late one afternoon while we were is scotland recently, i took a nasty fall that scraped and cut my nose and forehead. my wife and i debated about whether i should seek medical attention, since the cut on my forehead night heal better with stitches. we decided to leave it alone after the bleeding stopped and check with our landlord, who works at the tourist office, the next morning. he encouraged us to see a doctor, since there would be no cost to us, but at the very least, he thought we should consult a pharmacist.
i decided to wait until the end of the day and go to a nearby pharmacy. i didn't want to give up a day of sightseeing, and, though we had purchased medical insurance for our trip, i didn't want to have to deal with the complexities of seeking treatment in another country. as we went through the day, several people inquired about my injury and each was puzzled that i didn't avail myself of medical treatment, since each person we spoke with assured us there would be no cost. i put off seeing even a pharmacist until the next day and was relieved when he assured me that the cuts were healing well and recommended some antiseptic cream to ward off the chance of infection.
a few days later as we visited with another couple who were about our age, they told us about the husband's experience with a frightening virus that had infected his brain. he thought that he had suffered a stroke because he first had a tingling sensation in one arm, then had difficulty with one leg, and finally lost the ability to speak. this happened over the course of a few days, and when the speech loss occurred his family took him to the hospital. the doctors ruled out stroke as the cause, since the progress of his ailments had been gradual rather than sudden. while in the hospital, he lost movement in the tingling arm and the leg that had first bothered him. the cause of his ailment was found and, once treated, his symptoms dissipated within a matter of days. with a brief period of therapy, he recovered completely. we asked about the cost of his treatment and the quality of his care, and he told us that there was no cost whatsoever and that he had received excellent care. he and his wife were full of praise for the national health service and expressed amazement that our health care seemed to be so expensive and complex. they said they couldn't imagine having the cloud of possible impoverishment hanging over our heads should we suffer a major health problem, as many young people in the usa do because they can't afford comprehensive health insurance.
we came home with the same puzzlement about health care in our country. i'm sure there are some in the united kingdom that could tell horror stories about their health care system, but every person we encountered who expressed an opinion had high regard for british health care, and, because of my injury, we heard this from many. perhaps the british system wouldn't work here, but there must be a better way than what we have now. if health care could cease being a political football and be viewed as a basic right that every person should enjoy, we could make progress in finding a solution.
may we turn from causing suffering for so many while playing politics with health care. may we find solutions that bring down its cost while making good care available to everyone. may we have compassion for those who cannot access the health care system because they can't afford it and devise a means to providing adequate care for all our people. shalom.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Each Smile A Hymn
upon our return from our recent trip, we've had to deal with the usual "coming back to reality" issues of day-to-day life: our central air unit has to be replaced, our 13-year-old lawn mower has decided to retire, we have a roof leak, the house has to be cleaned, and so it goes. as we try to deal with these issues, we've reflected back on our trip, remembering the wonderful sights we've seen, the new locales we've experienced, and the kind people we've encountered.
when we travel we discover that people everywhere are much the same. there are a few impatient, rude, selfish folks, but most are gracious and kind. the lovely irish lady from whom we rented our first apartment left us fresh baked bread and staples for breakfast. the young irish student that set beside us on the train from waterford delighted us with stories of her life and curiosity about ours in the states. the manager of the spar store/petrol station in newtonmore, scotland, treated us with such courtesy as he gave us advice on sights to see and routes to take, and we looked forward to the necessity of stopping to see him several times during our travels. the pharmacist who came out from behind the counter in edinburgh to look at the cuts i got when i fell and to find the right cream to help me heal quickly made us feel that we were long-time customers instead of tourists he would see only once. the scottish couple we chatted with as we traveled on the train from mallaig to fort william seemed like life-long friends. as we waited to board the ferry to return to dublin from wales, i struck up a conversation with a young english man, and he became our companion on the ferry ride across the irish sea, as we talked about the national health service in the united kingdom--the subject of his post-graduate studies--and our complex and expensive health system in the usa.
everywhere we go, we find wonderful people, strangers who become our friends for a few fleeting moments but who seem to have so much in common with us that they could easily be members of our family. this trip, like each one we take, convinces me that we are all much more alike than we are different. we may speak different languages or the same language with different accents. we may be young or old. we may have different sexual orientations. we may practice different, or no, religions. at our core, we long for connections with others, for a peaceful life, and for every person to be free from want.
may we remember that a little kindness to a stranger goes a long way toward making life happy. may we see that our similarities are more important than our differences. may we live lives that set aside the cultural barriers that separate us and see our common humanity. shalom.
