My feet have carried me for many miles/km along sidewalks and rocky mountain trails, across sandy beaches and through soccer, basketball and other games.  They have experienced pain in skating on frozen lakes and fluctuations between freezing and sweating on cross country ski trails.  There is the toe split by an ax when I was showing off my wood-splitting skills, and toes injured by falling objects and kicking table and chair legs and corners. There has been pain in finding needles and other objects hidden in carpets and other places.  There are the moments when I can easily stand on one foot and tie my other shoe, and moments when that balance is not there.  They can endure much, and still be sensitive.  The number of bones in each foot is amazing.  They help me experience joy in dancing and satisfaction in long stretches on a bicycle.  Considering all they do, it is remarkable that they require relatively little maintenance.

When I give a therapeutic foot massage, it is amazing how, in addition to everything else that feet do, that they have the potential to be avenues of therapy to the rest of the body.

I take feet so much for granted so much of the time, that my  perceptions of them have little to do with most of my encounters with other people.

What dismays or delights me about my own feet?

Something that gives me pause to wonder are my Level IV body-armour-grade keratin toenails. It takes muscle and a sharp jack knife to sculpt them into shapes that are not going to shred socks in an instant. They like to do that, competing with the heel, which can only abrade them up and down against the back of a shoe: a work of patience, like chewing gum, but effective all the same. Still, give the toenails half a chance and they’ll hack their way through the leading edge of a sock before I get to the corner. As I understand it, they descended to us by way of reptile claws and talons (so we're bound to see some lingering aggression there).

The toes of both feet have, in their day, taken a few good stubbings but no serious injuries. My left foot flaunts a few calluses… on the inner edges of the big toe and the heel. They accuse me of being cheap in my choice of shoes and remind me of the days when they never got encased in such things but ached in the cold until the boy they were a part of sunk them into fresh cow manure to warm up on the way to school.

Back then, the soles of my feet were tough. Not any more. Years of being shut up in shoes have softened them so they tremble at the thought of gravel, bee stings or oyster shells. Nevertheless, my feet still insist on getting with the ground sometimes… they say they need a bit of soil contact to let the energies flow.

Although both of my feet are fairly well travelled, they have —   like tour bus passengers — seen little of it all. They tend to huddle together and sweat when they’re not actually crimping and flexing to my gait which, these days, is never as fast as it sometimes was.

I’ve never afforded the luxury of a pedicure. As if to remind me how hard done by they feel, my feet occasionally let corns take root. It does them no good: getting rid of them hurts like hell… and it hurts my feet as much as it hurts me.

By and large, though, we are happy enough. My feet are smallish for my height and weight and they serve me all, all told. I hope we’re still all together at the end.

What dismays or delights you about the feet of others?

Other peoples’ feet? Apart from close family, it seems I seldom see the feet of other people; they’re usually covered up as though there’s something too private or a little indecent about them. Maybe there’s a part of our withdrawal from experience that’s creeping us back to Victorian tastes and values, when a woman’s ankle was considered too erotic for decency to display. Feet certainly, women’s feet in particular, seem to have headed in that direction.

Shoes and cosmetics for feet, and visually enhancing treatments for them, have become big money industries — a sure sign that something about feet is keen to be hidden.

I guess I experience other people’s feet as a part of the distancing we inflict on each other and fears about what we might think of each other: judgementally or erotically.

Does that reflect in my encounters with people every day, and if so, how?

I'm not sure...

Years ago at a Presbytery meeting the Christian  Developement Ctte of presbytery decided to do hand washing instead of foot washing before  the reps  entered the meeting  space. Bowls of sudsy water were used and fluffytowels.The story was being read. 

It was not well received.

I never heard so many complaints before or since about something CD did at a meeting. We were even called heritics by one minister.

I have feet that are unusually shaped - a fact that used to dismay me but now I delight in their uniqueness (while wondering if they may cause me troubles somewhere down the line). My toes point out to the side instead of pointing straight ahead and my feet are quite large (I sometimes refer to my shoes as boats). It can be hard to purchass dress shoes (casually I usually wear mens shoes or sandals). The only thing that truly dismays me about my feet now is the near constant sensation coming from where I broke my foot thirteen years ago. It's hard to describe the sensation - not painful, but annoying. What delights me about my feet is that they can take me anywhere I want to go.

