My "Check Engine" light came on

My "Check Engine" light came on this week. No, this is not about our automobiles; it is about me. I was to return a phone call early in the week and I couldn't figure out who the person was. I thought and thought with no progress. I finally asked our Church Secretary and with a strange look on her face, she said it was one of the Church Staff. I was embarrassed. Later in the week I received an email asking for some information, but I couldn't figure out who the person was, although the name was familiar. The next day, I realized that the person was one of my Seminary students. My "Check Engine" light was on. This is probably the accumulation of the past several months rather than one major thing. I consulted with a couple of my colleagues and they agreed that I needed to make some adjustments. So, with my colleagues guidance I've made some changes. I've marked off three, maybe four, weeks from work as soon as we graduate students from the Seminary. Second, I've told my colleagues and folks at the front desk that I'm not available for any new clients until early June. Third, I've said that I'll not take on any new assignments, ex. preaching, speaking, leading a workshop, etc. until mid-summer. Fourth, I've asked my colleagues to hold me accountable. I've agreed that they could look at my appointment book and calendar whenever any of them desire. When one's "Check Engine" light comes on, it is crucial to give it attention. So stop what you are doing, 'pull off the road,' figure out what's happening realizing that you probably need some help doing an assessment, make the necessary corrections and, finally, find someone or several who will hold you accountable.

Change and Discernment

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy said to her dog, "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore." Dealing with change is not easy. I've lived in the same house since 1973 so obviously I value stability. Stability is one of the vows that has been important in the history of religious vocations. Nevertheless, change happens all of the time and change surrounds us. For example, the Seminary were I'm an Adjunct Professor has gone primarily to distance learning. So, I've had to learn how to teach an on-line class which involved my comprehending a new definition of "blackboard" and, then, how to use it. I like some changes. My response to many of the change-challenges has been to carefully choose how to respond. Adapting to changes creates changes in me, some so subtle that I don't recognize them for awhile. Therefore, it is important to discern how I respond to the changes that are happening around me. .

Boredom and the Spiritual Life

I relish writers and speakers who are honest about the spiritual life. In his book, Crossing, Mark Barrett writes, "Boredom is one of the many inevitable obstacles we meet on the spiritual path." (page 2.) Thank you! I'm often bored with my prayers, worship, Bible reading, Eucharist, etc. Sometimes it feels like I go through my spiritual disciplines with one eye of the clock so I can "get my spiritual ticket punched." When I confess this boredom, I have a fear that others will interpret this as my not having a strong faith or a proper relationship with God or lack of personal discipline or whatever. I think otherwise. It is because of my faith and relationship with God that I can be honest with God. I trust God and believe God already knows that I'm bored. So who am I trying to fool when I refuse to recognize my boredom? Even as I confess to a time of boredom, I don't have a three step prescription for remedy. The only thing I know to do is to keep showing up and being honest. I suspect my relationship with God has more to do with my being honest in this spiritual journey than anything else.

"Of Gods and Men"

At our Lay Cistercian meeting this Saturday, we watched the video, "Of Gods and Men." This is a moving video of the seven French monks who choose to remain in Algeria during that country's violent time in the 1990s. The monks were ultimately taken captive and martyred in 1996. The movie focuses primarily on their individual and collective process of discernment. Discernment is never an easy spiritual discipline because the ego will always work overtime in order to protect the self. Self-protection is one of the primary functions of an ego. The movie does an excellent task of revealing the difficult struggle with which the monks make the decision to stay even after the Algerian authorities asked them to leave. The monks knew with great clarity that the chances of things going well for them was not very good. This is a powerful video and one that I recommend. Our major decisions involve the process of discernment. This movie helps us to understand what that involves.

The Poor and Politics

There has been a lot of press about the poor and those unemployed who live at, near or below the poverty rate. Some of our national leaders seem to think that the poor are lazy, satisfied with being poor, have a "safety net," pleased to be on welfare, and on and on. Dorothy Day, a Christian social activist of the past generation, said "The true atheist is the one who denies God's image in the 'least of these'." Truth is often clear and simple yet neither recognized nor well received.

Those Who Walk With God

How lovely are the faces of those who walk with God, Lit with an inner sureness of the path their feet have trod.
How gentle is the manner of those who walk with Him; no strength can overcome them, and no cloud their courage dim.
Keen are the hands and feet, Ah yes, of those who wait His will; and clear as crystal mirrors are the hearts His love does fill.
Some lives are drear from doubt and fear, while others merely plod; But lovely faces mark all those who walk and talk with God.
(An unknown author, "Those Who Walk With God" bookmark)

Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration

Today is the Sunday of Martin Luther King, Jr's 2012 holiday celebration. I'm at home because of illness in the family. I decided this would be an excellent opportunity to watch and/or hear several church services. So, I tuned in. I watched and/or listened to several evangelical Protestant worship services this morning (where are the others?) None of the churches that I had tuned into spoke about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his message of prejudice that hinders equality. Why were these pulpits silent? One of our culture's significant problems is the failure of equality. That struggle is more subtle than in the past. We've legislated against the most obvious types of social segregation but, we have a lot of work to accomplish with personal and social prejudice. We deny prejudice in ourselves and that makes it difficult to root out. All the churches I listened to had well-planned worship services and they offered a variety of types of music to fit one's personal preferences. All of the preachers were excellent speakers. However, given this special holiday that not only honors the Christian Prophet of this generation but, also, draws our attention to the ministry of challenging prejudice, these churches were silent. I hope they aren't representative of most churches.