Lighthouses and Jesus our Light

Rescue the perishing,  Care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;   Weep o’er the erring one,  Lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. Fanny Crosby golden oldy

 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life 

                                                     John 8:12 NRSVue

Have you ever noticed that their are a fair number of Lighthouse Christian ministries of different stripes and a lot of them are far from the ocean? I suppose the imagery lends itself to the notion that Christ is our light in the midst of the storm, the One who guides our way. It seems that they are often meant for people who are "lost" or "shipwrecked" in life and can benefit from a supportive Christian community. 

There was a great segment on CBC Radio's The Current not long ago which involved two retired Canadian lighthouse keepers, Caroline Woodward from British Columbia and Barry Porter from Newfoundland. Both had spent decades making sure that these beacons were functioning for the benefit of mariners. Both felt that they had saved lives through their vigilance. They spoke about the challenges of isolation and the necessity of resourcefulness. They also reminisced about the beauty of their settings and the power of solitude. 

We've been blessed to experience lighthouses, up close and personal through the years. We camped within sight and sound of the Swallowtail Lighthouse on Grand Manan Island and visited one of the lighthouses Barry served in Twillingate on a number of occasions.

Perhaps the best experience came when I was in ministry in outport Newfoundland in the early 1980s. Our now departed friend Lewis Wheaton took us on a day trip in his inshore fishing boat during which we visited an island to see puffins, stopped the boat in the midst of a pod of pothead whales, and, finally, at Peckford Island lighthouse, not far from Fogo Island. We had tea with the two lighthouse keepers and heard that the spacious quarters had once housed two families who lived there in isolation for long stretches, with the ultimate in home-schooling for the children. We were told that a drunk pilot managed to run a large ship up onto the plate of rock immediately beneath the light (see below)

Families with kids no longer live at lighthouses for safety reasons and many of the lighthouses are automated, even though Caroline and Barry feel that there is no replacement for human eyes and ears. Apparently the Canadian Coast Guard is looking for lighthouse keepers, so if you have a notion...you could sing rescue hymns at the top of your lungs!

1 Eternal Father, strong to save,

whose arm has bound the restless wave,

who bade the mighty ocean deep

its own appointed limits keep:

O hear us when we cry to thee

for those in peril on the sea.

2 O Christ, whose voice the waters heard,

and hushed their raging at thy word,

who walked upon the foaming deep,

and calm amid the storm did sleep:

O hear us when we cry to thee

for those in peril on the sea.

3 O Holy Spirit, who didst brood

upon the chaos dark and rude,

and bade its angry tumult cease,

and gave for wild confusion, peace:

O hear us when we cry to thee

for those in peril on the sea.

4 O Trinity of love and power,

all travellers guard in danger's hour.

From rock and tempest, fire and foe,

protect them wheresoe'er they go:

thus evermore shall rise to thee

glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

                                      Voices United 659

MAID & Vigilance for the Vulnerable

that ending suffering due to mental illness not be a category for MAID, 

and that the church advocate for increased mental health resources

from the Revised United Church Statement on Medical Assistance in Dying 2020

A parliamentary committee of 15 Canadian senators and members of parliament will report soon regarding proposed alterations to eligibility for Medical Assistance in Dying. It would seem that the federal government chose to be preemptive yesterday when Health Minister Mr. Mark Holland said Canada is not ready to proceed with contentious changes regardling permission for those suffering from a mental illness to access MAID. 

Comments made by members of the committee suggest that there isn't consensus on the recommendations with the change for mental illness scheduled for March 17 -- what would St. Patrick think? Those opposed, apparently the majority, are calling for an indefinite pause. One headline read Opposition parties call for indefinite pause to MAID expansion for mental illness. 

There has also been significant resistance to these changes from some ethicists as well as members of the psychiatric community in Canada who are often working with patients who have suicidal thoughts. The lack of adequate mental health care in this country and the reality that some people might seek "suicide by doctor" are real. This change seems a long way from the "grievous and irremediable illness" provision of the original legislation. 

Some critics say that the concerns about a "slippery slope" of acceptance for MAID has become a rush to the cliff with the numbers of those accessing this form of death rising faster than any other country in the world. From what I've read the highest percentage of MAID deaths occur in Quebec and British Columbia. In BC the percentage is greatest on Vancouver Island where many seniors go to live and, yes, eventually die. 

