I probably spent more time last weekend watching college basketball than sleeping. And that’s just fine with me. It’s March Madness time, of course- the annual tournament for NCAA college basketball to which people all over the country tune in. Back in Lexington, KY, where I pastored before Plymouth and home to the University of Kentucky Wildcats, these three weekends are almost sacred. For some Wildcats followers, basketball is a religious experience with March Madness the pinnacle of worship, so to speak. I’m not that kind of fan. But I do love it and watch as many games as possible.
Anyway, I wonder if, for even non-fans, you’ve ever noticed something true about all basketball teams? The suits on the bench. To clarify lingo, “the bench” in basketball is the row of chairs on the sideline where players (who aren’t playing) and coaches sit. The suits I refer to are the inevitable grouping of gentlemen or ladies in business attire, apparently required professionally to don more stuffy garments than the sweat suits bench-sitting players prefer. These are, presumably, assistant coaches, statisticians, trainers or work-study student gofers that just like being near the team. Every team has a cadre of suits on the bench. Always the head coach, but never just the head coach.
You ever wonder exactly what the not-the-head-coach suits on the bench do? During practice, you assume the coach decides what to practice and why. During games, the coach decides substitutions or what plays to run. What else could a 14-person basketball team need for all those other suits? Apparently lots, since every team’s got them, some even exceeding the number of uniformed players.
Well, I imagine we could talk endlessly about the suits’ functions. But one in particular seems relevant to our church- their support and advisory role. The head coach, who’s ultimately responsible for strategy, training techniques, what color tie to wear, probably should never decide things alone. Gathering folk to think through problems, hear different perspectives, act as conduits for the players, probably increases the coach’s effectiveness. Maybe one or two wonderful coaches operate as lone wolves. But most of us are wired to need help!
I mention this as a (very!) rough analogy to something within our church you may not know about- The Pastoral Relations Team. In short, the PRT is a small group of folk who support and advise the pastor in her/his (my!) pastoral duties. We’ve had PRTs on and off over the years, I’m told. It took about 18 months to get one off the ground for me, and we’re still working out kinks. But a PRT’s basic goal is to listen to the joys and concerns of my job as I see them, help me and the whole church set effective time boundaries and professional expectations, and importantly, serve as another means of communication between the congregation and its pastoral leadership. Unlike suits on the bench, they rarely help teach ‘skills and strategies’! But they really help me, and I think they can help you too.
Which is why I bring this up. #1- I want you to know there’re folk to turn to (besides me) with your ideas, comments, hopes or frustrations for your pastor. They are, currently, Becky Bell, Tom Jarvi, Mike Barnes and Steve Weaver. If you have feedback, PLEASE say something so we can live together more faithfully into the wonderful call God has for us. #2- Soon, they’ll be asking for specific feedback regarding your pastoral and church priorities, so they can help me reshape time management practices, expectations and opportunities. And I didn’t want that to come out of the blue.
But mostly, I wanted you to know that this in another way our church helps me serve you in our common vision to become a beacon of Christian openness and service in the NW suburbs. We won’t get there, I believe, if I don’t have circles of support listening to me, challenging me, praying for and assessing with me, not to mention providing everyone another communication channel. For that work, I am very grateful. No lone wolves in this church! Especially not the pastor.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Sacred spaces…
Did y’all hear about our recent outing to the Hindu Temple of Minnesota? Saturday, March 12, around 10 AM, a group of PCCCers met at church, loaded into the new bus (first time for many!) and drove to this temple in Maple Grove. Another PCCC cadre awaited our arrival; a further faction of five arrived minutes later. A tour guide gathered and greeted us, and for 90 minutes we explored what is, we learned, the largest Hindu Temple in North America.
First, I want to express my deep appreciation for the hospitality we received from these sisters and brothers of a different faith. Occasionally, we hear American religious culture described as full of conflict and division. In some ways, that’s true. Many faith traditions throughout history, certainly our Christian tradition, sometimes offered stridently closed worldviews. Seeking to express sincere devotion to God or Ultimate Reality however defined, some claimed their way of comprehending spirituality was the only proper path toward salvation or enlightenment. A “My way or the Hell highway” brand of belief. But more often, I feel, in daily life faithful people of many stripes practice a humbler religion. Surveys show that, among American Christians, over 70% believe God has created multiple pathways for receiving grace and forgiveness. I.e. Jesus is a great way, but not the only way. In my heart, I cherish the open instincts of our Savior, who called any and all to more holiness, justice and truth, without quibbling over the ‘correct’ religious or cultural background. A word for that practice is hospitality, and as pastor of a church who’s named “unconditional hospitality” as a core value, I believe we found companions for our journey at the Hindu Temple, however differently they describe spiritual reality.
But certainly, Hinduism is not Christianity! So it was enriching to learn more about what feeds their souls and helps ground their families in a culture worlds away from the Indian soil where Hinduism has grown for 5,000+ years. I can’t describe everything that struck me last Saturday, but let me name one issue that felt foreign to my religious understanding, yet was surprisingly, blessedly, familiar.
