Tattered, Rudolf Steiner Speaks from my Wallet

A tattered poem on Winter Solstice tumbles out of my wallet this morning. This Word has spoken to me often from its secure little nest, on the days I pull it out for mantra and on the days it just travels alongside of me.

WINTER SOLSTICE

Behold the Sun
At midnight.
Build with stones
On lifeless ground.

Find in decline,
In death's night,
Creation's new beginning,
Morning's youthful night.

The heights reveal
The gods' eternal word.
The depths guard
The peaceful treasure.

Living in darkness,
Create a Sun.
Weaving in matter,
Know Spirit's delight.

-- Rudolf Steiner

I have carried it for four years, this Word. On days and nights that seemed long, that seemed without light or path for others, it steadied me with an ancient, creation imperative. The Sun was present and I knew it. It brought delight and rebirth.

I wonder now, a few days past a new Spring on the calendar and in my heart, if I am done with it. The wondering passes. I am not. This brings the resolve of Rest. It is not a resolve of tirelessly plodding on, like a sturdy oak, mindless of fatigue or surroundings. It's Presence Possible only in the bearings of that Sun. It's a body-mind-spirit delight found when I sense the right place, the right time, the right work.

It's faith.

Turning World Upside Down with Justice, Compassion, Peace

I am so moved by the witness and vision of the Beatitudes Society, which I got hooked up with a few months ago. Watch for a LWM book study on Anne Howard's book this summer. Here's more info on their work:


The Beatitudes Society develops and sustains emerging Christian leaders at seminaries and divinity schools as they build a progressive network for justice, compassion and peace as expressed in the Beatitudes.

How do we turn the world upside down?

One student, one faculty member, one school, one friend at a time, with all of us coming together in a commitment to the spirit of the Beatitudes.

We establish chapters at Christian seminaries and divinity schools across the nation, so students and faculty can gather in community to study, act and pray as they deepen their understanding and practice of prophetic Christian ministry.

We offer chapters financial support for campus activities and speaker events.
We invite everyone to share their thoughts on our Beatitudes Blog.

Annually, we select a progressive conference to which we offer our members scholarships. Click here to view our scholarship policy.

We offer paid fellowships for members at progressive Christian organizations. For more information, visit this page.

We offer an annual Beatitudes service trip for members and friends to do hands-on justice work.

We publish a monthly newsletter, and invite you to subscribe using the "Stay Informed" box at the top of the column to your right.

Anniversary of Iraq War

The following is from Ken Sehested, fellow traveler and peacemaker, who posted it in the listserv of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America.


Friends,

This past week's anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq made me remember the video I made after returning from Baghdad shortly before "shock and awe" commenced on 19 March 2003. With a friend's help, I've put the 7-minute video on YouTube. If you're interested, here's the weblink: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTSVa9vFhS4

I escorted the last delegation of short-term volunteers with the Iraq Peace Team, co-sponsored by Voices in the Wilderness and Christian Peacemaker Teams. A dozen of my friends, including my roommate in Baghdad, remained in Iraq during the bombardment, holed up in a hotel basement, in order to be able to report on the invasion's aftermath. During this season of remembrance, don't forget that we've been at war with Iraq for more than 6 years. Remember the first "Gulf War," when on 16 January, the day after the commemoration of Dr. King's birth, the US began attacking Iraqi troops that had invaded Kuwait? By March it was over. But then the US and our British allies established "no-fly" zones in southern and northern Iraq. Combat bombing missions occurred virtually every day from then until the outbreak of 2003 invasion of Iraqi itself. (For 4 days in Dec. 1998 the entire country came under intense US and British bombing and cruise missile attacks.) In other words, the US has been launching combat missions in Iraq for 18 years.

Midway through this period between the declared wars a US-directed campaign of economic sanctions further decimated the country. Then-US Ambassador to the United Nations (later Secretary of State) Madeleine Albright responded to a question on the "60 Minutes" television show about a UN study documenting the deaths of 500,000 children as a direct result of the economic sanctions by saying: "Is it worth it? It's a high price, but we think it's worth it." -------------------------------------------------------------------


"Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures,
who sit securely, who say in your heart,
'I am, and there is no one beside me;
I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children'...
You felt secure in your wickedness; you said,
'No one sees me.'
Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,
and you said in your heart,
'I am, and there is no one beside me."
--Isaiah 47:8, 10:

Speaking, ironically, of King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian superpower in the land now known as Iraq.

Bless My Debt? Guest Post by Kelli Dudley

Bless My Debt?

