A curious woman in the adult education class Sunday asked me this. Why pray, she asked, when God's in charge and we're not? Why pray for healing for someone else if God already knows the plans he has made for us? Why intercede? Does it do any good?
Great questions. Love them. Keep it up. Since, you asked, a few thoughts.
First, what is prayer? It means different things. Here's a good excerpt from a book by Philip and Carol Zaleski who wrote Prayer: A History, "...a recovering alcoholic reciting the serenity prayer, a Catholic nun telling beads, a child crossing himself before a meal, a quaking Shaker, a meditating yogini, a Huichol Inidan chewing on a peyote button, a Zen monk in satori, a Lubavitcher dancing with the Torah, Saint Francis receiving the stigmata, a bookie crossing his fingers before the race, Scrooge pleading for just one more change, dear God, just more chance."
Cool line up, I think. At Bible camp as a young counselor, I was trained to say "prayer is just talking to God." And I still think that's part but not the whole. It's also listening.
Maybe prayer is more. Maybe it's getting quiet, getting in touch with yourself, taking stock, being honest. In the Christian Century, September 9, 2008, Marilyn Chandler McEntyre, speaks of the power of prayer. She says prayer that works is "prayer that yields clarity, or insight, or a course of action, or leaves you more accepting of uncertainty. It can work by opening your heart in spite of yourself, or by enabling you suddenly to imagine a point of view other than the one you've been clinging to."
Perhaps this where the listening comes in.
But there is still this matter of why pray if God knows all and isn't changing God's mind?
We pray, then, to stay in relationship with God. We pray to stay connected. We pray to humble ourselves and remember that we weren't really all so much in charge anyway. We pray to practice trust and letting go, the essential practice of living.
So does it work? Well, yes, it works on us, but does it work for others, for healing or for the world? A doctor in our morning adult ed class reported medical studies that suggest patients with people praying for them do better than those with no known pray-ers. So does it work?
Prayer is an act of hope, and hope is good for us, deep down in our souls and, apparently, our bones. Does God change God's mind? Why does God heal some people and not others? These are unknowables. I still believe in a merciful God, not one who goes about zapping people with disease and affliction. Bad things just happen. Perhaps when we pray, we place our trust in the one who walks with us, through good times and bad.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Last things
How do you live when you're dying?
This is really everyone's story, but I guess most of us don't think of it unless the dying part is more imminent.
My book club read Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture" as our September feature. I had to miss the discussion due to church conflicts, so I'll reflect here.
If you haven't heard of it, The Last Lecture is the story of Pausch, who died earlier this year of pancreatic cancer. He was 47 and a professor at Carnegie Mellon in human-computer interactions. He gave the lecture in Sep. 2007 (as his last). The book is based on the lecture and his story.
His lecture is entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" and you can find it on YouTube. He's fun and funny. His dreams may seem child-like (float in zero gravity, play for the NFL, be Captain Kirk on Star Trek) but over his life he finds he does accomplish many of them (well, he played high school footbak and met Captain Kirk instead of becoming him). The lecture and the book are about his legacy to his kids but his words are also ways to live.
The book was a bestseller on NY Times. His death was covered by ABC, Time, the NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times. What is it about this story that has captivated us?
In part, I think, it's his honesty. One of the first slides in his last lecture is a CT scan of his liver, with arrows pointing to the tumors. He says it's important to point out the "elephant the room." He's funny, too. He gets down on stage and does a bunch of push-ups to show that, for a dying man, he's in pretty good shape. He even wrote the book (with journalist Jeffrey Zaslow) during phone conversations while Pausch rode his bike.
But there must be something more compelling. Many writers are honest and funny and they don't top bestseller lists. And while Pausch's advice is great (be honest, tell people you love them, don't waste time on important things, don't let brick walls stop you) we could find these proverbial thoughts elsewhere.
I think Pausch is so fascinating because our society shuts out death and dying. It's the place we don't go, publically. Pausch brings the reality (and hope, joy and fun even at the end) into public discourse. He embraces the nearness of death and lives fully in spite of it. He doesn't deny it, cover it up or get embarrased about it. Pausch lets us know it's okay to talk about death and it's okay to live even when you're dying.
