2015 has been a hard year for me.
After living with my aged mother since 2010, she passed away on July1 at age 94. Her final weeks were under hospice care, and though I served in my last professional position as a spiritual care coordinator for a Virginia hospice, I had never served as a primary caregiver. The experience was quite exhausting, and I am still not ready to write about it. But I will say that, for all my experience with death and dying (as a former pastor and hospital chaplain who conducted my first funeral in 1971,) I have been overwhelmed by the mystery of it all.
And then there is the issue of parenting our son, who continues to struggle with the confusing aspects of his autism spectrum disorder. This process continues to be an emotional rollercoaster with its own kind of fatigue. [Someday I hope to write about our experiences with the "autism spectrum" but I am not yet prepared to do that either.]
Suffice it to say that my understanding of my own faith and spirituality has had its ups and downs.
But enough of my excuses for being so absent from my blog this year.
As I say goodbye to 2015, I want to re-commit myself to the potential of this blog and the potential of "patchwork quilt spirituality!"
Just this New Year's Eve morning, I was checking out Rami Shapiro's column (always fascinating) on the Spirituality and Health website. From there I saw a link to a Q&A interview with Thomas More (from Spiritualty & Health, Jan-Feb 2014)) about his 'new' book: A Religion of One's Own. I am very eager to read this book, as I was thrilled to read his following quote:
"I think we need a new, deeper and more personally relevant religion that includes a strong spiritual component, one that draws from the traditions but is suited to the individual."
It is my intent to use this blog in 2016 to provide resources and encouragement to empower individuals to choose what works for them and develop their own unique spirituality--that is, a PATCHWORK QUILT SPIRITUALITY.
Happy New Year to us all!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Sunday, May 31, 2015
WHAT MATTERS TO DAVID LETTERMAN
Did anyone not notice that David Letterman has quit?
The king of late night's celebration of his retirement seemed to go on for weeks, although the extent of his fame, success and influence probably deserved as much.
However, near the end of Letterman's final show, I was touched when he recognized his wife and son sitting in the audience. And then, with great affection, he said to them:
"Thank you for being my family...nothing else really matters."
What does really matter?
It is an existential question that no one can answer for us -- we must answer for our self.
The king of late night's celebration of his retirement seemed to go on for weeks, although the extent of his fame, success and influence probably deserved as much.
However, near the end of Letterman's final show, I was touched when he recognized his wife and son sitting in the audience. And then, with great affection, he said to them:
"Thank you for being my family...nothing else really matters."
What does really matter?
It is an existential question that no one can answer for us -- we must answer for our self.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
A retired journalist, A. C. Snow, writes a commentary column which appears every Sunday in The News and Observer. This past Sunday (May 24, 2015) he wrote :
At the beach on Sunday morning, my wife drove up to the nearby...Methodist Church.
I remained at the condo to watch the ocean, one of God's greatest sermons delivered during his six-day work week...
Upon returning from church, my wife said...a member of the congregation said that he had gotten up that morning feeling dispirited and sad. But when he arrived at church, a friend presented him with a pie, and he already felt cheered by the thoughtful gesture.
I started to ask her what kind of pie but hesitated, anticipating her frequent answer to such trivia questions, "I don't know. But why does it matter?"
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
I believe that is a question that should be asked regarding many religious arguments.
A good example is the subject of baptism.
Most conservative Baptist congregations practice and require what is known as "believer's baptism" by immersion.; consequently they do not recognize baptism by sprinkling or pouring, much less infant baptism. This has generated centuries of religious arguments, and is doing so again as a Baptist minister has recently performed an infant baptism in his church.
The tragedy to me is that this is such a controversy.
Raised in a fundamentalist Baptist church, and baptized by immersion in 1961, I long ago came to the conclusion that the mode of baptism does not matter to G-d. [Though it can matter to us in very important ways, I don't believe that it matters to G-d whether or not we are even baptized in the first place.]