When I peruse the annual report provided by the Canadian government the average age of MAID recipients is 77, not far off being equally divided between men and women. More than three quarters receive palliative care and/or disability services beforehand. Of course, this average age is likely to drop if mental illness is included as a reason for MAID.

I am convinced that people of faith need to stay informed and make their voices heard regarding MAID but as I've said often enough, I don't feel there should be a categorical condemnation as is the case with some Christian denominations. Just the same, we should continue to voice our expectations that the vulnerable be protected and that every level of government must provide adequate mental health care and medical care. MAID should never be the way out for those who are desperate because they are unable to access support. I spoke with a United Church colleague in congregational ministry recently who is concerned that young LGBTQ2S+ persons who are often struggling with identity and rejection could be inclined to choose MAID if the legislation changes. 

A reminder that the United Church first issued a statement regarding MAID in 2017 and an update in 2020. In both our denomination rejected the possibility of MAID for those with mental illness. I feel that every congregation should give opportunities for members to discuss Medical Assistance in Dying in open and respectful forums which include a faith perspective. The three-part series I led at Trenton United on MAID and Palliative Care/Hospice last year was well attended and the participants were inquisitive and honest. Along with an excellent presentation by Hospice Quinte we arranged a visit to their facility for those interested in knowing more. 

We can say our prayers about the outcome of the proposals we'll hear this week and do our best to be vigilant in the days ahead. I hope that the United Church will issue a statement soon. 

Here are links to the United Church statements and the Health Canada report: 

https://united-church.ca/news/medical-assistance-dying

https://united-church.ca/news/revised-statement-medical-assistance-dying

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/health-system-services/annual-report-medical-assistance-dying-2022.html

 

The Remarkable Life & Witness of Mary Ann Shadd

 

                                              Mary Ann Shadd descendants at her stamp unveiling 

A few weeks ago I reflected here about the the Underground Railroad and the iconic Harriet Tubman's years in Canada. The next day there was a news item about a new Canadian stamp which was to be issued commemorating Mary Ann Shadd, a lesser known yet  remarkable Black woman of the 19th century. 

Shadd was born in the United States and died there but she lived for decades near Windsor, Ontario, starting a school under the auspices of a missionary society. Shad and her siblings had been educated in a Quaker school in the States and her activism and her Christian faith went hand in hand. Here is the description of Shadd provided by Canada Post: 

Part of the Black History Month series, this 2024 stamp pays tribute to Mary Ann Shadd, an abolitionist, educator and lawyer who was the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America.

Through her newspaper, the Provincial Freeman, Shadd played an important role in promoting Canada as a place for Black people to settle, raise families and contribute as free citizens.

Black History Month honours the many Canadians throughout history whose voices have contributed to the struggle to end racism and discrimination.

While the stamp was unveiled last week with a number of descendants present, it will be released to the public today in advance of Black History Month. I listened to an interview with two enthusiastic and articulate family members, women who are proud of the legacy and inspiration Shadd provides them and other Black Canadians. 

There is another Shadd family stamp, issued in 2009, to aknowledge Mary Ann's father, Abraham. Before moving his family to Canada, Abraham "protested racism at countless abolitionist meetings and played a major role in the Underground Railroad, a secret route through which slaves were guided to freedom in Canada. As “stationmaster” and “conductor” for the Railroad, he provided escaping refugees with food, shelter, clothing and guidance." (Canada Post).

We know that the use of stamps has diminished through the years as our society has moved away from "snail mail" but I'm grateful for these tiny invitations and glimpses into an important aspect of Canadian history. Thank God for the witness of this remarkable family. 

                                                                  Abraham Doras Shadd

The Death Penalty & a Watching World

 

          

                                                            Rev.  Dr. Jeff Hood press conference

Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”  Instead, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”  

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12: 17-21 NRSVue 

 The state of Alabama engaged in a ghoulish, experimental form of judicially mandated homicide Thursday evening. A convicted murderer, Kenneth Smith,  was executed 35 years after his crime. Smith's victim was Elizabeth Sennett, a pastor's wife. He and another man were hired by the pastor to murder her and stage the death as a robbery so he could collect the insurance. In a truly "you can't make this up" twist the pastor took his own life when the plot was discovered. 

Despite being sentenced to life in prison in two trials a judge chose to overrule the decisions of two juries and have Smith put to death using nitrous oxide, gassing him by a method never used before. Companies which produce the chemicals previously used in lethal injections have chosen not to supply them anymore if they are going to used for the death penalty. While the nitrous oxide did kill Smith, he writhed in apparent distress for nearly half an hour before he expired.

