7-23-23 - "YOU Are the Light of the World"

YOU Are the Light of the World

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

July 23, 2023

Good morning, Friends and welcome to Light Reflections.  This week at the Meetinghouse we are celebrating our Stellar VBS! As you just saw from the video, we had a wonderful time.  This morning, I am giving more of a homily or shorter message because of all the extra fun we are sharing from VBS. The scripture I chose for today is Matthew 5:5-16 from the New Revised Standard Version.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

As you could see from the video, this has been a wonderful week of learning how to “Shine Jesus Light.” Each night during VBS we ended with having the children share their “God Sightings” for the night. Their leaders would write down where the children saw God during VBS on star-shaped Post-it Notes and then they stuck them to the windows in Fellowship Hall (they are still there – you may want to stop by and see them). 

I loved that often on the stars were written names of leaders, other participants, and even family members.  What our children were learning was that they could see that of God in those around them – because those people were “Shining Jesus Light.”  

This reminded me of something I read in Friends Journal a couple years ago from Tim Gee. The article was called “You are the Light of the World.” Here is a little of what he said,

Picture the scene. There are people all around, voices low. The famed social critic and prophetic speaker John the Baptist has been taken away to a place where he will be assassinated in a graphically gruesome manner. Word has spread. People are shaken and unsettled.

Is it safe to go out to a public meeting?

But still they come—you come—taking the risk in order to hear from the person John had spoken about, whose very name, Yeshua (Jesus to Greek speakers), is steeped in the country’s story. He was brought up by a father who was an ancestor of the legendary king David, and he is so important that the great John the Baptist said he was not worthy to carry even this man’s sandals.

And then he speaks. But he doesn’t talk much about himself at all. Instead he welcomes and affirms those…

·        with no or low pay (the poor),

·        people who are sad (those who mourn),

·        people committed to nonviolence (the meek),

·        activists (those who hunger and thirst for righteousness),

·        pacifists (the peacemakers),

·        powerful people who try to act kindly (the merciful),

·        and people who try to live lives uncontaminated by the military occupation of their lands (the pure in heart).      

Then, after some words of encouragement to sustain perseverance, he declares “You are the light of the world.” And so, begins the great Sermon on the Mount, passed down to us through the Gospel of Matthew, a multi-chapter vision of how the world would be very different if people who call themselves Christians actually did what Jesus said…

Jesus said, “YOU are the light of the world.”

But, who is the “you” he is talking to here?  

From the gospel stories taken together, we know that Jesus’s followers consisted principally of the marginalized and oppressed, in particular colonized peoples; a good many disabled people; many people from what we’d now call working-class backgrounds; and many more women in leadership roles than would have been typical in the deeply patriarchal structures of that society. There were more privileged sympathizers, even some Roman soldiers after a while, but principally, it was a movement of the dispossessed.

And here is Jesus addressing them, saying that you (plural)—the oppressed—are the light of the world. Then and now, this is a starkly radical message.

Quakers, of course, have been persecuted and in some places still are, but in other places are not. Can we square this with the belief that there is that of God in everyone?

In short, yes. At Pentecost (Acts 2), God pours His Spirit on all people, even, as is discussed in the letters, on some who might surprise us. In Jesus’s physical life, though, he spoke first and foremost for and with those on the fringes of society.

But then there’s another word. He says you are the light of the “world”—not the “earth.” When the Bible talks about the earth, it usually refers to the ground, the land, the soil, or what we’d call the planet.

In Genesis, God creates the heavens and the earth. In Matthew, Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. In the preceding passage, he calls his listeners the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). 

The word “world” more often refers to the age, the times, the system, the ways things are ordered, which is typically out of sync with God’s love. At his trial Jesus says, “my Kingdom is not of this world,” which I take to mean that the Kingdom of Heaven is not compatible with the system of empire.

Yet in this great opening speech, Jesus says, “you are the salt of the earth” but then says “the light of the world.” This world, the world system of his time, was dominated by violence and inequality, and there are so many echoes of that time in our own.

I take this phrase to mean—to borrow again from John—that then as now, there is a light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).

Folks, both then and now, there is still hope in love and in following Christ: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Then let’s remember how these verses finish: “A city on a hill cannot be hidden, nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket” (Mt. 5:14-15).

No, this little light of mine – I am going to let it shine!  Put it under a bushel – NO!

Every one of us has something to share with a visitor from elsewhere or to bring to others we spend time with, even if it is as simple as a ministry of presence.

Our connections strengthen us and can lead us to new ways of letting our light shine, so that others might see the good work going on and be inspired to do likewise.

So, this morning, I hope you too will recognize, like our children this week, those around us who are shining their Lights.  That we will notice that of God in our neighbors, our leaders, or relatives.  And that we too would remember that Jesus called ALL of us, no matter our disabilities, whether we are marginalized or oppressed, no matter our gender, or socio-economic situation, he called every one of us to be the Light of the World!

So, let’s go shine Jesus’ Light this week. 

Now, as we enter waiting worship, ask yourselves,

How can I shine Jesus’ Light in my world?

Who do I need to thank for shining their Light in my life?

How might I encourage someone around me to shine their Light? 

7-16-23 - "Be the Light!"

Be the Light!

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

July 16, 2023

Good morning Friends, and welcome to Light Reflections. Today at the Meeting is VBS Kickoff Sunday and we are excited to present a Stellar program again this year.  The scripture I chose for this morning is Matthew 5:14-16 from the Message version. 

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

With our theme for VBS this year being about Space, it reminded me that I am a part of Generation X – also known to some as the Space Shuttle Era. I grew up, like many of you who were part of the Space Race Era a generation before, engrossed with watching spacecraft heading off the planet into space. Unlike the rockets of the previous era, I grew up with what looked like a large airplane called a space shuttle - one that took off like a rocket and landed like a plane. It did not take just a couple people into space, but rather an entire crew of astronauts and scientists.

From early on, my young mind was captivated by space exploration and the space shuttle program. Instead of Rock & Roll posters in my room, I had posters of the space shuttle. Deep down I wanted to grow up to be an astronaut. To help instill these dreams, between my Kindergarten and 1st grade year my parents took me to what was then called Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida the home of NASA and the Space Shuttle Program.  

There I learned about the history of space flight, went out to a launch pad, and even saw my first glimpse of the actual Space Shuttle from a distance through the giant open doors of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building.  I remember being so small compared to the giant vehicles used by NASA, yet my excitement and dreams were really growing big!

At the Kennedy Space Center shop, I could barely contain my desire to purchase everything in sight. I wanted photo postcards, coins, patches, models – you name it – anything with my future emblazoned on it.  I did get a few of those trinkets, but the greatest gift I took home that day was a blue astronaut jumpsuit – just like the astronauts wore before heading to space.  My parents bought it large, so I would grow into it.  But since it was like coveralls – I knew I had plenty of time to enjoy it.  I liked wearing my jumpsuit and pretending I was an astronaut.  My friends were envious of me.

By second grade, I was still really into the Space Shuttle program. I think my love for Star Wars was fueling this deep desire for space travel and learning about the program.  Our school librarian, Mrs. Holly always invited my class up to watch the space shuttle launches on the Library TV.  If I knew in advance, I would wear my astronaut jumpsuit. 

Well, one launch, I had been prepared and was wearing my jumpsuit. Not realizing I had had a growth spurt over the summer months, I went to sit down on the floor with my class in front of the TV when I heard a big rip.  Immediately my friend, Tim, saw the damage to my space suit.  My Luke Skywalker Underoos were hanging out my backside.  Quickly, Tim moved in behind me to cover the damage.  Even though I was embarrassed, I remember thinking – I cannot miss the launch.  So, we sat through the launch, Tim walked behind me all the way back to my room for last period.  I slid my backpack over my back and quickly went to the car lane after school to see if my mom could fix the damage. 

The sad news then was delivered – I was getting too big and would have to give up wearing the jumpsuit.  I mourned the demise of that jumpsuit, but my dreams continued. Even though I did not have the jumpsuit, Tim and I continued to help Mrs. Holly in the Library when launches were to take place.  We did this until 1986 - my 7th grade year - when things came to a rather horrific stop.

Tim and I were helping Mrs. Holly on January 28th to record the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger.  Space Shuttle missions had become regular occurrences for us by now, but this one had a special passenger – a teacher named Christa McAuliffe.  Our principal had asked that we record the special event so that we could watch it at a special assembly at the end of the week.  Tim, Mrs. Holly, and I prepared the VHS tape and pressed record as soon as we heard the words, “We interrupt this program to bring you the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger.”   Since we had watched many launches, we were making chit-chat with Mrs. Holly as the countdown began.  As it came closer to launch, we turned our attention to the screen.  

Now, for those of you in the previous generation, you know where you were and what you were doing when you heard that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  And for the Millenials, you remember where you were the day the Twin Towers fell in New York.  But for me and Genneration X, it will be January 28th the day that 73 seconds into flight, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart and disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean killing all seven crew members. 

Mrs. Holly, Tim, and I stood there before the TV in utter shock at what we just witnessed. In that moment, we were the only people in our school who knew and witnessed what had just taken place.  Mrs. Holly put her arms around us and drew us into her as a mother would her children. Then she asked me to go inform the principal as to what transpired. Most of the students were headed to lunch, and I remember our principal, Mr. Richert, grabbed the intercom and in a somber tone shared the sad truth, offered a prayer, and then gave time for silence. I could see the sadness in his eyes as he left to visit each of the classrooms.

Tim and I were invited to stay in the principal’s office for a while before heading back to our classroom to get ourselves in order.  The rest of the day we spent talking with our caring teachers about the disaster – some parents came and picked up their children, and the United States went into mourning the loss of seven incredible people and dreams of exploring space.  Even my dreams were thwarted by this one event. 

For several weeks, even months, there was a hopelessness that fell upon the United States.  It happens every time there is a tragedy in our world, today.  Whether it is a space shuttle tragedy (which we have had two of now) or a mass shooting at a school, people keep trying to process the devastation and wondering what they can do? 

What can you or I do to make a difference during times of tremendous pain and darkness? The Space Shuttle Tragedy shook me and made me feel helpless as a child and still today every time there is a mass shooting I feel very similar. 

