauty of the place.
The theme of the day was Eden Among Us, and I led them through various phases of contemplation on garden themes in scripture, particularly at creation, resurrection, and at the end of the age. It was in a garden where God breathed life into humanity, instilling in all of us a piece of God's grace. It was in a garden where Mary reached out to grasp the new creation found in the risen Christ. And it will be in a new creation where we are invited to partake of both the Tree of Life and the Water of Life.
At the end of the day I sent them forth with these words: May you find healing in God's creation, may you see the face of God in others, may others see the face of God in you, and may we help all people answer God's invitation to come and receive the gift of the water of life.
Do we find healing in God's creation? Can we see the face of God in others? Can they see the face of God in us? Where do we draw the water of life?
I didn't know it then, but those questions would have much more meaning for me early this past Sunday morning as I began to hear of yet another massacre of innocent people. Once again we heard of a man, armed with automatic weapons, who decides it's a good day for killing. Once again we hear of “thoughts and prayers” for the victims and their families.
This has become the liturgy of the United States: kill, pray, deflect, double-down. Rinse and repeat. Once again we hear hear any number of excuses – from, “This is the price we pay for the freedom to own guns,” to, “This is no time to politicize the issue,” to, “If the victims were armed, fewer would have died.”
“Thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families” has become, in my opinion, a hollow and meaningless statement. We need less thoughts and prayers and more willingness to put an end to the national tragedy of valuing our weapons fetish over the lives of God's children.
Today I wonder if God's creation has become just another commodity to use. Today I wonder if people even try to see the face of God in others. Today I wonder if the face I present to the world is godly in any way. Today I wonder if the water of life has become so tainted with the blood of innocent victims that we want no part of it.
It is hard to find the beauty of the world around us when the world around us is hell bent on killing us off. And yet, it's there. We may need to look a little harder, but beauty is there. The kingdom is at hand, but it has not yet arrived. Maybe our job is to be a little more bolder about the kingdom of God and a lot less tolerant of business as usual.
Amen.
Comment on the Wednesday Word received via e-mail from a parishioner who never/rarely attends church, but apparently reads these:
ReplyDeleteDear Rev. Ref (Okay, he really used my actual name, but I like this),
Having grown up in [this area], I imagine you will receive some unfavorable reactions to your Wednesday email.
So let me say thank you for your comments expressed in a clear, forthright, and uncompromising manner!
One wonders which is more distressing: that such tragic events seem destined to occur again and again… or that politicians seem unwilling and totally incapable of taking even the most rudimentary steps to break the cycle of violence.
Again, thank you for your words … the courage and willingness to speak them.
I seem to recall someone once said, "Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"
W.C.