A Reciprocating Pen

It happened again – sort of anyway. I was in our local library totally engrossed in a book, when the author hit upon a point I just needed to record somewhere. No pen!  Looking beside me I noticed I was in company of a young lady fully dressed in ‘modest clothes’ including hijab. Sensing English would be no problem for this young lady, also aware that most kids do not carry pens these days because it’s all laptops or ipads or devices, I asked her anyway. “Excuse me, would you have a pen I might borrow? I need to make note of something.” There was a shy smile, a dig into her purse, and in short order I was hard at work with pen and paper. She had what I needed. When my note-writing was done I elected not to disturb her, merely positioned pen close to her for obvious easy retrieval whenever, and I continued reading. Half an hour later (approximately) she was gone, pen still exactly where I had put it! Well, dear old thinker kicks in. This was not exactly a cheap pen. Should I chase her down somewhere perhaps among the library stacks to try to return the pen … or maybe just keep it? 😏 I chose the latter. This young lady had probably left the pen as a gift for this old man!

A deliberate gift? I am reminded of a recent blogpost actually on similar topic. It's an incident of one of our neighborhood shop owners providing free repair service for a vacuum cleaner which had been donated to a refugee family which my wife and I were involved with. He chose on the spot to add his charity to what he recognized as our charity. Takat is an occasion of charity which must not be passed up, as he explained to us. It is the third pillar in Islam and he ‘must do it’ if he wants to enter heaven! We now have some extra appreciation for one another as neighbors in this our community of Midnapore, this corner of Calgary. With that recent incident in mind, I decided this young lady with the pen was probably on same page as our Muslim shopkeeper neighbor. I was a Takat recipient!

My thinker can’t quite stop here. This is happening precisely as my retirement contains a considerable amount of work as a church committee member, involvement with immigrants, South Sudanese, Syrians, Ukrainians and others entering into our modern urban neighborhoods. Even as we try to discern good ways to facilitate hospitality for newcomers to our communities, I cannot but observe a caution which characterizes us Christians. Not only mentally screening immigrants, but we evaluate church programs and budgets almost like we evaluate politicians and our tax dollars. They are scrutinized against our personal comfort, making sure we don’t waste money on bad causes. Fundraising has become the work of professionals by now, with financial advisors and stewardship consultants to help us not squander our wealth, still looking to retain as much as possible for - who knows what? This morning’s Bible reading was about the guy storing up treasures, and then at the end of his days, God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:20). Nothing new here, even for those who hardly ever read their Bible.

Stewardship is important for all of us hard-working faithful folk, and slowly I am learning that it's more than what each of us do with total assets or profiles, or whatever it is we call our money. Both the Quran and the Bible point to the importance of the ‘collection’ being not for patronage, but more akin to tithing. Patronage maintains the power and prestige of the patron through public giving of gifts, granting prestige (often advertised as sponsors) to the patron and of course material assistance to the other. Tithing, on other hand, is more a matter of redistribution of that which belongs to Allah – God. "Ay, there is the rub", as Shakespeare said once upon a time. This vantage requires neighborly thinking, private interests deferred to community.

I have now finished reading that book which required the note-taking - done reading but the contents still blowing my mind! Fascinating, creative and oh so well written, this lifestyle/environment/stewardship topic is larger yet than this wise old guy had it figured until now! Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 2013) is about Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. She is a mother, scientist, university professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, New York State. Her book does not posit Christian or Indigenous or Muslim religious theology, but actually engages all of these. It posits all of us on this Mother Earth needing to observe giant cedars and strawberries and animals as our oldest teachers. We, us human beings, have a reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. The great disaster, according to her, is that we have forgotten to listen to our teachers and the consequences are all around us by now. She has left me with a big big big topic, quite akin to the Luke 12 passage quoted above. The things we have accomplished, whose will they be?

Even as Dr. Kimmerer leaves me with her prophetic discomfort there is also an undeniable winsomeness in her tone which is easy, so hope-filled, because she writes like a plain old fashioned loving mother! She reminds me of my mom. Mom always had a living room full of potted plants. Most vividly in her very senior years she would sit in her chair, with flowers and greenery that breathed life and pleasure for any of us who might want to come and sit for a while. And it was also an 'unofficial fact' which my siblings and I whispered about, mom listened to and she spoke with her plants!

Now I cannot but smile, still thinking of the young Muslim lady who left her pen on my table. It's nice just to think she was probably committed to my convenience rather than her own.  