The darkness is quick to descend and consume in these tragic times. Yet where there is darkness, we must seek to find and be the Light!

Much like Mrs. Holly or Mr. Reichert who chose to shine their Lights into the darkness of that Space Shuttle tragedy by giving us hugs, listening to us, giving us space to grieve and surrounding us with love, we each have this opportunity to shine our Lights into the darkness of our world.

Writer Holly Sidell says,

“We each have our own way of shining our light in the world…doctors shine their light by healing people, janitors shine their light by allowing us clean spaces in which to shine our light, teachers empower students to learn how to shine their own light, and so on.

 Or, it doesn’t even have to do with our job. It can just do with us, who we are at our core. Do you have a beautiful singing voice that brings chills to people’s arms and tears to their eyes?  Do you have incredible patience, or are you a great listener?  Do you bake delicious chocolate chip cookies that make people think of the safety and warmth of a mother’s love?  

Are you yourself, sick and going through your own healing process? You shine your light through that healing process of healing yourself…and in healing yourself, you can begin to heal the world.  Are you, or have you, recovered from an addiction?  That shines enormous amounts of light. 

We don’t have to be all guru-super-“woo woo” spiritual to shine our light…We just light up the world by doing what we were born to do – whether it’s a job, a passion, or a hobby. We light up the world by treating the person next to us with kindness, compassion, and human dignity.”

That is what I experienced in that moment of tragedy, and that is also what I believe our scripture was trying to teach us this morning.

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world… Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

And to be this light and bring out the God-colors in the world, Paul gave some reminders to the Philippians of what that will entail.  In Philippians 2:14-16 it says:

“Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed!”

So, to be the Light we must first take time to check our attitudes.

Then he says, “Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society.”

So, check your attitudes and then consider your example.

Then he says, Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns.

Thus, we are to bring hope by how we live out the life and example that Christ gave us. 

And finally, You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.

So, let me recap - to be Light in the world we need to:

·        Check our Attitudes

·        Consider our Examples

·        Bring hope by How We Live.

·        Become the Living Proof of God’s Light in the world. – BE THE LIGHT!

We may not be able to erase the darkness of tragedies, but we can shine our Light so the darkness does not overcome us. 

And today as we kick off our Stellar Vacation Bible School this is what we are going to be instilling in our children throughout this week - how they too can shine their lights in this often dark world. 

I am excited that in today’s lesson we will be looking at “When Life Feels Dark, Shine Jesus’ Light!”  and then through the rest of the week we will be looking at 

When people don’t get along, Shine Jesus’ Light!

When good things happen, Shine Jesus’ Light!

When people are sad, Shine Jesus’ Light!

When people need help, Shine Jesus’ Light!

Along the way, I am sure we will need to check our attitudes, consider our examples, work to bring hope in how we live, all so we can become the living proof that God’s Light is in the world!

So, folks, there will always be darkness in our world…tragedies, death, war, but you and I can make a difference – because we can choose to BE THE LIGHT!

Now as we enter waiting worship, take a moment to consider the following queries:

·        Do I believe my Light can change my world?

·        Am I doing what I was born to do?

·        Who do I know who has suffered through tragedy and needs my presence, today?

7-9-23 - "The Spiritual Benefits of Road Trips"

The Spiritual Benefits of Road Trips

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

July 9, 2023

Good morning, Friends and welcome to Light Reflections. Our scripture for today is from Luke 24:13-35 from the New Revised Standard Version.

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.  Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.  Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.  Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”  Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight.  They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”  Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Before I begin my message this morning, I want to thank Eric and Beth for bringing two wonderful messages while I was enjoying vacation with my family.  It is so encouraging to have such outstanding partners in ministry to rely on while away.  Thank you both! 

The story of the road to Emmaus is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. There are so many ways to interpret it, but even more I find myself experiencing it in new ways every time I take a walk around my neighborhood or a road trip to another state.  

Our family just returned from a 10-day road trip to Florida. To be totally honest, I simply do not like to fly – I would much rather take a road trip in a car or van.  That is probably because my parents instilled in me the importance of road trips at an early age.  Taking time to allow your mind to escape the daily and see new sights, experience new people, have new conversations, even try new foods was all a part of the experience. 

As a father, I too have instilled these important aspects into our family.  When our children were younger, we would take a road trip about every two weeks.  Some were just a daytrip while others were over-nighters.  We might take a hike in a local park, head to the coast for dinner and to see the sunset, or in Oregon we might take a weekend trip to Seattle or to visit a friend in another state.  We loved taking road trips to National Parks, State Parks, and seashores to see wildlife or watch the whales heading north (one of Sue’s favorites).

Once when I was out on the Oregon Coast for my doctoral program, a few of my cohort took a Sunday morning road trip up the Oregon Coast in search of lighthouses.  Along the way, we stopped in Pacific City and climbed the sand dunes to get a view of the raging Pacific Ocean as it hit the many rock formations just below us. At one point we all decided to lay down on the ground and simply experience the sights, sounds, and smells.

The experience was not only overwhelming, but it was transcendent.  One of my friends said, “This is better than any church I have been to on Sunday morning.” In that moment we experienced the beauty of the Divine all around us. There was a sense of cleansing, a sense of renewal, and a sense of true connection. 

After coming down from the sand dunes and rock formations, we all had lunch together at a favorite restaurant – The Pelican Pub and Brewery.  Together we shared in a meal of fish and chips and cold beer.  As we were about to enjoy our meal, one of my friends, said, “Quakers would consider this communion” and it truly was.  

To this day, that road trip changed me. It helped me see the Divine in new ways, to connect in new ways, to experience life outside of the box I had put it in.  I shared with my friends, that being on top of those sand dunes and rock formations, I felt how the disciples must have felt on the road to Emmaus when their eyes were opened to that of God in their midst. I know my eyes were opened to God in the mighty ocean, the wind blowing over me, in the people I was with, even the conversations and laughs in the car.

From that moment on, I began to realize the spiritual benefits of road trips and how good they are for one’s soul.  On several occasions I have written about this and even seen walks and road trips as spiritual disciplines.  As I began to study this more, I found that others were talking about how important Road Trips are for one’s soul.  Just “Google it” and you will find article after article about the value of road trips.  

One of the articles I came across was “10 Reasons Why Road Trips are Good for the Soul” by Harry Kettle on the site “The Travel”.  His points really spoke well to what I have learned and experienced – let me highlight a few of them.

Take time to reflect on life.  

Kettle says, “There’s no point in sitting down and pretending like everything is okay 100% of the time, because it’s not, and it’s great to be able to admit that. Sometimes, you just need to be able to clear your head, not think about anything else, and just allow the miles that you travel to enhance your clarity on life.”

I could not agree more. I once was told that driving or even commuting can be a daily spiritual retreat.  Instead of filling it with radio noise or music, just embracing the silence and taking in your surroundings, can open your eyes to new possibilities and allow your soul to refresh. 

Take time to explore the countryside. 

On our recent trip to Florida, our GPS took us off the highways a couple of times to avoid accidents. One of those times, we found ourselves driving through an “old growth” pecan tree farm in Georgia. Just before leaving, I had been reading Jimmy Carter’s book, “Living Faith” where he talked about the challenges of farming, racism, and faith in this same region. A connection was made off the beaten path that I was not expecting. It put life into his words. 

I wonder what would happen if we allowed ourselves to explore the countrysides of our life more often?  We might see with new eyes.

Take time to forget about work.

Kettle says, “Whether it be a deadline that has just been and gone or a potential promotion that is dangling overhead like a carrot, none of that matters on a road trip.” 

A road trip allows us to put the chaos of life and the noise of the world behind us for a moment so we can again hear what the Divine is speaking to us. It breaks the cycle of the ordinary and gives us a break from our daily grind.  Work can wait – this time is for you.

Thus, Kettle says, enjoy your music.  As we know so well here at First Friends, music speaks to our condition – and specific songs speak deeply to our soul.  Last year Sue and I took a road trip by ourselves and I put together a collection of CDs for us to listen to in the car of her favorite music – as we were celebrating her 50th birthday.  As we listened, we realized how many songs had special meaning to our lives and the places we had experienced them together.  It was a trip down memory lane.

In one of my favorite “road trip” movies, Elizabethtown, Claire (played by Kirsten Dunst) questions Drew (played by Orlando Bloom), 

“To have never taken a solitary road trip across country? I mean everybody's got to take a road trip, at least once in their lives. Just you and some music.” 

In response Claire prepares a road trip with accompanying map and soundtrack for Drew to experience as he deals with his father’s death and his seemingly failed life. I don’t want to give away the movie – but it is such a powerful way to show exactly what I am talking about in this sermon – I highly recommend you steam it.   

Now, music is important but as I mentioned earlier silence is also important.  Turning off the radio and listening to the rain can be just as spiritual or renewing.  Or listening to the cicadas at night. 

Take time to experience different cultures.

Kettle says, “Whether it’s visiting a new place for the first time or just stopping off for gas, there are new cultures to be explored within every single corner of the globe.” 

If you don’t believe this – you have not been to Buc-ees - a gas station destination throughout the south - which this trip we seemed to avoid because of the long lines.  

Sue is the queen of finding local restaurants for us to try on trips.  This trip we found Hull’s Seafood Market and Restaurant on Ormond Beach, Florida which was a gem of a place with lots of history and fishing/beach culture (something foreign to us suburban/city dwellers).  On the walls of the restaurant, you can read the story of Captain Hull who at the age of 10 had a passion to be on the water and 40 years later would still be providing fresh fish to the people of Ormond Beach.

Take time to make memories with family and friends.

As Kettle states, “The old saying is that we’ve only got one life so we should just shut up and live it, and as stereotypical as that may seem, it’s true. The friends and family that we surround ourselves with aren’t going to be around forever, and that’s a harsh reality that we all must face.”

This year, my parents are celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary.  Since Sue and I did not know what to get them for their 51st anniversary, we did what any good person would do, we googled it to find out. For one’s 51st anniversary they are to return to their honeymoon spot. So, we invited my parents to join us to go along on our vacation this year.  51 years ago, they went to Disney World for their honeymoon and the park was in its inaugural year.  We made it an even bigger celebration since I was celebrating my 50th birthday and Alex (who was celebrating their 25th birthday) flew in from Austin, TX to join us and we all had a magical time at Disney World together. We were making memories that will last a lifetime. Folks, my mom and dad even went on Test Track and Rise of the Resistance and I have photos to prove it! 

