Category: Kim’s Blog

I am listening to a murder mystery. As the end approaches everything is coming to light. It turns out that one person with evil intentions entraps someone else who then proceeds to commit many murders because of what happened with the initial action. The one who gets the ball rolling, so to speak, doesn’t intend for the thing to snowball as it does. He, himself, is stunned by all that comes to pass because of what he started.

Listening to this novel reminds me that we don’t always know the consequences of our actions. We may do something small that then influences someone else, and someone else, and more and more comes of it. And we may never know of this result since our lives are not best-selling murder mysteries! In the book, the initial act leads to many murders. But the same thing can happen when thinking about making positive changes in the world. One person may do something good to help another, and then it mushrooms or snowballs. Many movements for social change, for justice, for charity, have begun in this way. Someone did something small.

In a way, the Christmas story is just such a story. While we cannot historically verify much about Jesus’ birth, we do know that he was born in a rural area, not a prominent capital or county seat. We do know that he was born to a family of modest means; poor, actually. We do know that Jesus was part of a minority on the fringe of a large Empire, living in an occupied territory. It’s a small beginning. An initial gesture. No one would expect such a beginning to snowball into a mass movement spawning the largest religion on earth. No one would expect such a humble start to lead to the earth shaking impact that followed and continues to surge ahead today.

This Christmas, we may not get the big gift we are hoping for. We may not be able to afford to go to be with the people who are important to us. We may not end up having the celebration we wanted. We may not see the sweeping tide of peace in the world that we long for. But let us trust that the good we can do, the small acts of compassion, the gestures of justice, the giving of an unexpected gift, the curbing of our carbon footprint, any small thing that is of God, may have vast and sweeping consequences that we never fully appreciate. May that spur us to do the good, to make the effort, for we never know what may come of it. And, if nothing else, it will affect us. It will make us better people, less likely to let evil slip in unsuspected and overwhelm us. Keeping busy with the good leaves less room for the bad to enter.

For reflection: Can you think of something relatively small that has had a big impact? A decision? An invention? A course of action? Think about how to multiply the impact of the good in the world.

Prayer: We tend to associate humble beginnings with ineffectiveness and powerlessness. In fact, in our society, in many ways, “the masses” feel powerless. May the stories of Jesus’ nativity remind us anew of the difference that everyday, common people can make when we are part of fulfilling the hopes and dreams of the Love at the heart of the universe. May we learn from Jesus how to trust God and trust ourselves. Amen.

Peace on Earth. Good will to all. This is the heart of the Christmas message. But sometimes we feel like peace is not even a glimmer on the far distant horizon. Wars and armed conflicts spread and grow. You can get a lighter for a candle that is made to look like a gun. Then there is the attraction, Machine Gun America, opening tomorrow in Orlando, just in time for Christmas. Here’s the pitch from MGA:

Machine Gun America is Orlando’s first machine gun attraction, sure to hit the bullseye for any thrill-seeker. Whether you’re new on the range or a sharp shooter ready for your next target, you’ll get the rush of power and excitement that can only come from firing real machine guns and powerful firearms with live ammo. Choose from our action-packed packages or take on a custom adventure with your favorite hardware. Scope out the thrill of a lifetime in the safety of our state-of-the-art facility. [Visit machinegunamreica.com to see all the details proving how demented our society has become!]

In spite of all of the violence and war that surrounds us, today, a message of peace dazzles the world. The US is establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba. It seems so natural. And yet, I didn’t expect to see it in my lifetime.

I listened to a biography/autobiography of Fidel Castro. It was interesting to learn about his life and his development as a leader and his dreams for his country. I heard about his impressions of the US. I did not agree with everything he said, but I certainly could not see why the US is not relating to Cuba as we do to other countries, say in Central and South America.

And today, we learned that there has been a major shift in US-Cuba relations. This is good news. This is more than a glimmer toward peace on earth. The line from the Christmas hymn comes to mind, “God surprises earth and heaven coming here on Christmas day.”