After all, we're all doing it. Pausch might remind us we might as well enjoy life, then, while we have it.
Check out his Web site for more info, stories, and book details:
http://www.thelastlecture.com
This is really everyone's story, but I guess most of us don't think of it unless the dying part is more imminent.
My book club read Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture" as our September feature. I had to miss the discussion due to church conflicts, so I'll reflect here.
If you haven't heard of it, The Last Lecture is the story of Pausch, who died earlier this year of pancreatic cancer. He was 47 and a professor at Carnegie Mellon in human-computer interactions. He gave the lecture in Sep. 2007 (as his last). The book is based on the lecture and his story.
His lecture is entitled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" and you can find it on YouTube. He's fun and funny. His dreams may seem child-like (float in zero gravity, play for the NFL, be Captain Kirk on Star Trek) but over his life he finds he does accomplish many of them (well, he played high school footbak and met Captain Kirk instead of becoming him). The lecture and the book are about his legacy to his kids but his words are also ways to live.
The book was a bestseller on NY Times. His death was covered by ABC, Time, the NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times. What is it about this story that has captivated us?
In part, I think, it's his honesty. One of the first slides in his last lecture is a CT scan of his liver, with arrows pointing to the tumors. He says it's important to point out the "elephant the room." He's funny, too. He gets down on stage and does a bunch of push-ups to show that, for a dying man, he's in pretty good shape. He even wrote the book (with journalist Jeffrey Zaslow) during phone conversations while Pausch rode his bike.
But there must be something more compelling. Many writers are honest and funny and they don't top bestseller lists. And while Pausch's advice is great (be honest, tell people you love them, don't waste time on important things, don't let brick walls stop you) we could find these proverbial thoughts elsewhere.
I think Pausch is so fascinating because our society shuts out death and dying. It's the place we don't go, publically. Pausch brings the reality (and hope, joy and fun even at the end) into public discourse. He embraces the nearness of death and lives fully in spite of it. He doesn't deny it, cover it up or get embarrased about it. Pausch lets us know it's okay to talk about death and it's okay to live even when you're dying.
After all, we're all doing it. Pausch might remind us we might as well enjoy life, then, while we have it.
Check out his Web site for more info, stories, and book details:
http://www.thelastlecture.com
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
On Generosity and Equality
Or, why we (secretly) rejoice at others' sufferings and begrude their successes. Come on, we all do it.
Jesus tells a Kingdom of Heaven parable in the gospel lesson for this coming Sunday (Sept. 21). He says the kingdom is like workers in a vineyard, some work a whole day, some only an hour, and all get the same daily wage. The landowner asks those who grumble, "Are you envious because I am generous?"
Well, yeah! It's not fair! Seems like when I work hard, I should be rewarded. That's what I learned on the farm, anyway. In this world, that's how it works. But God's kingdom is different.
God's kingdom isn't fair. Of course it isn't. If it was, I'd be in big trouble for every malicous thought, every white lie and every silent rage against those who frustrate me.
So the kingdom isn't fair. But it's equal. And it's good. God loves us equally. There's nothing I can do to make God love me more, nothing to make God love me less. God loves me (a long-suffering Lutheran pastor!) as much as the elderly prison inmate who comes to know Christ at life's end. Yeah, it's not fair. But God is good.
We do begrudge God's generosity, though we might better be grateful for it. It's hard sometimes to be rejoice for a friend's success or good news. It's easy sometimes to be secretly happy when the friend has a tough time. I remember when a long-term boyfriend ended our relationship during seminary (I thought we were getting married) and two weeks later my roommate/best friend got engaged. It was so difficult to be happy about anything, least of all for my friend. But somehow God surprised me and I could celebrate her engagement while I mended my broken heart.
Bottom line: God is recklessly, wildly generous. No matter if we're up or down, that abundant love is with us. No matter if our friends are up or down, that abundant love is with them. We have all we need; God fills us. This is God's kingdom: a place where things don't always make sense, but where God is still God. And good.
Jesus tells a Kingdom of Heaven parable in the gospel lesson for this coming Sunday (Sept. 21). He says the kingdom is like workers in a vineyard, some work a whole day, some only an hour, and all get the same daily wage. The landowner asks those who grumble, "Are you envious because I am generous?"