And it doesn’t just have to be family.  Some of my favorite road trips have been with friends or colleagues. It is all about experiencing it together.

Now, this is a very important one – Take a break from social media.

Kettle says that “Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and beyond are all incredibly addictive tools, and they can all be used for good. At the same time, they can also be abused, to the point where they no longer become fun anymore. Perhaps the idea of not using any of them throughout the course of a road trip isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but at the very least, restricting your usage can be great for your own state of mind. By simply looking up from that smartphone, a whole new world of possibilities can be discovered.

One of the first questions I received when I returned from vacation was “I haven’t seen any posts about your vacation.”  I only posted two photos the entire trip.  When I drive my phone is usually used for the maps – so that makes it easy for me to not get caught up in social media.  Also, I want my time to focus on those I am with.  But the reality is that I need about two days to come off of social media and that is hard.  It is clear that when you do – an entire world of possibilities are awaiting to be discovered. 

Maybe our connection with the Divine and one another is suffering because we aren’t looking up and around more often.

And lastly, take time for the adventure.

As Kettle says, “every single part of a road trip forms a brand new piece of the puzzle – and a brand new adventure to go alongside it. It’s important to push yourself outside the realms of your comfort zone from time to time because that’s the kind of thing that makes your soul smile. It sounds cliché and a little bit corny, but it’s what makes us feel alive again.

I believe the disciples on the road to Emmaus felt alive again.  What did they say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?” There was a new passion growing within them.  And I believe if we take the time to take a walk or road trip and expect that the Divine will meet us on the journey through nature, through each other, through the experiences we have together, we too will feel more alive.

So, plan to take a walk or road trip this week and see how God will meet you along your path! Enjoy the adventure!

Now, as we enter waiting worship, take a moment to consider the following queries:

What “countrysides” do I need to explore?

Who should I take with me on a road trip? Where should we go?

What is getting in the way of me having a new adventure with the Divine?

7-2-23 - "Let Justice Roll down Like Waters"

Let Justice Roll down Like Waters
Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Beth Henricks
July 2, 2023

Good morning, friends. I am speaking to you today because Bob and his family are on a much-needed summer vacation, and we are stepping in to provide the messages during these few weeks. We heard a powerful message from Eric last week and I am grateful he shared some of his personal story as well as encouraging and challenging us in this beautiful tapestry of community.

Our scripture reading this morning is from Galatians 5:13-15 (Message Version)

“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?”

We are about to celebrate the 4th of July. I am sure we all have great memories of traditions in our childhood that we cherish. Maybe an annual parade in our towns. Or a traditional cookout at a dear relative or friend’s home. My memory growing up was an annual visit to a private lake that a friend had access to for holidays. My dad and brothers would head over there early to fish all morning. My mom would cook all morning and make fried chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs, pickled cucumbers , fresh fruit, and brownies. My mom and I would pack up the car with the food and head to the lake around noon. We had this delicious picnic and then I would get in the boat with my dad to catch some catfish (my brothers were serious fish folks looking for bluegill early in the morning) and sat in lawn chairs and just enjoyed being together. We usually came home in time to head downtown for a magnificent display of fireworks on the Detroit River in the evening. It was always a great day, and the memories are sweet for me now.

We all learned in early grade school the 4th of July is the day we celebrate our independence from England. We know the courage and fortitude these brave men at the time entered into, willing to risk their lives to create this independent country and its great experiment with democracy.  So many history books and biographies to read about this period of time. Anyone that has been to a live performance or watched the movie Hamilton experienced a more visceral understanding of the tremendous risk and commitment these founding fathers took to break away from England. While we sometimes in our current culture want to judge these early leaders of our country by today’s standards and mores, we can’t do this to anyone in history. These flawed men were brave, visionary, and inspired to establish a country that would break boundaries and help create a place where anyone could flourish. One of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton, was a perfect example of this when you look at his background as a bastard child, growing up as an orphan in the West Indies, having no money and coming to America to be one of our greatest early leaders. 

The vision these men put into our Declaration of Independence was astounding and far reaching to a hopeful future. These men could not live up to the vision personally but had the vision of the future and what it could be. This was the world they hoped for even though they could not step away from the culture and context of their time. 

We celebrate the establishment of this country this week. It is breathtaking to think about the values this country was founded on. The potential for opportunity regardless of your family history was significant. The idea that we were all created equal and had a right to pursue liberty and a level of contentment and joy was astonishing.

We celebrate these actions and values this Tuesday and remember the sacrifice of so many to move towards these goals. We do have much to celebrate in our history.

It took many years for our country to gradually move towards these idealized values and we are still far from this vision our founding fathers projected. We began our history with slaves and much that was developed in this country became a reality because of free labor. We almost broke ourselves apart because of the slavery and free labor issue during the Civil War. We held together but still deal with the remnants of slavery and live today in a United States where people of color are treated differently in many circumstances (particularly when it comes to institutions) even while many individual folks of color have succeeded in significant ways. This is part of our evolution. 

Women had no rights in our early years although the vision for them in our Declaration of Independence was seeing all as equal citizens. This did not happen until the early 1900’s but women’s rights have continued to evolve over the last 100 years. We are not where we want to be, but women have made great strides. 

Our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters worked for so many years to be accepted as individuals and many came out of the closet to show America that they are normal, come in all colors and experiences, and should not be feared. It took a long time for them to claim the values of the Declaration of Independence, but this acceptance culminated in the passage of a same sex marriage amendment in 2015. 

There are so many examples of how we keep evolving to become a more perfect union. These are signs of a healthy country. We have a great history, but we also have a dark past in many ways and we cannot push this aside and gloss over it in telling our story. During most decades we can identify activities, systemic oppressions, and injustices that surely some folks living during those periods believed as the worst of times and so dark that it could destroy us. And yet over the last 250 years we have been evolving and slowly moving towards the ideals in our constitution. This is another aspect of America that I appreciate. We have known our weaknesses within our souls and part of the grace of this country is that we have traditionally allowed debate, we don’t block out dissent or kill those that disagree with. Part of our greatness is that we have traditionally over time named our mistakes and weaknesses. Our power in our history has been perfected in our weakness and an amazing grace has occurred when this happens. God’s power is always perfected in weakness. The moral arc does point toward justice. My prayer for our country now is that we don’t lose these characteristics that have allowed us to prosper and continue to evolve.

I know it seems like this recognition and naming our complicated history is coming under attack in the last number of months. It seems like the issues we face, and the divisions of our country are imminent based on the hardened positions of all sides, And I know we feel like this is an existential crisis in our time. And climate change will destroy every country in our world if we do not make changes in so many aspects of our lives. Yet we have experienced many life changing “existential challenges” in our history. I interviewed long time member Helen Davenport a few years before she passed away, and she gave me a significant perspective on what our generation born before 1925 can share with us. How many times in our past have we thought “this is the worst time ever in our history”. Some of the examples include the wars during our early years, when we were a fledgling country, could have destroyed us. The civil war could have annihilated us as a country of states. World War I and World War II might have destroyed the world. If we had not embraced our brothers and sisters of color, our LGBTQ+ community, the women and all that are the backbone of our society, we would not keep advancing as the most powerful nation in the world. 

I believe with all my being that God is pushing us to make changes in this country that we love. Jesus commanded us to create a kingdom of heaven on earth. I am thankful I was born in the United States and participate actively in trying to create this beloved community.

My son Greg traveled to Medellin Colombia last week for 9 days to visit his wife’s homeland as she had not been there for 4 years to visit her family. Greg fell in love with Colombia during his 9 day stay there. The culture is great, the food is amazing, the scenery is stunning, people are truly friendly and helpful. A sense of extended family is one of the most important values to Colombians. Fernanda’s family embraced Greg with open arms and as a young man with limited family still alive here, Greg’s heart was filled with joy and love. Midway through the trip Greg texted me that he thought he could live in Colombia as his home. He saw this country through fresh new eyes and was so taken with some of the differences between Colombia and the US. As the trip went on, he also became more aware of the opportunities that the US offers those that come within its borders that are not as available in other countries. While the cost of things is very low in pesos in Colombia, the wages are extremely low. As much as Fernanda’s family loves their homeland (and have great pride in it) all of them want to move to the US. They know the opportunities that they could have here to make an even better life for their families. The last day of the trip, Fernanda’s brother told Greg “you do not want to live here but please visit regularly.”

Part of the beauty and struggle of this country is that it has always been a country of immigrants. The beauty is the beautiful tapestry that has been created as Eric shared so wonderfully last week. We are a richer and more diverse country with new voices each generation that help us to continue to evolve and change. But always, the established power will resist this. The US discriminated against Germans, Jews, the Irish and Polish natives early on and did not have a very welcoming heart to these immigrants. And yet even with the discrimination they would face, these immigrants wanted to come to the US and it has been important to our country as they gradually became part of our threads in our tapestry. The same thing is true today. For many immigrants, we do not have open arms to embrace them and yet they still want to be here as they recognize a potential for opportunity for their families.

I appreciate the book by historian Jon Meacham, The Soul of America: the Battle for our Better Angels. He says “extremism, racism, nativism and isolationism, driven by fear of the unknown, tend to spike in periods of economic and social stress- a period like our own…. For many, the fact that we have arrived at a place in the life of a nation, where a grand wizard of the KKK (David Duke) can claim, all too plausibly, that he is at one with the will of the former President of the US seems an unprecedented moment. History, however, shows us that we are frequently vulnerable to fear, bitterness and strife. The good news is that we have come through such darkness before.”

Abraham Lincoln said in his first inaugural address, in 1861, “We are not enemies but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will, by the better angels of our nature.”

This is my prayer today. We must think of ourselves, with all our differences as friends. God calls us to this as we read in Galatians 5 – don’t use your freedom for your personal gain – freedom grows when we serve each other in love. 

 Before we enter our unprogrammed worship, I want to remind all of us of the words of the Declaration of Independence, our value statement of why we exist as a nation. 

