Category: Kim’s Blog

San Bernardino. Just the mention of the location and we know what we are referring to. A mass shooting. Another mass shooting. There have been at least 355 mass shootings in the US in 2015. That’s more than one a day. It is clearly too late to prevent this from becoming a “thing” because it is already a “thing.” It’s a thing with many causes. A thing with many potential responses. And while there may be differing views on how to address this thing, I think that almost everyone agrees that we want to be rid of this thing. We don’t want to live in a country with a reputation for mass shootings. We don’t want to come to terms with the reality that most of these mass shootings are done by people who seem just like the people we see in the store, or at work, or at a sporting event. We don’t want to feel unsafe.

Doing nothing is not an answer. We must concern ourselves with the causes and conditions that lead to these horrific events. We need to apply our best and brightest capabilities to addressing these problems. And we must do this even though it will take time for implementation to yield results. It won’t be a quick fix in time for the next election cycle. But still, we need to act.

But that is not the end of the story. This is the season of Advent. This is the time we prepare for the celebration of a birth. It is a time to remember that in the worst of times, a baby was born; a person who continues to impact the world in significant ways even over 2000 years after his coming. Who would have expected that baby to have such an effect? We think about it now as God breaking into human history in a surprising way with an unforeseen result. It is something no one could have predicted.

Was that the last of God’s surprises? Do we no longer expect to be astounded by unforeseen events? Will we limit the scope of God’s influence?

While we work for peace in our country and pursue ways to end the mass shootings and all shootings, let’s remember the theme for this Advent season at LUCC: Wonder-Full Peace. Let’s not forget the wonder. The mystery. The awe. The jaw dropping surprise. Breaking in. And changing the game. For good. Peace IS possible.

Take a moment to think about something that has happened that has taken you by surprise. It could be something in society or in your own life. Did you ever expect there would be an African American president in your lifetime? Did you think you would live to see gay marriage?

Prayer: In this season of watching and waiting, may we be open to God’s surprises. May we not limit the scope of the power of Divine Love. May we trust that love to heal the horrible pain suffered by the loved ones of those killed in San Bernardino and of all other victims of violence. Amen.

On May 25, 1961, in a special joint session of the Congress, President John F. Kennedy announced that the US would send an American safely to the moon before the end of the decade. And, on July 20, 1969, the goal was accomplished. It took 8 years. And the resources and personnel needed were dedicated to the task. This story is a reminder that we can do what we want to do.

International leaders are meeting in Paris to discuss climate change. The world waits with hope and anticipation for a dramatic outcome. An inspiring goal. A binding commitment of resources needed for fulfillment.

Global warming is not just an environmental issue. A “green” concern for tree huggers. It is a peace concern. Drought, lack of access to clean water, decreasing food supplies, lack of clean air, flooding, sea level rise, these consequences of global warming lead to social disruption, economic turmoil, and conflict. To pursue peace, we need to address climate change in bold ways.

Even if the Paris talks fall short, what’s to stop the US from creating its own dramatic, inspiring goals on climate change? We could commit to zero carbon emissions within a decade, like the goal of reaching the moon. Then we could help others to do the same. Oh, but that would take the government and politicians today seem to have more money than brains so not surprisingly, we don’t expect much from them.

But what do we expect from ourselves? In the absence of drastic action from visionary politicians a la Kennedy, our system of government is designed for people to take matters in hand and create the change they want to see happen. So, what are we doing?

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we remember that Jesus was not a top down leader. He had no aspirations to hold office or have a position of high status. He was not the head of a corporation, or a state, or a diocese. In the eyes of society, he was a nobody. And yet he managed to inspire other “nobodies” in a movement that continues to change the world today. Jesus empowered regular people to use their power for good in the world. How are we willing to use our power to create the drastic changes needed to slow global warming so that we as well as our neighbors near and far can thrive on this beautiful planet we have been given? We can’t expect a “President Kennedy” to do this for us.

Take a moment to think about a time when you used your power for good in the world. What did you do? What was the impact?

Prayer: In this season of giving gifts, we remember that we have been given the gift of power. And Jesus has been given to us to inspire us to use our power for good. May we honor Jesus by using our power to protect this precious Earth that we have been given as our home. Amen.

I recently had the occasion to be inside the sanctuary of another church. There were chairs in rows. There was a dais or platform with microphones, sound equipment, and a plexiglass lectern. I looked for a cross. No cross. I looked for an altar or communion table. Nothing like that either. To me, it just did not feel like a church.

The experience surprised me. I don’t consider myself “high church” by any means. I get just as lost in a Catholic or Episcopal service as someone who has never been to church. I have never been a fan of pomp and circumstance. So I have never thought of myself as attached to the symbols one often finds in a church sanctuary.

As for the cross, yes, I believe that Jesus was crucified on a cross, but I don’t believe that it was God’s plan so that we can go to heaven, or that this was the price God extracted to pay for our sins. These ideas are often associated with the cross, so I don’t think I was unsettled that there was no cross in the sanctuary of the church I visited.

After some thought, I concluded that what bothered me the most, was the absence of an altar or communion table. To me, the table represents community and sacrifice. We come together at the table, a table set before us in the presence of our enemies as well as our beloved friends. The table symbolizes the human family, all of whom need to eat and all of whom are provided with physical as well as spiritual food as part of the divine plan of creation. The sense of giftedness and oneness that the table represents is a core aspect of a church for me.