While the US Supreme Court ruled in favour of this execution one of the three dissenting judges, Sonia Sotomayor, described what would happen as treating Smith as a "guinea pig" and commented that the world is watching. 

Smith's spiritual advisor, the Rev. Jeff Hood,  was present with Smith when he died and described what he saw as torture. He was clear that Smith committed a terrible crime but also asserted that this form of execution dishonoured the memory of the person he killed, a view not shared by Sennett's sons.  He condemned what he considers the lies that this would be a humane form of death and went so far as to say it was evil. 

The United Church of Canada publicly opposed capital punishment well before it was abolished in Canada, a rejection of retributive violence. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus spoke against an "eye for an eye." 

 While the death penalty was legally ended in Canada in 1976 the last execution was in 1962. The rate of homicides in Canada has declined steadily through those decades, suggesting that the threat of the death penality is not a deterrent. 

I have admitted along the way that there are criminals who to my mind deserve to die, yet I remain convinced that when we kill as a society in response to killing we diminish and brutalize ourselves. 

 When I worked as a chaplain intern at Kingston Penitentiary in the summer of 1979 I spoke regularly with murderers who I felt were genuinely repentant -- the connection with the term "penitnentiary" -- even though this would make no difference to their sentence. Often it was through their connection with chaplains and other people of faith that they came to understand the gravity of their crimes. 

I'm mindful that John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth, the apostle Paul, and the disciple Peter were all executed by a tyrannical regime. The verses above were written by Paul. 

 Justice Sotomayor is correct that the world is watching the United States, a nation which many claim is Christian, and this is far from their finest hour. 

                                                     Elizabeth Sennett, Kenneth Smith's murder victim

 

Holocaust Remembrance in Troubled Times

 

This is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, an opportunity to reflect on the systematic and demonic extermination of 6 million Jews during the Nazi regime in the 1940s. The state of Israel has its own occasion called Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Memorial Day which takes place in April or May depending on the Jewish calendar. For many Jews the use of the word Shoah is considered more appropriate because it means the calamity rather than using Holocaust which means burnt offering.

 It's estimated that there were 17 million Jews around the world before WW2 and fewer than 11 million by the time it ended. The population has grown to 16 million during the past nearly 80 years. Israel and the United States have roughly three quarters of that number and Canada has the fourth largest Jewish population at 350,000. The countries of Europe, other than France, have small remnant populations because millions were murdered. 

We were in Israel last April on Yom HaShoah and everything and everyone stops for a moment of remembrance as sirens sound.

                                                                   Yad Vashem, Jerusalem

As some of you will recall from a blog we also made a point of visiting Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre. This was my fourth visit but first to the reimagined complex designed by Moshe Safdie, the Canadian/Israeli architect who may be best known here for his work at the Montreal World Expo in 1967, specifically the Habitat housing development. 

I have offered a reflection on International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Yom HaShoah many times yet I feel that it's as important as ever to consider this solemn day. We were horrified when innocent Israelis were murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization, and many of us have been deeply disturbed by the level of vengeance wreaked by the IDF in Gaza, killing thousands of children.

Despite our confusion, it is so important to speak strongly against anti-Semiticism which has been on the rise around the world, including Canada. Many Canadian Jews admit that they are experiencing fear about their safety for the first time in their lives. 

Taking a stand is particularly important for Christians who follow Jesus, the Risen Christ, who was born and died a Jew. While we are aware of the courageous protection of Jews by some Christians during WW2, the "righteous gentiles", we also know that far too many Christians were either complicit in the horror of their persecution or turned a blind eye. 

While I fully endorse the efforts of the United Church to express solidarity with the people of Gaza and the West Bank I do wish our denomination had recognized this solemn day as well. There is a thoughtful call to consider the Christian complicity in anti-Semiticism during the season of Lent by Michelle Vos from 2023.

https://united-church.ca/blogs/round-table/antisemitism-and-lent

Here is my blog reflection on visiting Yad Vashem from May of 2023:

https://lionlamb-bowmanville.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-witness-of-yad-vashem.html

When God Was a... Crocodile?

Crocodiles, like this one, are considered sacred by the Molbog people.