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

We now enter a time of unprogrammed worship where we quiet ourselves and listen for God’s voice.

I am not offering queries today but ask that we all sit in silence thinking about our history and our future and what is our role that God calls us to this future.

6-25-23 - "A Beautiful Tapestry" - Eric Baker

A Beautiful Tapestry
Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Guest speaker Eric Baker
June 25, 2023

Good morning. First, I want to say thank you to Bob and to Beth, for asking me to speak today. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. Also, I was so encouraged by Bob’s message last week, on challenging us around the parable of the Prodigal Son. I think today’s topic is, in many ways, a continuation of that message.

I grew up being taught that “the least of these” that Jesus talks about in the scripture we just heard, were people who lived in a very different world than me – the inner city, maybe, or Africa. And that “serving” them was an act of charity, my “good deed” that would somehow win me favor with God. I’m thankful that my understanding of this passage in the book of Matthew has evolved over the years. But I’ll get back to that a little later.

I was 10 years old, and in fifth grade. The most important part of the school day was, without a doubt, recess. And for 5th grade boys, your standing, your rank within that social system, was measured by one thing: dodgeball. Everyday, recess began the same way. The teacher whose straw was drawn for recess duty, picked two team captains, usually two of the most popular and athletic boys in the class. They would go to their respective “square” on the dodgeball court, and all the other boys would line up on the sidewalk. Alternating picks, the captains would put together their team, one boy at a time.

One day in particular, I stood on that sidewalk, and watched as the long line of boys dwindled, one by one, down to only a few of us. Now, while I played baseball and basketball as a kid, you may not be surprised to know that I was known more for being a bit of a music nerd. And this reputation seemed to be very familiar to the two captains that day. Little by little, it finally came to be that only one other boy stood there with me. The captain whose turn it was to pick looked at both of us, sizing us up, until he decided to pick the other boy. Embarrassed and disappointed as I was, I didn’t waste any time before running to the team which was now mine, by default. And the game quickly started.

On this day, I must have mostly hung out on one of the back corners, because, as luck would have it, just as I was one of the last boys to be chosen for a team, I began to realize that I was one of the last boys still standing on the court. I watched as my teammates and opponents alike got pelted with that red, rubber dodgeball. I can still hear the sound in my head of rubber hitting blacktop. Finally there were only a handful of us left. As it happened this day, the captain of the opposing team was still in the game, and was having his way on the dodgeball court. Soon I looked around and saw only one of my teammates still standing. But when I noticed that the opposing captain had the ball, and was winding up to throw at one of us, I instinctively knew it was coming my way. For some reason, and to this day I can’t really tell you why, instead of running or preparing to jump out of the way, I just stood there, maybe to try and take the punishment like a man? I’m not sure. But that red ball came hurdling at me at what seemed like 100 miles an hour. And while it could have hit me in the face, or the leg, where it landed was square in my chest. I have to tell you, I’ve never been more proud of cat-like reflexes in my life, because instead of letting it bounce off, I wrapped my arms around it, catching it in full embrace. Now, I hate to have to explain the climactic punchline here, but in case you’ve never played dodgeball, when I caught the ball, it meant that I had, to everyone’s shock and amazement, gotten the opposing captain out of the game. As I remember the story, everyone on my team was both elated and completely surprised that the kid who was chosen last, had defeated the popular team captain across that white line. On that day, I knew I belonged on that dodgeball court.

Elementary and middle school can be a cruel place. And I’m glad to have not only survived that time, but to also have grown up to realize how petty some of those little “popularity contests” really were. However, one thing that I think probably hasn’t changed, is that we still like to belong, to something – a community, a neighborhood, a team, a “tribe”…a family. Most groups like this are built on or grow around having something in common. For example, I’m a lifelong (and longsuffering) fan of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. They’ve been playing pretty well over the last month or so, but let me tell you, there have been many, many terrible years. Those of you who follow baseball know what I’m talking about. But in the end, that’s not what matters to me. I’m not going to walk away because my team isn’t playing well. I have a sense of identity in following this team.

Some of you know a bit about my story. I grew up in a conservative, evangelical Christian family, and we attended church every time the doors were open, as the saying goes. After high school, I went to a conservative Christian college, and then vocationally, went on to serve full-time on staff at several evangelical churches – the last of which was a large, non-denominational church just north of Indianapolis.

One thing that has always struck me about all the churches where I served, as well as nearly every church I’d encountered during that time, was that to “belong”, to be received in that community, meant that you had to believe certain things. In other words, “belonging” was contingent on “believing”. In fact, what you believed – about God, about the Bible, and about how people were supposed to live and act and talk and vote – that was key to whether or not you could count yourself as a member of a particular faith community. Not only that, but in some churches, what they believed, sometimes called “Statements of Faith”, were even printed on big signs or banners, and put on the walls of the sanctuary or foyer, not to be missed! There was no mistaking what they believed in this church or that church. And if you wanted to belong, you needed to strongly consider what it would take to get you to believe “those” things.

I remember the first time I walked in the doors here at First Friends. I was, I’ll be honest, not very familiar with Quaker meetings. I think, out of pure instinct, I started looking for those “belief banners” on the walls. After scouring the walls and coming up unsuccessful, I thought, “I’m sure these statements of faith are probably mentioned and explained in every service. I’ll just listen.” After all, I had been the director of music and “programming” at the large church. I knew how important it was to get these “what we believe” talking points out to the congregation every week!

Imagine my surprise then, as a former director of church programming, when I sat down in these pews for the first time, listened to the minister read a scripture, and then…sit down…only to be followed by…silence? Surely this can’t be right, I thought. Surely someone has missed their queue. As I sat there, I thought “Wow, is it getting hot in here?” I was sitting toward the back that day, and I couldn’t help but notice that, even as I was uncomfortable, no one else seemed to be bothered by the “space”. Whatever “this” was, I was determined to white knuckle my way through it.

That story seems funny now. I myself was so programmed to expect certain things in a church setting, that coming here to First Friends really forced me out of that familiar comfort zone.

Ok, so you may ask, “Alright Eric, but what does this have to do with belonging, with connecting with others?”

As you may know, while there aren’t “belief banners” on the walls here at the Meetinghouse, there are certain values that Quakers speak about and prioritize in nearly everything we do. We refer to these values as the “SPICES”. Values of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. How these values play out in the world is really the expression of our faith as Quakers.

One reason I think many churches or faith communities “over-program” their gatherings, is that they want to make it very clear that, “this is what we believe about God, and how he speaks to people”. And what’s more, maybe even “This is who we believe God speaks to…and who he doesn’t.”

The real meaning of allowing space and silence in our gatherings didn’t really occur to me for several years. I see it now as an opportunity for all of us to listen, in silence, to what the Divine might be saying to us. Our values as Quakers tell us there is no barrier, no “disqualification” on who God might speak to.

One of the things I love most about this community is the diversity of our experiences, of our perspectives, of backgrounds, of passions. We are, in so many ways, a beautiful tapestry, a patchwork of differences and similarities.

Back in the Spring of 2022, I found myself discouraged by a series of new laws and efforts by legislators, both nationally and here in Indiana, that seemed designed to marginalize certain groups of people – to squelch what I saw as basic rights, and generally make life harder for some. After sitting in my discouragement for a bit, I realized I could respond in one of two ways: I could complain. And hey, if I chose to complain on social media, I wouldn’t even have to leave my house! And let me tell you, I noticed that MANY, MANY people chose this response.

Or, I could consider what I might do. I’m not a member of any law-making body. But I could still do something. So, I decided to create a group, and invite anyone who might want to join. I wanted to be with people, face to face, for the sake of intentional interaction and conversation. The initial purpose, simple as it might sound, was to go for walks together in green spaces across Indianapolis, and talk about what each of us saw as important issues facing those in our communities. And since then, the group, and the conversation has grown. Because we are different people, I’ve learned things I never knew before. I’ve been challenged in all sorts of ways. And not only have we talked about a whole plethora of topics, and brainstormed how to elevate and support certain causes and groups of people, how to support the LGBTQ+ community, how to support public school teachers, how to stand up for those we see on the margins of society, but… we’ve also gotten involved! Some among the group have met for peaceful protests. We’ve connected with candidates running for statewide offices. We took part in a cleanup effort for several city blocks on the near eastside. We created a book club. And who knows what ideas will hatch from this group in the future. But let me tell you – I am a better, more informed, and ultimately more fulfilled person for having connected with others and “gotten in the game” in this way. Especially when I think about how I would have felt if I was simply complaining, all by myself, on the sidelines.

Remember our values, as Quakers, that I referenced earlier – the SPICES? Sure, I could and do, on my own, work to be a more peaceful person, to be a person of integrity, and so on. But how much more meaning, value, and encouragement is added to my efforts, as I hear about Mary Blackburn’s passion for caring for the environment in our Meditational Woods? Or Jim Donahue’s leadership with the food pantry efforts? Or the creativity and hard work of folks like Ed and Paula Kassig, and Nancy Scott, in caring for refugees and people in very difficult circumstances, coming from other parts of the world? And this is only scratching the surface.

Let me return to something I said earlier – about this community here at First Friends being a beautiful tapestry. It’s something I find not only beautiful, but alive, and life-giving. Here’s the thing, though: I can’t just make a statement like that, and then sit down. No, if that’s true, that the beauty in this community is in our patchwork of perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and even beliefs, then what are the implications here? What are the things we can do to help sustain this beautiful community?

Well, I want to leave us with two things: A challenge, and an encouragement. First, the challenge.

If you consider yourself a part of this body, of this community, this essentially challenges you to see the value in other people. This is how we begin to serve one another. Sometimes we refer to this as recognizing “that of God in everyone”, a phrase first coined by Quaker founder George Fox, and brought into our vernacular several centuries later by Quaker author and historian Rufus Jones. If we truly believe this, that there is “that of God in everyone”, and then seek to live it out, it calls us to recognize God’s light in people that might look like us, but, more importantly, people that don’t. We might initially identify or naturally associate with people who think like we do, who enjoy or partake in similar things as us. But, living into this hard thing, recognizing that of God in everyone, means that we get off that well-worn path, and seek to welcome and befriend the stranger, the outcast, the outsider, just as Jesus talked about in Matthew chapter 25. In fact, what if “serving the least of these” simply begins by recognizing God’s light in everyone we meet? And I’ll take that a step further: If I acknowledge that of God within you, I don’t just seek to serve you in a way that checks a box for me. No – I recognize your humanity – what makes you unique. How can I learn from your experience, your passions, your perspectives?

