The wise words of my parents “You were given a brain, use it” often surfaced throughout my life.
At the age of fifteen, I decided to leave the church of my youth which seemed to expect me to leave my brain at the door. When I would ask a question I was told “Do not question” and read the books of our faith.”
I did. And then I had more questions and continued to be told “Don’t question.”
“Don’t question”??? Isn’t that why I was given a brain? … to ask questions … to doubt … to consider possibilities … to challenge situations of injustice … to think for myself … to come to my own opinion?
When I became a parent. I intentionally taught my son to think … research subjects … be open to learning from others … discuss what he was learning … listen to the opinions of others … come to his own independent opinion.
In other words, he was raised to be a thinker – not simply go with the crowd … not to agree with my views – but to come to his own opinions about … politics … truth … relationships … religion … abortion … euthanasia … capital punishment … sexuality … and more.
I like to think that reading and doing research, becoming informed, respectfully listening to the opinions of others, discussing and debating and eventually coming to our own opinions is a responsibility.
If you/I were given a brain, surely the Giver of the Gift expects us to use the gift at all times and particularly in these difficult days of elusive truth. So, we must seek truth … we must pursue truth, even if it alienates us from loved ones, from political party adherence, from religious tenets. We must think. Think For Ourself. It is our responsibility
“Mother’s Day” (a secular celebration) in North America is not the same as “Mothering Sunday” which is a Christian celebration, celebrated on the 4th Sunday in Lent in the UK and Ireland since the 16th century. Mother’s Day is being marked today … or avoided …
Whichever it is, With Mother’s Day may we be mindful that there are women who will be celebrating and giving thanks, while at the same time, there will be women who will be grieving, hurting, in pain. All on the same day.
With Mother’s Day I think of and pray forexperiencing a wide range of emotions … the women who never birthed a child … the women who miscarried … the women who were infertile (or their partner was) … the women who had an abortion … the women whose child was stillborn … the women whose child had serious health issues … the women whose child ran away and put into custodial care … the women whose child was raped … the women whose child was taken away at birth by authorities … the women whose child was kidnapped, arrested, deported … the women whose child died due to the pandemic, accident, overdose, illness, murder … the women who began life as male, but knew they were not … the women whose child lives in fear … the women whose child became alienated from them and there is little or no communication … the women whose adoptions fell through … the women whose artificial insemination didn’t work … the women whose surrogate changed her mind & kept the baby … the women whose child is in prison … the women whose child had a debilitating physical/mental disability … the women whose child committed suicide … the teachers who ‘mothered’ the children in their classrooms … the women who were surrogate mothers, carried the child to term, but who never became that child’s parent. … the mothers have died … the women in countries at war, trying to be strong for their children while separated from their partners, families, country and living with explosions, food shortages and the threat of rape, annihilation.
With Mother’s Day, I think of, and pray for those who are rejoicing because … they gave birth to a healthy child … their child had children and they became a grandmother … they adopted a child … each of us – for we all had a biological mother and were given life.
With Mother’s Day, I think of and pray for those who are mothers, but who may not see their role to be one of mothering: foster moms, spiritual moms, mentor moms.
With Mother’s Day, I think of and pray for those who lost their mother through death or alienation or deportation and all who suffered abuse from their mother.
This year, with the reality that Roe v Wade was overturned in the United States, I think and pray for the countless woman who will be forced to carry a child to term … regardless of rape, incest, age, or their own death.
May acknowledgment of Mother’s Day, be done with sensitivity, compassion and kindness in faith groups/religions, families, social media and law courts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Remembering Joy (Gene Dolores) … mother to June and Gerry; step-mother to Lois, Fran and Eric; grandmother to Tod, Christopher and Tracy; step-grandmother to Grace, Brenda, Glen, Jeff and Danae … and giving thanks. May you continue to rest in peace, Mom. Thank you – for oh, so much.
Do you remember Yoda from Star Wars? A legendary Jedi Master, Yoda may have been small in size, but he was quite the theologian, philosopher and poet.