I don't spend a lot of time thinking about other people's feet. When I see them, I want them to look healthy. What delights me about them is the same thing that delights me about my own - that they can take their owners anywhere they want to go. The only real reflection of this that I can see in my daily encounters with others is that I want them to look and feel normal in their whole bodies. Recently I met a woman who had very strangely shaped hips - they appeared to be drooping. For some reason I found it hard to get past that. I don't like to think of myself as being shallow like that, but sometimes I am. I wanted her to look "normal."

We do not really appreciate different aspects of our bodies until they are gone. I certainly did not fully appreciate my feet until I broke one and could not use it for several weeks. How often do we give God thanks for our bodies? Whatever the answer is, it seems to me that it is not often enough!

I don't see this Bible passage really being about feet at all.

It's the most important act concerning Jesus's life.

More significant than the crucifixion or the empty tomb.

It's essence is unconditional love. Jesus, IMO, is performing this act to illustrate God's unconditional love for us.

It says to me, "You are loved unconditionally - and every part of you is acceptable to God. By washing your feet you will experience this unconditional love."

In life it is the unconditional love of another that frees us to love ourselves. Jesus understood this - and used this ritual to symbolise this.

 Good morning. Thank you for participating in the discussion on today's Rising with the Morning Star reflection.

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First off I'd like to say that I find reassurance in that final phrase "I am with you always, even to the end of the world.  I relate it to the UCC creed  "We are not alone." and to Paul's declaration to the Romans "Nothing can separate us from the love of God".    But on checking, I see that it has been left off the quote from Matthew.  I wonder why.

Because it is only with the foundational belief that God is with me always that I feel I can share God's love with others.   I don't go out into the world trying to convert people.  I don't baptise them, or even intentionally lead them to baptism.   But filled with the love that God gives me, I try to share that love with others in my day to day living.  If, by association with me, someone decides to explore his relationship with the holy, to connect with a faith community, to be baptised, that would be good.  But if someone just feels better knowing that I care about him (or her), and that they are loved and valued, then I feel that we both have received a blessing.

"Faith" to me is a way of enagement with life... it's shaped and expressed by whole-of-life experience --  so witness is something that's far too easily shared: it's indeliby explicit in every expression, action, gesture and inference), and far too difficult to paper over with words.

I engage in talking ABOUT faith stuff but "about" is not the same as "doing" or "being". It's just words and they are heard by the another person in ways that do not necessarily embody what I try to say. So as a way of communicating faith it's not great. In my experience, faith communication is very difficult and successful more by grace that deliberate, direct effort. (I need to say that many of my friends are 'outwith' the church... and, for many good people who have been alienated from churchianity, the word 'Jesus' has come to carry so much unpleasant baggage that it's an immediate turnoff.)

Anyway, I'm not sure how appropriate it is to push other people's faith around. I've seen it be quite destructive. I feel it's usually best to encourage faith (expressed as full, healthy living) wherever/however it is found: god-presence is everywhere... 

One of the ways I have been trying to share my “faith” is by making what I call “Geologos” (stone poems) and giving them to friends and people I’m around. I don’t sell them; they’re worthless. Some people "get" it; others don't.

They’re just little pebble arrangements in a small, rough-made wooden frame: I can make several frames in an hour; the arrangements can take months. And the pebbles have taken the planet millennia to make.

The pebbles are ones I’ve picked up on the beaches around this northwest part of Prince Edward Island, chosen because they’ve caught my imagination. Each has been “special” in some way. But each one is a mystery. They got here in the last glaciation or from other beaches around the Atlantic coast, having been carried here by chunks of ice that formed over them, broke loose in the spring and washed up here to melt in the sun.

Originally, of course, they all formed somewhere between here and Canadian Shield in a very different time. Broken from bedrock, many were water-smoothed long before they got to our beaches — in streams or on shores that no longer exist… and there’s every chance of their finding their way to beaches that have yet to form. My play with them, my “creations” will fall apart and I, along with all the people who have seen them, will fall apart too.

For a short time, these pebbles will hold a message, then be washed clean again and eventually fade from existence into sand, then be re-fused in the Earth’s mantle and re-born as some other bedrock on a changed planet.

Anyway, on the back of each “Geologos” there is a caption — a poem of explanation that I write, edit, re-write as my insight shifts. Something like this one:

That’s the sea that’s speaking to you:

the sliding by of centuries…

of hills… of  woods… of fading days…

It’s the planet’s shifting crust…

it’s the tumble of an ancient stream,

the creak of lumbering ice.