In addition, historically the altar is the place where people made sacrifices and brought their offerings. Today in church we put the offering plates on the altar as a sign of our making an offering, a sacrifice, to the God of love. This idea of sacrifice is not something bloody and morbid to me. It is a sign of our willingness to personally give something up for the greater good. It shows our commitment to something bigger than ourselves. To me, this is also a core aspect of church.

In this Advent season, we are thinking about Wonder-Full peace. We all want peace on Earth. We want peace in our homes and neighborhoods. We want peace in our schools and society. We want peace between nations and peoples. But, like everything else that is important and desired, peace has a price. Peace involves sacrifice. We have to be willing to give something up for the greater good. You can’t be selfish and spoiled and have your way about everything and still have peace with everyone. Maybe what we have to give up is an attitude, or a behavior, or certain language, or power, or control, or, yes, even some money or wealth. But to experience wonder-full peace, something has to be given up.

Jesus was always showing people how to give things up: their harmful ways and ideas, their assumptions and habits, their judgments and prejudices, their privilege and control, as well as their possessions and wealth. He shows people how to give things up so that they can have peace. When our sacrifice is truly for the greater good, there is deep joy in our self giving.

The altar and the cross are reminders of these truths of the way of Jesus.

Consider a time when you made a sacrifice for a greater good. Remember the joy of that experience.

Prayer: The divine intention for the cosmos is peace. May we see our generosity and self giving as but a small offering for the riches of wonder-full peace. Like Jesus, may we love peace so much that no sacrifice is too great. Amen.

World AIDS Day

AIDS. Back in the ’80’s and even into the ’90’s, AIDS was on the forefront of our concern. We were scared of AIDS. And the association of AIDS with homosexuality made it all the more notorious and fearsome. But in this country, through treatment and education and hygienic practices in the medical field, the incidence of AIDS has decreased. We are no longer afraid of this once-dreaded disease. It is not decimating our communities. So, we are not as concerned about AIDS as we once were.

But in Africa, AIDS remains a devastating reality. It is the leading cause of death among African teenagers. The number of teens dying from AIDS related diseases has tripled since the year 2000. These statistics come from UNICEF. [Tampa Bay Times, 11/28/15, 4A]

Does this concern us?  Sometimes it seems like when there is a problem in another country or continent, we’re at the ready with military support – guns, bombs, and drones – in spite of the material and personnel costs involved. Do we just love to use our armed forces?

Addressing AIDS takes education, medication, training, and medical personnel. It takes medical care, equipment, and transportation. Relative to a military response, the cost is minimal. And yet, where is our motivation to respond? Well, what has AIDS in Africa to do with us? It doesn’t affect our daily lives. It doesn’t disrupt our living. We can completely avoid it: Just don’t go to Africa and have sex with someone African and you should be ok.

If AIDS among African teens was affecting our access to oil, now then we might get excited about it. We might even send in the military to help.

To be peacemakers, we really need to notch up our empathy dials. Jesus shows us that peace involves caring about the suffering of others even when it does not affect us directly. Sometime, the pain will be ours, and we will be grateful that someone else cares.

Take a moment to think of a time that you were moved by the suffering of a remote stranger, someone you do not know personally.

Prayer: Our faith teaches us that we are one human family. We pray for all of our brothers and sisters whose lives are affected by AIDS.  May we open our hearts to the pain of others even those we do not know. May we seek to increase our capacity for empathy trusting that it will deepen our humanity in ways that are healing and bring peace to us and to the world. Amen.

Some weeks ago, we went to see the movie, “The Martian.” The experience offered an odd juxtaposition. The previews before the movie were the usual action packed, shoot ‘em up violence that is supposed to make the movies featured look enticing and appealing. As usual, they were filled with gratuitous violence. Underlying all of this violence is a low regard for human life or maybe we should say a blatant disregard for the value of human life.

Then came the feature movie. “The Martian.”  I won’t give away the story, but the plot is focussed on getting one human being back to Earth from Mars. Other astronauts and scientists at NASA are all giving 200%, working around the clock, to save this one life. In desperation, the US even seeks help from China for the attempted rescue.

In the movie, as the rescue attempt is made, there are shots of masses of people the world over watching on big screens. The effort to bring one lone person back from Mars has captivated the world. Needless to say, the people in the theater are on the edge of their seats as well.

What I found puzzling was that the previews were filled with violence aimed at killing, taking life. And then we watch “The Martian” about the world mobilized to save one life. The popularity of the movie, “The Martian,” tells me that we still have the capacity to value a life. To work together for good. To express compassion. And to be united by a common bond as human beings.

This seems to indicate that we still have the capacity for peace. Despite the constant killings, bombings, shootings, and war that we hear about each and every day, we have not completely lost the heart to value a life, as precious, mysterious, and sacred.

This leads me to believe that peace may still be possible.

Take a moment to think about something you have experienced recently that indicates to you that peace is still possible in this world.

Prayer: May I remember that each and every person is created in the image of God. May I value every life as God does. May I live today in a way that honors the sacredness of each person I come in contact with. This is how Jesus lived. This is how I want to live. Amen.