Well, yeah! It's not fair! Seems like when I work hard, I should be rewarded. That's what I learned on the farm, anyway. In this world, that's how it works. But God's kingdom is different.
God's kingdom isn't fair. Of course it isn't. If it was, I'd be in big trouble for every malicous thought, every white lie and every silent rage against those who frustrate me.
So the kingdom isn't fair. But it's equal. And it's good. God loves us equally. There's nothing I can do to make God love me more, nothing to make God love me less. God loves me (a long-suffering Lutheran pastor!) as much as the elderly prison inmate who comes to know Christ at life's end. Yeah, it's not fair. But God is good.
We do begrudge God's generosity, though we might better be grateful for it. It's hard sometimes to be rejoice for a friend's success or good news. It's easy sometimes to be secretly happy when the friend has a tough time. I remember when a long-term boyfriend ended our relationship during seminary (I thought we were getting married) and two weeks later my roommate/best friend got engaged. It was so difficult to be happy about anything, least of all for my friend. But somehow God surprised me and I could celebrate her engagement while I mended my broken heart.
Bottom line: God is recklessly, wildly generous. No matter if we're up or down, that abundant love is with us. No matter if our friends are up or down, that abundant love is with them. We have all we need; God fills us. This is God's kingdom: a place where things don't always make sense, but where God is still God. And good.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Politics, as usual
Less than two months until the presidential election and I am counting the days.
Yes, I want change (and both Obama and McCain promise to bring it). Yes, I'm weary of the current administration. But mostly, I'm ready for it all to be over. I'm tired of the speeches, the half-truths, the promises. And it's only mid-September.
I sat at a table of Lutheran pastors and lay leaders at a meeting yesterday. As we ate lunch and made small-talk, I noted there were different political persuasions. One man was disatisfied with both presidential candidates but said he would now vote McCain because of Sarah Palin. Another man expressed shock at this (I happen to know he's an Obama fan, though he didn't disclose this publically). Most people kept their opinions to themselves and just discussed the phenomena, especially around Palin, who we Alaskans have known for years.
What didn't get mentioned in our small talk was the question I have in my heart (though I will confess I've made up my mind for Nov. 4). The question is this:
How does a person of Christian faith decide for whom to vote?
Now, if you attend other churches in town, the pastor might just tell you. Though I think that violates their 501 (C) (3) status! Maybe they just tell you indirectly. We don't do those kind of shenanigans here at Central.
So I pondered this and here's what I think so far. I'd be interested to know your ideas. Those of you in Blogland, remember I'm Lutheran, which focuses my theological lens.
How to pick a president (or any political leader)
* Pray. I think God encourages us to pray for our nation's leaders and potential leaders. As with everything, it's better not to ask Santa-God for a wish list. Rather, we pray for leaders' discernment and for decisions and actions that promote peace, justice and equity.
* Get informed. So Lutherans trust that God gave us these fantastic brains for a reason. So use them! Read up on candidates and issues, watch the debates. Check out articles or memoirs by candidates. Try to read and study from different sources or non-partisan opinions.
* Listen to others. This one's hard for me. But I believe we are called to listen the ideas and opinions of others, especially our friends and family, and especially if they have ideas that are different. In this way, we honor that Spirit that is in all of us and promote unity (not uniformity) in the body of Christ.
* Consider the widow, the orphan and the stranger. My seminary Old Testament professor said this phrase was like a drumbeat through the whole Bible. God is interested in what happens to the weak, poor and downtrodden. Liberation theologians speak of God's "preferential option" for the poor. Jesus blesses them. It's hard to wade through the promises but see if you can discern where a candidate stands on issues of poverty and hunger.
* Thank God! Be thankful that we live in a place where we can exercise freedom to vote, speak and assemble. Regularly thank God for what is good in our country, even while praying for things to improve.
* Get involved. If you prayerfully choose a candidate or cause worth supporting, do it! Consider ways to be part of the process or give financial support. Christians need not stand outside of the political process. God's mercy and love can work in strange and mysterious ways (even polical systems!) Be hopeful that your passion can create a more positive world.
Yes, I want change (and both Obama and McCain promise to bring it). Yes, I'm weary of the current administration. But mostly, I'm ready for it all to be over. I'm tired of the speeches, the half-truths, the promises. And it's only mid-September.
