7-21-24 - To Increase What There is To Be Joyful About

To Increase What There is To Be Joyful About

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

July 21, 2024

Romans 15:13

I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Good morning, Friends.  It has been over two months since I have been before you to give a message. I want to thank all those who filled the gaps during the first part of my sabbatical. Thank you to Beth, Eric, Katrina, our guest speakers, and every single person at First Friends who embraced their calling to be a Friend and minister.  Thank you!

I wish I could say it is good to be back with you, but I would be lying. The last two months have been such a needed renewal and restoration of my soul after 29 challenging years of ministry that it is hard to transition back. I would love to get back in the car tomorrow and drive another 7000 miles and see more of this great nation and its people.

During this time, I have learned some things about myself and have begun to make some personal changes. As well, I am still processing all that I experienced while away, so I may not be quick to explain how this experience has affected me – I am pretty sure I will continue to find out more on the journey ahead.  

One thing that was evident and at times even startling during my time away was when I experienced moments of newfound joy in my life. Please understand, I am not saying that I had no joy before taking my sabbatical, but allowing myself to let down the walls of stress, responsibility, and constant concern for others, opened a window that let in a fresh breeze of new joy in my life.

On occasion it was the fresh breeze of laughing so hard that I had tears in my eyes.  At other times, it was being overwhelmed by the landscapes, cultures, and beauty we were experiencing.  And then there was the fresh breezes that blew as Sue, and I talked over wonderful meals, walks, and sunsets that rekindled the joy of our 29 years of marriage which we took time to celebrate in San Francisco on our anniversary. 

After returning and having a couple of days in the office, beginning to make some visits, and checking the 300+ emails that I had forwarded and literally avoided checking while away, I headed to Yearly Meeting Sessions. 

The theme of this year’s Yearly Meeting was Embracing God’s Abundance.  A theme that clearly challenged people, including our Superintendent Shawn McConaughey.  As many of you know, while we were gone Shawn lost his father suddenly to the consequences of a bad stroke. Shawn shared in his opening address the challenges of embracing God’s abundance during this difficult time. Taking a deeper look at the theme scripture from John 10:10, Shawn said that at Yearly Meeting Sessions we were focusing more on the second half of the text which reads,

“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”

But then he pointed out the first part of the verse which reads,

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

He proceeded to ask us all who we thought the “thief” to be and actually, took answers from those gathered. There were a lot of answers, until someone finally said, “fear” and he agreed.  This really spoke to my condition, especially as I was considering joy. 

Fear is and has been the thief that has come to steal, kill, and destroy our joy. 

Let me say that again: 

Fear is and has been the thief that has come to steal, kill, and destroy our joy.

God wants us to embrace life, to have it to the full – which in other places is literally translated as “making my joy complete.”  In other words, life to the full is complete joy. Just think about that.  Joy is rarely a topic of discussion these days. And if that is what is to complete us, no wonder we are struggling in our world.    

Before returning, Sue and I went to see the movie Inside Out 2.  If you saw the first movie, you were introduced to several personified emotions in the head of a young girl named Riley.  The main character or emotion was Joy and she had some sidekicks, Anger, Fear, Disgust, and Sadness. But in Inside Out 2, Riley enters puberty, and some new emotions show up, one being Anxiety.  At one point a joke is made about Fear liking how Anxiety thinks.  In real life I think our fear and anxiety team up to become a thief of our joy.  

This thief of fear and anxiety came knocking on Sue and my doors weirdly about every Thursday during our time away.  Being hundreds of miles away from family, each of our children went through a major crisis that could have easily become a thief and stole our joy.  One child was having a crisis with their job and was worried they may need to leave it, one was diagnosed with Covid, and one lost electricity at their apartment for four days due to a bad storm. 

And even though it wasn’t on a Thursday, during our last week, we were sideswiped by a 4-Runner on I-90 in Illinois, just 30 minutes from our last stop. We could have easily allowed these things to rob us of the joy of our entire time away, but by this point we were not going to let the thief steal our joy by producing fear and anxiety in our hearts. 

Instead, the night of our accident, Sue and I enjoyed dinner at McNally’s Irish Pub in St. Charles, IL where I first took Sue almost 25 years earlier for a date night, because she had mentioned she wanted to go to Ireland someday. Yet being newly married and on ministry/teacher salaries – McNally’s would have to do.  McNally’s is about as authentic as you can get though, since an Irish family gutted a pub in Ireland and brought it to St. Charles.

Just before Covid, my parents, Sue, and I went to see author and speaker Rob Bell in Fountain Square.  Not knowing that in about a month we would head into Covid, appropriately his talk was titled, An Introduction to Joy.  In his own unique way, Rob addressed the fear and anxiety, but quickly moved to another joy stealer.

He pointed out that joy is the opposite of cynicism.  Rob says,

“Cynicism is the new religion of our world. whatever it is, this religion teaches that it isn’t as good as it seems.  it will let you down.  it will betray you. That institution? That church? That politician? That authority figure? They’ll all let you down. Whatever you do, don’t get your hopes up. Whatever you think it is, whatever it appears to be, it will burn you, just give it time.

This is because cynicism is lazy, but joy puts the effort in, takes risks, goes all out. Cynicism is easy and unimaginative and kills off delight. Ultimately, there’s no room for cynicism in joy. 

For Sue and I, getting away from the daily grind, turning off the TV, radio and social media, and spending our time enjoying the moment, left fear and cynicism at a pretty good distance.  I found myself happier, or maybe I should say more joyful, and not looking through as critical of eyes.

It is clear that anxiety, stress, and fear can easily create cynical mindsets and have us consumed with what the outcomes might be – and folks, that is how our joy is stolen.

One night in our hotel, I was battling a cold or allergies and just wanted to rest while Sue went down to work out.  I had not really turned on the T.V. in a couple of weeks, other than to check the weather.  As the T.V. came on, it happened to be the last 5 minutes of the first Presidential Debate.  I could instantly feel my anxiety skyrocket.  I felt the “thief” sucking the joy right out of me and decided to turn off the T.V. and simply go to bed.  The next day I had to internally fight myself not to consume my thoughts with what I saw in those 5 minutes.  The fear, anxiety, and cynicism were trying to steal my joy – but I was not about to let it.     

One morning, Sue and I decided to take a long walk on Newport Beach in California. We had already taken the two mile walk and ferry to Balboa Island a couple days before.  So, this morning, we headed north which landed us in the Lido District.  There people were exiting yachts and shopping in stores that we felt uncomfortable even window-shopping in.  Just off the Lido District was a small independent bookstore.  If you read my As Way Opens last week, you know that I was intentional about not taking any books on my trip and allowing myself to find the love of reading again. 