As you probably know, Hindus honor many deities. There’s a ‘trinity’ of sorts, three major gods- Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu- but also a ‘monotheistic’ impulse, for they acknowledge a unifying Spirit, Brahman, supreme over all. Beyond that, though, is a vast array of gods and goddesses to whom worshippers, communities, even geographic regions give varying degrees of devotion. The MN Hindu Temple has erected shrines for 21 divinities, and as we toured the space, we saw priests and devotees move from one shrine to the next chanting scripture, performing baby dedications and other rituals, and otherwise praying for blessings depending on the particular deity’s area of responsibility, so to speak.
That’s pretty different than my belief system, obviously. But something our guide said resonated with PCCC church culture. “We each devote ourselves to one or several gods or goddesses (for whatever reason), and develop a kind of relationship with them. Over time, that fosters a deep intimacy with that deity.” Our church talks often about intimacy; indeed, “friendly, intimate community” is another core value. Sometimes, that’s shorthand for, “We’re a small church”! But more profoundly, we honor intimacy- with each other and God- because, in my opinion, intimate relationship, i.e. love, is Jesus’ main prescription for transforming our lives and world into what God intended. “Love God (completely), and your neighbor as yourself.” Put differently, intimacy matters, perhaps more than anything. In Hindu tradition, a person or community might spend decades praying to Parvati or Krishna; pleading for help, celebrating success, getting angry at her/him for not delivering, saying, “I’m sorry.” Sound familiar?! Throughout life, therefore, a sacred space of intimacy grows in the group’s or worshipper’s heart, a nexus for faith to develop, sustain and guide devotees now and into the great beyond. Though I do things differently, I too seek increased intimacy with my God- Jesus, Lord and Leader of my life- trusting that nurturing sacred spaces, in my heart and elsewhere, will produce greater love for God and all God’s children. So I pray for you.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
First, I want to express my deep appreciation for the hospitality we received from these sisters and brothers of a different faith. Occasionally, we hear American religious culture described as full of conflict and division. In some ways, that’s true. Many faith traditions throughout history, certainly our Christian tradition, sometimes offered stridently closed worldviews. Seeking to express sincere devotion to God or Ultimate Reality however defined, some claimed their way of comprehending spirituality was the only proper path toward salvation or enlightenment. A “My way or the Hell highway” brand of belief. But more often, I feel, in daily life faithful people of many stripes practice a humbler religion. Surveys show that, among American Christians, over 70% believe God has created multiple pathways for receiving grace and forgiveness. I.e. Jesus is a great way, but not the only way. In my heart, I cherish the open instincts of our Savior, who called any and all to more holiness, justice and truth, without quibbling over the ‘correct’ religious or cultural background. A word for that practice is hospitality, and as pastor of a church who’s named “unconditional hospitality” as a core value, I believe we found companions for our journey at the Hindu Temple, however differently they describe spiritual reality.
But certainly, Hinduism is not Christianity! So it was enriching to learn more about what feeds their souls and helps ground their families in a culture worlds away from the Indian soil where Hinduism has grown for 5,000+ years. I can’t describe everything that struck me last Saturday, but let me name one issue that felt foreign to my religious understanding, yet was surprisingly, blessedly, familiar.
As you probably know, Hindus honor many deities. There’s a ‘trinity’ of sorts, three major gods- Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu- but also a ‘monotheistic’ impulse, for they acknowledge a unifying Spirit, Brahman, supreme over all. Beyond that, though, is a vast array of gods and goddesses to whom worshippers, communities, even geographic regions give varying degrees of devotion. The MN Hindu Temple has erected shrines for 21 divinities, and as we toured the space, we saw priests and devotees move from one shrine to the next chanting scripture, performing baby dedications and other rituals, and otherwise praying for blessings depending on the particular deity’s area of responsibility, so to speak.
That’s pretty different than my belief system, obviously. But something our guide said resonated with PCCC church culture. “We each devote ourselves to one or several gods or goddesses (for whatever reason), and develop a kind of relationship with them. Over time, that fosters a deep intimacy with that deity.” Our church talks often about intimacy; indeed, “friendly, intimate community” is another core value. Sometimes, that’s shorthand for, “We’re a small church”! But more profoundly, we honor intimacy- with each other and God- because, in my opinion, intimate relationship, i.e. love, is Jesus’ main prescription for transforming our lives and world into what God intended. “Love God (completely), and your neighbor as yourself.” Put differently, intimacy matters, perhaps more than anything. In Hindu tradition, a person or community might spend decades praying to Parvati or Krishna; pleading for help, celebrating success, getting angry at her/him for not delivering, saying, “I’m sorry.” Sound familiar?! Throughout life, therefore, a sacred space of intimacy grows in the group’s or worshipper’s heart, a nexus for faith to develop, sustain and guide devotees now and into the great beyond. Though I do things differently, I too seek increased intimacy with my God- Jesus, Lord and Leader of my life- trusting that nurturing sacred spaces, in my heart and elsewhere, will produce greater love for God and all God’s children. So I pray for you.