Two years ago, in the month of January I reflected on the imagery of the dove as the Holy Spirit in the stories of the baptism of Jesus. I mentioned a an intriguing book by Mark Wallace called When God Was a Bird: Christianity and the Re-Enchantment of the World. Wallace invites the reader to ponder the significance of the various ways God-in-three-Persons is depicted in scripture as a creature other than a human. In her review of the book Nancy Menning describes the premise of When God Was a Bird far better than I could: 

 ... Wallace invites Christians to reconsider the significance of creaturely depictions of the Spirit. He argues that Christianity arose as an enfleshed and enfeathered religion, characterized by a double incarnation into both the human form (Jesus) and the more-than-human natural world (the Spirit). The subsequent disenchantment of the natural world that has resulted in a Christianity centered solely on a transcendent sky-god has had grave consequences both for human well-being and for the broader ecologies within which—echoing Acts 17:28—all creation lives, moves, and has its being.

This invitation by Wallace speaks to me now in a way that in simply didn't when I was younger. In fact, I would have regarded any animistic or view of God as dangerous and even heretical. Not any more. I wonder how I could not consider this given my convictions about God incarnate, in Jesus. 

The book and my previous blog came to mind when I read about the Malbog people of the Philippines who consider crocodiles to be sacred (although not Allah.) They use the same word for crocodile — “opo” — is used to refer to grandparents. I may not tell my grandchildren this.

I have seen crocodiles in the wild in Costa Rica and they weren't exactly enchanting. I have no desire to oust the dove of the Holy Spirit in favour of crocs. Seeing a big one slither into the water fascinated me and gave me the heeby geebies.

I do think that Christians who at times are "so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good" could reconnect with Creation and Creator by paying humble attention to the traditions of Indigenous peoples in their reverence for the world around them.

Maybe all those Omas and Opas out there could be Opos...maybe not... enough borderline blasphemy for one day!

Quinto Martini

Spiritual Health Post-Pandemic

 The United Church of Canada generally didn't fare particularly well as a result of the COVID pandemic and that could be said of many denominations and Christian communities. The extended mandated closures resulted in a drop in attendance once regular worship resumed. Some congregations which were on life support before the pandemic closed their doors permanantly. Happilym this didn't apply across the board There is an encouraging number of newcomers to our congregation since we came back together and the services are now both in person and on Zoom. Still, there are lots of concerns. 

What do we know about spirituality in general, though, out of the world-changing pandemic experience? We may be less institutional in our faith expression, but what do we really know about what matters to folk, what has shifted in their spiritual lives? And how do we scratch where people itch, spiritually speaking? 

I just read the published results of a study from the Fetzer Institute in the States called A Study of Spirituality in the United States Since Covid that involved more than 3600 participants. The US is certainly different than Canada when to comes to Christianity and spirituality but i found the synopsis interesting. 

I won't try to interpret what the insitute found but here is the mission statement and some of the findings. You can decide if some of this rings true for you. 

Our Mission

Inspired by our founder John E. Fetzer, our mission is “helping build the spiritual foundation for a loving world.” We work to achieve this mission by catalyzing a movement of organizations and funders applying spiritual solutions to social problems so that all people can flourish.

Among the Study's Findings

•  Engaging in prayer, art, and time in nature were the most frequent practices reported by the nearly two-thirds of interviewees who consider themselves both spiritual and religious.
•  Survey participants reported that almost every spiritual activity people practiced supported their spiritual growth and mental well-being.
•  Seven out of ten people said being in nature gave them a sense of hope. Nearly three-quarters of people found prayer—however they define it—helped them endure difficulties.

This study and its 2020 predecessor together affirm through interviews, focus groups, and two surveys that spirituality is an inward and outward experience—it offers a sense of identity, offers tangible benefits, defines individual and group practices, infuses daily practices and experiences, and supports our religious life, our search for meaning and purpose, and our connections to the transcendent.

Subtle but notable differences in findings between the 2020 and 2022 surveys reflect that toward the latter stages of the pandemic people experienced:

• a little more doubt in a higher power;
• a little less feeling of connection to a higher power, all of humanity, the natural world;
• a little less aspiration to be spiritual; and
• a little less engagement in spiritual and/or religious activities.

On the Road to the Adventure of Studying Together

 

Our driveway is cleared of snow, the freezing drizzle will soon abate, and in an hour I'll head to Trenton to lead the fourth and final session based on scholar Susan Hylen's  book, Finding Pheobe: What New Testament Women Were Really Like.  The group participants have been all women, with the exception of one man, other than myself. The majority are seniors, women who grew up with certain gender expectations that favoured men. 

