Eating Crow Carefully

Today I was scheduled to have a small day surgery on one of my eyes.  It was to be a procedure with minor pain hopefully, and minor inconvenience.  It would be done by an ophthalmologist I don’t like very much.  He is the same person who did a cataract surgery a number of years ago and ever since I have been dealing with a retina irregularity which affects my eyesight and which I am inclined to blame on damage incurred in that original surgery.  I once mentioned that possibility to him and it was not well received.  “The irregularity is a factor of your age,” said he.  “Whatever you say,” said I with a hint of sarcasm.  Our relationship now is stiff and formal. 😕

So with all that prehistory in mind I show up for this snip snip appointment, and promptly learn from the Associate (Junior Doctor) that this is but an examination to determine type of upcoming surgery.  After detailed look at my file and a brief exam it is determined I now need to meet with a surgery coordinator and answer about 100 questions in preparation for a more ominous sounding surgery at a later date.  Also, now I must make appointment to see my GP so he can complete a pre-op form, and I will take a requisition to a medical laboratory for bloodwork, etc.  No surgery today. I have with me now an officious folder of papers with my signature and initials on many pages.

Now I am humbled; humiliated maybe?  My wife and I were not impressed in the earlier encounter and ... here we are again. Now I am reading documents and disclaimers and 'agreeing' to pay $500 fee if I miss an appointment.  I'm not certain whether he may have been burned by previous patients or is this just to make sure his is a profitable practice. I thought my choice to continue with his office was a courtesy, and now have not even seen the smart-assed little muscle man and already he’s got me – again!  Maybe God is calling my bluff.  I may have had to wait a year to see another ophthalmologist!?

I guess I’m eating a little crow as I get shuffled office to office in this clinic.  I do need attention to a little growth in same area he has sliced before. Even as I have some reservations about those earlier slices, he  is now entrusted with further slices. 😞 Aagh, further ‘procedures’ complete with opportunity to pay an extra $300 for radiofrequency surgery not covered by provincial Health Care. Sigh. Growl. Just to assert myself at least a little bit I indicated I shall do without that fancy-sounding private enterprise radio frequency enhancement. Being on fixed retirement income, I'll take my chances on old fashioned scalpels, trusting the good doctor (?) to cut carefully. Ironically the one hint of camaraderie came from the surgery coordinator.  Typing away at her computer she fully agreed with me no need to throw more money at this cause. She's probably at similar income level as I have been all my life.   

Thus endeth this wimpering rant. This retired socialist preacher cannot quite give in to privatized medical care wanting to sneak into Alberta thanks to our present provincial government.

 

 

Found Wanting

I had a brand new experience yesterday.  Interestingly it came while I was doing a totally ordinary thing, studying scriptures along with others.  Scriptures, history books, literature and textbooks in seminars and discussion groups have always been part of my life. The new experience this time?  It was but a look.  Several of us, I think, recipients of a look of kindness, perhaps compassion, and slight bewilderment. The occasion was a local Interfaith group I have recently joined, a retirement involvement probably similar to others of my age; many of us looking for camaraderie; engineers, accountants, business cronies, academics, preachers (yes me too!) meeting with one another to 'speak of many things' (Gossip? No! 😏).  So here I am now, in an interfaith group of community 'religious', those involved in the practice and dissemination of spiritual knowledge and/or pastoral encounters in all local faith communities - ie. interfaith plain and simple.

This post is not at all about the pros and cons, errors and waywardness of differing Christian liberal ecumenical or evangelical groups, comparing of Muslim versus Sikh, along with Buddhist, Baha'i, Unitarians, Indigenous, complete with political assessments (read red neck or liberal) etc. etc.  No, this is a local gathering of kind, pastoral, friendly neighbors.  Those of you who have read my considerable posts about neighbors, neighborhood sidewalks and stretches, corona experiences, etc. know why I might be attracted to a group of this nature, especially if it has a friendship base - certainly more enjoyable than church politics, local or otherwise.

So, yesterday as we were reading about Jesus from the Qu'ran, from the Bible, and from Book of Mormon, the conversation goes to the seasonal.  We are at the end of Lent and about to enter Holy Week. What is more timely than the death, the crucifixion of Jesus?  This is basic to us Christians but not so much to our Muslim friends who do not believe that the prophet Jesus (pbuh sic) should be relegated to the defeat of death!  Aware of this distinct difference between Muslims and Christians, we Christians kind of contextualized and one of my fellow believers gave a good statement about importance of the resurrection.  Thank you Deacon Bob! There we were, quite engaged with one another and also aware of varying emphases among Christians and others beholden. Eventually, however, it boiled down (thanks to Dalton our excellent discussion facilitator) to our understanding of God - God, Almighty God, Jahweh, I Am, Allah who art Thou?  At this point I recognized what I discerned to be 'the look' on the faces of our Muslim friends.  Perhaps they had become uncomfortable with sub topics like Cross, Resurrection, etc. and then us slipping into Trinity discussion.  How un-Muslim, how un-interfaith.  How can we (dare we) do that without offending the One God, the Almighty - now broken up into a trinitarian three and then split into varying denominational or other understandings, etc!  Wow, anybody who has taken some Church History classes knows what this is all about.  In their minds this was probably a waste of time, Christians babbling on about their complicated godhead. They graciously indulged us.