When I was a Chaplain resident at Virginia Baptist Hospital, I performed a number of infant baptisms; in most cases, a relative newborn that was not going to live, and in one case, a dead baby.
I never felt I was doing anything that affected G-d's care for that new life, but I felt I was sharing G-d's love for that tragic new life, and helping to provide comfort and support to the parents.
I will never forget getting called into the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit one Saturday afternoon.
With no hope for survival, the parents and staff had decided to remove life support from their newborn premie, but the parents requested baptism be done first. As I performed the rite, I can still recall the site of tears in the eyes of everyone present, including the staff nurses and attending physician. Afterward, I felt that I had been an instrument of grace in the midst of one of life's most tragic circumstances--which mattered to me, and to all those who were present. But did the fact that this baby was baptized before death matter to G-d? I can't believe that it did. But it mattered to the parents, and that was enough for me.
How can I support my position?
Jesus said, "Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for man."
I believe the same is true for baptism.
At the beach on Sunday morning, my wife drove up to the nearby...Methodist Church.
I remained at the condo to watch the ocean, one of God's greatest sermons delivered during his six-day work week...
Upon returning from church, my wife said...a member of the congregation said that he had gotten up that morning feeling dispirited and sad. But when he arrived at church, a friend presented him with a pie, and he already felt cheered by the thoughtful gesture.
I started to ask her what kind of pie but hesitated, anticipating her frequent answer to such trivia questions, "I don't know. But why does it matter?"
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
I believe that is a question that should be asked regarding many religious arguments.
A good example is the subject of baptism.
Most conservative Baptist congregations practice and require what is known as "believer's baptism" by immersion.; consequently they do not recognize baptism by sprinkling or pouring, much less infant baptism. This has generated centuries of religious arguments, and is doing so again as a Baptist minister has recently performed an infant baptism in his church.
The tragedy to me is that this is such a controversy.
Raised in a fundamentalist Baptist church, and baptized by immersion in 1961, I long ago came to the conclusion that the mode of baptism does not matter to G-d. [Though it can matter to us in very important ways, I don't believe that it matters to G-d whether or not we are even baptized in the first place.]
When I was a Chaplain resident at Virginia Baptist Hospital, I performed a number of infant baptisms; in most cases, a relative newborn that was not going to live, and in one case, a dead baby.
I never felt I was doing anything that affected G-d's care for that new life, but I felt I was sharing G-d's love for that tragic new life, and helping to provide comfort and support to the parents.
I will never forget getting called into the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit one Saturday afternoon.
With no hope for survival, the parents and staff had decided to remove life support from their newborn premie, but the parents requested baptism be done first. As I performed the rite, I can still recall the site of tears in the eyes of everyone present, including the staff nurses and attending physician. Afterward, I felt that I had been an instrument of grace in the midst of one of life's most tragic circumstances--which mattered to me, and to all those who were present. But did the fact that this baby was baptized before death matter to G-d? I can't believe that it did. But it mattered to the parents, and that was enough for me.
How can I support my position?
Jesus said, "Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for man."
I believe the same is true for baptism.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
GUESS WHO'S IN CHARGE?
Oprah's Super Sunday program recently featured Sister Joan Chittister (who I love!)
As they discussed women's role in the church, Sister Joan made the point that Jesus did not have any problem with women, as they were part of his "band."
She noted that women walked with him in the streets--when women were not allowed to do that.
She then proclaimed in no uncertain terms: "Jesus was a feminist!"
{Joan then went on to observe the genesis of the problem:}
"But all of a sudden when the churches get institutionalized, guess who's in charge?"
And Oprah chimed in : "men!"
I believe that exchange points to the main reason why I came to see myself as spiritual but not religious (SBNR.)
By their nature, religions are institutional.
And I acknowledge that in many ways, institutions are a necessary evil.
But institutions do not have a heart (which is why they can ride roughshod over individuals.)
And to promote order, they develop a structure to identify who's in charge.