You see, ministry, preaching, and teaching all demand I be constantly reading and learning, so as to be prepared to partner with what the Divine is putting on my heart to share with you. But after 29 years of doing that, I realized that even reading had become a thief of my joy.  Intentionally putting distance between me and a book felt almost freeing – and that says something because I love books and bookstores.

When we walked into that little independent bookstore, I felt a bit anxious.  I pursued the shelves but was cautious to touch any book.  Sue had already found a couple books and was having a conversation with the bookseller.  So, I sat down on the only chair in the store - kind of giving up.  That is when my eyes caught the title of a book on the shelf in front of me.  It was For Small Creatures Such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World written by Sasha Sagan. 

At first, I had not heard of the author.  But as I opened the book and began reading the introduction, I found out this was the first book by astronomer and scientist, Carl Sagan’s daughter.  I was intrigued that of all people she was talking about rituals. Something, I honestly wrestle with as a Quaker, because at times in my spiritual journey rituals have been very important to my experience of the Divine.  Don’t get me wrong…we Quakers have many rituals – we just don’t like labeling them that way.

But what sold me on this book, was one phrase in one paragraph in the introduction.  Sasha wrote,

If you are devoutly religious, firstly, I’m delighted you’re reading this. Thank you. If you have total convictions about your faith, you have plenty to celebrate already. This book is not intended to dissuade you, only to increase what there is to be joyful about.

To increase what there is to be joyful about.

If I was to sum up my entire time away, I would use that phrase – it was to increase what there is to be joyful about.  I did not know that until I read that phrase, but it has been evident ever since.

What I find interesting is that scripture is full of this same sentiment.  Throughout the Bible – Old and New Testaments, Jesus, Paul, the Psalmists and Prophets all talk about increasing the joy – even making it complete.  Take for example:

Nehemiah 8:10 (I love this one, just listen)

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Joy is strength. Lack of joy is weakness. I guess we need more joy, right.

Or how about John writing this in 1 John 1:4

Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

Joy is contagious and spreads. It is communal.  Fear, anxiety, and cynicism leaves us alone and scared.

Or how about John 16: 24

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.

The fullest possible joy.  It seems that our joy is important to those throughout scripture.

And finally, we turn to Jesus in John 15:11 who not only wants us to have joy, he wants us to have HIS joy, saying,

I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

And what that says to me is if we are to live like Christ then when we share the joy within us with someone else it becomes their joy and makes us both more complete.  I kind of think I know why people don’t have much joy in this world these days.  Might it be because we are not sharing it, experiencing it, or even recognizing it.

As I was writing this message, I came across a recent Global Report statistic that says,

45% of people have not felt true happiness (or joy) for more than 2 years. And for adolescents in the United States, it has consistently dropped since 2011 and is at an all-time low, while mental health issues are rising over three times as fast.  

Now, we can argue about the differences between happiness and joy, or debate the benefit or detriment of technology and social media, but when we get right down to it, I think we need to ask ourselves some important queries about increasing the joy in this world. I have decided that I want us to look at joy for the next couple of weeks, because I have learned and am learning more about what we are missing, and I feel a nudge from the Spirit to delve into it.  

Until next week, here are some of those queries to consider during waiting worship.  Ask yourself,

·        Where am I experiencing joy in my life? Do I know what gives me joy? 

·        Am I sharing that joy with those around me?

·        Is my joy making me “complete” or is my fear, anxiety, and cynicism getting in the way? 

7-7-24 - Tell Me More: The Value of Staying Curious

Tell Me More: The Value of Staying Curious

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Eric Baker

July 7, 2024

Good morning, Friends and thank you for joining Light Reflections. Today’s scripture is Proverbs 1:1-7,New International Version.

“The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
 for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise.

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Most of you know that my earliest love, the thing I’ve done my entire life, is music. I’ve always enjoyed playing music for the joy it seems to bring to other people. Music can bring smiles to faces, it can cause people to get up and dance, to sing along… And, something I’m most interested in these days, is that music is something that can bring down walls and unite people. It can connect us to one another, to a certain degree.

I was in the gas station a few weeks ago, standing in line, inside the convenience store, to get a bottle of water on one of the very hot days we’ve had recently. Standing in front of me was a guy with a t-shirt that had… Well, let’s just say, it was a t-shirt I would never wear, because of what it was promoting. I tried my best not to think bad thoughts and judge this guy standing just a few feet in front of me. And then, out of nowhere, the convenience store speakers started playing “Gimme Some Lovin’”, by the Spencer Davis Group (featuring a young Steve Winwood). Immediately, this guy and I were both moving to the beat, and within about 5 seconds, started talking to each other about how we both loved this song.  I’d love to tell you that we hugged it out right there in line, and I convinced him to burn that t-shirt, and stop promoting such hateful messages. But that would be a lie.

If music can be a uniter of people on a somewhat superficial level, what can help us to go deeper? What can connect us in more significant ways?

For several years now, I’ve performed music at an assisted living facility in Fishers, once a month. I come in, usually on a Wednesday afternoon, to perform music during the residents’ happy hour. And it’s a great time, and something I look forward to every month. I’ve gotten to know several of the residents there over the last few years. And one that I always look forward to seeing and talking with is a gentleman named Jim. Jim and his wife are both 91 years old, and just last week celebrated 70 years of marriage to one another. Jim was an all-American high jumper in high school, and went to the University of Michigan on a track scholarship. After college, he and his wife moved to central Indiana and raised their kids here. A few weeks ago when I was there, we were catching up, and I told Jim that I had just that week marked the occasion of turning 50 years old. He smiled and said, “50? Well you’re just a kid. I’m almost twice your age!” We laughed, and I made some remark about how well he and his wife are aging, and how much joy they seem to exude. And here’s what he said:

“Thanks, Eric. You know, my wife and I have watched so many of our friends get older, and become convinced that their life is over, so they just sit in a corner and wait to die. We didn’t want to do that. We still love life. We love each other, and we love the joy and energy we get from spending time with other people in our lives. We thought about just sitting in a corner and waiting to die”, he smirked, “but, um, we didn’t really see a future in that.”

Jim’s got jokes!

“We still love life. …And we love the joy and energy we get from spending time with other people.” That’s certainly something to reflect on. But, we’ll get back to that later.

Today’s scripture we just heard was the first 7 verses of the book of Proverbs, written by King Solomon, the king of Israel, and the son of King David. Solomon is said to have been the wisest man in the world. And the book of Proverbs are his sayings, his instructions, in a way, for gaining wisdom.