The Phoebe of the apostle Paul's letter to the church in Rome, along with other women in different cultures of the first century lived in a patriarchal and hierarchical society yet they also often had opportunities to develop careers, and were entrepeneurial. They found roles of leadership in their faith communities and took on recognized civic responsibilities While they observed social conventions regarding silence they weren't "seen and not heard", at times eloquent and persuasive. 

My sense is that we have all benefitted greatly from this different perspective. I've enjoyed listening to the "takes" of our group, and at times we have laughed together. There are times when someone offers an insight which I just hadn't considered. What they offer to me and one another is why I've led 14 study groups at Trenton UC in the six years since became part of this Christian community.

And I'm not done yet. Today we'll decide whether we'll delve into another book by Amy-Jill Levine, a Jewish New Testament scholar (you read that right). This one is about the parables of Jesus, Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi. 

I'm grateful that folk have been willing to explore subjects that may be a little less than conventional, with enough variation that it stimulates me as a leader and, I hope, them as well. I'm glad that we have participants who join us via Zoom as well as in person, several from other congregations. 

I would like to think that we embark on a bit of an adventure each time and I'll try to remember this as I navigate the highway this morning. You are welcome to join us during Lent!

Aw shucks, Donald shore ain't Jesus!

 

                                                     Trump Supporters at a MAGA Rally

Iowa picks corn, New Hampshire picks presidents. 

Governor John Sununu 1988

AntiChrist 

• a person or force seen as opposing Christ or the Christian Church.

  
  

  "St. Paul really did have to fear for his life at the hands of an Antichrist named Nero"
• a person or thing regarded as supremely evil or as a fundamental enemy or opponent.

  "I see the media as the Antichrist"

I don't have enough years left to fathom the arcane political system in the United States. Election campaigns seemingly begin before the inauguration from the previous one, primaries scoot across the country with varying portent, and candidates carry the popular vote but are defeated because they lose the electoral college. 

                                                     Trump-posted, AI generated prayer image

As the quote about suggests, today's primary in New Hampshire is a key to November's Republican candidate and it's looking like a coronation. Needless to say, Donald Trump would love to declared emperor and dispense with an election altogether. What I find appalling is that so many Quistians in America -- quasi-Christian believers -- literally idolize a man who is so far from any sense of following Jesus. Some of them put Trump alongside Jesus and see him as God's anointed despite what he says and does. Others compare him to King David who, after all, had his faults yet loved the Lord (yes, you hear me gagging in the background.) 

So, Donald Trump may qualify as the worst president in US history, incited an insurrection, and is antithetical to gospel values. Is he also the antiChrist? Okay, this isn't a term that is part of the United Church theological vocabulary and I'll calm down, but even I begin to wonder. 

Aw shucks, Christian folks, how can you pick this guy? Aren't you grateful that I waited until well after breakfast to post this blog? 

                                          Trump in the Courtroom with his Heavenly Attorney

                                  Trump aboard Aslan, the Narnia Christ figure lion imagined by CS Lewis 

The Creator's Snow Day

 

 1.Praise the Lord for the joys of winter,

praise the Lord for a world transformed,  

 

praise the Lord for the trees and houses adorned. 

Praise the Lord for snowy angels, praise the Lord for the chance to play

praise the Lord for this  heavenly display.

Praise the Lord for our children’s laughter,

praise the Lord for their sleds on hills, 

praise the Lord for their rosy cheeks, for tumbles and for spills.

Praise the Lord for the game of hockey, blades on ice let us fly with ease, 

gifts of sport made to cheer us and to please.

                                     Winter Joys - lyrics Shirley Porter, tune: Natalie Sleeth's hymn 

Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet (Voices United 245)  

Saturday evening we decided to play hooky from Sunday morning worship because of the weather. It wasn't that forecast was bad -- we aren't readily deterred by snow -- but because it was just what we have pining for during this "winter" season. The time around Christmas was so dreary with days of fog and grey skies. The past few days have been what we might consider a cold snap, as brief as it's been. Yesterday called for an early morning temperature of -17C and clear skies.

We set off early for Bon Echo Provincial Park, northward but accessible from our Lake Ontario community. We arrived around 9:30 and for the rest of the morning had the place to ourselves. For the first time in this season we clicked into our cross-country skis and found our way to Mazinaw Lake and the marvellous cliffs which are adorned with Indigenous pictographs. We have skiied to the cliffs in past years but didn't trust the ice for the crossing after so much mild weather. 

