Friday, July 10, 2009

Random Reflections on Turkey - 3


Touring and Praying – June 2

I prayed in a mosque. I trust that’s not a blasphemous thing for a Christian.

We had visited several mosques on our travels: in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia – a Byzantine church converted to a mosque and now a museum – and the Blue Mosque; The Ulu Mosque in Bursa; a mesjid (prayer room) in a shopping mall in Afyon. Then in Konya, we visited the Mevlana Museum, the monastic complex and teaching center of the poet and Sufi mystic Rumi. This is the home of the “whirling dervishes.” Part of the complex is a mosque which we toured, then went shopping in the nearby bazaar.

As we gathered back in front of the mosque, our host took time for prayer. I went with him. The mosque was nearly empty; I found a space near the back and knelt. I don’t know the Muslim prayers. I do of course, know Christian prayers, but none that came to mind seemed suitable to me for that moment, so I spent the time in silent contemplation. After about 10 minutes I noticed Ferhat walking back toward me. I rose with a sense of deep peace, and together we went to join our group outside, two friends of different faiths who had prayed together, each in our own way.

Random Reflections on Turkey - 2

Sabbath on the Road – May 30-31

On Saturday I asked Wendy and David how they observed the Sabbath when traveling. They obviously weren’t at home of Friday evening for Shabbat meal, and they weren’t attending synagogue services. Did they say a special prayer on Sabbath? Do they do anything to mark the sacredness of the day?

They said no, and asked me the same about Sunday. We started talking about Sabbath and its meaning as a time set apart. It’s a recognition of the giftedness of life – that our life is given to us; that our work our busy-ness, our effort, though important, are not ultimate. All does not depend on us, and when we act as if it does, all those things will consume and destroy us.

We are partners with God - co-workers, co-creators. But even God rested on the seventh day, and it’s given as a gift to us – a reminder that there’s more to life than toil. To recognize this is to observe the Sabbath.

So with Sunday, I think. On the first day of the week Christians gather to worship, to tell the story of resurrection and the possibility of life. It’s part of who I am, and I miss the gathering of the community when I’m not there. But somehow on this particular Sunday it didn’t seem necessary to attend a church service. I said a prayer of blessing for the day, and when we sat to break bread together I paused silently to remember – remember the day, remember God’s blessings, and remember the people I was with.

As the folks back at church were at the Communion Table, I gave thanks, broke the bread and shared around the table I sat at with friends.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

A (Lite) Lament on Being Busy

I truly love my work, my ministry. Truth be told, though, I'm bummed at being involved in many activities and having little energy at the end to reflect meaningfully on what I'm doing -- and even more, what I'm learning and how I'm growing. So this is a simple beginning -- state the problem and thus bring it to awareness. Then get on with writing the reflections.

Dancing a Delicate Dance

Check out a refelction I wrote about being a straight ally.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Random Reflections on Turkey - 1

Intro

I spent 10 days in May and June touring Turkey with an interfaith group. There were 11 of us on this trip devoted to building friendship and understanding across religious and cultural divides. We were Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim. The Niagara Foundation of Nebraska sponsored us – more about them in a later post. We toured the sights (and sites), visited several schools and universities, a hospital, newspaper and television station. And we met with a variety of people. Everywhere we went people received us warmly and gernerously.

Extraordinary Hospitality - May 28

At the end of our first full day were invited to the home of our guide’s in-laws for tea. There we were, fifteen of us seated on the six couches lining what we would call the living room, carpets in the center, with small, nested serving tables in front of us. On our plates were: cake; a pastry of fillo with cheese, chicken and parsley; and a generous piece of bread. Bear in mind that this was at the end of a very full day of eating; breakfast; tea at a university; lunch and tea) at a high school; coffee and cookies at a newspaper; tea and ice cream at a television station; dinner (and tea) at a hospital. Now our plates were full, and we had tea.