Verse 5 of that passage says this: ”Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance”.

I decided to call this message, “Tell Me More: The Value of Staying Curious”, and not simply “The Value of Being Curious”. I believe we’re all born curious. How many parents listening today can recall conversations with your toddler child, where they would simply ask “Why?” over and over? This is how we start to try and understand how the world works, right? So, what is it that happens, sometime between childhood and later in life, that can so often turn that curiosity off?

When I was growing up, one thing that was instilled in me was that any adult in my life could be an authority figure. I grew up spending time not just with immediate family, but with extended family, as well. In those settings, it didn’t matter if it was my parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles telling me something – the expectation was that I was going to listen to them, and generally do what I was told. The same was true in church. If my brother and I were getting rambunctious during one of the pastor’s sermons, it didn’t matter if we were distracting one of my parents, or Dave Brandt the greeter, or Verna Aurthur the Sunday School teacher, or even George, the guy who smelled a little different, and might have been homeless. If they had words for me, I was expected to listen.

As a middle-aged adult now, thinking back on those days, the value that has stayed with me is this: Any person is someone who might have something to teach me. Again, any person is someone who might have something to teach me. In fact, when I reflect on that, it sounds very Quakerly, in line with values we talk about here – to try and recognize “that of God” in everyone I meet.

Now, we may be getting a little ahead of ourselves here. I mean, isn’t curiosity just the desire to obtain more information? To understand things? Well, yes. But what if we talk about curiosity in the context of not only understanding things, but trying to better understand people, as well? And for that, let me throw out a related concept: that of empathy.

In her article “The Importance of Curiosity and Empathy”, written last year, business consultant and writer Christine Peterson says this:

Without curiosity, we will have no drive to explore, to learn, or to grow intellectually. Without empathy, we will have no ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Curiosity and empathy are two powerful traits that have a profound impact on our personal growth, relationships, and understanding of the world. Curiosity fuels exploration, innovation, and learning, while empathy enables a deeper understanding of others' perspectives, needs, and emotions.

She says, “At its core, curiosity is a genuine desire to understand the world around us. It propels us to ask questions, seek new knowledge, and explore different perspectives. If you are curious, you are more likely to engage in active listening.”

Wait, listening… Where have I heard that before? That’s right – Verse 5 of the passage from Proverbs – “Let the wise listen and add to their learning”. In essence, let the wise listen and get wiser.

Peterson goes on to say, “By genuinely empathizing with others’ concerns, challenges, and aspirations, we can build stronger relationships, inspire trust, and create a more inclusive and supportive environment. Empathy nurtures curiosity by fostering a genuine interest in the world of others.”

So, let me see if I’m getting this: Curiosity leads to learning, and empathy leads to understanding people from their own perspective.

Let’s go back to my friend Jim, the 91 year old who decided not to just sit in a corner and wait to die. What do you think it is that continues to motivate him, what fuels his curiosity to cause him to keep discovering the value and meaning in living a full life? I would submit this: An open-ness.

Let’s explore the idea of what it means to be “open”. I think we probably know what it means to have an open mind – someone who isn’t stuck in preconditioned ideas or stereotypes – stereotypes about things, or stereotypes about people – both individuals and people groups.

That’s an open mind. So what about an open heart? Ok, I can almost hear some of you groaning - An open heart? Is that one of those things we talk about as we’re holding hands in a circle, and singing Kum-by-yah? Well, not necessarily.

Someone who has an open heart is kind, loving, generous. You might recognize some of these traits if you’re familiar with the writings of the Apostle Paul, when he writes in the New Testament book of Galatians about the “fruits of the Spirit”. He writes, in chapter 5: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness…”. Those sound like the traits of someone with an open heart.

In fact, what if being open, and the practice of curiosity is simply the channel, or conduit, if you will, that moves us into deeper and better understanding of one another, and how we all belong in the world?

Ok, we’ve talked about having an open mind, and having an open heart. What about an open hand, metaphorically?

In his song “We Are the People”, musician and producer Martin Garrix, along with U2’s Bono and the Edge, proclaim this in the chorus:

We are the people we've been waiting for
Out of the ruins of hate and war
Army of lovers never seen before
We are the people we've been waiting for
We are the people of the open hand
The streets of Dublin to Notre-Dame
We'll build it better than we did before
We are the people we've been waiting for

What if we, sitting here in this Meetinghouse today, became known as the “people of the open hand”? What if we became known as a people who fostered a genuine interest in others? People who are conversationally curious, and empathetic towards the experiences of others?

Some of my favorite people in the world have modeled this for me and others. And some of those people are sitting here in this room today.

Now, I do wonder why empathy and curiosity sometimes seem like hard things to put into practice – and maybe especially when we’re talking about people who are different than us. Maybe they look different than us. Maybe they’ve made different types of choices, and they live a different type of lifestyle. Maybe its people whose poor choices are simply more public than ours.

Why is this hard? Allow me to venture a guess.

The loudest story that gets told – in the news, on social media, and by policy makers of all stripes -is that life is either one extreme or the other. If I’m not completely committed to everything the Republican party stands for, then I am a radical-left Liberal. And if I don’t judge you for your behavior, then, by default, I’m accepting of and in agreement with every choice you’ve made. But I believe this is a lie. I don’t think life is lived in either one extreme, or its polar opposite. I believe true life is lived in the gray, in the nuance. Personally, it’s not my place to judge anyone else’s choices. But the opposite of a cold, distant, and impersonal judgment need not be an equally cold, distant, and impersonal blanket acceptance. What if the opposite of judgment is a conversational curiosity? A “genuine interest in the world of others”, as Christine Peterson wrote?

I’d rather be part of the people of the open hand. We’ll always have the option of saying (closes fist) “I have no need to hear your story, or learn from you.” But maybe instead, we can start learning to say (opens hand) “Tell me more.”

Now as we center down, let’s take some time to ponder these queries:

Do I practice active listening, in order to gain wisdom?

How can I be more open – open to ideas, to possibilities, and to the stories of those around me?

What are some everyday ways that I can practice a conversational curiosity with the people that I come in contact with?

6-30-24 - Lessons from Life - Beth Henricks

Lessons from Life

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Beth Henricks

June 30, 2024

Good morning, Friends. Our scriptures are Proverbs 2:1-5 and James 3:13-18. 

“My child, if you accept my words
 and treasure up my commandments within you,
 making your ear attentive to wisdom
 and inclining your heart to understanding,
 if you indeed cry out for insight
 and raise your voice for understanding,
 if you seek it like silver
 and search for it as for hidden treasures—
 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
 and find the knowledge of God.”

“Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant and lie about the truth. This is not wisdom that comes down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Friends, what a joy to watch our kids during VBS engage with God and each other as we spent the week learning about friendship with God and its many dimensions that we can trust. The singing, the dancing, the games, snacks, Bible stores and expanding our imaginations all filled us with joy and awe that week and I always come away from the experience tired and yet thankful for what our children teach us. I hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into the amazing week we had together.

It’s the time of year where we hear a lot of graduation speeches from high school and college stages. We listen to individuals that we admire for certain accomplishments, share their wisdom in their journey to achieve their success. I have been thinking about what we need to impart as wisdom to our own children and young people at First Friends so they may yield good fruit full of mercy. How do we share our insights of our Spiritual journey? I believe it is through our involvement in programs like VBS, children’s worship, youth group, family activities and our interactions and connections with our children and youth so they see in us a life that seeks the understanding and knowledge of the Spirit. Our children are watching us and observing how we live out the teachings of Jesus every day.

One commencement speech I was drawn to and had to listen to it in its entirety was Roger Federer speaking at Dartmouth College. Federer is the great tennis player that retired 2 years ago. I’ve always admired this man’s tennis (even though Rafa Nadal is my all-time favorite player) and the way he conducts himself on the court and the way he treats his opponents. I hope everyone views the video of the last time Federer and Nadal were on the court together. They held hands and both got emotional with flowing tears and quivering lips – so much respect between these two great tennis players.

Federer was very self-deprecating in his message last month. He said it’s only the 2nd time he’s been on a college campus as he left school at 15 to pursue tennis full time. He was awarded an honorary doctorate that day at Dartmouth.

Federer’s first mantra to share with the graduates was that Effortless is a Myth. Many folks over the years would comment and describe Federer’s style as effortless but nothing could be further from the truth. Hard work is everything. Federer recounted that earlier in his career he remembered that he would be the favorite player for the first 2 hours of the match and then the opponent knew he would become the favorite for the remainder of the match. Roger realized that he could not just rely on talent but that he had to train harder and work harder than anyone else to become the champion that he is. When we have discipline and train and work harder and longer, we will sometimes win even when we are at our worst. We have to trust ourselves when we have put in the work.

Federer’s second mantra is that It’s Only a Point. We will all face losses, setbacks, disappointments and yet we can’t allow that to derail us or mire our feet in inaction. Federer pointed out that on average in most championship games for major tournaments the points won are 54%. That means that 46 % of the time the winner of the game loses the point. That is a small difference between winning and losing. Federer shared about that Wimbledon match in 2008 against Nadal that is sometimes called the greatest match of all time. Federer was playing for history trying to achieve his 6th consecutive Wimbledon title. The match went on for over 5 hours and Nadal came out the winner and Federer realized this dream would not happen. He said that the match was lost in the first set because Nadal came out hungrier and Federer played that negative narrative in his mind because Nadal had just beat him at the French Open and the seed of doubt crept into his head.

Perfection is impossible. Many of us tend toward perfectionism and we can drive ourselves to negative places trying to achieve this. We must view each point in our lives as just that. We could feel terrific about something and appreciate it in the moment but something negative could be lurking in the shadows. One of the lessons I learned that was so valuable to me with my husband Jerry while he was alive was that nothing is as good as it appears, and nothing is as bad as it appears. We often go to the bottom of gloom or the high of euphoria and both are an illusion. I think Federer understands this and incorporates this in his approach to his game of tennis.

Federer didn’t collapse with that disappointing loss at Wimbledon and lose his focus and form. The best know how to lose and learn to deal with it, adapt and grow from the loss and work smarter in the future. This certainly proved true with Federer as he holds the third most grand slam titles in history with 20.

Federer’s third and final mantra is that Life is Bigger than the Court. I believe this is the most important point that we all need to embrace in our lives. We often define ourselves in a couple of ways – with our career, our role as parent or spouse or with our tribe and these are important identities that can require our discipline and hard work. But it is important that we seek out a rewarding and holistic life with things like culture, friendships, knowledge and curiosity. 

No matter what we achieve we must never abandon our roots – these roots are planted deeply within us, and they will be our foundation when the storms enter our lives. These roots are nurtured through family or mentors that guide and challenge us. They are watered through communities that we are a part of – faith communities, neighborhoods, extended family, teachers, coaches etc.

It is important that we serve others. This is a key to living an integrated and holistic life. We find meaning when we give of ourselves to others. This can take many forms and will be individual to each of us. 

We are all part of a team even when our sport is one on one with the opponent. Our team prepares us, supports us, encourages us, points out our weaknesses and offers suggestions to problems. We all need a team as we journey through life. 

Federer says to play free. I think that means that if we prepare and work, we should then release the outcome, live and play with abandon, and not take ourselves too seriously and lean into the moment. Anyone that achieves success is doing “that thing” they love, and their passion is so great that they wouldn’t do anything else. Others are drawn to someone that is energetic and passionate and believes wholeheartedly in what they are doing. Negative energy is wasted energy.

Friends, I take this wisdom from Federer and connect this with the path of Christ. The book of James is full of the idea that grace without works is dead. We must work hard and serve others or grace is an empty vessel. It is available but has little meaning without our participation.

 Jesus is all about redemption when we fail. The Prodigal Son is a great parable that emphasizes that God loves us even in our failings and disappointments. We lose 46% of our points in life and yet God loves and embraces us throughout this journey.

Jesus emphasizes the wholeness of life. Jesus does not partition our religious life, our family life, our work life. He connects all of them in a web of mutuality and interdependence. 

We now enter a time of waiting worship. Here are a few queries for you to consider. I welcome you into this holy remote gathering. 

 Do I put in the work and the effort in my spiritual life?

Am I able to move on beyond my disappointments and losses?

How do I seek to live in a holistic way?

6-16-24 - Being a Father - Tom Rockwell

Being a Father

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Tom Rockwell

June 16, 2024

Matthew 7:7-11

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

I wanted to do something related to parenting for Father’s day. I’ve got three step kids ranging from 24 to 16 and a child of my own who will be two years old in two months.

          I settled on a passage that feels very straight forward and helpful, but that has a lot of depth when you get into the complexities. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? The face value of this statement to me is that parents love their kids and want what is best for them. I wish that loving people and wanting the best for them was straight forward. In my experience it is not so easy.

          The complications in this case come in two forms: what if your child thinks they’re asking for bread but are really asking for a stone? And what do you do when you aren’t even sure what bread is for your child?