When we receive Jesus as a gift in our lives, we open ourselves up to unexpected surprises. We never know where we will be led or how the spirit will move. To follow Jesus is to be open to the unexpected. A change of plans. A new direction.

When we receive Jesus as a gift in our lives, we also embrace hope. We never give up on anyone. We accept that everyone can change. Everyone can be redeemed. Transformation is a possibility for everyone.

Peace is possible.

For reflection: When have you been taken in a new direction by the teachings of Jesus? When have you been surprised by the Spirit?

Prayer: So often the surprises of life are not welcome. Yet Christmas invites us to be open to being blessed by the unexpected. Good things can still happen. Change is possible. In fact, it is inevitable. May we be agents of change based on the gospel of Jesus Christ so that there may be at least a little more peace on earth and good will to all. Amen.

“How many things have we become used to in the course of the years, of the weeks and months, so that we stand unshocked, unstirred, inwardly unmoved.” This sentiment was expressed by Father Alfred Delp, a Jesuit priest, condemned as a traitor for this opposition to Hitler. He wrote this shortly before he was hanged in 1945. [In Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas, Plough Publishing House, 2001]

This observation rings so true today. Oh, another school shooting. Oh, more children kidnapped. Oh, another roadside bomb. Oh, another black teenager shot by the police. Oh, another person dies of exposure on a cold winter night. Oh, more of the polar ice cap melted. Oh, another woman beaten by her husband. Oh, another rape on campus. Oh, another company with a billionaire CEO goes defunct robbing the employees of their pensions. Oh, troops sent to another locale. We take this all in like it was a weather report. Oh, rain today. Ok. “How many things have we become used to. . . “

It was similar in Jesus’ day. The people had simply become used to things as they were, right or wrong. They were used to religion that was preferential and condemning. They were used to living under the occupation of Rome. They were used to poverty. They were used to corruption. They were used to ethnic rivalry and hatred. They were used to greed and graft. “How many things we have become used to. . .”

The stories of Jesus show us how he sees the conditions, the circumstances, the ____ of his day. He sees. He sees the injustice. The loneliness. The poverty. The sickness of body and soul. The oppression. The way religion has become twisted. The condemnation and judgmentalism. The lying. The pursuit of that which does not satisfy. The false security of material wealth. He sees the problems. Clearly. With open eyes. And with heart. With compassion. With grief. With honesty.

The stories of Jesus also show us that Jesus sees all the good in the world. And he rejoices in that good, where ever he sees it: In creation, in community, in companions, in those condemned by society. Stories tell us of Jesus seeing the good in Zacchaeus, in a Samaritan woman with 5 husbands, in a woman caught in adultery, in someone who is possessed by demons, in a thief from the cross. Jesus sees all the spectacular, shining splendor of the living of our days. And he is not afraid.

In our holiday celebrations, lights twinkle, decorations delight, gifts elicit gratitude and we enjoy family, friends, and food. We seem to see things anew with awe and wonder. This season many we be stunned one again by the glory and the grief of life. May we be awed by the horror of which humanity is capable. May we vividly feel the raw reality of the world around us. And may the wonder bring us out of the tomb of complacency and apathy to new life.

For reflection: When can you remember feeling shocked? When have you lost sleep over a horrible event that has taken place in the world? What have you gotten used to?

Prayer: In these Advent days, may we awaken to the new life that Jesus brings to us. May we join him in authentic, compassionate living. May we accompany him in self-giving service. May we not be afraid to feel the pain and the goodness within us and around us. Amen.

“When I was young, we walked 5 miles to school each way, in the heat of summer and the dead of winter.” Sure you did! We associate such images with romanticized, embellished, inaccurate memories.

As my children were growing up and complaining about walking a mile or a block to get to school in the relatively mild Florida weather, I told them of how I got to school. When I was in junior high (which is what 7-9 the grade was called) and high school, I lived in Minneapolis. I lived just under 2 miles from my school which meant that we could not ride the bus. So we walked. And it was up hill on the way to school and downhill on the way home. And, yes, we walked when it was – 10º F and – 20º F and on down. My locker was next to a good friend’s and we would put our coats, hats, scarfs, boots, gloves, etc. all in one locker and keep our books in the other locker. This made things more convenient.