And now, the encouragement. If this community really is a beautiful tapestry, then I have good news: You belong! To reference Jim Kartholl’s children’s message from last Sunday, everyone is “included” on the invitation list! There is no secret handshake, no password at the door, no unspoken expectation that you live by some dogma or set of specific theological beliefs written on a banner somewhere. And here’s the even better news: Not only do you belong, but you matter. Your voice matters. Your perspective matters. Your background, your experience, your passions…they all matter. In other words, regardless of who you are or where you’re coming from, you have something unique to contribute. And this community is made better and more valuable because you are here.

As we prepare to go into a time of Waiting Worship, I’ll point us to the following queries:

First, How am I seeking to recognize “that of God” in people who are in my life?

Are there specific ways that I feel drawn to make the world a more beautiful place?

How might I connect with others, either here at First Friends, or in other circles of my life, that could challenge me to live out the SPICES in meaningful and creative ways?

6-18-23 - "The Table of Welcome"

The Table of Welcome

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

June 18, 2023

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 (New Revised Standard Version)  

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinner and eats with them." So, Jesus told them this parable:

"There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So, he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So, he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So, he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"

Back when I was in my master’s program, I was introduced to Henri Nouwen’s classic book, “The Return of the Prodigal Son.”  The book first drew me in because of its use of the famous Rembrandt painting of the same title.  It was theology and art interpretation all in one, and it was one of the first theology books that truly spoke to my condition.

Also, when I was reading it, I had recently become a father and was working, as the book challenges, to “become the father” in all areas of my life.

By no means is Nouwen’s book a primer for parenting or fatherhood, rather it is about a more universal challenge to love as God loves, and to be loved as God’s beloved. This is what it meant by “becoming the father.”

As Quakers we know that being friends of God involves growing up and taking on the attributes of the Divine – or becoming like God. Jesus said it this way:

“Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,

be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate.”

 Yet, how do we do that?

Nouwen says it is by welcoming ALL our siblings, neighbors, and friends (those like us and those different than us) in the same way God welcomed us home. 

In my 28 years of ministry, I have come to realize that one of the greatest ways to break down the barriers and welcome someone is through food or as we say, “breaking bread together.” 

I remember once having breakfast with Friend Colin Saxton. At the time he was the superintendent of the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends in the Pacific Northwest. I was not a Quaker at the time, but I was on the journey to become one. I was meeting Colin because he had agreed to be my doctoral supervisor.  We met in downtown Portland, Oregon at a bohemian-hipster breakfast place – simply called, “Gravy.” 

Over an amazing breakfast we shared our journeys. That conversation, to this day, was transcendent. At one point during our meal, I mentioned how beautiful our conversation was, and he said, “That is because we are truly communing together.”  I noticed there and then that there was a special grace at that meal and the Divine was speaking through us to each other’s condition. 

Instead of wafers that stick to the roof of your mouth and a small shot of wine (or grape juice), we were feasting on hash, eggs, and homemade toast. Colin went on to explain that instead of through an ancient ritual, Quakers see ANY opportunity to eat together as an opportunity to commune with the Divine – as there is that of God in everyone. The Quaker ideal is to make every meal at every table a Lord's Supper.  At that moment, I realized I was becoming a Quaker.

But, if we take these thoughts and then look at our scriptures for today, we might see another very important interpretation that is often missed in the story of the Prodigal Son. Actually, if you listened carefully the parable speaks a great deal about food. Diana Butler Bass, one of my favorite female theologians, pointed this out to me.

The scripture actually begins with a complaint about Jesus’s dinner guests — “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then it goes on and the younger son takes a job feeding pigs, winds up eating pig food, and decent people refuse to feed him. The whole story changes when he cries out, “I am starving!” He literally goes home to his father because he is hungry.

Did you notice this? 

Well wait, there is more…then…

The joyful father throws a feast, complete with music and dancing. The older brother gets angry at the attention his profligate brother has received and complains, “You killed the fatted calf for him” and refuses to partake of the feast. We always read the elder brother as jealous — that he wants the fatted calf. But maybe the elder just wanted to keep things as they’ve always been — a familiar pattern of sustenance based on obligation and duty.

This theme continues…

The father reminds the elder brother that, yes, they have always eaten together, and they have shared many meals. And that’s been good. For them at least. But there is something even better — a feast that does away with old roles and expectations and opens the table with generosity to anyone who wishes to eat. 

If you quickly glance at the stories of Jesus in the Bible, you will find that Jesus loves to tell stories about eating, about banquets, about opening the doors wide and welcoming everyone in to eat at the table. 

When Jesus wants to get his point across to an individual or group, he intentionally goes and eats with them. Jesus eats with tax collectors and government officials, takes time to feed the masses on a couple of occasions, is found by the disciples grilling some fish for a beach breakfast, breaks bread to open the eyes of those on the road to Emmaus, and in a moment of brilliance, reinterprets an ancient meal of remembrance of his ancestors into a model for breaking down barriers and welcoming everyone to their table.  

Diana Butler Bass ponders,

“Perhaps this story of the prodigal son is less about personal forgiveness, where we ask are you the younger or older brother, and more about the feast - a precursor of the supper that Jesus is planning. A type of the revolutionary meal Jesus will institute the night before he is murdered. A meal structured on mutuality and equality, based in humble service to one another and unconditional forgiveness.  This old order was good for some, but the new table will be beyond your wildest imaginings.  

Jesus will open it up to the people that were unclean, people who were unaccepted, people that were outcast, treated poorly, and even hated.    

Diana Butler Bass also points out that, “the parable describes the “meals” offered by the world — how food is structured into social division, brokenness, and inhumanity.”

The table that Jesus will model and invite us to replicate is about overcoming social divides, healing brokenness with reconciliation, and treating everyone at the table with dignity.

And folks I don’t believe this was intended only for a ritual that has lost its impact in the church today, but more importantly it was meant to be instated through the ordinary everyday tables in our homes, at our Meetings, in local restaurants, in lunchrooms/workrooms, community centers, nursing facilities, etc...  It was never to be a private ceremony for those already in the “church club.”  

Jesus table was a model for every table we partake at. The table itself is an opportunity for us to have a meal of true forgiveness and equality, in a world of genuine love, a table where everyone is seated and sated.  

Throughout the last week, I have heard numerous women sharing their joy from the recent Soul Sister event.  The reason being is because I believe they were partaking in this communion with one another and thus with the Divine. Through eating together, they broke down barriers and shared stories that brought laughter and joy and drew them closer together. The same happens every time men gather for Threshing Together events. 

I look at every lunch, dinner, coffee meeting, as an opportunity to genuinely commune with individuals or groups and engage that of God within them. And that means I must be expectant for opportunities to address social divides, heal brokenness with reconciliation, and bring dignity to my neighbors and friends.

I believe the table is the vessel that can truly change the world if we are willing to use it for such purposes.

Barry Jones said it well,

One of the most important spiritual disciplines for us to recover in the kind of world in which we live is the discipline of table fellowship. 

A couple weeks ago, we invited our neighbors over for dessert at our table in our backyard.  Sue made one of her “award winning” trifles and since our neighbors are Indian, they made some wonderful almond cookies. We sat on our back porch on a beautiful night sharing stories, eating dessert, and learning about how we each had met our spouses.  We heard of their journey to America and shared some of ours journeys as well.  Each of us had many questions, but we laughed, learned, and enjoyed each other’s presence.  In the end, Sue and I realized we were breaking down social divides and becoming more aware of those with different stories and journeys.  The table of fellowship had opened the door. 

So, I challenge you this week, become aware of the tables in which you partake and realize the life-giving impact they can have. Then as we enter waiting worship, take some time to reflect upon the following queries: 

·      How might my table be used to welcome people, address social divides, heal brokenness, and bring dignity to my neighbors and friends?

·      Who have I been unwilling to welcome to my table? Why?

·      What can we at First Friends do to recover the discipline of table fellowship? 

6-11-23 - "Practicing Systemic or Cultural Humility"

Practicing Systemic or Cultural Humility

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

June 11, 2023

Good morning, Friends and welcome to Light Reflections. Today, at the Meetinghouse we are celebrating Friends Educational Fund Sunday. For those not familiar with The Friends Education Fund, it is a Quaker college scholarship program for African American students, which was created in the mid-1940s by several members of our Meeting who were the surviving governing board of the only orphanage for African American children in the state of Indiana.

The orphanage was also created by First Friends members after the Civil War.  By the 1920s, when it was closed, the orphanage had provided care for over 3,000 African American children.

In the beginning the educational program was funded by the assets which remained following the closing of the orphanage. These included a bequest from John Williams, a former slave, who was a successful farmer and tanner in 1860s Washington County, Indiana. In his will he requested that his assets be used to educate “poor Negro children” and, after his death, his assets were transferred by the courts to the Friends orphanage in Indianapolis.  The 1940s decision for educational scholarships was influenced by this bequest.

First Friends invested the orphanage assets and used the proceeds to assist African American students.  Since that time the directors have continued to invest and use the income generated to provide nearly $500,000 in scholarships to over 1,000 students since its beginnings.

We are honored this morning to be granting scholarships to 35 African American young adults from Indianapolis. If you want to make a donation to this great cause, go to our website indyfriends.org and look for the Friends Education Fund.

The text that I chose for this morning is from Ephesians 4:1-3 from the Message version.

In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

Today, I am wrapping up my sermon series on systemic priorities. I want to briefly review where we have been over the last several weeks. We have looked at the systemic nature of goodness, integrity, joy, and service as it relates to our spirituality and our lives together in the Kingdom of God.

Some of these priorities have been easier than others to wrestle with, but in the end they all must come together to make a unique and concerted effort for greater change.  And that leaves us with one last, and very important, and I would even say, key aspect to what I have been talking about - that being systemic or what some have labeled cultural humility. 

