Holding my breath

Dear Friends

I have been holding my breath for a week, hoping the Dodgers would win the World Series. I happily exhaled and celebrated last night when they did. Now I will be holding my breath for another week, hoping that we will elect a new president on Nov. 3^rd. But I also must be prepared that the current one (Lord have mercy) could be re-elected!

So while I am holding my breath, I have to also focus on the fact (and Good News) that God is holding me and will continue to hold me no matter the results. Love is the winning strategy now and love will continue to be, no matter what.

A contemporary paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13 (from The Message by Eugene Peterson) includes these phrases:

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than self.

Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head.

Isn’t always “me first”.

Doesn’t fly off the handle or keep score of the sins of others.

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth.

Always looks for the best.

Never looks back but keeps going to the end.

But for right now, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation:

Trust steadily in God

Hope unswervingly

Love extravagantly

 

And the best of the three is love.

 

Lord, help me keep these words in heart and mind while holding my breath.

But I’d really like to be able to exhale and celebrate next Tuesday night!

John

 

 

 

A Matter of Life and Death

 

Dear Friends

I was going to refrain from speaking out again on the election, but I cannot remain silent in light of some remarks made today at a rally in North Carolina.

One of the things people say to those in uniform is“Thank you for your service.” Now, we all have an opportunity to say something to those who are choosing to wear another uniform. The uniform I am referring to is the mask. We can say, “Thank you for respecting my health and life.”  But, contrary to that decent thing to say, the current resident of the White House, as of today, continues to question the efficacy of masks and mock those who freely choose to wear them.

I’ve always seen this election as a chance to begin to heal the soul of our nation which has been poisoned by our current president. I now agree with those who have been saying that it is also a matter of life and death.

Truth telling is on the ballot.

Decency and dignity is on the ballot.

Competency and compassion is on the ballot.

And now I choose to join the chorus of those saying, without exaggeration, that when it comes to leadership in the time of this pandemic, life and death is on the ballot.

Today I cast my ballot. I have never felt in my life how clear the choice was. I have never felt in my life how urgent and important my choice was. I am now praying that the results will reflect that we, as a country, have figured out that we can do far better, than what we have endured for almost four years.

Pray. Vote. And then continue to live the values you voted for, knowing that in the end, thank God, love wins.

John

P.S. I am writing a positive, forward looking prayer for November 4^th (or whenever the results are complete).

 

 

Some words about birds (and more)

 Dear Friends

As our national soap opera/reality show/political theater rolls on (and disrespect for debate, CDC and hospital rules continues---not to mention the health of others), I am glad to just focus for now on my friendly finch friends (Lesser Goldfinch---spinus psaltria---to be exact) who showed up today for the Feast of St. Francis! (I suspect it helped that I filled the feeder with thistle this morning!)

Francis’ radical life and ministry was about far more than love of animals. But to focus on that is a way to bring people together and be reminded about all the wonders and glories of nature. And of course our pets, past or present, bring us special joys and gifts, with unconditional love and loyalty at the top of the list. Kathleen and I have an empty nest now, including pets, but our backyard has creatures, including birds, who make their own nests.

Of all the several scriptures that speak of animals, one of my favorites is this one from the Book of Job: (12:7-11)

“Even birds and animals have much they could teach you; ask the creatures of the earth and sea for their wisdom”

A contemporary translation continues:

Put your ear to the earth—learn the basics. Listen---the fish in the ocean will tell you their stories. Isn’t it clear that they all know and agree that God is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand---every living soul, yes, every breathing creature?

And then there is the prayer attributed to Francis which begins “Lord make me an instrument of thy peace”. I think we’d all agree, that prayer is needed more than ever.

And, in the spirit of not staying silent, I would like to add one more petition for this prayer, out of love of my country: "Where there is a divider, vote for a healer."

John