when we travel we discover that people everywhere are much the same. there are a few impatient, rude, selfish folks, but most are gracious and kind. the lovely irish lady from whom we rented our first apartment left us fresh baked bread and staples for breakfast. the young irish student that set beside us on the train from waterford delighted us with stories of her life and curiosity about ours in the states. the manager of the spar store/petrol station in newtonmore, scotland, treated us with such courtesy as he gave us advice on sights to see and routes to take, and we looked forward to the necessity of stopping to see him several times during our travels. the pharmacist who came out from behind the counter in edinburgh to look at the cuts i got when i fell and to find the right cream to help me heal quickly made us feel that we were long-time customers instead of tourists he would see only once. the scottish couple we chatted with as we traveled on the train from mallaig to fort william seemed like life-long friends. as we waited to board the ferry to return to dublin from wales, i struck up a conversation with a young english man, and he became our companion on the ferry ride across the irish sea, as we talked about the national health service in the united kingdom--the subject of his post-graduate studies--and our complex and expensive health system in the usa.
everywhere we go, we find wonderful people, strangers who become our friends for a few fleeting moments but who seem to have so much in common with us that they could easily be members of our family. this trip, like each one we take, convinces me that we are all much more alike than we are different. we may speak different languages or the same language with different accents. we may be young or old. we may have different sexual orientations. we may practice different, or no, religions. at our core, we long for connections with others, for a peaceful life, and for every person to be free from want.
may we remember that a little kindness to a stranger goes a long way toward making life happy. may we see that our similarities are more important than our differences. may we live lives that set aside the cultural barriers that separate us and see our common humanity. shalom.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light
while we were traveling, our church took two actions that have left me puzzled. first, the church marriage policy was updated, stating the "for christians, marriage is between a man and a woman." second, the church accepted a transgender person into church membership. the decision on the marriage policy saddens me, though i am not surprised. i disagree strongly with the church's decision limiting marriage, and i find the phrase "for christians" especially disturbing. does the church mean that if one acknowledges same-gender marriage as being legitimate, one is no longer a christian?
i was relieved that the church did not turn away the transgender person who applied for membership. many in the church strongly disagree with the church's decision, and i have learned that attendance was quite sparse on the sunday she was formally received into the church. those who were there attributed the low attendance as a protest against the church's decision.
our church's membership is weighted heavily toward those who are 50+, and we live in a very conservative community in a very conservative area of the country, so it is not surprising that most oppose same-gender marriage and deny the existence of transgender persons. old ways of thinking die hard, and, even when these points-of-view are wrong, they won't change quickly. that doesn't mean that they have to be accepted, and i am troubled that the clergy leadership of the church is not engaging us in discussions of both these issues.
we have committed gay couples who are members of our church. we have gay individuals who have been elected to positions of leadership. we have a gay staff member who is in a committed relationship and plans to marry his partner. in the face of these realities, we have to deal with the issue of homosexuality and same-gender marriage more honestly. the church can't make a pronouncement about the definition of marriage, flatly stating that those who disagree are not christians, and think that the issue has been addressed.
can we tell a gay member that she is qualified to be an officer in the church but the church can't honor her commitment to her partner? can we tell our gay staff member that we're willing to honor his service and pay his salary, but we won't acknowledge his husband?
some of the most conservative members are pushing for our church to leave our denomination for one that flatly condemns same-gender marriage and refuses admission to transgender persons. one person has already withdrawn her membership because she is unwilling for the church to take time to struggle with these issues and has left to search for a church that condemns same-gender marriage in more emphatic language and refuses membership to transgender persons.
like her, i struggle with whether to remain a member of my congregation; unlike her, my reason is its refusal to recognize that the church has no business telling people whom they should love and to whom they should make a permanent commitment. at the very least, the church should acknowledge that one can find same-gender marriage acceptable and still remain a christian. for now, i'm willing to wait for attitudes to change as our clergy and leaders examine this issue, but i'm not willing to leave our denomination because the national church has decided that a congregation can honor same-gender marriage. in the coming weeks, i will speak with our leaders and ask that they reconsider the decision they've made and the language used to express that decision. once i have a sense of the rigidity of their position, i'll have some guidance in making my own decision.
may we acknowledge that change often comes slowly and that there are times when that is a good thing. may we stand up for what we believe to be right, even when we're in the minority, and may we do so while respecting those with whom we disagree and without attacking them personally. shalom.
i was relieved that the church did not turn away the transgender person who applied for membership. many in the church strongly disagree with the church's decision, and i have learned that attendance was quite sparse on the sunday she was formally received into the church. those who were there attributed the low attendance as a protest against the church's decision.
our church's membership is weighted heavily toward those who are 50+, and we live in a very conservative community in a very conservative area of the country, so it is not surprising that most oppose same-gender marriage and deny the existence of transgender persons. old ways of thinking die hard, and, even when these points-of-view are wrong, they won't change quickly. that doesn't mean that they have to be accepted, and i am troubled that the clergy leadership of the church is not engaging us in discussions of both these issues.