          Here are some examples of a child asking for a stone:

          There was a large knife at the table that my twenty two month old was repeatedly asking for, grabbing at, and greatly desiring. She thinks it’s a cool new toy, I know it is an unpleasant emergency room visit. She thinks it's bread. I know it’s a stone.

          Slightly more complicated: say you just foolishly moved to a house down the street from a Dairy Queen like I did. Now every time you pass you of course get the question: “can we get Dairy Queen”. Now I enjoy a chocolate dipped cone as much as the next fellow - or perhaps even more than the next fellow - but I’m aware that a daily Dairy Queen visit is going to help neither my waistline nor my wallet. Ice Cream certainly seems like bread to a child - and in fact sometimes it is, we all need little pleasures and ice cream is a good one. It’s only when it’s an everyday occurrence that it becomes a stone. I’m the one who has to be the downer and say we can’t get ice cream every day.

          A little more complication still: your child decides that the best thing for him moving forward is to give up school and become a professional video game streamer. He is prepared with a slideshow featuring the earnings of a number of notable streamers. You are hopefully sage enough to know that they are unlikely to be one of those notable streamers. But they’re getting older, they have some gifts in that area and they need to make their own mistakes and learn from their own life and all the sudden you have to decide how long can you even stop your kid from picking a stone? And are you overstepping your role if you do that forever?

          In fact, there comes a point that when you’re kid asks for a stone thinking it is bread, you sometimes just have let them have the stone and figure it out for themselves. Navigating when to make those decisions seems decidedly not simple and most of us are likely to make some mistakes.

          If a big part of parenting is convincing kids that what they think is bread is actually a stone. then eventually recognizing that you will not be able to convince them and protect them forever is part of that process

So our first complication is trying to make sure our kids can recognize bread and stone, and keep them from mistaking the two.

Our second complication is the situation where the line between bread and stone is blurry even for us.

A simple example: your kid is sick, when do you take them to the doctor? They might get exposed to something at the hospital, they might take meds that come with side effects but little benefit. The line between bread and stone is not super clear.

Getting more complicated: for divorced parents, trying to work with a parent you are separated from, maybe a new partner who is being introduced into the situation, and kids who are having responses to all of it, you quickly find yourself in a quagmire of responses. Kids start asking for things that they say are for themselves - more time with one parent than the other, say - but really it is something to please the other parent. You have to decide and it is never very easy. What’s bread and what’s stone becomes supremely unclear.

Another example, one of the harder ones I’ve experienced: if your kid has challenges with school or a disability. Where do you draw the line with challenging them? Their experiences are not the same as other kids, how can you even compare to have an idea of what to do? Should they do the same things as all the other kids? Should they do less? Spend more time in a more heavily supported classroom> Maybe your kid is so miserable in school they’re refusing to go and you have to make them.

Sometimes in situations like these it feels like there isn’t even bread to give.

I think Jesus' parable is for a simple situation: when your kid is hungry you give them food.

It can work on a more complicated level if we’re willing to navigate the tension and complications. But if we move forward pretending the complexities aren’t there, I think we run into trouble.

It gets really problematic if we allow this story to play out into what we might call “God’s plan” theology: basically that God knows a good option for us all the time. As parents it should be apparent how this is problematic. You can’t always know what is best, and sometimes the best option is still a pretty unpleasant one.

The idea that God always has a good option for us is, I think, a false one. Bad things happen to good people. Some things are so horrible in the world - violence, abuse, war - that there is nothing really good in them. Returning to wholeness from those bad things is normally a pretty unpleasant process. While most of the time we have good options, sometimes there are only the best of bad options. To say there is always a good choice is an idea that dismisses too much suffering in the world.

I think our situation is similar as parents, we can’t always give a good option, and as far as it’s in our children’s power, they may not always make the best choices.

I do think God has a good option for everything in the long run, a view best encapsulated in the idea that in the long run the arc of the world is bending toward justice. God can’t prevent every bad thing from happening. God can’t make everything good right now. But God has set in motion a change in the world that will end in the world coming to wholeness.

Similarly, we as parents have the right idea in the long run, it’s just challenging to get it right in every situation, there are going to be mistakes and missteps. But generally our love for our kids leads us in the right way even if we don’t take the right step every time.

I think what God offers us is constant encouragement towards the right option, a constant leading to go in the right direction even if it's not always an ideal option.

Which i think is mirrored in our parenting, my goal is to provide constant leadings in the right direction, recognizing that there are going to be some missteps and especially once you get to the teenage years there are going to be times when the best bread is cast aside for a pretty unfortunate stone.

But we can accompany and support our kids in these times even if we can’t fix them. We can share our own experiences of failure so that our kids know they are not alone. We can show unconditional love for our kids even when they do something stupid or harmful. We can have the long-range perspective to have faith even when our kids experience a devastating failure and struggle to see how things can get better. We can remember God's grace for the ways that we are limited and offer them that same grace. We can ask God's forgiveness for harms and mistakes we’ve made with our parenting. We can know for them, that God is the ultimate parent who loves us and our children and is with us through everything.

 Queries:

·        How do we distinguish between our kids wants and needs?

·        How do decide when our urge to protect others is keeping them from the freedom they need to grow?

6-9-24 - Scuba – Diving into friendship with God - Beth Henricks

Scuba – Diving into friendship with God

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Beth Henricks

June 9, 2024

Good morning, Friends and welcome to our online service.  Bob continues to be on sabbatical which is why I am giving the message today.

Our scripture reading is John 13:34-35 NRSV.

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Today is the kickoff to our Vacation Bible School program.  The theme this year is Scuba – Diving into friendship with God.  Be sure to go into fellowship hall and see the wonderful transformation of this room into an undersea world by our Rebecca Lopez and Dan Mitchell.  We have 26 kids that will join us this week for the adventure where we play, learn and connect with God and each other.  We also have 20 volunteers that will help provide a memorable experience during the week.  We are so grateful for the participation of so many members and attenders that give of their time and talent to make this week an  amazing time.

As I have been preparing and studying the lesson outlines for this week of VBS, I am thinking about the theme of our VBS program.  Friendship with God.  I think for some of us this is a hard concept to embrace.  God is not a person, God does not have a gender, is transcendent beyond our grasp, creator of all, and we only see the handiwork of God.  And yet we give God all kinds of human descriptors.  To attempt to gain an understanding and appreciation of God we must try to describe God in some kind of terms that we understand.   