It’s the gale across the mountaintops,

the rush of crumpled rock;

it’s the serpent-strength of rivers,

the hiss of smoothing dunes

and the lilt of summer waves.

Forces that laid down the rock

that formed the stone and broke it

that smoothed the pieces into these…

they also locked you into time

and fill your waking senses

with as great a share of beauty

as you have will to see or smell

or touch, or taste or hear…

Let the beauty break you, bear you,

smooth you… turn you over on its shore

…let all that’s good suffuse your story too.

There's a pic at:

www.wondercafe.ca/sites/default/files/galleries/GEOLOGOS_0.jpg

 (Sorry -- I couldn't get it to paste or show here)

Other ways include offering hospitality (cooking for them), being present to them, laughing with them... sometimes crying with them... and in the way I try to live... talk is awfully cheap... and so often ineffective. 

How have others shared their faith with me?

As teachers, musicians, artists, workers, interesting people... by involving me in their conversations,  cultures, insights; by throwing experience and delight my way... by their openness and friendship, their hospitality and their time.

Valuing our relationship with Jesus/our faith relates to our readiness to share our faith when the opportunity arises.  If we believe/feel God is with us in all things in a supportive way, then it is easy to have the donfidence needed to share our experience with others.  I don't remember when I last shared my faith outside of church.  Sharing by others and myself happens when it seems natural to do so.

I am someone who is pretty open and open-minded about my faith. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a christian who enjoys going to church. They also know that I am very open-minded. I also work for a christian organization whose values are very similar to those of the United Church of Canada. Many of my co-workers are active, church-going christians and we talk openly about our beliefs and our churches. One of my co-workers is Baha'i. Recently I had a really wonderful conversation with him about some of the traditions of his faith. I know nothing about the Baha'i faith, so I am learning a lot from him! In May my church will be hosting a joint service with members of the local Baha'i community, so I have invited him to come.

In my congregation we have a really wonderful youth group and one of the great things they did last year was to connect with the youth of another United Church congregation located in a small town in central Vancouver Island. When the youth from that congregation came to see us in Victoria, they visited a Jewish synagogue and a Sikh Mosque. I was not there for that, but the youth from congregation invited me to come with them on the return visit to central Vancouver Island (perhaps it was just because they needed a ride there and back, and since it was two hours each way they thought it would be better if I just stuck around for the weekend )! Together we visited a Buddhist Temple. I was so impressed with the openness of the Buddhists who shared their beautiful worship space with us and with the thoughtful and engaging questions that our youth asked. The next morning we played a role in leading the worship service at the church we were staying at. The youth were very inspiring as they shared what they had learned from all three of these religions. They found many commonalities with each of these religions and christianity - and pointed out how hospitable each community was with them. I think we all need to approach different faith stories in the way that the youth of these two congregations do - with open minds, thoughtful questions and genuine curiousity.

Somegal, what could we do to entice you to move to Fredericton and become part of our church community?  

 Good morning. Below is the synopsis and suggested discussion questions for today's reflection. Thank you!

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Tuesday | Day 24 | Coffee for a Tiger

"[B]ut everything they owned was held in common."  Acts 4:32

A chance encounter with a youth called "Tiger" late one night in a fast food restaurant leads to a reflection on community and the church. The group of young teens that the writer of this reflection runs into didn't have much, but they had one another. Just like the passage from Acts, they shared everything -- although with much arguing and jockeying for advantage -- and distributed it as each had need, including their drugs, booze, and cigarettes. It wasn't out of any sense of scriptural warrant but because they were one family, united in their communal life. The church has had almost 2,000 years since this passage from Acts was written, but it may still have some catching up to do.

Reflection Questions: How does my faith community give of itself? How might I give of myself today? How do you see the vision described in Act 4:32 lived out today?

Rising with the Morning Star (UCPH, 2010).

My faith community gave of itself during my daughter's fight with cancer - regularly delivering meals to the family, offering drives to another city for radiation treatments, babysitting, and an occasional person passing me an envelop with cash, as well as a prayer shawl and many, many prayers.  It continues this service of giving to those who are ill or in need of help. 