we have committed gay couples who are members of our church. we have gay individuals who have been elected to positions of leadership. we have a gay staff member who is in a committed relationship and plans to marry his partner. in the face of these realities, we have to deal with the issue of homosexuality and same-gender marriage more honestly. the church can't make a pronouncement about the definition of marriage, flatly stating that those who disagree are not christians, and think that the issue has been addressed.
can we tell a gay member that she is qualified to be an officer in the church but the church can't honor her commitment to her partner? can we tell our gay staff member that we're willing to honor his service and pay his salary, but we won't acknowledge his husband?
some of the most conservative members are pushing for our church to leave our denomination for one that flatly condemns same-gender marriage and refuses admission to transgender persons. one person has already withdrawn her membership because she is unwilling for the church to take time to struggle with these issues and has left to search for a church that condemns same-gender marriage in more emphatic language and refuses membership to transgender persons.
like her, i struggle with whether to remain a member of my congregation; unlike her, my reason is its refusal to recognize that the church has no business telling people whom they should love and to whom they should make a permanent commitment. at the very least, the church should acknowledge that one can find same-gender marriage acceptable and still remain a christian. for now, i'm willing to wait for attitudes to change as our clergy and leaders examine this issue, but i'm not willing to leave our denomination because the national church has decided that a congregation can honor same-gender marriage. in the coming weeks, i will speak with our leaders and ask that they reconsider the decision they've made and the language used to express that decision. once i have a sense of the rigidity of their position, i'll have some guidance in making my own decision.
may we acknowledge that change often comes slowly and that there are times when that is a good thing. may we stand up for what we believe to be right, even when we're in the minority, and may we do so while respecting those with whom we disagree and without attacking them personally. shalom.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
When Hatred and Division Give Way to Love and Peace
may i understand, o God of mystery.
may i be at peace with myself and others, o God of peace.
may i be fully present in this and every moment, o God of the cosmos.
may i be filled with loving-kindness, o God of love.
may i be patient, o God of eternity.
may i see my suffering and that of others, o God of healing.
may i be generous, o God of all good gifts.
may i forgive any wrong done to me, o God of mercy.
may i make amends for any wrong done by me, o God of justice.
may i think clearly and logically, o God of reason.
may i see no "others," o God of unity.
may i not cling to that which is impermanent, o God of the ever-changing universe.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Fly Me to the Moon
my wife and i are off on a month-long trip, so i won't be posting for a while. i hope to be back blogging by mid-october. may all who stumble upon this page or who come to it on purpose be well, may you be happy, may you be at peace. shalom.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Blessed Assurance!
three events keep swirling through my mind--first, a county clerk's refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of her belief that doing so would be a denial of her christian beliefs and her subsequent jailing for contempt of court; next, the dismissal of our church secretary because of her problems relating to other members of the church staff; and, finally, walking into our local movie theater and hearing an advertisement for how to have a "lasting relationship with jesus christ" by attending a local evangelical church. how are these events related to one another? what does their coming to mind together mean for me?
i am suspicious of those who are confident in their own rightness and righteousness. i am troubled by those who seem to have no doubts about their own beliefs and who can dismiss the beliefs of others with self-assurance.
i ask myself how would issuing a marriage license to a same-sex couple harm kim davis, or how would her faith be harmed if she permitted her deputies to issue licenses even if her own conscience would not allow her to do so. how can she be so certain that her "deeply held" religious beliefs are right and should therefore be forced on others?
if an employee of a church harbors resentments against other staff members, i question whether the problem is best solved by firing that employee. would it be better to bring the staff together to air grievances and to try and come to terms with the source of those resentments, resorting to dismissal only as a last resort when all else has failed?
i wonder why movie patrons should be subjected to advertisements recruiting members for a local church after they've paid for admission to a movie theater. should the theater chain make a profit by selling ads for the purpose of religious proselytizing?
in all of these situations, there is an underlying assumption that, since i am right, you must be wrong if you fail to adopt my belief system. the county clerk says that her belief that same-sex marriage is a grave sin makes it her duty to prevent others from committing this sin in so far as it is possible for her; there is no questioning of the reasons a same-sex couple would wish to commit to each other in marriage. the church elders take the side of some staff members against another staff member and say that the staff member who is having difficulties relating to some other staff members must be in error without giving her a chance to defend her position or providing a mechanism for all of the staff to work through their differences; there is no opportunity for all of the staff to find wholeness by honest communication with one another. the church which seeks to "save" others by paid commercials at the movie theater forces ticket holders to listen to their message, quite a different thing from the recruiting ads for local colleges and blurbs to entice attendees to buy tickets for upcoming movies; their "saving" message is reduced to just another commercial as trivial as the other commercials that play in the lobby and restrooms.