Kelli Dudley

Through all the talk about debt in the newspapers, on television, and on the Internet, there is one consistent theme: debt is a problem. We may disagree on who is to blame, who must bail out whom, and what caused the current catastrophe. But we unilaterally see debt as a problem, something outside of the good order of our lives, maybe even a “sin” or evidence of a life gone terribly awry.

But . . . is debt a problem? Do we need to place blame? Need anyone be bailed out? Is there a catastrophe?

What if the answer is “no”?

We know that we come from an abundant God (or universe or power or spirit) that is in charge of EVERYTHING. Our God synchronizes the dance of life so perfectly that the crocus bulbs in my front yard did not send up their blooms until a fairly late in the season, to my way of thinking, after this very cold winter.

All of my waiting, fretting, and fantasizing about warm weather would not move those blossoms. If I had been in charge instead of God, my delicate purple blossoms would have been nipped by cold and would not have been in my yard just in time to warm my heart in the middle of a busy day in mid-March.

Just as I worried over my bulbs needlessly, we worry about the flow of our money. We imagine that we owe money to someone, that we will not be able to pay, and that we will come to some catastrophe. We remonstrate, we blame greedy corporations, we wish for a financially-successful life partner, we project our solution onto the screen of the future, and we regret our past financial choices.

Indeed, our finances can be cause of concern. Just as a delicate bloom can be susceptible to frost or can reach new heights with a little fertilizer, we can bring loving attention to our finances—mulching with a good interest-bearing account and avoiding the freeze that might nip by holding off buying that item that looks more appealing in the store than it does at use in our lives.

But is debt “bad”?

If you are blaming yourself for incurring debt, consider that you may not have behaved so badly as you think. Think of the experience, the dance of life, that led to your debt. Was there a good meal when you were hungry? The blessing of a good meal over a table filled with favorite foods and surrounded by favorite friends?

Did you buy a home? Why did you want the new tile? The new granite counter top? Could it have been your desire to demonstrate love in your choice of housing for yourself and your family?

Maybe you spent your money on a spiffy car. As it turns out, the car didn’t go fast enough to leave your foibles and perceived flaws in a cloud of dust. In fact, it is the same dusty old you driving that car—and it is getting less shiny by the minute. Why did you buy that car? Was it your desire to express love of life? Your desire to acknowledge the quality of graceful movement through the universe?

Sometimes it turns out that we planned future income that did not materialize. Our debts seem like a burden. We have, it seems, made a mistake.

There are practical steps that can help you choose differently in the future. These may mean expressing your God qualities differently next time—maybe you’ll fertilize your future with a savings plan or prune some wilted edges that no longer serve you. Reverend Jacki and I want to use this space to discuss some of those possibilities.

But for now, if you are feeling a little challenged by finances, open yourself to this possibility: instead of regret, bless your debt.

Allow yourself to remember that delicious meal, the faces of your friends, the waitstaff that enjoyed the generous tip. Remember the feel of the new tile under your feet when you stepped out of a steamy bath in your new home. Breathe in that new car smell. These things were blessings in their time, and they nurtured your soul in an important way then, just as new practices will nurture you in the future. Regretting your choices hurts—every time you remonstrate against your current situation, you tell yourself you never deserved the things you thought money could buy. In fact, you do deserve those things—and you deserve to have them in a higher way that may mean greater financial stability. The God qualities don’t change. You attempted to demonstrate them with material things yesterday; today perhaps you are finding them closer than your very breath.

Right here, right now, you have the God quality of abundance. You may perceive the condition of an uncomfortable credit card statement, and you may want to move toward a positive balance sheet as an expression of grace. But make no mistake: the God qualities you felt yesterday are still here—in the credit card statement, in the bill collector, and in all the challenges that seem to be taking place.

Take a moment: bless the debt and the need that was met when you incurred it. Know that there are other ways for God to express in your life, and that these ways may not involve things that can be charged on plastic. Open to knowing more, and open to knowing that your past cannot rob your present and future of abundance any more than a fretting gardener can know the right time for those delicate purple crocus blossoms to dance in my yard.

It was, is, and will be all God, all good.

***************************************************************************

Kelli Dudley is a lawyer who assists people to change their minds about debt. She defends people who are pursued by creditors, mortgage companies, and landlords. She helps them to negotiate when they truly owe money, and assists them to defend themselves when they are unjustly harassed. Kelli teaches Housing Law at the DePaul University College of Law and teaches in several paralegal and college programs. Her passion is helping people understand money and material resources as tools that can help them attain their true purpose.