Consequently, most religions have some sort of clerical hierarchy, such as the Roman system with the pope, cardinals, bishops, etc.
But spirituality is an individual, personal matter...you must take responsibility for yourself, because you are in charge.
As Woody Guthrie observed in his song "Lonesome Valley" back in 1963, no one can walk the lonesome valley for you--"you gotta walk it by yourself."
As they discussed women's role in the church, Sister Joan made the point that Jesus did not have any problem with women, as they were part of his "band."
She noted that women walked with him in the streets--when women were not allowed to do that.
She then proclaimed in no uncertain terms: "Jesus was a feminist!"
{Joan then went on to observe the genesis of the problem:}
"But all of a sudden when the churches get institutionalized, guess who's in charge?"
And Oprah chimed in : "men!"
I believe that exchange points to the main reason why I came to see myself as spiritual but not religious (SBNR.)
By their nature, religions are institutional.
And I acknowledge that in many ways, institutions are a necessary evil.
But institutions do not have a heart (which is why they can ride roughshod over individuals.)
And to promote order, they develop a structure to identify who's in charge.
Consequently, most religions have some sort of clerical hierarchy, such as the Roman system with the pope, cardinals, bishops, etc.
But spirituality is an individual, personal matter...you must take responsibility for yourself, because you are in charge.
As Woody Guthrie observed in his song "Lonesome Valley" back in 1963, no one can walk the lonesome valley for you--"you gotta walk it by yourself."
Saturday, March 21, 2015
CAN SPIRITUALITY BE SHARED?
I recently watched a recorded episode of Super Soul Sunday in which Oprah interviewed the spiritual teacher Adyashanti...which changed my opinion of him.
About 10 years ago, a friend at Yogaville had given me two of his books (I don't remember the titles) but I just couldn't get into them., and I dismissed him. However, his chat with Oprah pulled me in, and I look forward to giving him another chance. In particular, their discussion of his book, Falling Into Grace, was quite fascinating.
But I am writing to emphasize a statement that was made in the program:
Adyashanti's spirituality cannot be labeled.
I believe this is true for all of us.
Just as a definition of "spirituality" cannot be nailed down, neither can anyone's spirituality.
We can choose to follow a certain religion, and subscribe to its dogma , creeds and objective teachings, but the way we interpret and process those concepts into our own spiritual practices and experience will always be unique.
Can religion be shared?
Perhaps to a large extent -- yes.
But then, again, look at all the religious conflict.
And not just within modern day Islam: look at my former tribe -- the Baptists, with dozens and dozens of varieties, often still in conflict.
Perhaps religion and spirituality should be compared to sharing a meal.
We can sit at the same table and eat the same food.
But the way that food gets processed depends on our individual digestive process.
Are there spiritual equivalents to lactose intolerant? Gluten free? Diabetic?
As with Adyashanti, my spirituality cannot be labelled, either.
It is a patchwork quilt, one of a kind.
I'll bet yours is too.
About 10 years ago, a friend at Yogaville had given me two of his books (I don't remember the titles) but I just couldn't get into them., and I dismissed him. However, his chat with Oprah pulled me in, and I look forward to giving him another chance. In particular, their discussion of his book, Falling Into Grace, was quite fascinating.
But I am writing to emphasize a statement that was made in the program:
Adyashanti's spirituality cannot be labeled.
I believe this is true for all of us.
Just as a definition of "spirituality" cannot be nailed down, neither can anyone's spirituality.
We can choose to follow a certain religion, and subscribe to its dogma , creeds and objective teachings, but the way we interpret and process those concepts into our own spiritual practices and experience will always be unique.
Can religion be shared?
Perhaps to a large extent -- yes.
But then, again, look at all the religious conflict.
And not just within modern day Islam: look at my former tribe -- the Baptists, with dozens and dozens of varieties, often still in conflict.
Perhaps religion and spirituality should be compared to sharing a meal.
We can sit at the same table and eat the same food.