I am sure most of us are familiar with the idea of being humble. To be humble is to demonstrate “humility” which is commonly defined as “freedom from pride or arrogance.” Yet, let’s be clear, humility has nothing to do with meekness or weakness. And neither does it mean being self-effacing or submissive.

Rather, humility is an attitude of spiritual modesty that comes from understanding our place in the larger order of things. This is why I consider it a systemic priority.

One of the people that has embodied this humility and who taught it at a systemic level was the late Desmond Tutu.  He once said,

“When the humility of someone is undermined, whether I like it or not mine is undermined as well.”

Tutu goes into much greater detail of what this looks like in his classic The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World. Just listen to what he said,

We are able to forgive because we are able to recognize our shared humanity. We are able to recognize that we are all fragile, vulnerable, flawed human beings capable of thoughtlessness and cruelty. We also recognize that no one is born evil and that we are all more than the worst thing we have done in our lives. A human life is a great mixture of goodness, beauty, cruelty, heartbreak, indifference, love, and so much more. We want to divide the good from the bad, the saints from the sinners, but we cannot. All of us share the core qualities of our human nature, and so sometimes we are generous and sometimes selfish. Sometimes we are thoughtful and other times thoughtless, sometimes we are kind and sometimes cruel. This is not a belief. This is a fact.

If we look at any hurt, we can see a larger context in which the hurt happened. If we look at any perpetrator, we can discover a story that tells us something about what led up to that person causing harm. It doesn’t justify the person’s actions; it does provide some context...

No one is born a liar or a rapist or a terrorist. No one is born full of hatred. No one is born full of violence. No one is born in any less glory or goodness than you or I. But on any given day, in any given situation, in any painful life experience, this glory and goodness can be forgotten, obscured, or lost. We can easily be hurt and broken, and it is good to remember that we can just as easily be the ones who have done the hurting and the breaking.

We are all members of the same human family...

In seeing the many ways we are similar and how our lives are inextricably linked, we can find empathy and compassion. In finding empathy and compassion, we are able to move in the direction of forgiving.

Ultimately, it is humble awareness of our own humanity that allows us to forgive:

We are, every one of us, so very flawed and so very fragile. I know that, were I born a member of the white ruling class at that time in South Africa’s past, I might easily have treated someone with the same dismissive disdain with which I was treated. I know, given the same pressures and circumstances, I am capable of the same monstrous acts as any other human on this achingly beautiful planet. It is this knowledge of my own frailty that helps me find my compassion, my empathy, my similarity, and my forgiveness for the frailty and cruelty of others.    

There is not only a wisdom in Desmond Tutu words, but also a transcendence as well - a transcendence to be able to see the bigger picture of humanity and a sincere humility to recognize the flaws within himself and within us all. 

What I believe he is practicing is what the National Institute of Health calls “cultural humility.” 

They define it this way,

“A lifelong process of self-reflection and self-critique whereby the individual not only learns about another’s culture, but one starts with an examination of her/his own beliefs and cultural identities.”

Desmond Tutu did this while considering the different cultures of South Africa during apartheid. In the same way, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did this while considering the culture identities of Mahatma Gandhi’s India during the American Civil Rights Movement.  From it, King embraced non-violent protests because of the positive effects he saw Gandhi having on India.  

Late in high school, I began this process with the cultures of First Nations people when I searched for the burial ground of Chief Little Turtle in Fort Wayne, Indiana - which ironically, I found in the shadow of the mock fort that told a much different story. 35 years later, I am still gleaning wisdom and trying to process with Native Friends the pain our First Nations siblings suffered.

25 years ago, at the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, I found myself alone and in tears trying to wrap my mind around the cause and effects of the American Civil Rights Movement.  Since that day, my wife and I have made it a priority to educate and take my own family to Civil Rights sights and help them enter this process of self-reflection and critique as they relate to their own beliefs and identities and the change we can be.

I remember a couple of years ago, standing with my family among the National Monument for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama utterly broken trying to grasp the horror of “racial terror” on people of color in our country.  I realized while at the monument that our own John Williams’ name was missing and should be included in this monument as his life was taken in a moment of racial terror. Several of us are working on getting his name included.  I remember getting in our car after walking through the monument – my family was silent and all we could say was how we were humbled – because we still have so much to learn about our place in the larger order of things.  

I sense our American culture is greatly suffering from this lack of awareness. 

So, what might we do to improve our cultural and systemic humility?

I have a few suggestions:

1.     Engage people who are different than you on a personal level.

2.     Be curious and empathetic about others’ life experiences who are different than your own. 

3.     Learn about the important people in someone’s culture such as artists, musicians, dancers, philosophers, and writers, not just their foods or holidays.

4.     Learn to pronounce their names correctly.

5.     Share your culture, so people from other cultures don’t think they’re the only ones who are different. 

6.     Talk openly about racisim, sexism, and classism, and believe them when they speak about their experiences.

7.     Be prepared when someone brings up your ethnicity and what it means to them.  Listen nondefensively.

8.     Approach improving your cultural competence with a beginner’s mind. 

9.     Show interest, appreciation, and respect for other cultures.

I think this may be a bit more detailed way of saying what the Apostle Paul was trying to say to the people of Ephesus in his day from our scriptures.  Listen once again to how Eugene Peterson so masterfully interpreted it:

I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

To the scholars who could not be with us this morning in-person, in the fall you will literally be getting out there on the road that God has called you to travel. I pray (as do your families I’m sure) that your path will be going somewhere.  But I guarantee that if you are willing to pour yourself out in humble acts of love, seeking to understand and even mend the differences among all the diversity of the people you meet, you will be making a huge and impactful difference in our world. 

And that call is not just for our scholars this morning – if everyone watching, today is willing to get out of our comfort bubbles and head out on that path where God is leading – get to know at least one person different than us – yes, it is going to be awkward, we are going to stumble, we may even say something inappropriate on occasion, but through humility we will grow into a greater understanding of our place in the larger order of things

So, let’s get out there, walk…run…do whatever we need to do to get on the path God is calling us to travel! 

Now, as we enter a time of waiting worship, let us take a moment to ponder the following queries:

1.     Do I believe that we are all members of the same human family and if not, why?

2.     Who is one person I should engage this week that is different than me?

3.     What “comfort bubbles” do I need to pop in order to understand my place in the larger order of things?

6-4-23 - "Engage in Systemic Service"

Engage in Systemic Service

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

June 4, 2023

Good morning, Friends and welcome to Light Reflections.  Today, at the Meetinghouse we are celebrating our Graduates and Volunteers. It is always a wonderful celebration and an opportunity to give thanks for so many dedicated individuals! Congrats and Thank You!

As well, today we will continue our “Systemic” series with looking at service. The scripture I chose for my message is Galatians 5:13-15 from the Message Version.    

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

For several weeks now, I have been categorizing my sermon topics as “systemic” issues. Some people could easily say that categorizing them this way is painting too broad of a picture and its simply too overwhelming to ponder. But I have been using this term, systemic, to look more at the system of our spirituality or as we friends say, our “Faith and Practice” and our interplay within it. 

To help clarify what I am saying, let me explain briefly. There are many systems in our lives, and they range from micro to macro, from simple to complex.

We are made up of biological systems. 

We utilize mechanical systems.

We live within a myriad of ecosystems. 

We interact through social systems.

We put ourselves within and under institutional systems.

Even our earth is part of a greater solar system.

And I believe our spirituality is an “umbrella-like” system that impacts and supports them all.

Thus, systemic goodness, integrity, joy, and today, service, speak to the greater condition of our systemic lives. They transcend the systems of life to provide a universal connection, a deeper accountability, and a needed support for all humanity. 

Last week, several people commented during waiting worship on the connection between goodness, integrity, and joy.  And we don’t have to look too far again this week to see the connections when looking at service.  People have been noticing these universal connections for some time.

Philosopher Rabindranath Tagore once pointed out,

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”

Farmer and former Secretary of State, Ezra Taft Benson once said,

“If you really want to receive joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. Lift their burden, and your own burden will be lighter.”

And I could go on, but many have made the connection between joy and service.

Even the apostle Paul in his second letter to the people of Corinth combined joy and service or as he labels it “cheerful giving” or hilaros in Greek (meaning both hilarious and exhilarating), he said,

But I will say this to encourage your generosity: the one who plants little harvests little, and the one who plants plenty harvests plenty. Giving grows out of the heart—otherwise, you’ve reluctantly grumbled “yes” because you felt you had to or because you couldn’t say “no,” but this isn’t the way God wants it. For we know that “God loves a cheerful giver.” God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share.

Not only does service bring joy, it brings sustainability with our fellow humans - everyone being taken care of in every way. 

Throughout his life and especially in the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr. often asked the following query of his listeners,

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

He even equated greatness with service when he stated:

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.

Much of what King learned about service was from the example of Mahatma Gandhi who believed, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

For 40 years Civil Rights and Women’s Rights leader Dr. Dorothy Height lived out and taught these truths from King and Gandhi, and lifted the conversation to an even more transcendent height for generations after her by teaching,  

“Without service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.”

Service is such a foundational aspect of our lives that Garrett Gunderson, contributing writer for Forbes, wrote an article titled appropriately (and here I will give a PG13 warning), “Serving Others Is as Important as Food and Sex.”

Just listened to what Gunderson had to say, it really fits with what we have been talking about:

“Helping somebody cross the street or buying them a muffin in line will make you feel good, but it's not the same as finding a younger version of you who's facing the exact same problem that you went through, and now you represent hope to them because they don't see a way out and haven't gone through it,” says Evan Carmichael.

I have this theory that some of the people that really do profound things had somebody irrationally believe in them before they had evidence. Maybe it was my grandfather when I was just a baby and the way he believed in me, or maybe it was a teacher, but one person can make such a meaningful difference to someone that can end up influencing a lot more people.

One of the greatest ways we can serve each other is by being willing to mentor each other.  Sharing our wisdom, our mistakes, our challenges, is a service to our friends, neighbors, even family.  I think back to the people who have mentored me over my 28 years of ministry and cannot believe how freeing the advice, the nudging, even the rebuking has been.  