I sat at a table of Lutheran pastors and lay leaders at a meeting yesterday. As we ate lunch and made small-talk, I noted there were different political persuasions. One man was disatisfied with both presidential candidates but said he would now vote McCain because of Sarah Palin. Another man expressed shock at this (I happen to know he's an Obama fan, though he didn't disclose this publically). Most people kept their opinions to themselves and just discussed the phenomena, especially around Palin, who we Alaskans have known for years.
What didn't get mentioned in our small talk was the question I have in my heart (though I will confess I've made up my mind for Nov. 4). The question is this:
How does a person of Christian faith decide for whom to vote?
Now, if you attend other churches in town, the pastor might just tell you. Though I think that violates their 501 (C) (3) status! Maybe they just tell you indirectly. We don't do those kind of shenanigans here at Central.
So I pondered this and here's what I think so far. I'd be interested to know your ideas. Those of you in Blogland, remember I'm Lutheran, which focuses my theological lens.
How to pick a president (or any political leader)
* Pray. I think God encourages us to pray for our nation's leaders and potential leaders. As with everything, it's better not to ask Santa-God for a wish list. Rather, we pray for leaders' discernment and for decisions and actions that promote peace, justice and equity.
* Get informed. So Lutherans trust that God gave us these fantastic brains for a reason. So use them! Read up on candidates and issues, watch the debates. Check out articles or memoirs by candidates. Try to read and study from different sources or non-partisan opinions.
* Listen to others. This one's hard for me. But I believe we are called to listen the ideas and opinions of others, especially our friends and family, and especially if they have ideas that are different. In this way, we honor that Spirit that is in all of us and promote unity (not uniformity) in the body of Christ.
* Consider the widow, the orphan and the stranger. My seminary Old Testament professor said this phrase was like a drumbeat through the whole Bible. God is interested in what happens to the weak, poor and downtrodden. Liberation theologians speak of God's "preferential option" for the poor. Jesus blesses them. It's hard to wade through the promises but see if you can discern where a candidate stands on issues of poverty and hunger.
* Thank God! Be thankful that we live in a place where we can exercise freedom to vote, speak and assemble. Regularly thank God for what is good in our country, even while praying for things to improve.
* Get involved. If you prayerfully choose a candidate or cause worth supporting, do it! Consider ways to be part of the process or give financial support. Christians need not stand outside of the political process. God's mercy and love can work in strange and mysterious ways (even polical systems!) Be hopeful that your passion can create a more positive world.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Dancing with a Nun
The wedding was private, the reception, a public contra dance.
I did a wedding on Saturday for a couple who've been attending Central with some regularity and plan to join. The wedding was small and private, in the small rose garden on Anchorage's Park Strip.
Then it was off to Alpenglow ski area for a wedding reception, contra dance and North Carolina-style BBQ (a nod to the bride's home state).
After a delicous meal (and even vegetarian beans and rice) the caller in a white shirt and black vest fired up the band and invited us onto the floor for a circle contra dance.
Though I was wearing my collar, I'd put on a swishy red shirt and comfy cute flats for dancing. I had a great time.
We lined up again for a line contra dance and I was without a partner. Since many pairs were both women, I didn't mind when a woman I didn't know volunteered to be my partner.
She said, "I'll dance with the nun."
I got very quiet.
"I'm not a nun," I said, more impassioned than I intended. "I just did the wedding ceremony on the park strip. I'm a Lutheran pastor."
"Oh. I thought you came dressed in costume as a nun."
Great. Now I'm a nun.
Earlier that night, an attractive man had asked me if I was a priest. Groan.
All in a day's work, apparently, when serving the Lord.
Maybe I'll be a nun for Halloween. Nah, too close to home.
I did a wedding on Saturday for a couple who've been attending Central with some regularity and plan to join. The wedding was small and private, in the small rose garden on Anchorage's Park Strip.
Then it was off to Alpenglow ski area for a wedding reception, contra dance and North Carolina-style BBQ (a nod to the bride's home state).
After a delicous meal (and even vegetarian beans and rice) the caller in a white shirt and black vest fired up the band and invited us onto the floor for a circle contra dance.