Gospel North Gospel South

My wife and I are increasingly dependent upon morning devotional reading, or at least a morning ritual which we know is good for us - and interestingly also for our children. Although they live their lives elsewhere, it seems to us that they like to know "this is what mom and dad do." Also, we continue to appreciate our reading material (Rejoice!, MennoMedia.org) which continues to be both inspiration and guidance coming from none other than the good old Bible and thematically organized on theme of Revised Common Lectionary which guides worship services in most mainline denominations of the Christian Church. I am a Mennonite, neither catholic nor protestant, low-church and including a huge range of theological vantages from ultra-liberal to ultra-fundamentalist. We do not have a pope nor denominational authorities of high office to define unified belief systems or practices, which is why even us (yes die stillen im lande – the quiet peaceable ones) are splintered into divisions and denominational structures almost exactly like political allegiances of the various provinces, states, or nations we live in. We probably don’t like it, but we are quite blended into the world! So a little organizing principle as in lectionary guidance from the larger church does not hurt us a bit.

It is within an increasingly non-denominational evangelical, ecumenical, interfaith, liberal, conservative, secular, sacred environment that we read on and we go on, a movement that began as the 16^th Century historical Anabaptists. Today we are among hundreds of other Christian denominations and also among many other faith practices and traditions! 

Fortunately the Bible is still available to us all. Today’s reading is from Acts 8:26-40. Acts is one among 66 books in the Protestant canon of scriptures (yes we’ve leaned toward the Protestants on this, designating another 15 books into a section labeled Apocrypha, which the Catholics include in their canon). This book, sometimes subtitled “The Acts of the Holy Spirit,” is a very formative document, as close as we get to a play-by-play of the beginning of the Church after the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1) and outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).  

Acts 8 pushes in all directions as the early church becomes a force. Onward and outward! Yes, it’s Philip the apostle who is protagonist in this chapter. Although Jerusalem has been the scene of the confrontation (as in death and resurrection of Jesus and early outpouring of the Holy Spirit), Philip the freshly spirit-enabled apostle has already been up in Samaria, mixed race territory just above Jerusalem. Doing what? Taking some orientation classes? Nope! He's already doing it; proclaiming the Messiah, and crowds paying close attention because there were healings and shrieks as impure spirits came out of people (:5-7). The crowds of this territory were a hodgepodge of those Hebrews who had not been exiled to Babylon in 722 BC and promptly got into misunderstandings with 'family' when the exiled ones returned 70 years later to try and rebuild Temple in Jerusalem. In intervening years mixed in with locals (labeled Pagan in Google!), they believed the Temple belonged on Mt Gerizim (not Jerusalem). Many differences! Into all of this comes Philip doing visitation 😇 and dealing with all that comes up. Then it's southward to some more adventure. 

Down the road to Gaza - as per angel dispatch (:26). To this very day a trip in that southerly direction may still be dangerous and at least always interesting. [My memory still testifies to that as I recall a trip to that part of the world some thirty years ago!] Who does Philip meet on the desert highway but an envoy, an important official from even further down. Two things about this important person from Ethiopia. Firstly he is a eunuch, and secondly he’s enroute to Jerusalem to worship – an official in charge of the treasury (yes) of an African country already knowledgeable about Christianity and wanting to learn more! All this in today's devotional reading!! A person of high responsibility physically altered to help him to be focused on his job? And not only that, but he is totally interested in what he’s been reading about.

³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

The old and the new is still strangely mixed. Even as today we hear about civil war wreaking havoc on the citizens of that early Christian nation, Ethiopia. Even as Palestine-Israel remains a hotbed of world sabre-rattling, one may wonder what was accomplished back there.  So what was? I'm thinking it was perfect illustration of ongoing world history, ongoing work of God. Did I also mention, just prior to these encounters there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit? In today's intercultural interfaith environment it is still so very important. No amount of historical explanation or even religious and political dialogue or diplomacy is adequate if there not be a recognition of ongoing spirit of God. Not all things were definitively solved but all things totally moved forward in Acts 8. How can one speak with impact in Samaria among Jews and Arabs trying to understand each other? Philip was the man. How might one address a strange official from another country come up to Jerusalem seeking answers to his query? Philip was the man. Philip was the man, but it was a work of the Spirit of God blowing in and among this new movement taking hold – as promised. This is quite in keeping with Jesus’ explanation to his disciples of upcoming things even before he was crucified, ^7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. … if I go, I will send [the Advocate] to you” (John 16:7). There are so many ways yet to learn and experience the ongoing everlasting intercultural Holy Spirit empowered presence of Jesus the Messiah. 