Along the way we found a bench by the edge of the ice, facing the sun, and cleared off the snow for a half-hour sit in the blessed silence -- no human sounds whatsoever. We shared a thermos of tea and Ruth's cranberry muffins in a time of communion where we gave thanks to the Creator. We spoke briefly about this privilege, given the chaotic state of our world, which we didn't want to take for granted. 

                                               Ruth by Mazinaw Lake, always ready for the adventure 

When we suited up for the trip into the park we wondered how many layers to wear. given the cold. By the time we got back to our vehicle I could hardly wait to peel some of those garments off because I was so warm. Ruth expressed her delight in the clear, cold, clean air that we had been breathing in amidst the pine trees. 

I'm sure worship inside would have worthwhile, but worship outside on such a rarity of a day was sublime. The  next two weeks have rain in the forecast and plus celsius temperatures. Was that it for real winter in our neck of the woods? I hope not. 

Later in the day I saw a MEC ad enthusing about Sunday January 21st as World Snow Day. We had no idea there was such an occasion but it turned out we had enjoyed it to the fullest and we willingly gave credit to the God of ice, and snow, and the best kind of runny noses. 

Once again I've included the lyrics to a winter hymn written by sister-in-law Shirley. 

2. Praise the Lord for the fun of snow forts, purple shadows at day’s end, 

joys of winter help our spirits mend.

Praise the Lord for our walks through woodlands,

creatures leave their footprints there,

 God’s creation marks the snow with care.

Praise the Lord for the squeak of footsteps on the freshly fallen snow, 

Praise the Lord for windows etched with frosty white tableau.

Praise the Lord for the time of winter, time to sing and time to play,

Praise the Lord every season, every day!

                                      Winter Joys - lyrics Shirley Porter, tune: Natalie Sleeth's hymn 

Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet (Voices United 245) 

4 AM with Jesus

 

1 Stay with us through the night.

Stay with us through the pain.

Stay with us, blessed stranger

till the morning breaks again.

2 Stay with us through the night.

Stay with us through the grief.

Stay with us, blessed stranger

till the morning brings relief.

                                     Voices United 182

 I like Anne Lamott as a writer and have led study groups on her book Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers. She has the ability to speak the truth about daily living and our Christian faith in ways which are fresh and off-kilter enough to make the reader nod and say, "yes".

This quote speaks to the spectres which can haunt us in those hours when we feel most alone and vulnerable and every problem, real and imagined, is magnifed.I want Jesus to be my heart's company. Lamott's words brought to mind the hymn Stay With Us through the Night, one of my favourites. 

3 Stay with us through the night.

Stay with us through the dread.

Stay with us, blessed stranger

till the morning breaks new bread.

A True Pledge of Allegiance

 

What does it mean to be committed to the way of Christ? How  might our "pledge of allegiance" to Jesus, the Prince of Peace read? We know that our American neighbours have a pledge which includes an oath of allegiance to flag and country and God, although the latter was only included in 1954. 

This past week I saw for the first time the pledge of non-violence created by Dr. Martin Luther King and others in the Civil Right Movement. As you can see above, participants were expected to sign this pledge and live by it, whatever came their way The line for "nearest relative" is ominous and practical given that many marchers were beaten and arrested. Dr. King was jailed 29 times on a variety of charges. 

As I read through these "commandments" I'm moved, thinking of what those brave souls endured. I also ask myself how committed I am to the way of peace as someone who follows Jesus. They are all meaningful and personally applicable, except for the tenth, but I am particularly taken by "Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart." 

1. Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.
   
2. Remember always that the non-violent movement seeks justice and reconciliation – not victory.
   
3. Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.
   
4. Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.
   
5. Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all men might be free.
   
6. Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.
   
7. Seek to perform regular service for others and for the world.
   
8. Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.
   
9. Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
   
10. Follow the directions of the movement and of the captain on a demonstration.

A May 28, 1963, sit-in demonstration at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Jackson, Miss., turned violent when whites poured sugar, ketchup and mustard over the heads of demonstrators, from left, John Salter, Joan Trumpauer and Anne Moody. 