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Let us pray…
Here’s a collection of quotes from favorite prayers of mine. I’d be interested to receive yours:
I could go on and on! You ever noticed how, when watching a movie or sports game, something happens on screen and you know, you just know, what they’ll say next? Two attractive people look longingly into each other’s eyes during a romantic comedy, and after a few moments of tension, inevitably, one utters, “I love you,” words jumbled with emotion. Or a running back breaks through the offensive line, runs into the open field with no one around to tackle him, so the TV announcer yells, “He could...go…all…the…way!” That doesn’t have to happen, of course. The screenwriter or football commentator could choose different responses to those situations. But those particular words have worked so well for so long for so many people they feel ingrained in our collective consciousness, a natural part of our feelings about specific circumstances. Words can even structure expectations about the future- how to judge if a new movie is original or formulaic, whether a football game is sufficiently exciting- that we repeat some phrases in our daily lives, hoping to receive ourselves what we saw on TV.
For all my appreciation of inventiveness in prayer, I think that’s how good prayers can make a great difference in our lives. The words I quoted above (most of them…!) are favorites not just because I find them pretty, but because I’ve repeated these prayers many times, allowing them to shape my spirit in what I consider more holy and faithful directions. Or that’s been the goal. I want my anxiety to find its holding pattern in the lovingly restful arms of God. I hope always to retain a fervent desire to please God, and to work for God’s Kingdom in our midst, while nevertheless being humble and content with my confusions, doubts and limitations. I want never, ever, to forget how incredible God truly is, that God is always different, always better and more magnificent. Mary was absolutely right!
But that’s not the only way prayer operates in our lives, right? A couple weeks back, I wrote about primary and secondary blessings of prayer, but couldn’t explore issues like intercessory prayer (“God, heal my mother”), contemplative prayer (e.g. repeating simple phrases for twenty minutes), prayers of lament (“My God, why have you forsaken me?!”), interfaith prayer (ever prayed with Muslims?) and more. In fact, there’s much confusion, even disagreement, about prayer’s impact on Christians- when to do it, whether to move, what’s selfish, effective, faithful or foolish. So next Wednesday, March 16, as the first in a series of Lenten conversations about difficult issues of faith, I want to discuss prayer. We’ll begin at 6 in the sanctuary, I’ll have dinner waiting, and until 6:50ish, we’ll be honest with each about prayer. I’ll bring resources from some wise souls that may be helpful. Bring your experiences, questions, convictions, doubts and willingness to learn and listen. And together, we may understand better what may be the most ancient, mysterious, profound and fundamental religious practice of all time- Prayer. How’s that for a dramatic advertisement…?!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
- “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end…and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.” -Thomas Merton
- “Great are you, O Lord, and exceedingly worthy of praise…You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” -St. Augustine
- “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth.” -Jesus of Nazareth
- “My Soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” -Mary, Jesus’ Mom
- “Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub.” -David, my fifth-grade friend
I could go on and on! You ever noticed how, when watching a movie or sports game, something happens on screen and you know, you just know, what they’ll say next? Two attractive people look longingly into each other’s eyes during a romantic comedy, and after a few moments of tension, inevitably, one utters, “I love you,” words jumbled with emotion. Or a running back breaks through the offensive line, runs into the open field with no one around to tackle him, so the TV announcer yells, “He could...go…all…the…way!” That doesn’t have to happen, of course. The screenwriter or football commentator could choose different responses to those situations. But those particular words have worked so well for so long for so many people they feel ingrained in our collective consciousness, a natural part of our feelings about specific circumstances. Words can even structure expectations about the future- how to judge if a new movie is original or formulaic, whether a football game is sufficiently exciting- that we repeat some phrases in our daily lives, hoping to receive ourselves what we saw on TV.
For all my appreciation of inventiveness in prayer, I think that’s how good prayers can make a great difference in our lives. The words I quoted above (most of them…!) are favorites not just because I find them pretty, but because I’ve repeated these prayers many times, allowing them to shape my spirit in what I consider more holy and faithful directions. Or that’s been the goal. I want my anxiety to find its holding pattern in the lovingly restful arms of God. I hope always to retain a fervent desire to please God, and to work for God’s Kingdom in our midst, while nevertheless being humble and content with my confusions, doubts and limitations. I want never, ever, to forget how incredible God truly is, that God is always different, always better and more magnificent. Mary was absolutely right!
But that’s not the only way prayer operates in our lives, right? A couple weeks back, I wrote about primary and secondary blessings of prayer, but couldn’t explore issues like intercessory prayer (“God, heal my mother”), contemplative prayer (e.g. repeating simple phrases for twenty minutes), prayers of lament (“My God, why have you forsaken me?!”), interfaith prayer (ever prayed with Muslims?) and more. In fact, there’s much confusion, even disagreement, about prayer’s impact on Christians- when to do it, whether to move, what’s selfish, effective, faithful or foolish. So next Wednesday, March 16, as the first in a series of Lenten conversations about difficult issues of faith, I want to discuss prayer. We’ll begin at 6 in the sanctuary, I’ll have dinner waiting, and until 6:50ish, we’ll be honest with each about prayer. I’ll bring resources from some wise souls that may be helpful. Bring your experiences, questions, convictions, doubts and willingness to learn and listen. And together, we may understand better what may be the most ancient, mysterious, profound and fundamental religious practice of all time- Prayer. How’s that for a dramatic advertisement…?!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Trusting God…
Last Tuesday, a lay leader at a wonderful Tampa church said something that spoke deeply to my soul. As you may remember, I join 40 other young adult Disciples pastors every six months for five days of prayer,
fellowship, learning, and on Wednesday, 24 hours of silence. And our sponsor, the Bethany Fellowships, pays for it! I can’t say enough about how central this routine has become to my spirit’s health, and how I appreciate your understanding of that fact.
