Sunday-Ps. 29 is a bold act as it could well come from Canaanite religious culture but changed for the God of Israel. In other words, Old Israel would rework a good prayer, even if it could not accept its source and object.Its pairing with the baptism of Jesus links us with creation and water, but it also reminds us that we hold that the very plan of creation resides in a human being being baptized, as once again the spirit hovers.
Monday -Frederick Buechner-To have grandchildren is not only to be given something but to be given something back.You are given back something of your children's childhood all those years ago. You are given back something of what it was like to be a young parent. You are given back something of your own childhood even, as on creaking knees you get down on the floor to play tiddlywinks, or sing about Old MacDonald and his farm, or watch Saturday morning cartoons till you're cross-eyed.
Tuesday-Christianity wasn't an argument I could win, or even resolve. It wasn't a thesis. It was a mystery that I was finally willing to swallow. I was loved by a big love. In the midst of suffering, of hunger, even of death. Alleluia. What was, finally, so hard about accepting that?" (Sara Miles) I must admit that I often perceive the faith as something to be rationally demonstrated and do hold that reason and faith can be allies. At the same time, I have a similar epiphany to Miles, as religion is always a trip to the ineffable.
Wednesday-I am getting a bit ahead on this during the bitterly cold day on Epiphany< January 6. The Bible certainly reflects its desert origins. If it were written in our part of the country how would its images remain the same or where would they differ do you think? Context helps frame meaning and affects even some of the imagery for speaking of the divine. Select a Midwestern image and apply it to the faith. Find new door of perception?
Thursday-I was disgusted with myself that I did not get more done on our snowy day on the 6th. Productivity is a virtue, certainly. I wonder if it neglects the important insights that occur when daydreaming or mulling something over, when you can’t list it as an accomplishment of the day.When is it a virtue and when is it more a curse?
Friday-From Louisville’s Jinkins-”-There seems to be an act of intellectual empathy that precedes and makes possible the emotional empathy needed to transcend a tribal aversion to strangers. Once we can fathom that every other person, however different, however distant, is also made in God's image, indeed, that the image of God is most fully reflected in our being in relationship, then we are empowered to imagine what it means to be both human and different. There's no real virtue in loving those who are just like us and who serve our interests, at least according to Jesus of Nazareth; virtue lies in loving those who are different, even potentially troublesome. Maybe Jesus knew a thing or two about overcoming the destructive power of tribes.
Saturday-Since this is the season of light in the church, I always love to see light sparkle off the snow and ice. I like the half-light of a cold day at dawn or dusk when the sun seems so weak.As I was writing this, for some reason I was transported back to being a little boy reading what Catholics called Bible History (Bible stories for the young) and recalling the warm glow that seem to emerge from its pages.
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