(Fred Blackwell / Associated Press)

The Maestro and a Journey to Jerusalem

 

Have you watched the film Maestro on Netflix? It stars Bradley Cooper as the late, celebrated conductor, Leonard Bernstein and Carrie Mulligan as his wife, Felicia Montealegre. She was a performer of considerable skill in her own right but this narrative focusses more on Bernstein and the sometimes tumultous marriage with Montealegre. Leonard was bisexual or gay and Felicia knew this before they were married but chose to accept his orientation. It was not so straightforward a decision as the year's went by and as their children grew to an age where they were aware of rumours about their father's sexuality. 

Both Bernstein and Montealegre died relatively young but their three children have all supported the film and one of them, son Alexander, commented that watching it "was cathartic in a moment when joy and tears, memories and pain were overwhelming,” Some scenes were filmed at the family summer home and in the building where they lived in New York city. 

We really appreciated Maestro although we wished we could have watched it on a theatre screen with a sound system that did it justice. And the hype may have detracted from our experience. We heard that Cooper spent six years learning to conduct in the robust style of Bernstein, studying with Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Canadian conductor and pianist.

Because I can't help myself from snooping I searched around for more information about Bernstein and came upon an 1968 article from the New York Times describing the documentary about  an outdoor concert Bernstein conducted in Jerusalem not long after the "liberation" of the city from Jordanian control. This was Mahler's Resurrection Symphony and the Times headline reads A 'Holy' Concert:'Journey to Jerusalem' Opens 2-Day Stand.

I watched the documentary, available on YouTube, and I was intrigued by Bernstein's explanation that for him the resurrection theme was a renewal of hope as Jews and Arabs came together in this new reality. Bernstein was not an observant Jew although he wrote many pieces on Jewish themes. According to the Milken Archive: 

 During the following decades he was to write some twenty works on Jewish themes—about one quarter of his orchestral works and half of his choral compositions, as well as songs and other pieces that have had broad appeal for Jews and non-Jews everywhere.

I viewed A Journey to Jerusalem not long after the horrific massacre of Israelis by Hamas terrrorists on October 7th and the beginning of the veangeful response by the IDF. Bernstein's comments seemed hopeful and naive and poignant, particularly in light of the fraught relationship between the state of Israel and Palestinians over the past 50 years and more. 

If you want to watch the documentary,  here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_IRzvtqB7I

In Praise of Wool-Makers in Every Age

 

10 A woman of strength who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant; he brings her food from far away.
15 She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household
    and tasks for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

                    Proverbs 31:10-17 NRSVue 

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord, as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.

                   Romans 16:1-2 NRSVue 

Our Trenton United study group on the book Finding Phoebe : What New Testament Women Were Really Like has been a massive eye-opener for me, and I think for the participants as well. The writer, scholar Susan Hylen, persuasively challenges many of the assumptions and myths about the lives of first century women. She offers information about relationships, employment, education, divorce, retention of wealth, civic leadership which challenge what we've thought we knew. 

While the surviving sources provide more material for Greek, Roman, and Egyptian societies Hylen ties each chapter to the women of the New Testament, with Phoebe, mentioned briefly at the end of the apostle Paul's letter to the Romans as the principle figure she returns to throughout the book. 

Hylen includes some of the lengthy inscriptions of praise by husbands on the memorials to their deceased wives. They are literally carved in stone, and often follow a formula in naming the virtues of partners, although there are certainly variations.

Marble imitations of wicker baskets that served as cinerary urns were popular in Rome in the Early Imperial period. They were often associated with female burials, and it is attractive to see this example as representing the weaving basket that the deceased may have used in life. Weaving was regarded as one of the activities that a virtuous Roman matron should pursue.

One of the common virtues named is "wool-making" which is included even if the well-to-do woman might not actually be involved in shearing sheep, spinning yarn, and creating garments. It was more likely a commonly understood catch-phrase for a virtuous woman who was generally skilled in looking out to the interests of her household. While this might seem a bit odd, we have traditionally described individuals as "bear for work" or a dependable "bread winner." No one who hears these phrases thinks that the person is actually ursine, or only brings home baked goods!

I so appreciate deepening my understanding of the milieu in which Christian scriptures took form and being able to do so with a group of people who have a hunger for knowledge, an openness to new insights, and good senses of humour. One of the participants actually worked at her knitting during our time together. 

I hope our friends at Topsy Farms, a sheep farm on Amherst Island, read today's blog. Their halos may be at a jaunty angle but they are impressive wool-makers of the 21st century, literally and figuratively. 

                                                     The Wool Shed, Topsy Farms, Amherst Island