Anyway, last week we did our typical Tuesday site visit to a local church, this one Hyde Park United Methodist, and four HPUMC members took time to tell us their stories. I was very impressed with how articulate they were about the personal impact of faith! Apparently, they’d put much thought and practice into describing why God and participating in Christian community matters to them, and how God operates in their lives. But one in particular, a mother named Mary, said something, as I mentioned, that greatly moved me. Here it is (slightly paraphrased): “I’m a reluctant leader; never really volunteered for leadership positions, but when asked, at times said yes. And I’ve found, over the years, that when I was presented with something I didn’t initially feel capable of, but then did well, my faith grew and deepened. I’ve learned from those experiences that God does truly provide. Seeing God at work in me, by helping me serve my church and its ministries, built greater trust in God, which assists in elsewhere in life.”
WOW, what an incredible description of faith! It’s not your typical ‘I have faith because I believe …’ statement, but a poignant, personal description of belief grounded in trust. Deepening her faith meant trusting more fully in the substance of her belief grounded in trust. Deepening her faith meant trusting more fully in the substance of her belief- God- not simply stating her ‘beliefs’ more passionately or more often. (Good) Theologians will tell you that’s right on the money. But what struck me most about her words was that I’ve heard asked, and asked myself many times, a related question: How does one gain greater trust in God? Sell all your possessions and give them to the poor? Maybe. Pray more often, more authentically, using fewer words? That’ll help. But I’d never thought to think of what Mary said- Take on a ministry in church you’re not entirely sure you’ll do well, and in the accomplishing of that ministry, step back to see God’s hand working. Guiding you through troubles; delivering insight when necessary. To be honest, that’s probably how I built faith in God, although I’d never said it in so many words until Mary said it for me.
Which presents us with a challenge, church, if I may be so bold. It is our Christian duty to support our sisters and brothers in faith when they step out to do ministry. Whether it’s prepping communion, singing in choir, feeding the poor, or visiting the sick, Christians should support the ministry efforts of their church family members. By ‘support,’ of course, I don’t mean rubber stamp every effort, or never give constructive criticism, or accept less than the God’s best for us. But I do think it’s true that sometimes churches undermine the efforts of leaders and members by being selfish, scared or just not thinking of how actions impacts others’ actions. And if that happens, consider the implications, to use Mary’s insight: Not only does good ministry not get done, but we hold others back from growing in faith, from trusting God more fully. Each person has ultimate responsibility for her/his faith, surely, but we can do damage to others if we’re not careful.
On the flip side, when we support Christian sisters and brothers who’ve said ‘yes’ to doing God’s ministry, we’re helping give God another chance to provide. That bears, I believe, good fruit for us and the church we love, because it deepens our community’s trust in God. I.e. it builds our collective faith. It may even inspire us to say ‘yes’ again to God ourselves. Which leads to growth in our faith, which builds the community, which inspires others… A wHoly virtuous circle. And what our church can be!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
fellowship, learning, and on Wednesday, 24 hours of silence. And our sponsor, the Bethany Fellowships, pays for it! I can’t say enough about how central this routine has become to my spirit’s health, and how I appreciate your understanding of that fact.
Anyway, last week we did our typical Tuesday site visit to a local church, this one Hyde Park United Methodist, and four HPUMC members took time to tell us their stories. I was very impressed with how articulate they were about the personal impact of faith! Apparently, they’d put much thought and practice into describing why God and participating in Christian community matters to them, and how God operates in their lives. But one in particular, a mother named Mary, said something, as I mentioned, that greatly moved me. Here it is (slightly paraphrased): “I’m a reluctant leader; never really volunteered for leadership positions, but when asked, at times said yes. And I’ve found, over the years, that when I was presented with something I didn’t initially feel capable of, but then did well, my faith grew and deepened. I’ve learned from those experiences that God does truly provide. Seeing God at work in me, by helping me serve my church and its ministries, built greater trust in God, which assists in elsewhere in life.”
WOW, what an incredible description of faith! It’s not your typical ‘I have faith because I believe …’ statement, but a poignant, personal description of belief grounded in trust. Deepening her faith meant trusting more fully in the substance of her belief grounded in trust. Deepening her faith meant trusting more fully in the substance of her belief- God- not simply stating her ‘beliefs’ more passionately or more often. (Good) Theologians will tell you that’s right on the money. But what struck me most about her words was that I’ve heard asked, and asked myself many times, a related question: How does one gain greater trust in God? Sell all your possessions and give them to the poor? Maybe. Pray more often, more authentically, using fewer words? That’ll help. But I’d never thought to think of what Mary said- Take on a ministry in church you’re not entirely sure you’ll do well, and in the accomplishing of that ministry, step back to see God’s hand working. Guiding you through troubles; delivering insight when necessary. To be honest, that’s probably how I built faith in God, although I’d never said it in so many words until Mary said it for me.