Deborah Gin, Director of Research and Faculty Development at The Association of Theological Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pointed out the top lessons good mentors help with (listen carefully to what all is covered):

1.     Navigating our life systems.

2.     Recognizing our worth.

3.     Maintaining Integrity.

4.     Recognizing that knowledge is power.

5.     Nurturing networks (aka connecting with others).

As Quakers we have a long-standing tradition of mentoring, some even would say it is it is foundational to the practices of spiritual direction and clearness committees.  Actually, I would say that our clerk and committee systems at First Friends would not be successful without mentoring and passing on the wisdom and spiritual insight from those who have gone before. 

Now, do we always do it right, do egos get in the way, do personal agendas drive the mentoring…sadly sometimes they do, but that’s why we need good mentors, who we can trust, learn from, and collaborate with.  

I think overall our world is seriously lacking good mentors, today.  Our children, youth, and young adults are crying out for trusting mentors who will offer them the wisdom and guidance to navigate the many systems driving their lives.

The wise mentor and philosopher farmer, Wendell Berry captured it well when he said,

A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define and limit the possibilities of each other's lives. It is the knowledge that people have of each other, their concern for each other, their trust in each other, the freedom with which they come and go among themselves.

Knowledge, concern, trust, and ultimately freedom amongst each other - that is the systemic goal of service in a nutshell.

In a couple weeks, we will celebrate July 4th – what we label as “Independence Day.” I know this is not a popular thing to say, but I believe it gets to the real issue for us Americans when looking at service – our hyper focus on independence runs right against this sustainable dependence on each other. 

It is interesting that Wendell Berry even uses the word, freedom, as part of his understanding of service and community.  It seems that to embrace our independence is counter to what brings real freedom.

Just maybe our lack of dependence on and service to one another is what is causing us to erase the history, ban books, and neglect those neighbors that we consider different than ourselves.  Those things lack knowledge, concern, trust, and yes, freedom.

Today, marks the first Sunday of Pride Month. Sadly, the church throughout history has often lacked the knowledge, concern, trust I just described in its regard for the LGBTQIA community. To me, it has only become clearer over time, how important the lives and voices of our LGBTQIA family are. Way too often, they have been silenced and their freedoms taken away – not just in our country but even in a greater way in our churches. I am grateful that we are working hard here at First Friends to accept, welcome, embrace, and serve our LGBTQIA family. I truly believe the change must start with us.  

And to be a people of systemic service, may just be the beginning of the systemic change we need in our world and may be the path to ultimately finding true freedom – a freedom that Eugene Peterson so beautifully spelled out in our scriptures for this morning. Just listen once again,

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?

That final query from Paul should probably be pondered in greater detail this morning. And along with that one, as we enter waiting worship, I have a couple of more for us to think about this morning.

·        When has service brought me and others joy?

·        How might my skills, talents and wisdom be used for mentoring someone? Who might that be?

·        How might I embrace a more dependent and serving life with those around me?

5-28-23 - "Don't Forget Systemic Joy!"

Don’t Forget Systemic Joy!

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

May 28, 2023

Good morning, Friends and welcome to Light Reflections. This morning I am continuing my Systemic series by looking at Joy!  Our scripture text is from James 1:2-4 in the New Revised Standard Version.  

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.

Let’s take a moment to review the last two Sundays for those who may not have joined us or simply need a reminder.  Two Sundays ago, which was Mother’s Day, I preached on “Systemic Goodness.” 

I pointed out how “systemic goodness” was something Quakers have taught since very early on – what they called the “transforming power of Love.” I also said that to embrace systemic goodness will mean we must put our individual survival at risk for the sake of our family and community’s survival – it is the true biblical meaning of sacrifice or laying down one’s life for one’s neighbor.

For we are one, one human family, one community, one creation.

Then, last week I brought a follow up message about “Systemic Integrity” which is a much more difficult conversation and challenging for many of us.  Again, I pointed out how Friends have struggled with this concept but have found it of utter importance. For…

…living in integrity means accepting accountability for one’s actions, and repenting when one has done harm to others. It means honoring “that of God” in other people, which includes treating everyone with dignity—and with an open mind. You may not always agree with someone, but you can disagree, no matter how firmly, with respect.

Again, there has been a lot of conversation and pondering regarding systemic goodness and integrity throughout the last couple of weeks.  Some of you have done some introspection and others have struggled with these concepts, especially in our world today. 

I want to pause here for a moment and remind everyone, that each sermon is simply one teaching among many. Every week, I get in front of you and in 15-20 minutes try hard to convey what the Divine has put on my heart to share with you. I wish each week it could be everything everyone wanted. That it spoke to everyone’s condition, challenged everyone appropriately, and inspired just as much. But like a good book, each sermon is like a chapter in the greater story. And unlike with chapters in books, each sermon can be worked and even evolve, change, and develop over time. So, talking about goodness may be a little easier than getting behind it and looking at integrity or even joy, but as with every subject there is always more to unpack. I hope you will take time to ponder what I am saying and allow me to continue down this path toward systemic joy this morning.

On the way out of the Meeting last week, someone kind of mumbled to me that they wished one of the S.P.I.C.E.S. was humor or that Quakers should consider adding a S.P.I.C.E. of Humor.  I took that as a hint that my sermon on integrity was a bit too much.  

Ironically, since I often am working several weeks ahead on sermon prep, I already knew that this Sunday I was going to talk about Systemic Joy.  I find it ironic how the Divine is already prepping the hearts of the hearers.  I will be honest I have never found preaching on integrity easy – because it makes us uncomfortable at the core of our being.

And thus, when we are uncomfortable, we often get cynical, bitter, even pessimistic. Some have said these are some of the most problematic diseases we are fighting in our world, today. 

For me, as someone who is called to wrestle with theological and systemic issues from a spectrum and diversity of theological views, it is hard not to give in. I am constantly pushing back cynicism, the bitterness, the pessimistic thoughts. Thank God, I married a woman who is known for her optimism – it helps balance me on many occasions.  I know my passions run deep, but so can those voices that say, “What’s the point? or Why keep trying?”  

This past week, I finished Rainn Wilson’s book, “Soul Boom: Why We Need A Spiritual Revolution.” He is one person that is pushing back the cynicism, bitterness, and pessimism. I found his thoughts refreshing and challenging. In Soul Boom, Wilson identifies cynicism as an “insidious pandemic in our culture because we don’t know we are suffering from it.” He even goes as far as wondering about our youth, today, saying,

“To what extent is this wet blanket of hopelessness contributing to the deadly, overwhelming mental health epidemic they are suffering from?”

A query, that’s answer is currently defining our times.

A few years ago, we had a couple of brothers, Jim and John, join our Meeting for a season. One afternoon they stopped by to talk with me and give me a gift. It was the book, “The Second Mountain,” by David Brooks. As with most books I am given, I take the time to digest and then offer opportunity for dialogue. We talked about the book on several occasion and it came up once or twice in my sermons back then. But Rainn Wilson has me returning to Brooks words from “The Second Mountain” this morning. Brooks said,

“Our society has become a conspiracy against joy.  It has put too much emphasis on the individuating part of our consciousness – individual reason – and too little emphasis on the bonding parts of our consciousness, the heart and soul.”

I had that quote underlined and starred in my copy.  

“A conspiracy against joy” – that is well stated, but how do we bring light to this conspiracy against joy?  Some would say by being more optimistic, but as Rainn Wilson so poignantly states, “…the opposite of cynicism isn’t optimism. The opposite of cynicism is joy!”

A few years ago, a great number of books were being written on “Toxic Positivity” which is when one can feel externally pressured to “be positive” at all times in a way that is insensitive to the difficulties that might surround a person.  I have even heard our own “Hoosier Hospitality” described in a similar way by some people. 

But after 28 years in ministry, I believe it is also the disease of the church. I have even at times labeled it the “disease of niceness.”  We let issues brew or demanding views be accepted simply because we don’t want to cause any trouble or challenge a different perspective. Thus, what we think is being nice, causes a toxicity to grow – a toxicity that steals our joy.  Among Friends, we have even labeled this as the sin of “passive aggression.”

Well, enough on that, let’s get back to joy.  Our scripture for today said,

“My brothers and sisters (siblings), whenever you face various trials, consider it all JOY, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.”

Most of us consider our trials and testing anything but joy.  But as I wrestled with what I was learning in Soul Boom, I came across this point about joy.  Wilson says,

“Joy, however, inherently acknowledges sorrow.  It doesn’t disregard the hard stuff. Joy knows that negativity is a part of life as well.  Joy says that life is hard but there is a place you can go, a tool you can use. Joy is a force. A choice. Something that can be harnessed. A decision to be made. 

Even if one is not “feeling it” in one’s heart, one can spread joy to others… In other words, joy is a superpower! It gives us strength, clarity, and resilience, and it helps us find our path, especially in helping others. “

When I was in high school, my friend Rob and I loved the comedic genius of John Candy and Steve Martin in the classic John Hughes film, “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.”  Rob and I must have watched it 300+ times – we even wrote out the script of the movie to memorize the lines (Highschoolers do crazy things like that). To this day, when I watch it, I am mouthing all the lines for memory.  And now our children have adopted it as our annual Thanksgiving movie.

Yet, between the laughs and exuberant joy over the years, a much deeper story line appeared.  The movie was dealing with a variety of real-life issues within society. Everything from wealthy businessmen spending too much time away from family, men’s growing loneliness and isolation in our world, all juxtaposed with homelessness and what friendship/companionship really mean. 

John Hughs has made me, and many others laugh tears of joy in the midst of some serious topics.  But that is the genius of the movie. It allows us to ease into the deeper issue through laughter and joy.  It is what Jesus often did in telling parables and stories – we just can’t hear the laughter on the printed pages.

I have a friend who loves to call me and tell me a joke, or ask me to listen to a humorous short story he has written.  Almost every time he calls, I find myself wiping away tears of joy, and then he asks, so how are you, my friend? I believe it’s his way of getting into the depth of my soul. He brings me joy which in turn gives me clarity, resilience, and an openness to share. 

It doesn’t even have to be a person I know. When I was processing a miriad of family and personal challenges during the early part of the pandemic, and considering sending a child to college in what ended up being a war-zone in Chicago with all the race riots, I found myself being draw to read humorist and satirist, David Sedaris. David happened to attend the school where my son was headed at that time.