It reaches out to the 'down and out' of the city core - not only contributing food and volunteers to the food bank, but by welcoming them to use our facilities, our telephone, bathrooms - to sit in the parlor with coffee and a snack while waiting to talk to someone about food vouchers or other help they might need.  It has a committee working for social justice, it provides space for services like Legal Aid, AA, and Overeaters Anomymous.   It has a group for seniors, with a few younger people (and younger seniors) looking out for those who might have problems with mobility, vision, memory, or transportation.    And probably other services that I am not aware of.  

That's local - other committees are concerned about the world-wide community. 

But for today - my granddaughter is spending the day with me - out of school due to health problems.   So I will keep her company and urge her to do her homework, feed her and nourish her until my daughter picks her up this afternoon.    I will make a few phone calls and keep in touch with a few friends that are experiencing problems.  

I will keep my values in mind as I ponder how to vote in the upcoming election.  Which party will do the most for the ones who need it most?   Which parties are most interested in sharing the wealth of this country.  

And I will count my blessings. 

Nothing out of the ordinary.  But I will try to be mindful of the need for looking out for each other in my community. 

For almost 10 years I have been part of a women's study group in my church. It's kind of my faith community within my faith community. The members change from time to time and we try to keep an open spot for new members.

I cannot count the ways that we have given of ourselves in this group. We've supported each other and our families and friends with prayer, with laughter and tears, with encouraging words, and with actions as we've coped with deaths, unexpected moves, job losses, tough times. We've celebrated life's small victories and cheered the good times.

Currently we're challenging ourselves to spread our community wider, to look for ways to give of ourselves beyond our own group. Most of us do this already through our church and in other ways. But it's always good to be reminded.

I know for myself, I can too easily become complacent, too focused on the community I know and feel I don't have time to reach out wider. My prayer this morning is that God will keep nudging me. Don't let me off the hook, God.

How does my faith community give of itself?

My congregation gives of itself in many, wonderful ways. I think of our thrift shop and how the volunteers who run it raise so much money both for our congregation and for other worthy community groups. In addition to this, they often turn over donated items directly to people that they know could use it and ask for nothing in return. I think of the work that members of our congregation do at Our Place - a United Church sponsored organization for the homeless people in Victoria - and of the Angel Gifts that we gather for them each Christmas (essentially care packages for the people who use Our Place that might include clothing, a gift card, a sweet treat and more). Our congregation sponsors Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous and the Mother Goose program. We've recently helped a refugee family from Zimbabwe. The list goes on from there...

How might I give of myself today?

Today we are having an important meeting at work and stressful times lie ahead of us, possibly a strike. I can give of myself by listening to my co-workers and being a voice of reason. I can engage in open and honest conversations with them.

How do you see the vision described in Acts 4:32 being lived out today?

I see it being lived out when I see people sharing what they have with one another - be it something little like a child sharing their lunch with another child who has forgotten to bring one, or something big such as our tax dollars funding the building of a new school or hospitable. I've seen it recently with the Japanese earthquake and tsunami - even little children have donated their pocket money, sending it to people that they will never meet. When I think about that, I can see the goodness in humanity and, for a moment at least, can block out all of the negativity.

How does my faith community give of itself?

We live in a community with a very strong community ethos; the faith community is an integral part of this spirit. Foos is shared generously and whenever there is a personal crisis, benefit events pop up spontaneously and people give generously, even though, by Canadian standards, many people live on low incomes. A dimension to this is the far reaching networks of family relationship and well-established norms of extended family responsibility. 

So there are a number of overlapping norms of generosity, relationship and support and the church community is well integrated into all of this.

How might I give of myself today?

Participating... being present... but there is a difficulty at the moment in our facing a move in a few months. Our focus is pretty much oriented towards how best we can leave some worthwhile contribution whilst departing in a graced and helpful way. We have close friends here now and we will be moving with mixed feelings.

How do you I see the vision described in Act 4:32 lived out today?

"Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common."

This totally transcends ideas of charity and giving... this is about letting go of all sense of "ownership" and "possession". It is surrendering ANY concept of personal right of ownership. In Canada, it comes closest to expression in some faith-based groups (I believe some Amish and Mennonite communities and a few Catholic religious orders subscribe to this ideal), as well as in some aboriginal and new immigrant communities... people from whom we could learn a lot, were we curious enough and open to hear. But in mainstream Canada? You have to be kidding! 