Yoda said “Do or do not. There is no try.” In those two short sentences, Yoda extended a call to *do.” *Do* kindness. *Do* acts of justice. *Do* speak up for … the bullied … the disabled … the environment … the mentally ill … the lonely … the impoverished … the victimized … the grieving … the homeless … the abused animals … the frightening slippery slope that has followed the abolition of Roe v Wade … the elderly … the frightened … the planet … the chronically ill … the addict … the growing tension on university campuses … the addicted … the war in Ukraine and the Middle East and Africa … the political situations in the United States, Hungary, Canada … and
We’re going down the Rabbit Hole and further down the Slippery Slope because …
“First they came for the women who decided abortion was the best response to their pregnancy and I did not speak out because I was not pregnant. Then they came for the LGBQT+ and I did not speak out because I was straight. Then they came for those who were not Caucasian and I did not speak out because I was Caucasian. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.” June Maffin – based on Martin Niemöller: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Yoda set a challenge and put forth a reminder that … change *can* begin … peace *can* appear … joy *can* be experienced … hope *can* be rekindled … voting *can* bring about change …
Perhaps only in oh-so-small steps, perhaps only in oh-so-small glimpses, but change *can* happen when a Yoda Attitude begins in our heart, in our mind, in our spirit, in our action.
Change might not happen in the ways we want … or expect … or in the time frame we need. But change *can* happen. “Do or do not. There is no try.” (Yoda).
On this, the fourth day of the month of May, may we have a Yoda Attitude. And may the Fourth/Force be with us all.
It’s a new month … the month of May has begun. HAPPY MAY DAY!
Summer is on its way. And in Celtic tradition, the beginning of summer is known as Beltane (Gaelic May Day festival) with celebrations which include the decoration of homes with flowers, bonfires, feasting, making of May bushes. In France May 1st (known as the “worker’s holiday”), branches of Lily of the Valley are given as tokens of good luck.
Somehow, with the way things are unfolding politically in many countries, it seems strange to be thinking of “celebrations” and “festivals” and decorating with flowers. But, then I think of the roses that are beginning to open and their blossoms bringing colour, sweet aroma and joy!
And yet – and yet, I remember that their thorns prick and can cause pain. Like roses, life brings joy and can cause pain. But even with the pain, in the midst, there is hope. Look for it. It’s there. Look for it. It is here.
Where?
While it may be difficult to see, sometimes even more difficult to experience, there is hope as a new month begins. … hope – that life will return to some semblance of political normalcy … hope – that people will think, speak and act with kindness … hope – that peace will come to Ukraine, the Middle East, the United States, the other countries facing fear … hope – that this planet will survive climate change … hope – that neither nuclear nor chemical warfare will ever be used … hope – that A.I. will slow down its rapid development in unsafe ventures
Hope … because it’s the beginning of a new month. And with beginnings, there are possibilities!
Let’s not focus on the fear, but on the ‘possibilities.
Every time we “think fear,” let’s find something for which we can be grateful. Just one. … one thing that equalizes the impact of the negative. … one person that puts a smile on our face. … one action we did that made us proud of ourselves.
Just one thing so we can say/think … Happy Beltane! Happy Month of May!
It’s April 22nd – Earth Day – a global annual event celebrated in more than 190 countries to show support for the environment. Words by Thich Nhat Hanh are poignant and critical for us all to remember: “The earth is not just our environment. We are the earth and the earth is us.”
Earth and human beings are inter-related. We can not … we must not … ignore the cry from the earth … the cry of the birds and the bees and the shrubs and the vegetables and the animals and the children and …
For this planet earth to survive we must care for Mother Earth. We must consciously work towards making Planet Earth sustainable for generations to come.
As the wee bird in the magnolia tree says “Please save this earth … for you … for me … for us all.”
Whenever you find a Thursday that is sad Whenever you find a Thursday that is lonely Whenever you find a Thursday that is difficult in any way how about welcoming it?
How about letting it know you’re delighted … it is here? How about expressing gratitude that … you’re here?
Gratitude – because you are here. Existing. Surviving. Living. … “in spite of.”
Thursday is not just another day of the week. It’s a day that looks to tomorrow and is a reminder, as Annie sang, “The sun will come up, tomorrow.”