This north-south Acts 8 story ironically reminds me of quite a few years back. Once upon a time when I was a longhaul trucker I walked into a coffee shop in Estevan, SK, just before border crossing and on to some way-down-south U.S. destination. Sitting at a corner table was a young man reading his Bible. On impulse (and perhaps a holy hunch) I asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He looked up at me with a smile, “How can I unless someone explains it to me.” Needless to say that became occasion for two pastors, one young and eager and the other slightly shopworn, to immediately engage in animated conversation. Our shop-talk (or work of God), was really a celebration of the occasion, really many occasions, when it is a privilege to speak with one another as the spirit urges us to. I enjoyed his hospitable heart, understanding and possibly even envying this older preacher and his truck out there in ‘the world’. With a knowing smile and almost in code I asked him if he had already been baptized. He assured me he had, also with a knowing smile (see Acts 8:36 😏). We did not get into intricacies of mode, pouring or immersion! Then we blessed each other in our ongoing ministry, me the Mennonite going to be among the Americans, and he the American Baptist to preach to the needy Canadians. 

Across the Great Divide

I cannot help but notice the growing number of gender identity pronouns appearing after people’s names these days, especially in professional profiles or email signoffs.  To see a longtime friend, male or female, or someone in a long familiar position like church pastor or teacher or other professional suddenly show up with – he/him, she/her, she/they, etc. is kind of new, to say the least. Google tells me this is not self identification; it is a tool to assist in communication with others. "These pronouns may or may not match their gender expression (how the person dresses, behaves, or looks)." The pronoun help can be a good clarification when introducing oneself to another. So far this new awareness - new courtesy - still gets me a little skittish. So this guy in front of me; is s/he maybe a woman? Also I'm nervous about some humor that might slip out my tongue one of these days. Dare I ever say …/it? Oops, I just did. 😏 Hope I won’t receive a tongue lashing from a few acquaintances who come to mind. It’s a new touchy subject.

Touchy. So is the recent upsurge of freedom convoys, vaxers/antivaxers, rednecks/bluenecks, binary/woke, etc. alongside longtime standbys on the great divide like conservative/liberal in the political realm, political rallies, and of course noisier versions like picket lines, demonstrations, pride parades, black lives matter, idle no more, anti war protests, etc. etc. etc. Very likely all of these will be well documented in the media again in next several weeks, to wit: National Indigenous Day June 21 and Canada Day July 1. Most of the strong opinions (polar opposites actually) are the ones that show up among people almost the same, within same churches, same neighborhoods, same families. It used to be said that the two topics to avoid at family meals are religion or politics. The Christian truism, “Sometimes it’s hardest to show Jesus’ love to those who are closest,” rings true here also, even for those who don’t much care about reference to Jesus’ love.

The ‘touchies’ seem to be expanding. Ironically, as we become ever more educated and aware or awake (woke as per latest slang), new possibilities of social angst come along. I feel it especially in the foyers or lobbies going into or coming out of churches and assemblies now that post-corona meetings are resuming in-person format again. We are now in a cautionary social search, worse than before the pandemic; seems to be a fearfulness to speak without becoming inappropriate or perhaps even hitting the offense button or maybe violating a confidence somewhere. At the beginning of covid-19 way back two and a half years ago, I remember posting some blogs with a clear hope that we might recognize the cause(s) of pandemics like this and learn some lifestyle lessons, make a few adjustments and emerge a wiser and better socialized people. That was a bit idealistic!

So, a new day, new communication challenges, new anxieties. Even as I raise a slightly cynical eyebrow at new requirements of ‘talking right’ I try not to be simplistic or narrow-minded. [In fact, as per a book I am presently reading I am humbled to learn that some Indigenous languages are committed to a recognition of the "spirit" in a word rather than merely male - female designation. Very important awareness. The linguist in me has more things to learn. 😋 #ftn1] Evenso, on with topic at hand. Even if I try not to be offensive like use wrong pronoun, what if I get it wrong? Google has the solution. Just offer a quick apology and move along. I appreciate the pointer. However, my thinker, my inner spirit, knows there is more, something unavoidable for all of us - even pre-inclusivity and certainly more than two and a half years ago! It has been there forever, and it is well addressed in the Bible. Romans 3:23 says it like this, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and also in same chapter  "There is no one righteous, not even one" (:10). This may appear a bit gloomy here (sin is not a woke topic any more), but I take it as totally good news for all of us, with no straight, homo, bi or queer, colonialist, indigenous, eastern or western conditionals or excuses. While latest efforts are made to help us be more civilized and accommodating of one another in interpersonal relationships, this reminder of our basic equality in the sight of God is quite reassuring, adding good perspective to topic at hand. 