Personally, I think it would be very interesting to see faith communities move more towards this way of living. It is undoubtedly a path towards justice and peace. Maybe one day...

 Good morning. Thank you for taking part in WonderCafe's Lenten discussion on the book, Rising with the Morning Star.  

 Read my profile.  I have been given some intelligence and more than a few talents.  Last year I did free legal work for a local shelter for youth as well as serving on their board.  I drafted the grant application that obtained a $55,000 government grant toward construction of an elevator at our church. I served, several years ago on our church transition team during intentional interim ministry and put assembled/wrote/edited the transition team report submitted to Presbytery.

Most notably on the receiving end of things this past year, I had surgery for prostate cancer and so found myself being served by a whole team of doctors and nurses both before and after the operation.  I am very thankful because I placed my trust in them and each of them responded sensitively and conscientiously.  

In my profession I see a lot of conflict and a lot of mean behaviour.  However, this operation of mine (as stressful and difficult as it may have been) brought me in contact with scores of people who have opted to make their careers about helping others and who shoulder big responsibilities day in and day out.  It served to remind me that though people can be base, large numbers of us can and, in fact, do act nobly on a day to day basis.

As I have already written, I was very thankful and glad.

Where is everyone today? Did anyone else feel as though they were bragging as they answered the first two questions? Regardless, here is my post for today.

Service is so important - and so is remembering to express gratitude for good service. How many of us choose to volunteer to serve others (expecting nothing in return)? How many of us say thank you to those who provide us with good service (paid or volunteer)? Every day we are served by others - the cashier at the grocery store, the waitress at the restaurant, the person who delivers the mail, the co-worker who makes the coffee, the family member who washes the dishes. How often do I really appreciate what is being done for me? Often, I admit, I take these people for granted - I've never even met my mail carrier.

I think that one of my God-given gifts is the ability to work with children - especially those who have physical and mental disabilities. I often serve as an advocate for them too. This gift is something that I do not take for granted. I am lucky enough to have found two jobs that I love where I get paid to do this. In addition to this, I volunteer my time as a Sunday School teacher. One of my other God-given talents is the ability to be a good listener. I'm the one that my friends know that they can come to with their problems. I listen and offer advice - and a good, strong shoulder to cry on.

somegal - early yesterday morning I typed up a long response to this reflection.  Then the electricity blinked, just a second, but my screen went blank.  I will try now to summarize it. 

We all have different talents.  Some are Marthas who work in the kitchen, doing necessary work - feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, providing for the children, working behind the scenes to support the ongoing work of the church.  Others are Marys who study and develop their spiritual lives, and I would hope share what they learn with others.  And some are called into leadership roles to teach and to preach.  There are, or should be, crossovers.  No one is above getting their hands wet with dishwasher.  No one should neglect their own spiritual life.  And all are called upon to share the Good News. 

Where do my talents lie?   I'm really not too good in the kitchen.  When I volunteer it is as a helper.  Assign me to peeling carrots or gathering up the used cups and glasses. 

But I do work in developing my spiritual life, and I read books, attend seminars and workshops, and take part in discussion groups to learn more, and to share what I have learned. 

I try to live my life to reflect my faith.  I take time to listen to the recent widow, somebody who is feeling down, or somebody worried about their grandchild.  I hope that somehow how I tread people reflects what I believe about the love of God for all people. 

I also seem to have a gift for leading in worship.  During the past year, I filled in for nine Sundays in five different pastoral charges when their minister was on holiday or otherwise not available.  This spring and summer I am already booked for nine Sundays in the spring and summer at two different pastoral charges (3 congregations in each), and I have a few more openings.  It feeds my soul to be able to worship with these people in small churches in rural settings, and I feel that I am serving a real purpose. 

People have used their time and talents to help and support me and my family during the past year as well.  I cannot begin to list them all.  And I say thank-you, and try to 'pay it forward'. 

 Good morning. Below is the synopsis and suggested discussion questions for today's reflection. Thank you all of your participation. 

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Thursday | Day 26 | Brother?

"Brother Saul, regain your sight!"  Acts 22:13
 

A moment when I felt you were wasting my time? What made it feel like a waste to me? What might that feeling tell me about my priorities?