Today, Thursday, helps us look to tomorrow … with anticipation.
Finally we have come to the end of Lent, the end of Holy Week. It is Easter! “Alleluia! Christ is risen.” “He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” Huh? What? He is risen? The Resurrection was real?
Proof! We want proof that is tangible, reliable, trustworthy. Heck, we NEED proof! These are scary times. Children are frightened there may be a shooter at their school … or their parents may be picked up by ICE. When we think about things, we realize that there may not be enough water or air or land to live on if climate change isn’t dealt with quicklym and soon. Youth and adults are terrified that more and more young people will be sent to a foreign land to fight in a war that wasn’t sanctioned by their government … the democracy they take for granted is being eroded and may soon be gone.
And then what? Proof! We want proof!!
One little girl had the proof. And she not only told her friend, but stuck out her tongue at the other little girl to emphasize her proof, as she exclaimed “So there! I told you so! I was right! My mother said that the earth is round and if she said it’s round, then that proves it!”
Ahhh, if only proof were that simple. But then again, maybe it is! Maybe the proof of Easter is that it is here … all around us. Not in the physical resurrection appearance of Jesus, but in the hands and feet of Jesus’ followers today.
If we want proof of the Resurrection, maybe we simply need to look around – look around our community, religious group, neighbourhood, local community centre/library/school. TV personality Mr. Rogers said his mother helped him respond to scary news when he was a child, by telling him,“Look for the helpers.”
The proof we want and need is in the selfless action of those who staff the pharmacies, grocery stores, hardware stores, gas stations, car repair shops ,,, in the daily routine done by garbage collectors, street cleaners, ferry workers, truck drivers ,,, in the dedication of educators, health care workers, first responders, physicians, funeral attendants, nursing home workers, journalists, librarians – it’s in all professions and trades.
The proof is in the kindness of volunteers … picking up groceries for the elderly, self-isolating and immuno-compromised, cutting flowers from their garden and taking a bunch to a neighbour recovering from surgery, illness, who is grieving … putting together meals for the homeless, for the shut-ins, lunches for school children, Food Banks … tutoring new immigrants in the English language … sitting on community, school, church committees … mowing lawns and doing some handywork for those less-abled and/or elderly … standing up/speaking out for justice by picketing, peaceful participation in rallies and protests, writing politicians.
There’s the proven that Christ is risen. Christ is risen in you. Christ is risen in me. Christ IS risen! “He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!”
We’re almost at Easter! The end of a difficult week is in sight for countless people around the world who are observing Holy Week. But, we’re not at Easter yet. We’re not at the end of Holy Week.
This day, known as Holy Saturday, is one last nudge – one final reminder – of the fragility of the human being.
Holy Saturday might be likened to a “Morning-After” situation. You know, the “Morning-After” when the worst thing that could possibly have happened, happened – such as … ~ when you received the devastating medical diagnosis ~ when you were fired ~ when you realized that a brutal war was happening – when you discovered yourself on a ‘deportation list’ ~ when your spouse confessed to cheating ~ when you were at a great party, woke up with a doozy of a headache learned that you had driven your car the previous night, and had injured or killed someone ~ when your beloved spouse, child, parent, friend, pet died and you realize it actually happened and was not just a bad dream ~ when you discovered fire, a tornado, hurricane, or war had ravaged your home and there was nothing left – no photo, no computer, no important documents, no clothes, no furniture, nothing ~ when you discovered your dreams about a special job or school or retirement were shattered.
We likely all have a story we can relate to when we were ‘beyond-beyond’ comprehension. And if we can’t think of anything, the threat of chemical/nuclear, cyber war, the everpresent threat of climate change, the reality of ICE kidnapping people in the streets, is our ‘Morning-After,’ and it’s difficult to see very far into the future.
Our Holy Saturday morning experience could be described as being similar to that of the disciples when they couldn’t see beyond the tomb of Jesus … when they couldn’t see beyond the reality of His crucifixion and death. The Holy Saturday of long ago and the Holy Saturday of today, have similarities. Between tonight’s Holy Saturday sunset and tomorrow’s Easter Sunday sunrise, we wait. We keep vigil. We observe the Liturgy of the Great Vigil of Easter which begins in darkness, then a fire is lit and is symbolically brought into the sanctuary/home by a candle.