Steadfast Love: Holy Relationships and a Wilderness God

This is what my friend and colleague Rich McCarty and I have been birthing in recent weeks. Saturday's retreat will be a gathering of 20+ fellow travelers seeking "holy relationships." Join me in praying for this rich day...

STEADFAST LOVE …
Holy Relationships and a Wilderness God

Saturday, March 21
10:00am – 4:00pm
3338 N. Broadway Street
Chicago, Illinois

Are you on the journey of embracing spirituality and sexuality? Do you walk beside those engaged in such holy work? This Lenten retreat will provide an LGBT-inclusive space for rest, reflection and renewal in the work of the Holy. Inspired by the witness of Psalm 107, we will celebrate God’s steadfast love in the wilderness. We will also challenge ideas about God and God’s expectations which damage our experience and trust in Divine faithfulness. Attendees of all sexual orientations and gender identities will explore these six dimensions of living in Holy Relationships: trust, mutuality, accountability, unconditional love, boundaries, and intimacy. Together, we’ll give thanks for the pattern of God’s work in our lives, and be empowered for new discipleship commitments. Retreat Facilitators: Rev. Dr. Rich McCarty and Rev. Jacki Belile, members of the Holy Relationships National Steering Committee.

Financial Crises and Healing Opportunities

I receive daily emails from Beliefnet.com and usually find them very meaningful. They've been doing some good stuff on spirituality and money in recent months. Here's a blog entry from a sister coach, Deborah Price, which reminds me of what my colleague Kelli Dudley (a dynamic lawyer and social activist grounded in New Thought principles) and I have in mind/heart behind our seminar "Abundance Actions: Tips for Creaing Financial Wellness." It will be offered again in May in Chicago.


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Welcome From Your Financial Crisis Coach
Thursday March 12, 2009
Categories: Welcome


Welcome to Your Daily Spiritual Stimulus, a blog created to help you navigate this financially challenging time with ease and grace!

It is my hope and intention to become a source of daily comfort and support to our readers. As a Money Coach, I have helped hundreds of individuals and couples overcome their financial challenges and issues. This is not merely my profession--this work is my life's purpose.

I came to this work through my own experience of financial hardship and adversity. I know what it is to be a struggling single mother, to be struck by a disabling illness, and to be a financially strapped business owner. I know first- hand what it feels like to wake up not knowing how you will financially survive another month. I know what it's like to be filled with fear.

I took the powerful lessons that came from my own experience with adversity and turned them into something meaningful. I was able to carve a new life. So, wherever you are right now, in the midst of this economic crisis and time of uncertainty, I want you to know that you are not alone, that there is hope and that with God's grace and guidance, together, we will get through this.

As difficult as it may be, the financial crisis is giving us an amazing gift and opportunity to reconsider our relationship to money and personal finances. Ultimately, I believe, it will give us a chance to heal.

For too long now, our lives have been overly focused on money and material possessions as a way of feeling okay about who we are, when in fact who we are has nothing to do with what we have. Who we are is so much larger and more valuable than anything we could ever hope to own or possess. I strongly believe this is the lesson that we are all being called to learn at this time.

Even in the worst of times, we can and must nurture our souls and continue to grow spiritually. In the coming weeks, I will offer ways to help you discover your own answers and help you to find the richness that exists within you. As we share prayer, community, kinship, stories and exercises to help you cope with the crisis, I hope you will also allow yourself to dream of the life you want to be living. For it is essential to hold onto hope and know that we will find a way to brighter days.

I will also guide you to the rich resources and community support that is available to you right here on Beliefnet. For starters, you might want to share your stories and prayer needs in our community. This is a wonderful time to stay connected and we will help you do just that.

So tune into Your Daily Spiritual Stimulus for ongoing spiritual guidance, support and community. Don't forget to share your comments and questions.

I leave you with this prayer for today.


Dear God,
If it be in accordance with your will,
I pray that this new age in human history
be a time of spiritual renaissance,
a "second Enlightenment"
that will heighten values
and help everyone to realize
their true purpose in life.

I pray for peace and justice,
and love and light.
I pray for an abundance
of beauty, truth and goodness
in the lives of all the inhabitants
of this troubled world.
May there be harmony,
sustainability,
and evolutionary progress.
Thank you for this gift of consciousness,
dear God.
Amen.
- Steve McIntosh

Peace and Blessings!
-- Deborah
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Prayer for Third Week of Lent

God of Grace and God of Glory,
we yearn for commandments which bring life.