Some of the world’s religions do not think in terms of intimacy and friendship with this Being.  The Buddhists don’t talk about God in human and personal terms, and I understand this.  But one of the characteristics of Christianity is the idea that we can have a personal and intimate relationship with this transcendent being of God.  I know all the words we use to describe God are completely inadequate, but I believe that God can be both transcendent and personal.  Two things can both be true as many of us have experienced.  We certainly see this idea throughout the Bible.   Even in the Old Testament, God at times became a personal God.  It started with Abraham, the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  Abraham developed a personal relationship with Yahweh based on trust, truth and encounters over time.  In II Chronicles 20 while Jehoshaphat the leader of Israel was facing battles with the Moabites and Ammonites, he goes into the temple praying to God to drive out these enemies of Israel.  In verse 7, he says “Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?”   Jehoshaphat is describing Abraham as God’s friend.   In James 2:23  the reminder of a friendship with God and Abraham is highlighted “ Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.” 

Another example of this in the Old Testament was Moses who had a friendship with this unknowable being. Moses talks with God, has a personal encounter with God at the burning bush and communicates with God as his friend.  Exodus 33:11 says, "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”  These are pretty amazing statements given at the time the Old Testament was written where there was so much less knowledge and understanding about science, laws of nature and medicine.

The embodiment of God as a friend in the Bible is Jesus.  Jesus gave us a glimpse into the humanity of this transcendent God.  As humans, we need tangible and tactile examples to experience God.  Jesus is the embodiment of God.  Jesus has to talk about God in parables or stories for us to understand.  That is why I love the theological idea of theopoetics.  This idea of reimagining  God in the way of story and poetry.  God cannot be described and yet the Bible is full of descriptions that begin to attempt to name God in a way of theopoetics. 

I can understand God better when I think of  Jesus.  Jesus for me represents many of the characteristics of God.  Jesus is the focused character of the New Testament that solidifies the idea of friendship with God.  Jesus also embraced an inner circle of friends in his disciples that were flawed and broken and yet Jesus knew how important this circle of friendship would be to him.  These disciples left their homes to travel with Jesus and be his companions through so many experiences.  Jesus knew he could not have this ministry without this group of friends.  They followed him into difficult situations and while they often never understood the mission of Jesus to show a different way of love and sacrifice, they believed in him and were present and were authentic even in their disbelief at times. 

Jesus summarizes his whole ministry in John 15: 12-15.  “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I do not call you servants any longer because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I called you friends because I have made known to you everything that I’ve heard from my father.”

I think we sometimes look for friends that are similar to us.  But Jesus did not do that, and his friends were women, fishermen, those of lower status in class, tax collectors, prostitutes, all the groups  that those who were in power regarded as less than them.  Yet, these are the people that Jesus chooses as friends.  It challenges me to expand my inclinations to have friends that are like me.

The idea of friendship is unique to our faith community of Quakers.  Quakers official name is the Religious Society of Friends.  The movement called itself “The Religious Society of Friends from its beginnings in the mid 1600’s to avoid using the word “church” in their name so as not to imply that they were exclusively the church of Jesus Christ. (Some Christian groups did that at the time.) They called themselves “Friends” because of the words of Jesus recorded in John 15:14 “You are my friends, if you do what I command you.” The early Friends were Christians who believed they could live like Jesus because Jesus lived in them.  These early believers  considered that they were friends of Jesus.

As we think about a friendship and an intimate relationship with God, its helpful to examine what makes a good friend in our lives and what makes for a positive and healthy intimate relationship.  The friendships we experience are the only direct examples that we have of friendship.  A good friend is many things, but I think a good friend is someone that communicates, has companionship and compassion for one another.  We spend time with friends, are present with friends and have a desire to really get to know someone.  Friends are trustworthy and comfortable being vulnerable and being our true authentic selves.  We can share our highs and lows with friends.  A good friendship is a two-way relationship – both folks talking and listening, giving and receiving, loving and feeling loved.  Good friends endure each other’s pain and share in each other’s joys. A good and healthy, intimate friendship does not usually happen quickly but must be developed and nurtured over time.  My dearest friends have developed over years.  Folks that get married quickly after meeting each other, must be careful in considering  the long-term nature of their relationship.  How can you discern a selection for  a lifelong partner that you will share all aspects of your life in a span of several months?  Friends need seasoning and partners need seasoning.  It’s the same way I view an instant conversion to Jesus as savior at the altar or in the presence of someone. I don’t think a friendship can be developed in a moment.  Our relationship and friendship with God is developed and  nurtured as we experience God and God’s expansive love.  The deeper friendship with God occurs over time and can change over time.  That is the way friendships develop.

My roommate from college for my junior and senior year lives in Phoenix Arizona.  We fell apart for a number of years but reconnected in the last 15 years and always plan a yearly trip to be together for 3-4 days .  This dear friend Kim has been a rock for me during my darkest hours and days with my husband and son.  She accepted me, prayed with me, did not offer any judgement but would give me her advice in a gentle and non-threatening way.  In the last 3 years, our roles have changed as it’s been 8 years since Jerry passed away, I’ve met someone important in my life and Greg has been sober for over 4 years.  Kim’s daughter has struggled with addiction and in her darkest days, Kim would call me almost every day.  She knew I had walked this journey and understood, would not judge and offered support, prayers and advice when it felt appropriate.  Her daughter is living in a sober house and been clean for 6 months.  Our calls have lessened but we know we are always there for each other and will offer unwavering support.  And this is a person that believes very differently than I do both politically and theologically.  But that has not diminished our friendship. 

Each day at VBS this week we will look at aspects of friendship with God.  Today we look at God as a friendship that is real.  We will focus with the kids that we don’t physically see God with our eyes but the evidence that God is real is all around us.  Tomorrow, we look at how God is a friend that loves.  God’s unconditional love for us is beyond our comprehension.  God loves us fiercely and  embraces us with all of our faults and failures.  Tuesday we will consider that God is a friend we can trust.  God is not a God that is a genie that grants us our wishes, but God is a being of truth and Justice, and we can trust in this friendship with God.  Wednesday we will look at the idea that God is a friend forever.  God will never reject us and leave us alone.  Ever.  God will always be our friend if we seek out a friendship with God.  On our last day, we will consider that God is a friend for everyone.  This might be the hardest idea of friendship with God.  God loves everyone - believers, non-believers, those that are Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Jewish and every religion that is embraced by various populations in the world.  God is not looking to be friends with only those that embrace the God of Christianity.  God is a God that loves everyone and brings all into this huge tent of God.  We often think that God is the God of believers, but this is so far from the truth.  Jesus was a great example of the expansiveness of God’s love as he connected with the lowest level of Jewish society with little standing  in his time, that includes prostitutes, the infirmed, those that did not faithfully follow Jewish law , tax collectors, women. And also, with those outside of the Jewish faith.