So, I picked up my first Sedaris book, “Me Talk Pretty One Day” at a Half-Price Books and began reading. From that moment on, his writings became a joyful escape from the mundane, and the chaos that was politics and the pandemic of those years. I would find a sense of raw joy in his words like never before. David’s writing was just what I needed and often continues to be.

Now, when I take a retreat or go on a trip, I like to take a David Sedaris book with me because it brings joy to my soul in new and often surprising ways. Often, I will sit at our table after dinner and read Sue some of his diary entries and we will both laugh until it hurts.

I know David Sedaris will not be for everyone – actually, if you read him, you may even judge me because he at times can be inappropriate – but different things bring joy to each of us.

Now I need to make an important shift here - joy isn’t only a part of our personal lives – sure it sustains and opens us up, but it should also prompt us to want to bring joy into the lives of those around us. 

I love to make people laugh, see them smile, and even cry tears of joy.  Most of the time, a real sense of joy comes when I help other people out around me. 

·        I personally am filled with joy when I get to use my pastor’s discretion fund to help someone who is in real need. 

·        I am filled with joy when I am teaching, and a light goes on and someone has a new insight or understanding.   

·        I am filled with joy when I get to share a new painting, art piece, or my artist gifts with friends and family. 

·        I find joy in celebrating with others, recognizing others, and acknowledging the gifts and talents of friends, neighbors, and family. 

·        I find joy in sitting around a table and eating with others or making food for us to enjoy, together. 

·        If you really get to know me, you would learn that I find joy in being a tour guide to places that someone else shared with me out of their joy for the place.

·        Oh…I could go on and on. So many things fill me with joy.

So, let me ask you, what fills you with joy when doing it for someone else?     

Did you know that joy has been labeled by the school of psychology as a “pro-social” behavior?  Think about that for a moment.  

Pro-social behaviors are actions which are characterized by a concern for the rights, feelings, and welfare of other people. They also offer proven benefits such as better moods, social wellness, and reduced stress.   

Our scriptures have listed, for longer than the school of psychology, “pro-social” behaviors. In the church we label them as “Fruit of the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-23 reads, 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Do you notice something in that list of biblical pro-social behaviors?  Goodness is covered, and I believe several might go together to be labeled integrity, and yes, joy is there as well. 

These “fruit” are the systemic behaviors or virtues that have been foundational for religious groups, societies in general, and even in marriages and families. Over time they have become universal truths that effect the welfare of all people.  This is why we need systemic goodness, integrity and joy!

To close my thoughts this morning, I would like to read a poem by whom I consider a voice that speaks truth to power, poet Mary Oliver.  This is “Don’t Hesitate” from her book, “Swan: Poems and Prose Poems.”

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate.

Give in to it.

There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be.

We are not wise, and not very often kind.

And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left.

Perhaps this is its way of fighting back,

that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world.

It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins.
Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty.

Joy is not made to be a crumb.

Share the joy, Friends, share the joy!

Now as we enter waiting worship, let us ponder the following queries.

·        How has cynicism robbed me of joy?

·        Where do I notice toxic positivity, the disease of niceness, or passive aggression around me? and how might I counteract it?  

·        How might I not hesitate, but give into joy this week?

·        Who do I know who needs a little joy in their life, today?

5-21-23 - "But It Begins with Systemic Integrity..."

But It Begins with Systemic Integrity…

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

May 21, 2023

Good morning, Friends, and welcome to Light Reflections from First Friends. Our scripture for this morning is from Philippians 4:8-9 from The Message version.  

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Last week, I used a term that has had many of us talking – actually, Jim Kartholl told me it was the main topic of discussion last Sunday with those who stayed to consider my message. 

That term was “Systemic Goodness.”  What early Friends called the “transforming power of love.” 

What I have learned this week in all the conversations I have had and the feedback I have received is that there is more to Systemic Goodness than we may first think. To be able to grow sustain, and perpetuate systemic goodness, we must first be people of integrity – and I would go as far as saying,

“To have systemic goodness, we FIRST must have systemic integrity.”

To explain what I mean, I am going to borrow some ideas from Richard Uglow of Enrich You from an article he wrote about Systemic Integrity.

But even before I do that, I want to start with some definitions – because I believe part of the problem, today, is that we do not know what all we are talking about when we talk about integrity. Just because, for us Quakers, Integrity is one of our S.P.I.C.E.S. or testimonies doesn’t automatically make it something we are good at or even recognize as important.  

The English Dictionary describes the word integrity in the somewhat 2D words of ‘moral uprightness, completeness, wholeness, soundness and honesty’. The Thesaurus moves into a more 3D positioning by describing integrity as ‘incorruptibility’, ‘togetherness’ and perhaps in a more systemic context ‘oneness or unity’.

On Quaker.org it comes straight-out, and claims integrity is hard to define, but then says this:

At a more fundamental level, living in integrity means accepting accountability for one’s actions, and repenting when one has done harm to others. It means honoring “that of God” in other people, which includes treating everyone with dignity—and with an open mind. You may not always agree with someone, but you can disagree, no matter how firmly, with respect.

Richard Uglow made it hit closer to home when he said,

“When any of us engage with the idea, let alone the choice to behave with integrity, the challenges begin. We have to face ourselves. And, in facing ourselves, we usually find that none of us are yet ‘the finished article’.”

There is a humility with integrity that must be foundational for goodness and love to truly grow. And along with humility always comes risk.  We don’t like to be humbled.

Actually, our world often downplays humility which makes it even more of a risk. To realize we are not the “finished articles” can sometimes leave us living lives that are mediocre, unchallenged, isolated, or even myopic.  All growing problems in our world, today.  

Where most of us become challenged with our humility is where other people are involved – because selfishness does not take much humility or risk.

Even most of the famous historical quotes about integrity seem to position the quality of integrity as a personal quest; integrity being some kind of high ideal of character, life quality, life mission or life compass.

But looking at integrity through those lenses makes it have a “black and white” reality to it - “either you have it or you don’t”.  Individually that may seem to work, but we are not just individuals. 

We are communal people – connected to one another – families, communities, Meetings, pickleball clubs, book groups, business networking teams, AA meeting, etc…we are all about connecting with other people.  

Just think about it or better yet let’s ponder some queries that I adapted from Richard Uglow: 

·        What happens in a community of people if lack of integrity is the cultural norm that is allowed to prevail?

·        What happens to a community of people when half the individuals choose integrity, and the other half don’t?  

·        What happens to a community when leaders, directors, and authorities behave selfishly, with power and for personal gain at the expense of those they serve, and justify their action as just societal norms that they assume are accepted by everyone?

I could easily just say – look around you – or turn on the news.

I strongly believe integrity is the most impactful and powerful when it is lived out within relationships, within communities, and within societies. 

Yet, when we choose integrity when dealing with our neighbors, family, and friends, it also means we choose to be “powerless” – again there is sacrifice like I talked about last week. The sacrifice is so those around us may also flourish and grow along with us.  That is part of the humility and risk I was talking about earlier.   

To create systemic integrity means we have a choice to make – will it be simply for my gain – that is the individual part.  Or will it be a decision that will impact those we interact with, live with, and love.  A huge part of integrity itself is coming to accept and understand this collective dimension of life. 

It seems like it should be a no-brainer that we would want to choose integrity as a best practice. This was Jesus’ charge to us – love your neighbor AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF.  Let’s be honest - most of us are not good at following this charge. We have been taught from early on that our success and survival is the key – thus the reason why integrity cannot simply be about personal integrity – again that is where it starts but it must translate from our personal lives to living out integrity in our world – that is loving your neighbor as you love yourself.       

The sad reality in our world today is that we simply do not trust or respect each other anymore. And those who are living under people without integrity have lost the power or authority to make the authorities change or mature in their integrity. 

This is why people leave jobs, leave relationships, even leave Quaker Meetings, because it is easier and safer to move on, than to confront the dysfunction, corruption, and lack of integrity of someone in a place of power and authority. 

Integrity and trust must go hand and hand.

Yet, please hear me on this…You and I are not powerless nor helpless.

You and I can offer the path of integrity as a better way. Yes, it will take some humility, some risk, and a lot of trust. But, as Quakers, You and I can agree to live out a testimony of integrity within our daily lives with our neighbors. (As the Mandalorian would say, “This is the Way.”) In our testimony of Integrity it says,   

Integrity is the way many members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) testify or bear witness to their belief that one should live a life that is true to God, true to oneself, and true to others.

Early Quakers took this testimony and built frameworks or what today we would call “best practices” for family, Meeting, community, and even societal life. They realized, as we should still in our day, that integrity requires that we always do the right thing for the common good – self, family, working family and human family – by design, when no-one is watching us, in our darkest hour and in all our day-to-day dealings.  

When we again come around a common testimony of integrity, then we are actively walking in the direction of systemic integrity no matter one’s education, culture, economic status, race, sexual/gender identity, or religious beliefs (and I could list more, but that would be a good start).   

More and more, I hear the voices of our Millennials and Gen Z-ers crying foul and calling out us older generations for failing to address the corruptions and the lack of integrity by saying to us, “Shame on you!” And asking, “Why have you not addressed or called out this disease in our families, politics, workplaces, economics, environmental and religious institutions?”  And they are not just crying out – they are getting educations, becoming vocal activists, and working for   systemic and real change.   

These generations are making me ask the following queries:

·        Have we lacked the courage to be people of integrity?

·        Have we been blindly accepting and complicit in the lack of integrity in our day?   

·        How are we creating and modeling systemic integrity at First Friends? Where might we need to do some work? 

Friend Shelley E. Cochran of Rochester (New York) Meeting warned us saying,

…often our reluctance is more a matter of convenience than principle. Most times, I think, we fudge because we simply find it easier to go quietly along than to witness. Faced with social pressure, many of us choose the path of least resistance.

This is clearly going to be a communal effort, folks. We are going to need each other to stand up and make our voices and lives heard. Yes, it will have to start with our personal integrity, but it must not stop there. 

Let me close with the words of Shelley Francis from The Courage Way:

“It takes courage to create a meaningful life of integrity. It also requires good company. And practice.”

Amen.

Now, as we enter waiting worship, we will take some time to ponder the queries I just shared.