Deepen our longing, fire our questions, order our desires.

Deepen our longing to be a journey people,
known for abiding commitments--
not childish obedience.

Fire our questions about commandments of old,
knowing they bring life--
and sometimes death.

Order our desires as the poet orders your world,
in awe traversing the vast creation--and our depths too.

Fire us with zeal that opens doors,
questioning perverse traditions--
and ego's house.

Deepen our longings for true Glory:
Presence, Love, Wisdom Unshamed--
Foolish Grace.

**************************************************************
Written by Jacki Belile for "Out in Scripture," a project of the Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith Program.

A Breath Away's Not Far

Another song in memory of Tom, who introduced me to this one by Josh Groban when he sang it in a World AIDS Day service a few years back. Tom was always introducing me to wider music and literature. His joy in literature, music and theatre coursed through his veins like blood itself. I'm grateful he was so faithful in passing it on, one way he bore witness to that power that "can't be seen." As loved ones gather to mark his passing, I pray that we all remember "a breath away's not far."

To Where You Are

Who can say for certain
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memory's so clear

Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration
Can it be (?)
That you are mine
Forever love
And you are watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen

As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me everyday
'Cause you are my
Forever love
Watching me from up above

And I believe
That angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up
To where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile
To know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are
I know you're there

A breath away's not far
To where you are

"Not a Time to Hide from Our Past" (on torture)

I got this compelling article today from one of my favorite sources calling for "Living Well Together:" The Daily e-news from Faith in Public Life. Lent calls us to the GOOD NEWS of repentance, that which Paul says originates with the Lord's kindness. Indeed, it is by remembering the Christian claim that repentance is good news (not bad), that we contribute to a world where we do not -- in fear -- hide from ourselves, one another or God. Or, our past.

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Clergy Support Push for Truth Panel on Torture
By: Karin Hamilton

Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 6:26 am

WASHINGTON (RNS) Saying the United States “must never again engage in torture,” a group of religious leaders is supporting a call for a “Commission of Inquiry” to investigate U.S.-sponsored torture under the Bush administration.

“Torture is immoral, illegal and counterproductive. It causes profound and lasting harm, especially to its victims but also to its perpetrators. It contradicts our nation’s deepest values and corrupts the moral fabric of our society,” said the statement from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, which was signed by 23 religious leaders. Signers included the Rev. John Thomas, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ; Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America; the Rev. David Gushee, president of Evangelicals for Human Rights; and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

While President Obama told Congress last month that “I can stand here ... and say without exception or equivocation that the United States of America does not torture,” a proposal by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., for a “Truth Commission” has largely stalled on Capitol Hill.

The religious leaders, however, said Americans “have been kept in the dark about this nation’s involvement in torture for long enough” and a nonpartisan panel with subpoena power would help “heal the nation’s soul.”“This is not a time to hide from our past,” the leaders said. “We must investigate and report on the torture policies and practices of the past and then develop safeguards to assure that torture never happens again.”

What the Apostle Paul and Krishna Share...

Ok. That title was to get some attention:)

This is one thing they share, at least as they have touched my life...

Two versions of a provocative reminder that the roles we play in any endeavor -- however great and however we care about it -- are limited, confined, interdependent, and without any guarantee of the results our ego may seek. That, they both say, is left to the One who we believe has the whole picture in providential care. (Frankly, although Paul is familiar, beautiful and vivid in helpful imagery, I prefer the punchy brevity of Krishna!)

Here's the extended passage from Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3: 2-9:

I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, ‘I belong to Paul’, and another, ‘I belong to Apollos’, are you not merely human?

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labour of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.
***

And, here's Krishna, in the Bhagavad-gita:

"To the work you are entitled, but not to it's fruits..."

There are a number of dimensions to my own lifelong Lenten journey. Learning this one may be at the core... Thank you, Paul and Krishna, for calling me to my Center in humility and rest!

4 Kingdom Questions for Activity Discernment

I'm thankful for the witness of Lifeforming Leadership Coaching, a Christian discipleship coaching school whose newsletter I receive. Here are four profound questions from the recent newsletter:

Here are 4 kingdom questions for your reflection and prayer:

1. What am I doing that does not need to be done?
2. What am I doing that could be done by someone else?
3. What am I doing that only I can do?
4. What should I be doing that I am not? (especially about being intentional in disciple making)

Joseph Umidi,
President & Founder
Lifeforming Leadership Coaching

Prayer for the Second Week of Lent

God of Names,
old and new...

God of Peoples,
old and new...