Which presents us with a challenge, church, if I may be so bold. It is our Christian duty to support our sisters and brothers in faith when they step out to do ministry. Whether it’s prepping communion, singing in choir, feeding the poor, or visiting the sick, Christians should support the ministry efforts of their church family members. By ‘support,’ of course, I don’t mean rubber stamp every effort, or never give constructive criticism, or accept less than the God’s best for us. But I do think it’s true that sometimes churches undermine the efforts of leaders and members by being selfish, scared or just not thinking of how actions impacts others’ actions. And if that happens, consider the implications, to use Mary’s insight: Not only does good ministry not get done, but we hold others back from growing in faith, from trusting God more fully. Each person has ultimate responsibility for her/his faith, surely, but we can do damage to others if we’re not careful.
On the flip side, when we support Christian sisters and brothers who’ve said ‘yes’ to doing God’s ministry, we’re helping give God another chance to provide. That bears, I believe, good fruit for us and the church we love, because it deepens our community’s trust in God. I.e. it builds our collective faith. It may even inspire us to say ‘yes’ again to God ourselves. Which leads to growth in our faith, which builds the community, which inspires others… A wHoly virtuous circle. And what our church can be!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
To what end...
Here is the beginning of my post.
My wife was out-of-town President’s weekend, visiting old seminary pals. So I did what I often do during such times- caught up on some reading- and finished a novel of historical fiction called “World Without End.” If you haven’t encountered this book, it’s set in England during the Middle Ages, and is the sequel to an Oprah Book Club novel, “Pillars of the Earth.” It deals with Medieval religion and politics, architecture, women’s rights, early market economies, and class issues during the horrible era of the Plague. It’s also very plot driven, i.e. challenge after challenge arises, and must be overcome. As Steve Larson put it, it’s like reading a history book, but so much more fun. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read. Be informed, though, there’re a few, shall we say, PG-13 (at least…) scenes.
One part that that struck me was the story of two brothers- Merthin and Ralph- who take very different paths in life. Their father had been a knight, but lost his status and ‘family honor’ from debt, which changed the equation for his sons. Ralph, the younger, follows his father’s footsteps and becomes a knight. Merthin, however, wasn’t cut out for rough and tumble, so instead becomes a fabulously talented, and wealthy, builder. Being a tradesman brings lower social standing, but he doesn’t care. Ralph is ambitious enough for the family, and Merthin has other priorities anyway.
Long story short, Ralph’s pursuits lead to land, titles, prestige, but he’s does many dastardly things to get there, and ultimately ends life unhappily. Merthin, on a less ‘glorious’ path, sure, nevertheless overcomes challenges and achieves his hopes and dreams. Both professions, of course, require much hard work, discipline, years of training and practice, and either could yield a good life. But whereas Merhin directed the vigor of builder training to imaginative and productive ends, Ralph sought simply his narrow and shortsighted self-interest, foregoing any modicum of empathy and compassion.
What’s this got to do with church? Well, last week’s letter asked a question I didn’t fully answer- What are the side effects of prayer? I thought the primary effect was receiving the blessing of being directly in God’s loving presence, from which we came and to which all human endeavors move. How does that blessing, though, effect our lives over time? Are there extra benefits of prayer?
That takes me back to Ralph and Merthin’s story. Like them, we all spend time acquiring skills and talents. We work hard at being parents, students, employees, church members. We might volunteer time at favorite non-profits, or develop hobbies. But as the brothers show, getting good at something is never enough. Part of being human is choosing where to direct our efforts. The question becomes, then, what kind of human shall we be?
I presume, by caring about Christian faith, we all want to answer, “A good and faithful person.” And if I understand Jesus’ teachings correctly, he’d say ‘goodness and faithfulness’ involve empathy, concern for our neighbors. Jesus would rather see us be Merthins, not Ralphs, whether we’re builders, soldiers, or whatever. I think that’s where prayer can help. Studies of master meditators suggest that one effect of prayer is enhancing the brain’s capacity for compassion. Repeatedly prostrating oneself before a greater power helps people internalize that their lives aren’t all that’s important. Christians have long suspected this; science is beginning to show why. And sure, that doesn’t mean each prayer will ‘work,’ in the sense that God will give me the Ferrari I’ve long requested. But through weekly worship, daily prayer, even simple mealtime blessings, we discipline ourselves to acquire the skills of compassion. We direct our time and energies to learning a lifestyle of love. And this not only helps us meet others’ needs, but even provides perspective for all work we do. We become more understanding parents, grandparents and spouses, more engaged church members, our business endeavors build equity for shareholders and the common good. Can prayer alone do this? Perhaps, perhaps not. Can we get there without it? Maybe, but why turn our backs on what works? Side effects, indeed!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
My wife was out-of-town President’s weekend, visiting old seminary pals. So I did what I often do during such times- caught up on some reading- and finished a novel of historical fiction called “World Without End.” If you haven’t encountered this book, it’s set in England during the Middle Ages, and is the sequel to an Oprah Book Club novel, “Pillars of the Earth.” It deals with Medieval religion and politics, architecture, women’s rights, early market economies, and class issues during the horrible era of the Plague. It’s also very plot driven, i.e. challenge after challenge arises, and must be overcome. As Steve Larson put it, it’s like reading a history book, but so much more fun. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good read. Be informed, though, there’re a few, shall we say, PG-13 (at least…) scenes.