I find it very hard to remember ever feeling I was "wasting" my time. It's a feeling I suppose I've had in front of a television screen... but I no longer watch television. I find EVERYTHING feeds me, tells me more about life, about the world, about the universe... whether or not I am "wasting" my time is not a question that occurs to me... and is perhaps not a question that's mine to answer; others may have clearer views of that than I do.

What might the feeling that I was wasting my time tell me about my priorities? I don't know. Could it tell me I'd lost my capacity for curiosity? Could it tell my me that my ego is counting my "achievements" too fastidiously, that I am trying too hard to  judge myself against others? Could it tell me I was losing my faith? 

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Whoops... re yesterday:  My apologies.... I'm still feeling the flu' ... so many people continually do so much for me that I feel utterly, undeservedly blessed. What do I do for others... in most cases I'm not sure any of us ever know. We try... but I've found the outcomes are unpredictable. A single word can destroy another or bring them a life-saving miracle. Our moment-by-moments matter. I have a former journalism student, a good student, from New Zealand, who travelled, spent some time in an Ashram in India, had the makings of a good career as a subeditor in Ireland and now runs a retreat centre back in New Zealand; another who's now completing a law degree to become a better resourced social activist... and, from time to time, I have heard from others who credit me with things I'd certainly never foreseen.

It's all about sharing and being open to blessings, not judging experience as "good' or "bad" but as direction and re-direction, challenge and opportunity. So many of the trivial decisions we make and things we do have big consequences; while our big ambitious plans disappoint us (if we fret too much about the outcomes). As I see it, we're urged towards love, including love of life itself (not just our "own" life). "God" then takes care of the outcomes (and we call it "grace").

Whenever I'm able to log in here, I am again, deeply grateful for the outpouring of faith and thoughtfulness. From my second week of conference visiting through eastern ON (Bay of Quinte & M&O conferences) and Quebec (M&O), there's a delight in listening to the stories of faith-in-action of United Church individuals and congregations everywhere I go. Such abundant life in Christ!

As I prayed with you today (Thursday), I brought an awareness that we are still tempted to judge one another's expressions of faithfulness... sparked by the comment in today's provocative writing, "They tell me he's going to witness to the Gentiles instead. Fat lot of good that will do!"

A reminder to me to keep praying for an abundant approach to community and compassionate hearts ready to see and receive the wild diversity of 'real work' and 'real healing' that the Spirit is stirring everywhere!

 Recall a moment when you felt you were wasting your time.

I sometimes feel that I am wasting my time when I allow myself to be draw in to discussions (arguments) with either atheists or those who take the Bible literally, when I try to explain my understanding of the UCC position on various issues or beliefs, but seem to be getting no where.  It is not so much that I want to convert them to my way of thinking, but to arrive at a position of mutual understanding and respect.  Then we each may be able to learn from the other.  Instead attempts at discussion seem to disintrigrate into senseless rounds of argument that goes no where.  

I am somewhat surprised that nobody has said anything about committee meetings here - particularly church ones!

I remember when my congregation was first looking at combining our two worship services. I remember serving on the committee that was working on the amalgamation. We had weekly trial services over a period of several months and the congregation was asked to give us feedback. I could not believe the things that people were complaining about! One person would say that there was not enough organ music and the next would say that there was too much. Another person would say that they didn't like the guest instrumentalist while a fourth complained that the service was too long. It seemed that music in the service came up a lot in the feed back. It felt like a waste of time to me because it seemed that people spent a lot of time criticizing what was happening and not enough time looking at the bigger picture - which was why the process eventually failed. The two services included a well-attended contemporary service and a poorly-attended traditional service. The traditional service was literally dying out - it was mostly elderly people and there were often more people in the choir than in the pews. Within two years the issue was revisited and this time the services were permanently combined.

I realize, in looking back at this, that I would rather spend time looking at the big picture than arguing about the details. I don't care too much about the instrumentation of the hymns, I care far more about people being there to sing them!

 Greetings. Thank you all for your insightful comments on these daily refections from Rising with the Morning Star.

What bothers me the most about those in my faith community? What ideas about my faith trouble me the most, and why? How do I deal with conflict of beliefs in your faith community?

Today’s questions confused me but have prompted the following reflection:

LIFE is a journey and, in so many spheres of life, “beliefs” are obstacles to faith.

Most dangerous of all is the “belief” that believing involves making assertions of timeless truth.