God of Promises,
old and new...

We turn away this season:
from all pride that would own You,
from all lies that would fear You,
from all burdens that would blame You.

We turn for You this season:
from our isolation we turn toward others,
from our chaos we turn to inward calm,
from our crosses of shame we turn toward glory.

We hope against hope...

Promising, Peopling, Naming!

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Written by Jacki Belile for "Out in Scripture," a project of the Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith Program.

A Hymn For Tom

This is for Tom, whose lifelong quest for the love of Jesus was an inspiration, and whose rest is now complete...


Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.
.
Refrain:
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
.
O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.
.
Refrain
.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!
.
Refrain
.
Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.

Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.
.
Refrain

Jesus, I am Resting, Resting
Jean Sophia Pigott1845-1882
.

In Support of Civil Unions Bill in lllinois

This is the letter I wrote and sent to each of the members of the Youth and Family Committee of the Illinois legislature today.


March 4, 2009

Dear Representative _____________:

I write in support of HB 2234, Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, and ask that you work to vote it out of committee at the scheduled March 5, 2009 meeting. Together, we can continue to advance the cause of faithful adherence to two pillars of our free and fair society: religious diversity and individual self-determination for all citizens. I believe that you and your fellow legislators will offer political leadership for the long-term good of all -- supporters and opponents -- by supporting this Bill.

As a Baptist minister, I am deeply grateful to see our leaders lift "religious freedom" in the naming of and discourse about civil union protections. I believe not only that this language offers honor and respect to the concerns of the Bill's opponents, but that it correctly introduces the reality of religious diversity on ALL "sides" of this issue into the debate arena. What is at stake is our will and capacity to live together without legally-sanctioned discrimination against those who disagree with us.

To name our commitment to religious freedom is insightful, fair and fruitful, I hope, for ongoing work of mutual understanding. To delineate exactly how religiously-rooted opposition to same-gender families (or other non-traditional co-habitants making a life together!) will not itself be discriminated against through any coercive measures of the state is also insightful, fair and fruitful. In this regard, I believe it illumines the civic work which the Bill's opponents are invited to continue: acceptance of their freedom of conviction, teaching and even their organized efforts at persuading the public of their views. The limits to that freedom lie along the line that is crossed when others are robbed of their equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Advancing legal protections for our choices of intimate partners, roommates, housing, financial beneficiaries (the list goes on and on) is a CONSERVATIVE choice. Such protection preserves our commitment to safeguard the individual's self-determination in matters intimate and material. It preserves our long-held stated ideals as we seek to live as neighbors who recognize one another's rights, even when we disagree. And, yes, spelling these rights out carefully in law whenever they would be threatened by others (even "well-meaning" others).

I know from life experience that many of this Bill's opponents are good-hearted people. I believe they have misplaced fears and, sometimes, unexamined prejudices. I do believe they care deeply about the common good. I simply believe HB 2234 respects the widest collective good, and thus deserves your full and sustained support. Thank you for all your work so far, and for considering these thoughts as you serve us all.

For Living Well,

Rev. Jacki Belile

Desire is Prayer

A quote from Mary Baker Eddy I have long found moving:

"Desire is prayer; and no loss can occur from trusting God with your desires, that they may be moulded and exalted before they take form in words and deeds."

I'm reading a rather dense book right now, and enjoying every minute of it. (Got to get to some fiction SOMETIME!)

This is a theological history book which is reminding me of ancient and modern struggles with the reality of desire in our human condition. Is it bad? scary? dangerous? Repugnant? Divine gift? All of the above?

I think Mary Baker Eddy's contribution is moving and profound. If my desire is, itself, a prayer than of course it's GOOD -- and not to be squelched, but entrusted to a trustworthy God (in formal prayer).

And, yet... there is ever the shaping and lifting of my desires on the way to their taking of form. This is a beautiful compromise. Of course, we're not always the wisest about what would be good for us and those around us. And, we need not be shamed or shame others for being "works in progress"!

With that, I think I'll go and have a good day. And I hope you have one too.

Prayer for First Week of Lent

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

Maker...

Make of us, still,
creatures of awe,
creatures who know,
creatures who live,
in connection.

Make in us, still,
the Word-made-flesh,
the water-signed call,
the will to begin again,
in connection.

Make over us, still,
rainbows announcing hope,
rainbows embracing all,
rainbows calling for conscience,
in connection.

Maker...

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Written by Jacki Belile for "Out in Scripture"a project of the Human Rights Campaign's Religion and Faith Program.