One part that that struck me was the story of two brothers- Merthin and Ralph- who take very different paths in life. Their father had been a knight, but lost his status and ‘family honor’ from debt, which changed the equation for his sons. Ralph, the younger, follows his father’s footsteps and becomes a knight. Merthin, however, wasn’t cut out for rough and tumble, so instead becomes a fabulously talented, and wealthy, builder. Being a tradesman brings lower social standing, but he doesn’t care. Ralph is ambitious enough for the family, and Merthin has other priorities anyway.
Long story short, Ralph’s pursuits lead to land, titles, prestige, but he’s does many dastardly things to get there, and ultimately ends life unhappily. Merthin, on a less ‘glorious’ path, sure, nevertheless overcomes challenges and achieves his hopes and dreams. Both professions, of course, require much hard work, discipline, years of training and practice, and either could yield a good life. But whereas Merhin directed the vigor of builder training to imaginative and productive ends, Ralph sought simply his narrow and shortsighted self-interest, foregoing any modicum of empathy and compassion.
What’s this got to do with church? Well, last week’s letter asked a question I didn’t fully answer- What are the side effects of prayer? I thought the primary effect was receiving the blessing of being directly in God’s loving presence, from which we came and to which all human endeavors move. How does that blessing, though, effect our lives over time? Are there extra benefits of prayer?
That takes me back to Ralph and Merthin’s story. Like them, we all spend time acquiring skills and talents. We work hard at being parents, students, employees, church members. We might volunteer time at favorite non-profits, or develop hobbies. But as the brothers show, getting good at something is never enough. Part of being human is choosing where to direct our efforts. The question becomes, then, what kind of human shall we be?
I presume, by caring about Christian faith, we all want to answer, “A good and faithful person.” And if I understand Jesus’ teachings correctly, he’d say ‘goodness and faithfulness’ involve empathy, concern for our neighbors. Jesus would rather see us be Merthins, not Ralphs, whether we’re builders, soldiers, or whatever. I think that’s where prayer can help. Studies of master meditators suggest that one effect of prayer is enhancing the brain’s capacity for compassion. Repeatedly prostrating oneself before a greater power helps people internalize that their lives aren’t all that’s important. Christians have long suspected this; science is beginning to show why. And sure, that doesn’t mean each prayer will ‘work,’ in the sense that God will give me the Ferrari I’ve long requested. But through weekly worship, daily prayer, even simple mealtime blessings, we discipline ourselves to acquire the skills of compassion. We direct our time and energies to learning a lifestyle of love. And this not only helps us meet others’ needs, but even provides perspective for all work we do. We become more understanding parents, grandparents and spouses, more engaged church members, our business endeavors build equity for shareholders and the common good. Can prayer alone do this? Perhaps, perhaps not. Can we get there without it? Maybe, but why turn our backs on what works? Side effects, indeed!
Grace and Peace,
Shane
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Thursday, February 17, 2011
You never know…
We’ve all heard of things happening that, yeah, sure, whatever, it must happen somewhere, to someone- lucky gal- but it never, ever happens to me! Harrumph. Like winning the lottery. Inheriting a Caribbean island from a long-lost uncle. Getting picked for Survivor. Well, I’m proud to inform you- and please don’t take this as gloating- something like that finally happened to me!
Here’s what went down. Recently, my wife and I were on a midweek date. We’d purchased a Groupon coupon for a joint called Pizza Mia. $15 for $30 worth of food. Not too shabby, right? Anyway, there we were, talking about work, family, the incredible goings-on in Egypt and all the stuff you talk about over dinner. The waiter brought our food. We bowed our heads in thankful prayer. Food started disappearing off our plates, into our bellies, when suddenly, this random guy walked up to us. “Hi,” he said smiling, obviously another satisfied customer on his way out the door, “I just wanted to tell you how much your prayer blessed me.” “Huh. Thanks,” we said, “We’re glad!” He shook our hands and left.
Unexpected interruption, certainly, but quite nice, right? We smiled at each other, said, “How cool,” and continued our meal. As it ended, we gave the coupon to the waiter and asked for the check. But he hesitated, like he was searching for words. I thought, “How hard can it be to say, ‘Yes, I’ll get your check’…” Then it happened, that thing that never happens to me- He said, “Actually, your check has already been paid for.” “What?!” we responded, “Even the tip?!” “Yep, another customer took care of everything. Have a nice night.” I looked at Tabitha shocked. She reciprocated, then broke into a grin. “I bet I know who did that,” she said. “I bet I do too…”
I’ve heard many a people over the years pontificate about the power of prayer. Sometimes they say profound things. Sometimes it’s more about what they hope is true regarding prayer, than what’s theologically justifiable. Apparently, though, they are sometimes unintended, unexpected benefits of prayer, as my dinner check example means to illustrate. It was, of course, a completely random act; whether we said something the guy liked, or he was simply moved by witnessing two young adults with heads bowed in public, I’ll never know. I.e. God wasn’t rewarding us for a prayer well prayed! Still, have you taken time recently to consider the side effects of prayer?
I frame the question that way because we probably think the primary effects of prayer are that, well, we get what we pray for. Take my example- I prayed, “God, bless this food and the hands that prepared it, so we may be stewards of their and all your gifts.” Did God actually give that blessing? I got a reduced cost meal, but I’ve prayed that prayer many times without that result. Besides, I asked for a food blessing and got something else. Or when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come on earth.” Does that happen?