How important is it that we signal non-binary messages in email sign-offs? Is it an impression we give or is it a signal of presence? Really we are just threescore and ten (plus or minus a few) years of the lifecycle and why the scarey preoccupation with self?  I remember as a seminary student in the 1970s, women's lib came upon us. It appeared something like a new 'discovery' by some scholarly students and academics and suddenly my essay bibliographies needed to include names like Schoeffler-Fiorenza, Ruether and other notables in order to appear credible. It became not only required reading, but a required awareness as my education moved on into clinical settings both in congregations and health care institutions. Even as some fresh theology was being developed a new appreciation for ‘the feminine’ in pastoral ministry became a new and a positive discovery (See my recent Easter blog about women at the empty tomb and women in ministry, “Through Those Doors,” April 30).

Among it all, now from this my later vantage, as even more pronouns are needed to self identify and as I read about and participate in ongoing faith fellowship and ceremonies, I cannot but make reference to a magazine I have received free of charge forever - one of those freebies I signed up for when I was a young pastor and it just keeps on coming, PTL! 😌 Ministry: International Journal for Pastors (Silver Springs, MD: Seventh Day Adventist Church, May 2022) latest issue just appeared in my mailbox yesterday. Lead article entitled “No Limits” written with absolute inattention to gender neutral pronouns and very masculine God language, Jerry N. Page writes about what has been non-negotiable in his 50 years of ministry - humility. Citing illustration after illustration of seemingly no-winner impasses within his career, he testifies to the need to tend first and foremost to Jesus. Not only the example of Jesus, but the experience of Jesus. “If you would be a gospel minister,” says he, “tend first to your relationship with the One whose allegiance you claim.”  He quotes from James, one of the disciples of Jesus become apostle, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (4:6-10).  Interestingly - providentially? - my devotional reading on this day also was from same chapter of James, just a few verses prior. It leans right into it, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us…. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (:5-6). Something very soothing and contemporary about the invitation to be connected with the Eternal. No, this magazine does not yet read or appear as an outdated publication.

Enough said, for this day at least. New days and new trends may be upon us. Even as we seek to be appropriate and contemporary in all our pronouns, I am thankful for the One who has known me and continues to know me just as I am. 🎝♪ ♫

1. Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer (Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 2013, p.56).

 

Kids With Manners

I had an interesting learning experience this weekend. My wife’s sister and husband were in Calgary to watch some kids’ hockey. Their son and his young eleven year-old were coming together with a whole hockey team to compete in a weekend round robin tournament. It was kind of a rare occasion for us, especially with our grandchildren heavily involved in all things Ontario, so ... promise of a unique special weekend for us. We were happy to spectate my very longtime favorite sport even if only at kids level. 

Now here was the surprise, the unanticipated pleasure. Although my almost daily hockey diet includes some of the world’s best like Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche, I immediately became fascinated by the very good hockey being played right before our eyes. These kids know how to skate! They have had some coaching, know where to pass the puck and occasionally score goals! I began to enthuse, verbalizing my appreciation for the quality of play I was watching; not so big a deal seemingly to my brother-in-law and the spectators around me, obviously parents and/or other relatives of other players more interested in whether son or daughter was playing to capacity and whether their team was winning or not! Right, I remember that too. My dad always had a few suggestions after my hockey games too!

My fascination with the tournament nonetheless continued into next day; we watched two games and then participated with some of the families in some evening swimming pool fun at the team hotel. My good opinion of these players continued. They spoke politely to adults, answered questions clearly and of course appreciated comments coming from this old grandpa-type. They were so eager to talk about their game. One boy shared his sadness about his goal not having counted, which I remembered seeing too, apparently one of their players in goal crease. It was an error of the referee, and I so sympathized with him 😌. 

Now my learning experience. As most of my readers know by now my thinker usually kicks in. I was impressed not only by the quality of on-ice hockey, but the clear eyes and respectful conversation of the whole group. I confess I have become a bit inattentive to kids sports in the last number of years, a bit dismissive possibly because these activities are accessible only for kids with rich parents. That is true, but full credit must go to these parents of means who invest in the required discipline of early bedtimes, early get-ups, practicing, listening to coaches, and the huge miracle of teamwork. These are valuable life lessons so important these days. If they do not learn it in organized sports their wonderful energy can waste away in front of televisions or video games. These are probably the only ones who make it to professional sport (unfortunately).

Needless to say the age of these kids was a bit of a gimme. Eleven year-olds are in that prepubescent age where the comments and opinion of adults are still quite important to them. It was such a pleasure to be in presence of kids and parents (and grandparents) obviously on same page on that one. Looking back at a considerable stretch of parenting I am under no illusions of course - and neither are the readers here - but there is a sizable Life lesson available for us all. Once upon a time many years ago I was a Bible School student, and one of the Bible verses assigned and duly memorized comes to mind. My brain has it in the old King James Version, but the New International Version puts it like this. Even with slightly changed linguistics I like it a lot.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it (Proverbs 22:6).

And about those professional teams referenced above. Sigh! The better team won and will go on to Stanley Cup finals. Sigh again.