I believe we can develop an intimate friendship  with God.  And I believe this from what I read in the Bible, the experience of God in my life and what I have experienced with my circle of friends.  I don’t exactly understand why we connect with certain folks, how does this deep connection grow, and how does pray work in my relationship with God but I know its real and I know it requires attention and time on my part to develop.  I pray today that we all consider how we invest ourselves into the friendships we have with others and with God.

As we enter a time of waiting worship I offer the following queries:

 What kind of friend am I?

 Do I seek an intimacy with God?

 How could I broaden my circle of friends?

5-26-27 - Believing in Miracles?? - Rachel Doll O’Mahoney

Believing in Miracles??

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Rachel Doll O’Mahoney

May 26, 2024

Acts 3: 1-10

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

I recall so clearly standing in the lobby of the hospital.

                  The hum of visitors in and out.

                  Hot September air rushed into the cold AC every time someone entered or left.

                  Staff carrying lunches and hustling to and from the coffee stand.

                  The dark-unstainable carpet on which the stiff-armed couches sat.

“God won’t let Dad die.”

Said my brother.

“Our Dad is too good. He does too many good things for too many people for God to let this happen.”

I don’t remember if he was crying.

                  We all had tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes for the week prior and would for weeks later.

                  We were all unable to eat and starved for the ordinary.

I offered my 23-year-old advice from my newly minted Bachelor of Arts in Theology and  shallow well of experience:

“I am not sure that is how God works...at some point it seems that biology is winning here.”

“But I think, that maybe God is with us in all of this.”

It was a hopeless comment, it was not the consolation he was looking for.

His shoulders dropped and off we went. Me to my corner next the sad dusty plastic Ficus tree and his under the overly optimistic art print of willows on a lake bursting with color.

There were thousands of miracles that emerged from my father’s death.

But his survival was not one of them.

Today I am talking about miracles, but it feels like I need to start with not a miracle story, because well that’s how it is for most of us.

When we talk about miracles, we inevitably consider the miracles that didn’t happen.

                  We confront our seasons of darkness and hopelessness.

                  We inevitably wonder why not me- when I was a beggar outside of the gate, “Why not me?!”

Let me just say, I am not sure.

I am not miraculous healing kind of religious person- this message is a stretch for me.

                  It is more aspirational than certain.

And there is not a simple or soothing answer here.

Which is why so many of the people I know avoid this part of Christian faith-

                  This part that says God sometimes completely and instantly heals people’s infirmity.

Might there be some religious space between tent revival healings and the cerebral, “If I can’t understand it then it isn’t real”?

Of course, we all want a miracle, don’t we?

                  We want God to be a genie who will grant us wishes.

                  Or (as Barbara Brown Taylor says) “ A gumball machine”[1] where we put in our token prayer and out comes a chewing gum miracle?

And when our genie God doesn’t give us the goods—we have to make sense of it.

Today’s scripture passage begs me to ask the question “what do I think of miracles?”

                                    Do I really believe they can happen? And like this?

For the bulk of Christian history biblical miracle stories have been a balm and comfort…

                  And I hesitate to think modern and postmodern us have the complete reservoir of wisdom.

This scripture story, this miracle,  is the first scene after the gathering of Pentecost.

You know- Pentecost, a scene in Acts 2 where God appears as a strong wind,

tongues of fire settled on the gathered disciples

and Jews of all kinds from all over the world understand each other despite speaking different languages.

                  This miraculous healing story emerges from that miraculous togetherness story.

But what happens here in our scripture passage is that Peter and John are going to the temple to pray.

And a man, disabled from birth, is there begging for alms.

He asks Peter and John.

They have no money to give-

 But they say, “What I have to give I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” They helped him up and he walked and entered the temple.

They go to temple; people freak out with wonder and joy and also of course defensiveness.

So again, what does this mean for us?

But Jesus’ life and then in Acts the life of his early followers are populated with the miraculous.

                  So now I invite us- to let ourselves be stretched by these stories.

                  To enter into them and allow God’s expansiveness to play on our hearts.

Here are my takeaways from this story:

First, let’s consider that this healing could have been ordinary.

                  Could have been one of welcome.

And then, let's stretch ourselves a bit and consider that maybe God does bring forth unexplainable miracles? 

                  And if today’s story is any hint- perhaps for those who don’t even ask.

Finally, let’s ponder the miracles we can understand- and yet, they are no less amazing.

Let’s consider that the primary healing here that this man becomes a part of a community he was excluded from. 

What if we imagine that this man’s arms or legs or back wasn’t restored to perfection or exchanged in any way-

But what happened here is that for the first time in his life someone welcomes him.

What if the miracle is Peter’s welcome and invitation into the temple to pray with him.

                  After all, wasn’t the Pentecost scene  about unity in diversity?

                  Isn’t a variety of abilities always a part of diversity?

Because of his disability and the customs around sacred and profane in the Jewish temple this man  he has always been an outsider- ever looking in.

The miracle that Jesus the Christ does through Peter might simply be to invite this man to temple with him.

                  Or better yet- Peter senses that without this man the full presence of God in the temple cannot be realized.

                  Perhaps Peter is realizing the smallness of his worldview- and expanding it- that is the miracle.

                  If this man is healed…

Then so too is Peter

And John.

And all the worshippers in the temple that day.

In this gesture he finds his belonging.

                  He joins the community of God and all are enriched by his way of being in the world

                                    However, his body moves.

Haven’t we all been excluded from one thing or another.

                  Been an outsider, been invisible or worse, unwanted?

It is profoundly painful to be excluded.

I hope we have all found healing in those dark parts, and if so, that is a kind of miraculous healing.

Isn’t that part of what we witness today in this story from Acts?

                  Inclusion, and welcome, and being wanted and celebrated…

                                    For those who are excluded and unwelcome- that is a miracle.

                                    Wheelchair ramps and ASL interpreters can be miracles.

                                    Thoughtful spaces for people with allergies and sensitivities can feel like miracles.

                                    Free feminine products and handrails and openness to doing better all feel like miracles when you are the one who wants to be included.

Spaces that allow for all our bodies, all our complexities, all our quirks and struggles are miraculous (and messy) places.

                  So let this text challenge us as we ponder:

How are we being inclusive people? How can we do better?

                  How can we continue to welcome others in our midst in our circles in our community of care? 

How can we also ask for the welcome we need.

Another possible interpretation- What if this is a miracle?