...Yes, I think it does. But I wonder if we’re often not expecting the answer we get. We pray, “God, bless this food,” or, “Thy Kingdom come on earth,” and while we may mean many different things by that, we should always also intend this - That we’ll feel, in our midst, even if for just that moment, God’s goodness and presence. Food being blessed, God’s Kingdom coming on earth, one way to define those prayers is that we experience- spiritually, emotionally, physically- the reality of our loving God, who wants to provide our every need. And when you ask God for those things, you intentionally put yourself in God’s presence. Meaning- You’re receiving the primary effect of your prayer as you pray. If you’re paying attention, that is.
So back to the original question, “What are the side effects of prayer?” I’ll get into that next week; space has run out! But send me your thoughts, take time to pray, and then recall that the most popular mantra (a Hindu and Buddhist prayer-like tradition) in the world is…Ohm. Which means,
Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Here’s what went down. Recently, my wife and I were on a midweek date. We’d purchased a Groupon coupon for a joint called Pizza Mia. $15 for $30 worth of food. Not too shabby, right? Anyway, there we were, talking about work, family, the incredible goings-on in Egypt and all the stuff you talk about over dinner. The waiter brought our food. We bowed our heads in thankful prayer. Food started disappearing off our plates, into our bellies, when suddenly, this random guy walked up to us. “Hi,” he said smiling, obviously another satisfied customer on his way out the door, “I just wanted to tell you how much your prayer blessed me.” “Huh. Thanks,” we said, “We’re glad!” He shook our hands and left.
Unexpected interruption, certainly, but quite nice, right? We smiled at each other, said, “How cool,” and continued our meal. As it ended, we gave the coupon to the waiter and asked for the check. But he hesitated, like he was searching for words. I thought, “How hard can it be to say, ‘Yes, I’ll get your check’…” Then it happened, that thing that never happens to me- He said, “Actually, your check has already been paid for.” “What?!” we responded, “Even the tip?!” “Yep, another customer took care of everything. Have a nice night.” I looked at Tabitha shocked. She reciprocated, then broke into a grin. “I bet I know who did that,” she said. “I bet I do too…”
I’ve heard many a people over the years pontificate about the power of prayer. Sometimes they say profound things. Sometimes it’s more about what they hope is true regarding prayer, than what’s theologically justifiable. Apparently, though, they are sometimes unintended, unexpected benefits of prayer, as my dinner check example means to illustrate. It was, of course, a completely random act; whether we said something the guy liked, or he was simply moved by witnessing two young adults with heads bowed in public, I’ll never know. I.e. God wasn’t rewarding us for a prayer well prayed! Still, have you taken time recently to consider the side effects of prayer?
I frame the question that way because we probably think the primary effects of prayer are that, well, we get what we pray for. Take my example- I prayed, “God, bless this food and the hands that prepared it, so we may be stewards of their and all your gifts.” Did God actually give that blessing? I got a reduced cost meal, but I’ve prayed that prayer many times without that result. Besides, I asked for a food blessing and got something else. Or when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come on earth.” Does that happen?
...Yes, I think it does. But I wonder if we’re often not expecting the answer we get. We pray, “God, bless this food,” or, “Thy Kingdom come on earth,” and while we may mean many different things by that, we should always also intend this - That we’ll feel, in our midst, even if for just that moment, God’s goodness and presence. Food being blessed, God’s Kingdom coming on earth, one way to define those prayers is that we experience- spiritually, emotionally, physically- the reality of our loving God, who wants to provide our every need. And when you ask God for those things, you intentionally put yourself in God’s presence. Meaning- You’re receiving the primary effect of your prayer as you pray. If you’re paying attention, that is.
So back to the original question, “What are the side effects of prayer?” I’ll get into that next week; space has run out! But send me your thoughts, take time to pray, and then recall that the most popular mantra (a Hindu and Buddhist prayer-like tradition) in the world is…Ohm. Which means,
Peace,
Shane
Read more!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Shared experience…
Last week, I heard someone suggest the following- In American culture, the last great shared cultural experience we have is the Super Bowl. Love or hate football, nevertheless the Super Bowl touches most of our lives. More than that, a majority of our culture, representing all kinds of sub-groups with little in common, will join in watching this game. The Oscars no longer draw large amounts of interested spectators. Musicians nowadays don’t gain the iconic status of previous performers. And church, well, I’m not sure that was ever a ‘broadly shared cultural experience,’ whatever we pastors tell ourselves about the ‘good ole days’! But hey, there’s still the Super Bowl, whether you care only for the commercials, or watch because “that’s the thing to do.” Indeed, it holds that much more importance in our culture because, well, nothing else unites as many people around a shared experience. Or at least that’s the theory. And if it’s true, I wonder if that says anything important about us?
It’s easy to imagine a culture in which things are different, right? For most of human history, our various societies had many shared experiences, probably because we lived so close together! When we did branch out, though, we were often united by shared systems of religious rituals, as well as languages, clothing, commerce and common cuisines. I’ve even heard historians claim that human history is the history of finding, cooking and eating food! Whatever the case, a ‘culture’ implies numerous shared experiences.