As the service of prayerful watching continues, Scripture is read, prayers are offered, the Exsultet is sung, holy Baptism or the Renewal of Baptismal vows happens, and the first celebration of Holy Communion begins the glorious Season of Easter … with light throughout the room/sanctuary along with joyful music, colourful flowers, great smiles and the exuberant shouting of “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” by all who are present. A sense of unbridled joy fills hearts as the wilderness of Lent, the Cross, the empty tomb move us from death to life.
But in these days, when images of death fill the airwaves and people are still deeply concerned about a future without democracy, a future of unknown consequences – or our reality is a present when we can’t be with others to share the good news that “Christ is risen,” what then?
We could do what many in this community did at 7:00 pm each night at the beginning of the COVID:we could sing out loud in our homes, our streets … we could bang our pots and pans … we could joyfully proclaim that the Great Vigil of Easter is over! On this night, Holy Saturday, in the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, hope and possibility are ignited!
“Alleluia! Christ is Risen. He is risen, indeed!Alleluia!“
When you woke up this morning, did you say “TGIF – Thank God it’s Friday!” as many have done over the years on Fridays when they were looking forward to the weekend?
But this Friday isn’t just “any” Friday. It’s different. It’s Friday in Holy Week. A Friday that many refer to as Good Friday. That’s a strange way to talk about a day when Jesus the man, raw from the lashes of a whip, was laid out, arms stretched and bound with ropes to the rough surface of a wooden cross beam, wrists pierced with sharp spikes, feet nailed on a wooden beam, his exhausted body craving release from his suffering, his spirit grieving by the rejection and betrayal of others? What could possibly be “good” about any of that?
It would be a lot easier to forget the relevance of this day in general. And it would be a lot easier, in light of the political upheavals around us, to say that there’s little or nothing “good” about this day.
Perhaps an answer lies in the word ‘good’? Other parts of the world have different words for this day – some Germans refer to today as ‘karfreitag,’ (the ‘kar’ being an obsolete ancestor of ‘mourning’). Elsewhere, some parts of the world call today “Mourning Friday,” putting attention on the disciples who grieved and mourned. And then there are those who follow the belief that this day was originally called “God Friday,” hypothesizing that today is “good” because Jesus was demonstrating his love for humanity by offering his life.
But if that is so, why die in such a brutal manner? Why die so young? Why take on the sinfulness of all humanity on a deathbed after a fruitful life of showing and teaching people the way to God?
Good Friday is unresolved. It’s a tragic and terrible day. War, threat of the loss of democracy and personal crises make today even more terrible and tragic. But, regardless of what we call this day, it is a day when we face reality head-on … when we are fully conscious that the Christian walk is seldom easy, and at the same time, are aware of Grace in God’s unconditional love.
Titus Brandsma was a university President in the Netherlands during WW11. Arrested by the Nazis, placed in a concentration camp, isolated in an old dog kennel, tortured daily, his guards amused themselves by ordering him to bark like a dog when they passed by him. Eventually Titus died from the torture. What the Nazis didn’t know was that Brandsma kept a diary during that time, writing between the lines of print in an old prayerbook. It was there that his poem to Jesus was found: “The lovely way that you once walked has made me sorrow-wise. Your love has turned to brightest light this night-like way of mine. Stay with me Jesus, only stay. I shall not fear if, reaching out my hand, I feel that You are near.”
Perhaps Good Friday can be a day when we remind ourselves that ,in the Christian understanding of hope, nothing, not even death, can overwhelm the love God has for each person.
Perhaps then, this day is not an ending. Rather, it is a day of a new beginning. TGIF. Thank God It’s Friday.
This night at sundown, a question was asked by the youngest child present at a special dinner – a Seder – in Jewish homes: “Why is this night different from other nights?” The child asks the same question that has been asked for centuries by Jewish people in times of despair, in times of joy, in times of knowing, in times of unknowing.