Though I was wearing my collar, I'd put on a swishy red shirt and comfy cute flats for dancing. I had a great time.
We lined up again for a line contra dance and I was without a partner. Since many pairs were both women, I didn't mind when a woman I didn't know volunteered to be my partner.
She said, "I'll dance with the nun."
I got very quiet.
"I'm not a nun," I said, more impassioned than I intended. "I just did the wedding ceremony on the park strip. I'm a Lutheran pastor."
"Oh. I thought you came dressed in costume as a nun."
Great. Now I'm a nun.
Earlier that night, an attractive man had asked me if I was a priest. Groan.
All in a day's work, apparently, when serving the Lord.
Maybe I'll be a nun for Halloween. Nah, too close to home.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Almost Famous (almost)
It's been a big week for Alaskan women, apparently.
I had a phone call from a friend on Friday. It appears I was named Runner Up as "Best Preacher" in the Anchorage Press (weekly news/entertainment rag, for those outside of Anchorage). They did a "best of" everything survey recently(restaurants, DJs, live music, politicians, etc). See the results at:
http://www.anchoragepress.com/site/basicarticle.asp?ID=809
Scroll all the way to the bottom to see the preacher list. Jerry Prevo (Anchorage Baptist Temple) seems to have edged me out for the number one seat.
So, I've had a few emails, facebook hits, phone calls since then. Is this how Sarah Palin feels? At least no one's looking in to my shady past...
Anyway, thanks to my friends or whoever out there who thought to nominate me. Maybe someone was silly or maybe serious. Regardless, it's cute and I'm flattered.
I'm also thoughtful.
The side commentary in the Press noted that most readers left this one blank. Others wrote "anyone but Jerry Prevo" (again for those outside AK, Prevo is famed for a bit of fire and brimstone at his mega-temple). Others put "God" or "nature" and apparently someone put "f--k this category." Huh. How about that.
What I ponder about this experience is the loaded nature of that word, "preacher." Somehow this category is a turn off, an abomination or a mystery to the readers of the press. What? Can't a girl like good, dark beers and know a good preacher? Can't I hang out at Humpy's and still hear a sermon the next morning?
And what does it say about our religious/cultural life that we have to hate Jerry Prevo rather than knowing anything about any other preacher in town? Maybe we aren't visible, aren't "out there" enough as churches, pastors, Lutherans.
Maybe I should hold office hours at Kaladi's. Or Humpy's. Or Darwin's Theory. Maybe I'll see you there. Maybe I won't even preach.
I had a phone call from a friend on Friday. It appears I was named Runner Up as "Best Preacher" in the Anchorage Press (weekly news/entertainment rag, for those outside of Anchorage). They did a "best of" everything survey recently(restaurants, DJs, live music, politicians, etc). See the results at:
http://www.anchoragepress.com/site/basicarticle.asp?ID=809
Scroll all the way to the bottom to see the preacher list. Jerry Prevo (Anchorage Baptist Temple) seems to have edged me out for the number one seat.
So, I've had a few emails, facebook hits, phone calls since then. Is this how Sarah Palin feels? At least no one's looking in to my shady past...
Anyway, thanks to my friends or whoever out there who thought to nominate me. Maybe someone was silly or maybe serious. Regardless, it's cute and I'm flattered.
I'm also thoughtful.
The side commentary in the Press noted that most readers left this one blank. Others wrote "anyone but Jerry Prevo" (again for those outside AK, Prevo is famed for a bit of fire and brimstone at his mega-temple). Others put "God" or "nature" and apparently someone put "f--k this category." Huh. How about that.
What I ponder about this experience is the loaded nature of that word, "preacher." Somehow this category is a turn off, an abomination or a mystery to the readers of the press. What? Can't a girl like good, dark beers and know a good preacher? Can't I hang out at Humpy's and still hear a sermon the next morning?
And what does it say about our religious/cultural life that we have to hate Jerry Prevo rather than knowing anything about any other preacher in town? Maybe we aren't visible, aren't "out there" enough as churches, pastors, Lutherans.
Maybe I should hold office hours at Kaladi's. Or Humpy's. Or Darwin's Theory. Maybe I'll see you there. Maybe I won't even preach.
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