America’s a different place, though, it seems. One- we’re really big! Also, we’re not old, so we don’t have centuries of accumulated food wisdom (regionally, perhaps, but that’s different…). Plus, our nation was built by folk from other lands, who brought their foods, languages, and beliefs with them. E Pluribus Unum. In other countries, athletic events like the World Cup or Olympics consume all available cultural energy when they occur, while America still favors our version of football. Even clothing isn’t as common an American experience as elsewhere. Wait- we do have jeans- so I’ll amend the Super Bowl theory to include Levi’s!
Does that say anything about us? I’ve heard some claim it’s an example of our cultural shallowness, that America lacks the profundity of other nations, with their histories, cuisines, cathedrals and music. Call me a stubborn nationalist, but those arguments always struck me as more elitist, or jealous, than true. I wonder if, rather, that’s an expression of our cultural ease with uniqueness. Some would use the term ‘diversity,’ others might say ‘freedom,’ but whatever your preference I feel that, for better or worse, Americans celebrate, or at least value, unique people and ideas. Thus, there’s been little pressure to assimilate all the various cuisines that reached our shores. We’ve nurtured multiple musical forms (hip-hop, bluegrass, gospel, pop) to maintain their distinctiveness. Even our religions value uniqueness; there’s over 200 different American Christian denominations! Indeed, it’s no accident that our flavor, the Disciples of Christ, began on the American Frontier, committed as we are to freedom of interpretation and expression.
This comes with drawbacks, of course, like a temptation to idolize individualism, or frequent rejection of accumulated wisdom. Also, the history of American racism and segregation probably contributed much to the lack of a ‘unifying culture.’ Nevertheless, from this American’s perspective, there’s real value in the entrepreneurial instinct of our culture; it can certainly keep our religious life fresh and interesting! So perhaps it’s appropriate that attitude finds expression in a uniquely American sporting event, with all its faults and successes- watched by many people, in multiple languages, riveted by competition, repulsed by or drawn to brutality, anticipating creative commercials, often disappointed with simply another beer ad featuring slapstick humor, laughing anyway. Surely there’re more profound and transformative experiences we have available, but that a Super Bowl occupies the place it does isn’t, to my mind, a bad thing. Romans killed Christians in the Coliseum. Ancient Mesopotamians valued human sacrifices. Football looks alright, by comparison!
Or maybe I’m reading waaay too much into a game! Still, what do you think? Does the Super Bowl’s popularity say anything important about us? Would Jesus approve?
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
It’s easy to imagine a culture in which things are different, right? For most of human history, our various societies had many shared experiences, probably because we lived so close together! When we did branch out, though, we were often united by shared systems of religious rituals, as well as languages, clothing, commerce and common cuisines. I’ve even heard historians claim that human history is the history of finding, cooking and eating food! Whatever the case, a ‘culture’ implies numerous shared experiences.
America’s a different place, though, it seems. One- we’re really big! Also, we’re not old, so we don’t have centuries of accumulated food wisdom (regionally, perhaps, but that’s different…). Plus, our nation was built by folk from other lands, who brought their foods, languages, and beliefs with them. E Pluribus Unum. In other countries, athletic events like the World Cup or Olympics consume all available cultural energy when they occur, while America still favors our version of football. Even clothing isn’t as common an American experience as elsewhere. Wait- we do have jeans- so I’ll amend the Super Bowl theory to include Levi’s!
Does that say anything about us? I’ve heard some claim it’s an example of our cultural shallowness, that America lacks the profundity of other nations, with their histories, cuisines, cathedrals and music. Call me a stubborn nationalist, but those arguments always struck me as more elitist, or jealous, than true. I wonder if, rather, that’s an expression of our cultural ease with uniqueness. Some would use the term ‘diversity,’ others might say ‘freedom,’ but whatever your preference I feel that, for better or worse, Americans celebrate, or at least value, unique people and ideas. Thus, there’s been little pressure to assimilate all the various cuisines that reached our shores. We’ve nurtured multiple musical forms (hip-hop, bluegrass, gospel, pop) to maintain their distinctiveness. Even our religions value uniqueness; there’s over 200 different American Christian denominations! Indeed, it’s no accident that our flavor, the Disciples of Christ, began on the American Frontier, committed as we are to freedom of interpretation and expression.
This comes with drawbacks, of course, like a temptation to idolize individualism, or frequent rejection of accumulated wisdom. Also, the history of American racism and segregation probably contributed much to the lack of a ‘unifying culture.’ Nevertheless, from this American’s perspective, there’s real value in the entrepreneurial instinct of our culture; it can certainly keep our religious life fresh and interesting! So perhaps it’s appropriate that attitude finds expression in a uniquely American sporting event, with all its faults and successes- watched by many people, in multiple languages, riveted by competition, repulsed by or drawn to brutality, anticipating creative commercials, often disappointed with simply another beer ad featuring slapstick humor, laughing anyway. Surely there’re more profound and transformative experiences we have available, but that a Super Bowl occupies the place it does isn’t, to my mind, a bad thing. Romans killed Christians in the Coliseum. Ancient Mesopotamians valued human sacrifices. Football looks alright, by comparison!
Or maybe I’m reading waaay too much into a game! Still, what do you think? Does the Super Bowl’s popularity say anything important about us? Would Jesus approve?
Grace and Peace,
Shane
Read more!
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