For purpose of this post I hasten to add, I totally believe in the full-on suffering, betrayal, death AND resurrection of Jesus!  If in doubt read my last year's blog post, "Holy Week Battle", April 7, 2020. [Also wonderful testimony to resurrection in latest issue of Canadian Mennonite, "I have seen the Lord," Emily Summach, Vol 25, no.6]  In fact it is this conviction which leads me to ever new relationships with many people of other religious and/or cultural backgrounds.  It is also this my experience of God through Jesus which leads me to the insight about the baffled look in the eyes of my fellow clergy, the Imams. 

We need to learn new ways of talking about God.  Incarnation (God among us, John 1:14), our standard go-to theological assertion, probably needs more experiential reflection.  Something of late especially in North American Christianity has been found wanting.  As the world repopulates and cultures intermingle and if we believe in One God, as do the three Abrahamic religions as well as many Indigenous, our language will change. These Imams are pastors, teachers, most of them educated counselors with strong family values, peacemakers, etc. AND they believe in the revelations which came to Muhammed (pbuh) as recorded in Quran.  In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. (1.1). ....  and O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son (4.171).  Their understanding of our God Allah as a bearer of children is offensive, as is concept of Trinity.

So, this year, as I emerge out of Lent and enter Holy Week I am compelled to think less of the soteriology of salvation, and more on the example of Jesus as he accepted both the adoration (Palm Sunday) and the betrayal (Good Friday) and indeed also the resurrection empty tomb (He is not here among our theories and explanations).  Somehow, even as I reflect on the passionate commitment to One God, and One God Alone, my experience of Jesus the way the truth and the Life (John 14:6) leads me to much respect and a new appreciation of those who will not be distracted by our many theological articulations and holy wars and preferences and church denominations.

Angels Close to the Ground

This morning's devotional reading brought tears to my eyes.  The author, Bob Buxman begins his article in Rejoice! this way. "Willie Nelson sings "Angels Who Fly Close to the Ground." I've no idea what he imagined, but he could have written that line about immigrants - especially those from South of the U.S. border." (MennoMedia, Vol 56, no 3) and then he tells about many people approaching the infamous U.S. border. The first image that comes to my mind is from experiences a number of years ago when I was a trucker. That's where the tears come in. These corona days, some days I cannot but wish I was still doing what I once did. This morning's devotional topic, however, is much larger than my personal sentimentality. It's about hospitality, very thought provoking and completely contemporary, based on Hebrews 13:1-3. I once wrote a short article in the sleeper of my truck during those trucking years.  I must share it here, and then I'll follow with a bit of further thought on this scripture.

Aug 15, 2014

I wake up in a sweat. It is the middle of the night. I know I have been sleeping because a remnant of latest dream still lingers. My pillow feels like a sponge around my ears, my bed sheet wrapped around my naked legs. It is time to start the truck. I have done this before. It is how I survive these days – half a night au naturelle and then half a night with a/c running.

As I turn the key my heart settles in gratitude. I am thankful for batteries newly purchased about a month ago, and now serving with confidence (unlike the old ones that occasionally gave me a heart attack when there was only a ‘click click’). And I am so grateful for a recently learned poor man’s air conditioning repair. I charge it up with a can of Freon purchased at a local Walmart or Kmart! Oh, what a welcome discovery these last several weeks. No need to spend hundreds of dollars on A/C repairs that last only a short while anyway!

This morning, however, another thought intrudes itself on ‘the good litany.’ Seems like I remember another variation to this a/c topic! Last evening as I cruised down the highway I was accompanied by air escort! A helicopter was diving and darting behind, aft, and before me – obviously a vehicle of USCBP – probably snuffing out Mexican illegals down in the hot snake infested bushes somewhere. Not only that, but my mind reels on. Yesterday morning back in Laredo I was sitting at McDonalds, when suddenly there was the raised voice of a Security Officer, “Hello, Hello, Out!,” and a ragged looking young man gave up on his attempt to grab ice and a cold drink at the fountain machine.

Indeed, even now I further recognize my comparative comfort. I live in an insulated world. I haul temperature controlled produce. I haul it from cool warehouse to cool warehouse, with strict temperature requirements in my load assignments. My job is done within those parameters, and I do it well. I do it in comfort and even with a certain amount of dignity. What if I didn’t have this truck? What if it didn’t work right? (That has happened occasionally and I don’t care to think about that too much). What if I was one of those desperadoes out in the bushes? My heart resonates with what Martin Luther once said, “There but by the grace of God go I.”

Lord I wish I would at least have handed the guy my cold drink as he wildly beat his escape past my seat at McDonalds. Ooh, my mistake. And some of us have it so good!

The book of Hebrews is an amazing precis of the whole Bible.  If I was teaching an Introduction to Bible class right about now I would have students begin with several reads of the whole book. Where else can you get a brief overview of Old Testament laws and prophets and writings and then see perfect articulation of fulfillment in Jesus along with invitation to become a follower of him. Yes, yes! Even for days such as these! 😊 At beginning of last chapter of this marvelous book are these three verses. 