Then the same child asks Four Questions which emerge from that first question: * Why is there no leavened bread, only matzoh (unleavened flatbread)? * Why are only bitter herbs eaten this night? * Why are the vegetables dipped twice, not once, in salt water? * Why is eating done, reclining on one elbow?
And each of the answers to those questions on this night every year, explains why things are done differently that night: * Matzoh – because there was no time for the dough to rise * Bitter herbs – as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery * Vegetables dipped in twice – as a reminder of tears shed * Eating while reclining on one elbow – to symbolize freedom.
While I am not of the Jewish faith, I have often been intrigued by this tradition and wondered if Passover can offer lessons to people of other faiths and to those of no particular religious faith. And, if so, what could those lessons be?” Over time, some answers began to emerge.
First – we can learn to ask questions.
I love the tradition of having a child begin the Passover Seder with a question. Children love to ask questions (oh wow, do they ever!), but as we grow older, many stop asking questions and take what others believe to be their truth. Not asking questions has sometimes led to broken relationships, illness, political uncertainty and war. Why don’t we ask more questions? Curiosity is a wonderful attribute!
When I had questions of the teachers at the church my family attended, I heard the same response, over and over again: “All answers are in our books. Look – the answers are there.” I did look, over and over, but I didn’t see answers. What I saw, was more questions. But every time I had a question, the response was the same – year after year, after year. When I was fifteen, I spoke with my parents, telling them that I wanted to leave that church. “Why?” they asked. I told them that not only wasn’t I finding the answers I was seeking in the two books that undergirded that faith, I was not being allowed to question – at all.
My parents told me in later years that, when they heard me say … that I believed I had been given a brain to use … that because I wasn’t allowed to question anything in the church beyond what was in one of the two official books, I was refusing a gift (my intellect), and I couldn’t believe God wanted me to refuse that gift but use it and ask questions and more questions – after talking it over, they agreed, and I was given permission to leave that church – and religion. Even though my mother continued as a leader in that church for many years afterward, neither she nor my father expected me to be part of it. How blessed I was to have them both as parents – parents who invited conversation — who let me “think for myself.”
I have never stopped asking questions. I hope I never will. My sense of curiosity and of asking questions has led me on an exciting – and challenging – journey. I ask questions about religion, history, the Bible, politics, God, the environment, the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the situation in the United States, here in Canada as well as in Panama and Greenland and Cuba. And, I ask questions of myself.
I ask questions to political leaders, religious leaders, social media journalists. Sometimes I get answers. Sometimes my questions lead me to more questions. And sometimes, my questions lead me to answers. But without the questions …
So, I love the Passover tradition of having a child ask the question.
Second – we can learn to face life’s challenges.
The Christian Season of Lent and the Jewish observance of Passover speak of people long ago who faced challenges. As difficult as those challenges were then, they were profound teachers. Today, each of us faces challenges in our lives. As difficult as they are for us, they too can be profound teachers. Facing challenge is not always easy, but it can be a profound way to learn about life, ourselves, God, this world where we live.
Third – we can learn to take action.
The Israelites left Egypt in such haste that they could not wait for their bread dough to rise, so they took action with the dough they had, and created unleavened bread – the matzoh – which sustained them. Action! The life and story of Jesus in Christian belief, is a motivator of action of a literal understanding of ‘love of neighbour’ by those who followed the man Jesus. That story continues to motivate people today into ‘love of neighbour’ … in advocacy, action and justice-seeking.
Fourth – we can learn to share.
Whether it’s food for the body with a meal – or food for the soul with wisdom – the story of a wide table open to all at a Passover Seder nd for those who follow the story of Jesus (the sharing of loaves and fishes), can be gentle reminders of the importance of sharing what we have with others.
Fifth – we can learn to be grateful.
Many religious teachings undergird the importance of having an attitude of gratitude and not take our precious life for granted. May we be willing to learn from other religions and other peoples.
So on this, the first night of Passover, to those who follow the path of Judaism, may the miracle of Passover live in your hearts forever. Chag Pesach Sameach!
