Universal Reconciliation

Reconciliation - Cause to coexist in harmony

My husband Ken loved the word "Shalom."  It usually means, hello or goodbye or bless you but Ken's favorite defination was "Universal Reconciliation."

My husband David did not express this in words - he just practiced it.  Like the time in a park in Minneapolis when he sat down on a bench beside a young woman in in full burka with only her eyes sparkling through.  He persisted in  chatting her up in spite of the fact that she never replied.    Then, when I saw a young man running toward toward them I'm ashamed to say I was extremely nervous.   But he told David the young woman had just arrived in the country 24 hours earlier and spoke no english.  And they had just married that day.  But David didn't finish, he just changed his focus to chatting up the young man.

Over the years several of you readers have inquired about Forum, a group that I love.  It's a part of my church and we meet on Sunday morning but we do not call ourselves a Sunday school class.  We recently took the steps to officially identify ourselves as a "Reconciling Group,"  The folks who crafted the welcoming statement worked hard to express who we are.  Some people assume that we all think alike.  That is the opposite of who we are.  Here is a portion of the statement:

Forum is an open and inviting community of individuals who strive to live out Christ's teaching and our Wesleyan heritage while discussing contemporary and theological issues.  We embrace the diversity of perspective and backgrounds of individuals.......We welcome and affirm that each person, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identification, ethnicity, race, cultural background, physical or mental ability, economic status, age, and/or theological orientation is a child of God  and has a seat at the Forum table.   

I love exchanging views with folks who don't think like I do as long as they are civil and kind.  My dream would be that we all "coexist in harmony. " I believe that the future of our universe depends on it.

Shalom to you my friends.


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I Am (Not) Good Enough

Currently, one of my favorite preachers, Jon, spoke to us last Sunday on the concept of being "Good Enough."  Jon, who recently received his PhD, told about a time, somewhere along in his studies, that he was displeased that he got a B in one of his classes.  When he let his professor know how distraught he was and requested another go at the grade the professor e-mailed Jon a reply saying that a B is good.  And Jesus taught us that good is good.  Jesus said, I am the Good Shepard.

This reminded me of the times I used to beat myself up about not being good enough.  But, because I still think of David every single day, I want to share this story about him and his Aunt Lora.

David was born in Maylasia where his parents were Methodist missionaries, but at an early age he was shipped off  to live with his Aunt Lora who was an "Old Maid School Teacher" in Independence Kansas.  You can imagine how six year old David's british accent went over in Independence Kansas.

This was back in the late 1930's so the title "Old Maid School Teacher" was common.  Most teachers at that time were not allowed to marry.  And, not only that, their salaries barely allowed them to support themselves.  Lora cared for her mother who was a widow of a Methodist minister.  They, as well, had no retirement or backup plan.  Lora also, from time to time, had a boarder or two, usually Old Maid School Teachers, like herself.  But Lora taught high school and junior college English for decades and helped shape the lives of countless students.

However she didn't have the "mom gene" and was definitely not a warm and fuzzy person.

Despite all of this David described his life in Independence as being ideal.  He made two best friends early on and these men stayed friends for six decades.  All three of them were tall and skinny.  They lived to play basketball and golf and were known all over town as The Long Boys.

When they got to junior high all three of them went out for the basketball team.  The day the list came out of the guys who made it everybody was crowded around to see the Long Boys names.

But only two of them made the list.  David did not.  He was devastated.  Naturally, when he went home Aunt Lora had little or nothing to say.  So he suffered in silence.  A few days later he was shocked to find, in Aunt Lora's driveway, a professional basketball backboard and hoop, along with a new ball.  Aunt Lora simply said, "I expect you to practice every day until the next tryout."

David went on to play basketball (and golf) in high school collage and for his entire stint in the Army.

I guess the point of this story to me was that David was good enough.  And you know what?  So was Aunt Lora.


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What's Your Super Power Now?

I've been dealing with health issues for a while now. I know I have flipped over into a new chapter in my life.  But aging is a part of this amazing circle of life and therefore, is good.  I want to do this part well.

Whatever "this part" looks like.

One of my favorite writers on this subject is cloistered nun, writer and political activist, Joan Chittister.  In her book The Gift of Years she says this:

Then will come twilight time, that space between here and there, between earth and eternity, when we begin to be more there than here.  When the concerns of this world fade away and we begin to be concentrated somewhere else.  That does not mean that this last period of life is an inactive time, a meaningless time.  Not at all. ....
There is a strength, a new kind of dignity, that comes with learning weakness well.....This our time to be honest, to be loving, to be open, to be grateful, to be patient, to be lovable and loving and loved.

I'm still very interested and active in the world around me but I'm also finding Joan's words to ring true. However, much of the change is good.   Every single day I'm given the opportunity to use my new super power.

A while back my grandson was invited to speak at a school for dyslexic children that he attended a few years back.  He's in college now but the skills he leaned back then to navigate that mysterious hard time in his life have served him well.

When my copy of the school's magazine arrived a few days ago I was delighted to see that his speech was included.  I've copied a small portion below.  I think it could apply to all of us who are recalibrating our lives to accept a new season with optimism and power.  Jack used the plot of the original Star Wars to illustrate how we all need to adjust to a new reality.  So please read the following, but insert your new life circumstances in place of of the challenge of dyslexia or Luke Skywalker's challenges in becoming a Jedi warrior.

Luke Skywalker had this amazing gift inside; he just needed to learn how to use the force.  He had to study Jedi masters, like Schenck teachers, to learn all he needed to conquer life and the dark side.  And it was hard.  He had to undergo adversity, study with strange creatures like Yoda, go through rigorous training and discover how to get along with people.

Like Luke, you - ALL of you - are Jedi warriors.  You have these great, unique powers and you are growing stronger every day.

Like Luke, we ALL have to learn how to overcome pain, worry, and doubt to become a mighty Jedi.

My friends, there are wonderful things ahead.  Every once in a while, you will have some tough days.  This happened to Luke when his friend got captured, his hand got cut off, and his greatest enemy turned out to be his dad.  Don't worry when the hard time comes; healing happens.

I'm so grateful to people in my life like Sister Joan and Jack who give me the gift of empowerment just when I need it most.  What's your current super power?


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