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.

http://www.rmnblog.org/2009/06/a-delicate-dance.html

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.