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. ³ Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Hospitality!  My wife and I could not but feel the stretch of these few verses. Mr. Buxman has a good awareness of hospitality not just in its comfortable homey image. The costly understanding, the rigorous bigger picture is not lost on him. He writes of contemporary South Americans fleeing cruel regimes to supposed safety in the U.S.A. and I of course think of my forebears suffering the Revolution in Russia in the early 1900s.  As I observed helicopters pursuing unlawful asylum seekers in the hot snake-infested bushes of Texas it's not much of a stretch to think of population shifts happening in most countries of the world. And it's right here in my present retirement involvements in comfortable Calgary, Alberta. Each day I have opportunity to encounter immigrants from many places - most prominent in mind right now are South Sudanese and Ethiopian Christians escaping tribal warfare in Africa, and Muslims from Turkey, especially followers of Imam Fethulah Gulen. The minute I become acquainted with any of these folks it seems the table changes. I become the one receiving hospitality! They are the hospitable ones. They cherish my friendships complete with bright smiles and endless patience with my fellow-citizens who prefer to talk about the drain of immigrants and refugees on the taxpayers, etc.

Hospitality is such an essential concept mandated not only in the Bible, but Quran and all sacred texts, and it's one of those efforts yielding immediate reward. In so doing we are in the holy and sacred presence of angels - amazing this concept in three short verses!  I would go as far as to say, the greater the commitment to hospitality the greater the surprising holy presence of God's holy angels. 

I see no need for further theologizing about this. Just do it, and the rewards pile in. Sigh! This preacher in retirement is still lonely for those trucking years. Thank God for those angels still flying low - here, there, everywhere.

Fluidity

We have new neighbors – again.  The last time we introduced ourselves to new neighbors in that same house next door was one year ago.  In this last year we welcomed, got to know a young couple who both lost jobs thanks to the pandemic, awaited and delighted at the birth of their firstborn, brought over the occasional meal and received incredible thank you’s and friendship and enjoyment.  Oh yes, it even helped our own loneliness for our children and grandchildren who live in other cities.

And now we start over again. This also is a young couple – also unmarried (so what’s new these days), also very friendly and also delighted with the cookies from our eternal everlasting kitchen stove (thanks to my wife, all I need do is make the suggestion and they appear!).  At this point the distinction between these tenants? the latter apparently can afford the rent… and they have two noisy dogs. 😔 Beyond that, it’s too early to tell.

This neighbor-change, however, includes a little more. I have agenda at this cusp point. The new neighbors are actually vulnerable to my history with that location beside me.  I have some smoldering thoughts at the landlord - a young fellow who probably had the house bought for him as a revenue property by his parents living in a more lavish community (my assessment I admit).  I clean the eaves troughs on their roof because if they get plugged I have a flood on my side deck. I wish a certain evergreen tree would not have been removed several years ago because it added beauty and shade to my house. And worst of all, I wish the young landlord would not be envious of some easement property which provides some garden space in our back yard, legally as per municipal law.  He begrudges me that meter-wide strip wishing it be on his side of the fence.  He lacks some maturity in neighborhood relations! 

This fortunately is unbeknownst to the new tenant.  They are innocent clear-eyed receptors of this long-time old timer next door.  And this gives me pause. We welcome them with open arms. Circumstances change as life moves on and new chapters always have new ingredients. This morning I was up at 6:30 to begin my walk.  It is what I need to do to help my body with my Type 2 diabetes.  But it is so much more; today as I began the careful pathway to our local Tim Horton’s (yes, a destination always helps to get you started) I was sure to note the shiny spots even on sidewalk stretches deemed safe the day before. Why? Because in these warm spring days the lawns let go of water during midday and then overnight frost changes sidewalk to black ice – nobody’s fault except changing seasons. Today's walk therefore most certainly is not a repeat of yesterday's walk!  [For earlier reference read my blog post “Sidewalk Inspector”, Feb 19]. Beautiful nicely shoveled snow banks are now the source of treachery. Seasons come seasons go.

This fluidity of change is a reality one must acknowledge forever and ever. In today's daily scriptures (March 15 Revised Common Lectionary,Year B) we have Moses only three days into the wilderness with his fellow-Israelites. Having just escaped the pursuing Egyptians thanks to a deluge of water as they attempted to follow them across the Nile, now the escapees are desperate for lack of drinking water and the complaints already beginning (Exodus 15:22-24). Read on if you'd like, the Old Testament is full of change. So much of it is life in all seasons trusting and mistrusting, honoring and sinning against their life giving God.   

New neighbors, new seasons, new possibilities, new relationships.  Jesus in the New Testament is on similar theme speaking to a woman of Samaria at the Well of Jacob. After asking her for a drink she marvels at him a Jew and a man speaking to her and that becomes the teachable moment.“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14) It is this woman’s openness which seems to be recognized by Jesus and that leads to the life giving conversation.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them (John 7:38).  New neighbors in the Lenten season? It’s a perfect time for the spring run-off waters to do their thing.

Maybe a glass of cold water with the new friends next door ….