Faith is a principle, a force, a necessary, energising agent of change. The necessity for change — its inevitability, in fact — is revealed to us moment by moment. It is a humbling before "god". And there is no other way but to discover it for ourselves.

Faith is very much like life itself, vigorous if conditions are “right”; waning if conditions are “wrong”…  like the flourishing of one tree and the failure of another.

As we “grow” in faith, we gradually grow in discernment; we get better, bit-by-bit, through bitter lessons and sweet, at understanding what helps us to flourish as whole people and what opposes us. 

If we are whole, we enter into life’s harmonies. If we are diminished, we meet with disappointment at every turn. Faith is what our being tells us about the universe. Of necessity, faith engages our trust in that universe. It's not about making us enlessly "happy" in a "cute" world; it is about bringing us to a fullness of purpose within the world that is as it is; faith will not prevent our experiencing anguish, but holy faith will enable us to grow through anguish.

Believing — in the sense of subscribing to unchanging certainties — is a panic reaction to what our minds tell us about the universe; belief is opposed to the very nature of the universe.Beliefs are often expressions of fear: fear of change. Beliefs are temptations of the ego. But the odds against them are enormous.

The universe is a constant but less than predictable exchange of energies, forms and relationships. These principles -- and enagement with them -- are embedded in Jesus’ teachings to love, to forgive, to forsake greed and wealth, to refrain from judgement… to fulfil the law, not simply to obey it. We “worship” god by entering into god’s presence, not by outpourings of flattering words and formulaic ritual: the ritual is necessary to transform us, not god. Beliefs have a value only as working hypotheses; each needs to be tested against experience. Life may be a gift, but it's also a challenge: we have to “do” our religion; it’s not about trying to make everyone agree with us.

What is “god”? Pity anyone who has an answer for that. His or her “god” is far too small to be god.There is no god? Okay... find all the dots and connect them; when you've done that, it won't matter what you call it.

Pity the person who has turned Jesus’ teaching from a call to live more fully into sets of prohibitions and sanctions against error: Jesus assures us that we’re “forgiven” for screwing up. That should free us from any fear of making the odd mistake. And his demonstrations of faith making us “whole” should urge us to shape our faith well.

When the word “belief” first came into use in English, it was about allegiance to a political superior. It carries the character of that sort of patriotism that says “my country right or wrong”. The quest for faith is for “the kingdom of god”, a concept that was more accessible in the days of absolute monarchs and feudal hierarchies; it put faith above obedience to earthly powers — and curbing that view was a motive behind King James’ having the Bible translated in a way that seemed approve the “divine right” of secular monarchies. We have perhaps forgotten  that the first Christian martyrs died before going along with that crap; their faith set them free.

We would do better, I think, to let people “believe” whatever makes “sense” to them at their particular point along the way — but to encourage them to test those beliefs by encouraging the journey of faith.

Faith is what brings people to god and god’s love will take care of whatever beliefs get in the way.

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So: How do I respond to the question, "what does the United Church believe?"

Nothing... I hope. I pray rather that it will continue to test and encourage the growth of its faith and the faith of its members. 

While I answered the first question, "what bothers you the most about those in your faith community," in my journal, I feel uncomfortable answering it here because there are members of my congregation who may be reading this. So, instead I will skip straight to the other questions.

2) What bothers me most about my faith is the unknown - what if I am wrong in my interpretations? I have established a clear set of ever-changing beliefs for myself and would be crushed to find out, when I die, that I have been wrong.

3) In my faith communit, we deal with conflicts of belief through communication. Sometimes we will even bring in a guest speaker to help us resolve our differences.

4) I have been asked several times about what the United Church of Canada believes. I tell people that we are a liberal Christian church. We are not told what to beieve - instead we are encouraged to ask lots of questions and to come to our own conclusions.

I like this.

Give me faith rather than belief anytime.

What bothers me most about those in my faith community?  I think I would have to say the indifference some seem to place on their faith community and their spiritual development - those who say they believe and that the church community is important to them, but who would rather sleep in, or go shopping, or need to get ready for company, or have nothing to wear (meaning that they haven't anything they feel like wearing - not that they don't have suitable clothes), or, or, or whatever excuse comes their way.  Yet they expect the church to be there for them when they do decide to come, or when they have a crisis.  

