Lament on a day of joy

Jan. 20, 2009: The inaguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, Washington, D.C.

Jan. 19-21, 2009: ELCA Preaching conference on lament, Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Good thing I'm Lutheran and can hold two opposites in tension. While for some, this day may be a day of sadness (McCain supporters, Republicans, etc) for me this was a day of joy, hope and pride in our nation. I'm gathered in this Oregon beach town with 100 or so Lutheran pastors to discuss how to preach in times of lament and sadness (a theme picked a year ago for this conference). I'm glad the speakers at least acknowledged the irony, as many of us are very happy to see this day come.

We watched the inaguration and Obama's speech together on a big screen in our conference room. I've never seen Lutheran pastors sit still for so long. People nodded and said "Amen" as Obama spoke. I wept. We clapped and stood when it was over. We clapped some more for the poet and the preacher who followed Obama.

Then, instead of delving back into Jeremiah and the Psalms of sadness, we talked about how joy and sorow, lament and praise often go together. Our Psalms do suggest this: most lament psalms have at least a few verses of praise, usually at the end. We know it's true in our own lives. Sometimes we curse and thank God in the same breath. We find ways to be joyful even on dark days.

So we passed a microphone around and talked about where we saw joy and lament collide this day.

One person noted that Obama listed our nation's lament. He acknowledged the pain in our nation: people losing jobs, fighting two wars, those who have lost their homes. Someone else pointed out that the opening and closing prayers had aspects of repentence and confession, which are lament-like but lead to new life and new hope.

Another pastor acknowledged that while many people in our congregations feel like an 8-year lament is over, others strongly feel a period of sadness is beginning. How do we stay at the table and honor their words of lament over a change of power in the administration? Someone else also mentioned the grief and lament that George Bush must be feeling.

One thought I'm left with: my generation (X) and the one after it (Y) have little experience with corporate lament or corporate joy. We felt this first at 9/11 when we mourned together. I think many of us feel the shared joy now at this promise of new hope in our country's leadership. Perhaps the best part is that we feel it together. May this national pride lead to unity of purpose and maybe, just maybe, a small step away from our tendancy toward so-called "rugged individualism."

One-line wisdom

Seen on a shelf at a parishioner's home: (paraphrase)

There is one holy call in life: not to make life harder for other people than it already is.

Christmas in Botswana

Sami Oeser, a member of Central, has been serving in the Peace Corps in Botswana for nearly 2 years. She's working at an orphanage with kids whose lives have been changed by HIV/AIDS (either from infection themselves or orphaned when parents died of AIDS). Here are some excerpts from Sami's Christmas card this year. Enjoy!

Sami writes:

I have learned some valuable lessons from living in Africa, though I'm not sure how applicable they will be in Alaska.

* Always shake out your shoes before putting them on. (You don't even want to know what might be hiding inside!)
* Don't sit under a palm tree (Falling palm nuts are big and heavy!)
* Don't park a car under any tree (goats will climb up on the hood and roof to reach foliage, leaving behind hoof indentations)
* Don't drink any fluids within 10 hours of a journey by bus (The buses have no facilities and don't stop!)
* If it looks like it tastes nasty, it probably does.

I am not alone:

In case any of you think I may be lonely living by myself in Maun, Botswana- fear not. Besides a steady stream of neighbors (especially children, last Friday during a rainstorm, I had 28 kids drawing pictures in my 300 sq. ft. house) I currently reside with 5 cats, several dozen spiders, a score of lizards, myriad cockroaches, beetles, flies, mosquitos, moths, crickets, mopani words and thousands of ants who materialize out of thin art if any scrap of food is left out, and then disappear just as quickly after consuming it. Fortunately, because I live far from the river, and there is little vegetation in my yard, I do not have a snake problem.

Christmas in Maun:
Christmas here goes by almost unnoticed. There are no Christmas trees, no lights and no decorations, save for one lone "Merry Christmas/Happy New Year" sign in teh window of a shop owned by a Hindu couple - go figure). There is no Christmas music and no sales pitches to buy presents. Chrsitmas cards and wrapping paper are very difficult to find. Ribbon is non-existent. But then, most people in my village can't afford to exchange gifts anyway. And instead of snow covered trees, I will be looking out on sun-baked sand.

But just like last year, I will put up the 10-inch Christmas tree that I made from green construction paper, and the African creche I assembled from wood carvings. I will play christmas music (thank goodness I remembered to bring some CDs from home), drink Christmas tea, eat some chocolate (life is good) and thank God for the wonderful support and love I have received this past year from my family and friends.

I hope to see each of you next summer.
Blessings,
Sami

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If you want to check out the orphanage where Sami works: www.banabaletsatsi.com
Or write to Sami:
Sami Oeser
c/o BBL
Private Bag 114, Suite 55
Maun, Botswana