But the way that food gets processed depends on our individual digestive process.
Are there spiritual equivalents to lactose intolerant? Gluten free? Diabetic?
As with Adyashanti, my spirituality cannot be labelled, either.
It is a patchwork quilt, one of a kind.
I'll bet yours is too.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
A STATEMENT OF FAITH
I remained a Baptist as long as I did because of my understanding that the primary Baptist principle was the insistence that each individual had the right to interpret their own conscience.
As such, Baptists were traditionally opposed to the imposition of any creed, and viewed any statement of faith as tentative and non-binding.
That said, it has been a long time since I came across a statement of faith that spoke to me.
But I recently found one formulated by the Christ Church Presbyterian of Burlington, Vermont, back in 2006, that leaves me breathless. It is entitled Somewhere Beyond Belief: A Statement of Faith and I share it with the permission of their Session.
Somewhere Beyond Belief: A Statement of Faith
Somewhere beyond belief, our hearts know...
That God is the breath of love within us, between us,
the intimate mystery beyond us, holding us,
the Creator, our Creator.
That God's Creation is essentially good, no matter how hidden
that goodness may be.
Somewhere beyond belief, our hearts know...
That in Jesus we glimpse God and what God would have us be:
loving extravagantly, demanding justice,
fully present, welcoming to all,
citizens in the Kingdom of God,
here and now.
That Jesus is known in paradox,
comforting and challenging,
clear and confounding,
historical, present today, and ahead of us,
deeply personal and beyond our grasp,
human and divine,
peacemaker demanding justice, upsetting the old order.
Somewhere beyond belief, our hearts know...
That the heart of our community is around and on the communion table,
the table where everyone belongs, where everyone is welcome,
where we see the Christ in each other,
where we are filled up and poured out,
where we gain strength for the journey.
That we are called to help create God's New Realm in this world
collectively and individually, led by the Spirit,
to love it into existence,
to announce that it is already here,
to inspire, to help others see it,
to be Christ's body and to do God's work.
Somewhere beyond belief, our hearts know...
That the journey is long, that the journey is good,
that answers lead to questions, deeper and deeper,
that God's grace carries us
now and forever...
http://www.christchurchburlington.org
As such, Baptists were traditionally opposed to the imposition of any creed, and viewed any statement of faith as tentative and non-binding.
That said, it has been a long time since I came across a statement of faith that spoke to me.
But I recently found one formulated by the Christ Church Presbyterian of Burlington, Vermont, back in 2006, that leaves me breathless. It is entitled Somewhere Beyond Belief: A Statement of Faith and I share it with the permission of their Session.
Somewhere Beyond Belief: A Statement of Faith
Somewhere beyond belief, our hearts know...
That God is the breath of love within us, between us,
the intimate mystery beyond us, holding us,
the Creator, our Creator.
That God's Creation is essentially good, no matter how hidden
that goodness may be.
Somewhere beyond belief, our hearts know...
That in Jesus we glimpse God and what God would have us be:
loving extravagantly, demanding justice,
fully present, welcoming to all,
citizens in the Kingdom of God,
here and now.
That Jesus is known in paradox,
comforting and challenging,
clear and confounding,
historical, present today, and ahead of us,
deeply personal and beyond our grasp,
human and divine,
peacemaker demanding justice, upsetting the old order.
Somewhere beyond belief, our hearts know...
That the heart of our community is around and on the communion table,
the table where everyone belongs, where everyone is welcome,
where we see the Christ in each other,
where we are filled up and poured out,
where we gain strength for the journey.
That we are called to help create God's New Realm in this world
collectively and individually, led by the Spirit,
to love it into existence,
to announce that it is already here,
to inspire, to help others see it,
to be Christ's body and to do God's work.
Somewhere beyond belief, our hearts know...
That the journey is long, that the journey is good,
that answers lead to questions, deeper and deeper,
that God's grace carries us
now and forever...
http://www.christchurchburlington.org
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