What ideas about your faith trouble you most, and why?   It seems to me that my feelings here touch on a thread that Pilgrim has - it troubles me that I seem to be intolerant with those who seem most intolerant to me.  I just don't feel that I have much respect for those who think that their way is God's way, and who deny or ridicule that which I hold dear.  

How do you deal with conflict of beliefs in your faith community?   Within my own congregation, I don't find big differences.  Perhaps because we are one of six UCC within the city, people who attend our congregation tend to be quite liberal in their views.  I think I, and the congregation in general, try to listen to everyone and accept them where they are.  We also explain our point of view and how we arrived at it.  We have some loving, generous, and open-minded leadership in our church. 

With other congregations and other denominations I think we try to find a common ground without compromising our beliefs.  We are presently working with them to provide services to the residents of the downtown area - the homeless or near homeless.  An example of cooperation is in getting together with the other churches to povide services for the poor in the city's downtown core area, following the example of Jesus who was concerned about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and providing shelter to the homeless.   And example of not compromising our beliefs:  Since our congregation welcomes members of the GLBT community, I don't think we would allow an interdenominational event to take place in our church that might attempt to exclude these people from full participation in the event. 

 Good morning. Thank you all for your insightful comments on these daily refections from Rising with the Morning Star.

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When I read the story of this woman's life I was uplifted by her courage and her attitude.  She finds joy and fulfilment in her life despite her many problems. 

When I compare myself to her, I feel discouraged.  I feel certain that I could not do the same.  I cannot imagine losing one of my children, or my grandchildren.  And she lost all of hers in a short period of time, and her husband as well.   I would find it hard to lose the home I have worked so hard to achieve and maintain - and if the time comes when I have to give it up I expect I will realize enough from its sale to live in a comfortable seniors' apartment for a few more years.  My health - I have fought chronic disease most of my adult life - but I mourn now when I see some of my physical abilities slipping away - I no longer ride a bike or climb mountains).

But we never know how much we can bear until we are called upon to bear it.  Then, I've discovered, we can call upon an inner strength that we never knew we possessed.  Perhaps I too would be able to make my way through hardship and tragedy.   I just don't know if I could be joyful and affirmed while doing it.  

I think that might come with the gift of grace from something greater than I am - something that I tend to think of as 'the Holy".  

I haven't answered the questions - I've thought about the passage.

Perhaps I will be called to share God's presence among mortals.  Perhaps I have.  If so, please don't give me the problems the woman in the story had.  Let me live my life as it is, don't give me any more heartache than I can bear, and I will do my best to live it abundantly.

I work with these mortals whom God resides in and I am constantly amazed and grateful for their presence.

On a daily basis I've seen many that carry a burden that could have become a destructive force in their life but have chosen to give back with their empathy and couragous healing. There's the nurse whose son committed suicide and yet continues to be the one that decorates the floor for every festive occasion to bring joy into everyones life. She is the one that collects donations and buys a gift for every patient during the Christmas season and very often she is the one we can hear singing in the halls.

Another coworker, has a daughter with MS. She organized a fundraiser outside of work that raised enough money to take her daughter to Puerto Rico to successfully have the the "liberation" treatment. Many times, I've seen her meticulously combing someones hair, applying polish to someones nails, or rubbing feet with mint lotion, even when there seems as if there's no time for these things. God is very relevent in her life and it is noticed how the patients will often call for her while dying, instead of a priest or minister. She is profound in her abilitiy to give reassurance to the dying as well as hope for the living.

I could go on and on about the many circumstances that many have endured and instead of turning inward with their pain, have chosen to bring comfort into others lives. I am amazed by their strength and choice to take their experiences to another level and often humbled by the fact that they are unaware how much they affect others in a positive way. They have helped me often, to renew my strength in my ability to cope with most things.

I can only pray that I have touched others the same way.

The honest answer is that I am not sure that I have been made new this week. My week has been pretty ordinary - boring really. I did my usual routine of work and home life. I had some chances to be creative and also to work an unusual shift (the child I normally work with was sick) but nothing that made me new again.

How have I helped others become renewed this week? Once again, I am not sure. Perhaps by being a good listener and allowing others to vent. Perhaps just by being a friend.

 I spent Saturday at a Godly Play workshop.

What a leap of freshness and hope, fanfare of good sense and surge of renwal it was... can be... will prove, I am sure....

Learn more at:

www.godlyplay.ca

I have been trained in Godly Play and it is a fantastic medium for telling the stories of our faith.