Above all, we must take the shield of faith (Eph. 6:16), and faith here is not so much believing this thing or that thing about God as it is hearing a voice that says, “Come unto me.” We hear the voice, and then we start to go without really knowing what to believe either about the voice or about ourselves; and yet we go. Faith is standing in the darkness, and a hand is there, and we take it.
~ Frederick Buechner
A lot of pastoral care this week — sitting, listening, absorbing, praying. Plus mission trip planning. Plus a funeral now on Saturday, and sermon Sunday. Feeling pretty depleted in spirit. Not much to offer here except sunlight on water.
A Quaker Book of Wisdom, by Robert Lawrence Smith. Smith is the former headmaster of the Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C., a private Quaker school that the Obama daughters now attend, among a thousand other students. A lifelong Quaker, he wrote this book as a meditation on ten values that have for 300 years characterized the Society of Friends: Silence, Worship, Truth, Simplicity, Conscience, Nonviolence, Service, Business, Education, and Family. Actually the last three are really arenas where the other seven values play themselves out. Smith blends Quaker history and his own autobiographical memories with his insights in all these areas. Almost every page has some example of clarity and grace:
Every day of our lives is another journey down the path of truth. We cannot withdraw from the process of living while we make up our minds how to live. All we can do is move forward, guided by whatever inner light we can find to show us the way.
This would be an excellent book for a class or small group. It is small, thoughtful, and nourishing. Often the book has a kind of simple elegance as it calls us to attend to ‘that of God’ in ourselves and in each person.
This morning at worship two students were confirmed as members of the church. As a part of their confirmation, they answered a list of very appropriate questions regarding their faith and future practice as believers. It occurred to me, though, with all my Quaker reading in mind, that if I wrote the rules to things, I would only ask two questions of anyone joining the church: Will you look for the light of Christ within you? And will you let your life speak through acts of love for God and neighbor? For me, this sums up our calling.
Went to Toledo yesterday to see my Mom, home now after her stay in the hospital. Doing much better. She is in the skilled nursing care wing for a few days of rehab before going back to her apartment at Swan Creek Retirement Community. Afterward stopped in at the Toledo Museum of Art and found a serene Buddha contemplating. Dates from the 3rd century AD. Sign said Indian artists didn’t begin making visual representations of the Enlightened One until after having contact with Western art and artists. The folds of his garment remind me of Greek statues. (This picture is for you, Mike.)
Also saw this lovely Monet I don’t remember seeing at the TMA before.
Taken this morning with an iPhone. Cutler Dickerson on Water St. by the river. Looked better in black and white.
You kept a vigil
as Jesus lay in the tomb.
Then you lifted him from
the gates of death.
His friends found
an empty cave and ran out
to recount your praises.
Do you plant us in
the ground too so
that we can come
to life?
Lectionary Readings
Psalms 99; 147:1-11; 9; 118
Exodus 12:40-51
1 Corinthians (15:29) 30-41
Matthew 28:1-16
Selected Verses
Psalm 9:13-14
You are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,
so that I may recount all your praises.
Exodus 12:42
That was for the LORD a night of vigil, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
1 Corinthians 15:36
What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
Matthew 28:8
So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy. (NRSV)
Had the day after Easter off and took a drive up Pentecost Highway to Sand Lake. The sun came out just before I took this shot.