This past summer, I attended a preaching conference in Minneapolis. Our daughter and my brother, both pastors, also went. One afternoon I asked my brother to take us to see our church, the two houses that we lived in, and my high school. After visiting the second house, we headed to the high school. As we drove there, my daughter was shocked at how far it was. She commented that it was up hill all the way. She couldn’t believe that we walked it every day. And now that she has lived up north for 5 years, she expressed incredulity that we did this winter, too. I looked at her. “That’s what I’ve told you many times as you were growing up.” Well, evidently, she didn’t believe it until she saw it and she was astounded.

This is kind of how it goes with Jesus. Our faith story tells us that God created the world and gave the people all the information and rules and guidelines that they needed to live in communities of justice and joy. People were given instruction about how to take care of one another and live together fairly for the flourishing of all. But the people stray again and again. They follow other gods. They abandon the principles of justice and mercy for greed and violence. They ignore what God has shown them. They don’t believe it. Things go from bad to worse. We can just imagine God thinking, “I keep telling them what to do, giving them the directions, but they ignore me.”

Then Jesus comes on the scene. He embodies all that God has been saying. He lives out the values and virtues that God has given the people. And those who follow Jesus, those who become part of the communities that form around him, find joy and delight, and meaning. Life has never been this good. And they see that it is just as God made known to them. Do it God’s way and life will flourish. When they experience this with Jesus, then they believe. And they keep spreading and sharing this good news. “Peace on earth, goodwill to all!”

After being told over and over about my walk to school, when seeing it, my daughter commented, “I can’t believe you walked this far to school, uphill, every day!”

“That’s what I told you. Why are you surprised?”

We can imagine people seeing things unfolding according to God’s plan and being amazed, astounded, thrilled. “We can’t believe it was all true! Life really is abundantly good!”

For reflection: What do you hesitate to believe from the teachings of Jesus? How have you had the teachings of Jesus reinforced in your life experience?

Prayer: In this season of goodwill and generosity, may we dare to believe once again that it is all true. That creation is good. That we are good. And that we can care for one another and live together in peace and plenty. Amen.

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. John 10:22 NRSV

This verse from the gospel of John tells us that Jesus was observing the Feast of the Dedication. This is a Jewish festival to honor the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem. The temple had been defiled under the rule of the Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanes who was ruler from 175-163 BCE. The temple was used for pagan worship and sacrifices. In the 160’s the Jews mounted a revolt to regain control of the temple so that they could resume practicing their religion. Under the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, the temple was reclaimed. It was then purified and a new altar was built. This historic event was commemorated every year by the Jewish people in the Feast of Dedication. The celebration included palm branches being carried around the temple, the singing of Psalms, and the lighting of candles, one a day for 8 days. This festival is the only one connected to a specific, documented historical event. We know this celebration as Hanukkah. So from the gospels we learn that Jesus, as an observant Jew, celebrated the Hanukkah, just as Jews are doing around the world this week. One of the scriptures read at Hanukkah is Zechariah 4:6: “. . . Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the God of hosts.”

The holy festival of Hanukkah is a time of rededication for Jews. In this Advent season, we, as Christians, prepare to rededicate ourselves to the way of Jesus. We remind ourselves of all that he means to us and to the world. And we recommit ourselves to following him. So Jews and Christians together are in a season of dedication.

The story of festival of Dedication (Hanukkah) invites us to rededicate ourselves to:
Religious freedom for all peoples.
Practicing our religious faith through worship and other observance. For Jesus, there was no “spiritual but not religious”!
Eliminating anti-Semitism from ourselves, our society, and the world.
Peace. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.”

For reflection: How have you seen anti-Semitism expressed? How can you work to change such attitudes in yourself, in others, and in society?

Prayer: We are grateful for the opportunity to rededicate ourselves to our faith, to letting God’s light shine through us, and to following in the way of Jesus. May we always remember that the central figure of our beloved Christianity was a poor, Palestinian Jew. Amen.