may we allow room for doubt and questioning. may we seek healing and wholeness rather than taking the easy road of getting rid of whatever offends us. may we not reduce the most profound questions of life to glib answers that can be found in a thirty-second blurb over a public address system. shalom.
i am suspicious of those who are confident in their own rightness and righteousness. i am troubled by those who seem to have no doubts about their own beliefs and who can dismiss the beliefs of others with self-assurance.
i ask myself how would issuing a marriage license to a same-sex couple harm kim davis, or how would her faith be harmed if she permitted her deputies to issue licenses even if her own conscience would not allow her to do so. how can she be so certain that her "deeply held" religious beliefs are right and should therefore be forced on others?
if an employee of a church harbors resentments against other staff members, i question whether the problem is best solved by firing that employee. would it be better to bring the staff together to air grievances and to try and come to terms with the source of those resentments, resorting to dismissal only as a last resort when all else has failed?
i wonder why movie patrons should be subjected to advertisements recruiting members for a local church after they've paid for admission to a movie theater. should the theater chain make a profit by selling ads for the purpose of religious proselytizing?
in all of these situations, there is an underlying assumption that, since i am right, you must be wrong if you fail to adopt my belief system. the county clerk says that her belief that same-sex marriage is a grave sin makes it her duty to prevent others from committing this sin in so far as it is possible for her; there is no questioning of the reasons a same-sex couple would wish to commit to each other in marriage. the church elders take the side of some staff members against another staff member and say that the staff member who is having difficulties relating to some other staff members must be in error without giving her a chance to defend her position or providing a mechanism for all of the staff to work through their differences; there is no opportunity for all of the staff to find wholeness by honest communication with one another. the church which seeks to "save" others by paid commercials at the movie theater forces ticket holders to listen to their message, quite a different thing from the recruiting ads for local colleges and blurbs to entice attendees to buy tickets for upcoming movies; their "saving" message is reduced to just another commercial as trivial as the other commercials that play in the lobby and restrooms.
may we allow room for doubt and questioning. may we seek healing and wholeness rather than taking the easy road of getting rid of whatever offends us. may we not reduce the most profound questions of life to glib answers that can be found in a thirty-second blurb over a public address system. shalom.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
But the King's Own Army None Can Overthrow
"who is this king of glory? the lord strong and mighty, the lord mighty in battle." so says verse 8 of psalm 24. i wonder how much suffering resulted from this kingly image of God, this god of war. how many wars have been fought with all sides claiming that God is on their side? how many victories have been credited to God's favor? how many have been killed in the name of God?
in our church's wednesday night bible studies, we are investigating the teachings and preaching of charles spurgeon, the famous 19th-century british preacher. on one of these wednesday studies, we contemplated spurgeon's image of a christian approaching the throne of God, as God sat in majesty. that image seemed too earthly for me. i thought of spurgeon, steeped in the the traditions of british respect for the monarchy with great britain at the height of its imperial power, seeing a god who is the heavenly embodiment of the english sovereign and wondered if this is the image of God that we ought to have in our heads, if indeed we ought to have any image of God.
if God has neither form nor substance, should we create such for God? when we do, are we not worshiping a god of our own imagining? this battle-king god of the old testament is far from the God about which jesus teaches. we must choose between a God of love and a god of war, the latter being the justification for all sorts of oppression and cruelty that humans visit on one another.
may we never pretend to understand God as a human-writ-large. instead, may we revere the mystery that is God, not daring to believe that we have found a solution to that mystery. may we replace certainty with doubt, with searching, with dissatisfaction when it comes to answers that come too easily. may we see God in every act of love. shalom.
in our church's wednesday night bible studies, we are investigating the teachings and preaching of charles spurgeon, the famous 19th-century british preacher. on one of these wednesday studies, we contemplated spurgeon's image of a christian approaching the throne of God, as God sat in majesty. that image seemed too earthly for me. i thought of spurgeon, steeped in the the traditions of british respect for the monarchy with great britain at the height of its imperial power, seeing a god who is the heavenly embodiment of the english sovereign and wondered if this is the image of God that we ought to have in our heads, if indeed we ought to have any image of God.
if God has neither form nor substance, should we create such for God? when we do, are we not worshiping a god of our own imagining? this battle-king god of the old testament is far from the God about which jesus teaches. we must choose between a God of love and a god of war, the latter being the justification for all sorts of oppression and cruelty that humans visit on one another.
may we never pretend to understand God as a human-writ-large. instead, may we revere the mystery that is God, not daring to believe that we have found a solution to that mystery. may we replace certainty with doubt, with searching, with dissatisfaction when it comes to answers that come too easily. may we see God in every act of love. shalom.
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