After a bit our host brought another pastry and more tea. Then cherry juice – a favorite in Turkey – and more tea. Then he brought each of us a gift. But he wasn’t finished. We had removed our shoes as we entered. When we went to leave, we discovered he had moved all the shoes inside the apartment, and rather than let us retrieve them ourselves, he insisted on placing them all outside again, lining them up perfectly in front of the door. Not only this, but we had arrived at 9:30; it was now 11:30 pm.

I was deeply moved at this family’s willingness to welcome the stranger – or at least 11 strangers. And not just receive us, but do it so extravagantly, serving us as honored guests.

I thought of Abraham and his guests at the oaks of Mamre (Genesis 18:1ff). And I was reminded of our call to welcome the stranger wherever we find her, whoever she is.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Gay Bishop and The Grandmother Priest

I've recently had conversations with two fascinating people.  As it turns out they're both Episcopal priests.  

Gene Robinson is now bishop of New Hampshire, and I talked with him while in Washington DC attending the Human Rights Campaign Clergy Call for Justice and Freedom in early May.  He's both direct and gentle, courageous and caring.  He came to national attention as the first openly gay and partnered man to be elected bishop.  We talked about sexuality, marriage and morality, prayer, finding balance in life and more.  (see my review of his book in the May 11 post)

Margaret Guenther is a spiritual director, as well as being a mother and grandmother - an 80-year-old with a deep soul.  We visited while she was in Nebraska for a Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation in February.  We had the chance to talk again when I was in DC - what a gift that was!

You can hear my interviews with both of them this Saturday, May 30, 8-9 am Central, www.KZUM.org.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Gay Bishop Speaks on Faith

Listen to my interview with Gene Robinson on www.KZUM.org, Saturday, May 16,  8-9 am Central.  (also available on iPhone)

Gene Robinson, In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God

Gene Robinson came into the national – and indeed world-wide – spotlight when he was elected bishop by the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire.  What made this action of a small, rural diocese noteworthy was the fact that Robinson is openly gay and partnered.  So he was caught up into the storm of controversy that was already howling in the global Anglican Communion. 

I read his book initially because of the media attention, because of the controversy.  I was surprised to find within its pages a witness of great depth.  Here is the faith testimony of a man who describes himself as “a simple country bishop and human being in training,” and who speand every Christmas Eve with the inmates of a women’s prison in New Hampshire.

Robinson begins by acknowledging “the elephant in the room,” addressing right off the question of homosexuality and the church.  He examines Biblical teachings about sexuality, understandings of marriage that have changed over the centuries and a theology of sexuality, marriage and morality thoroughly shaped by his life in the Episcopal Church.  Robinson challenges our society’s highly sexualized marketplace, and points to the Biblical teaching that sexuality is a good gift of God.  He upholds marriage as a sacred covenant, and demonstrates how that covenant can include faithful commitments of same-sex partners.

Robinson then turns to a summary of the Christian faith and life, outlining the Episcopal Church’s approach to evaluating faith and theology:  Scripture, tradition and reason.  If this sounds familiar to United Methodist readers, remember that both John and Charles Wesley were Anglican priests.

Along the way Robinson states his belief in the Resurrection and the power of Christ to overcome sin, death and fear.  He speaks powerfully of forgiveness, vocation, evangelism and trust.

Robinson writes to those outside the church to invite them in and to us within the church, challenging us to reach beyond our safe, comfortable religion to offer Christ to others.  He addresses politics, the AIDS epidemic, and internal discussions in his own Anglican Communion with compassion and grace, often relating poignat stories from his experience as a pastor. Indeed, as one might expect, his chapters often read like sermons arising from the soul of a pastor who speaks from his heart and cares deeply for his people.

After reading the book, I had the opportunity for an extended visit with Bishop Robinson.  The man I experienced in conversation, like the one I encountered on the page, was genuine and gracious, humble and eager to listen, even though I thought I was the one asking the questions.

I commend In the Eye of the Storm to readers, whatever their position on the issues he addresses, for I am convinced that by listening to each other’s stories we can hear Holy Spirit speaking to us today.