                  Where in an instant this man’s body is healed, fixed, returned to some Greek ideal of “man”

                  And What if there really are miracles  That have no explanation other than God’s handiwork?

Luke- who wrote Acts- is inviting us to really consider that the risen Christ Jesus could heal through Peter and John 

Healing in the Book of Acts is evidence of Jesus Christ’s holiness” A sign that he was of the God of Abraham and Sarah and Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob and Rachel

 And that invoking the name of Jesus Christ causes healing. 

                  This is part of the Christian tradition.

                  And are we so self-important to think that if we cannot comprehend it then it didn’t happen?

                  Is our God so small that they only fit within our reason, understanding, science or comprehension?

In refusing to lean into the miraculous and awe-inspiring do we sometimes sell God short?

                  Let’s lean into God’s greatness.

                                    Let God be the force of love and life and energy in the universe.

                  Lean into the unfathomable.

                  Lean into a faith and spirituality that doesn’t always make sense.

                                    And is out of our complete control.

As I said earlier, I am not really a miraculous healing kind of person.

But I cannot help but think that maybe I should be.

This man was not looking for a miracle but looking for some cash to pay for dinner…

                  And wham- his life is turned around…

We know nothing of his faith, nothing of his deeds.

                  But God saw him, and healed him.

It’s not magic exactly. I like to think that it is God dancing in the life of all of us, dancing in the world.  And every so often, that dance starts a new step.

What would it be to live in a world where we believe in a  God who surprises us by offering life beyond our wildest imaginations?

                  To believe in a God whose heart is so broken by this man's desperation he cannot help but respond-?

                  Are we brave enough to trust that God is capable of that?

                  Sometimes in subtle ways, in explainable ways, in ways we can support

 and sometimes utterly miraculous and unexplainable ways?

Finally,  there is this- which doesn’t fit squarely into interpreting this text,

                  But I think is part of any conversation about miracles.

I said that when my dad died there were 1,000’s of miracles that happened.

                  And there were.  Most of them are private-

 but are about  the people who fell into my life in the midst of grief and sometimes from sharing with others in theirs.

                  The way my capacity sits with unfixable pain increased.

                  The way God took the stinkiest crap and turned it into the most fertile soil.

I will never “get over” his death.

                  But its aftermath contains gems.

                  Miracles pop up in ordinary life.

                  And though  So many people’s lives are hard and hopeless and riddled with struggle I still say:

                  there are times and moments and places where I cannot help but say, “Surely God had a hand in this.  Surely!?”

                  Isn’t it a miracle that clean water comes out of our faucets and some cancers are curable.

                  That smallpox has been eradicated and therapy is helping me deal with some trauma and that I have a spouse I love more than I need to put words to.

                  All kinds of miracles.

What a miracle trees and flowers and baby birds and strange looking possums are.

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

People rarely rise up from their death beds.

                  And no-one rises up from their earthly one forever.

But I want to challenge all of us to pray for the miraculous.

                  To pray for war to end.

                  For hunger to cease.

                  For the hopeless to be hope-filled.

I want to challenge us to pray we may offer the miracle of welcome:

                  To those who sit on opposite sides of the political spectrum.

                  To those who are certain and those who are loosy goosy.

                  To the immigrant and widow and orphan among us.

I want to challenge us to notice the miracles that populate our ordinary:

                  In a deep breath and soft beds.

                  When emotional, physical, and spiritual healing crack open our fortresses.

                  On the days the rain comes amid the drought.

Queries:

What is stirring within you as you listen to these words?

Beyond “god as a genie” is there an image of God that allows for you to believe God can move and act beyond our comprehension?

Consider today- the miracles in your life- the ordinary/the extraordinary

[1] Quotes in this article: https://www.christiancentury.org/believing-in-miracles

5-19-24 - Jesus and the Twelve Steps - Beth Henricks

Jesus and the Twelve Steps

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Beth Henricks

May 19, 2024

Sources – Alcoholic Anonymous and Breathing Under Water  by Richard Rohr

Our scripture reading is from Romans 12:1-2 NRSV -  I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And Proverbs 3:4-6  - Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and of people.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

A few weeks ago, my son sent me a video of a man being interviewed about his struggles with PTSD and a feeling of irritation that he carried around every day (the Buddhists call this Dukha)  This man started studying the 12 Step program not for drinking or drugs but for his PTSD and his emotional pain.  He learned he had to open himself up and take a searing account of what was going on inside of him. He realized that emotional pain is physical pain.   As he worked through the steps, he started telling his close friends what was going on in his life believing if he really opened himself up these people would not talk to him again.  And what he experienced was the exact opposite.  They rallied around him.  He started to cry on the video.

I began thinking about how the church should be like a 12 Step community.   And that the tenets of the 12 Step program apply to all of us as we deal with things in our life.  I think much of what Jesus taught mirrors the 12 Step program.  Richard Rohr wrote about this in  his book, Breathing Underwater about how biblically based the 12 Step program is.  The Twelve Steps are a profound way of discovering, following, and learning to live in the peace, the joy, and the freedom- in The Way demonstrated by Jesus.

As many of you know, my son is in recovery for over 4 years.  AA saved his life.  His recovery was far more than a physical recovery from addiction to alcohol.  The only way he conquered this physical pain was through a spiritual resurrection.  And it was by working through the 12 steps.  I began my admiration for this community when I was sitting in the lobby of Progress House near downtown a number of years ago.  Progress House is a supervised sober house for men.  This was one of a couple of steps before my son went to NJ 5 years ago for rehab.  I sat in that lobby and saw these men from all walks of life vacuuming, working the front desk, doing maintenance work outside and being vulnerable in their weakness and holding each other accountable in their journey.  It was in that moment in the lobby that I physically felt Jesus’s presence in the room with these broken men, trying to turn their lives around and I started crying.  It was a profound spiritual experience.

I’ve studied a bit about AA as I have wondered how this organization continues to thrive as a total volunteer group, no fees, no insurance, little hierarchy, locally driven, nondenominational, apolitical, without dogma and no ownership of buildings to meet in. 
They accept no donations from anyone outside of the group.  This sounds to me a lot like the early Christian church.  Some of you know the history of this organization but it started in 1935 with a stockbroker from NY and a doctor from Akron OH (Bob Smith and Bill Wilson) that were dealing with their own alcoholism.  The program combined science and spirituality and both men were Christians.  The steps they developed were based on their Christianity and yet developed language that embraced all faith traditions and those without faith traditions.  They saw that recovery required a spiritual awakening followed by helping others on the journey.  One of the founders called its structure a benign anarchy.  Its inverted hierarchy has prevented it from having organizational issues as many other religious and political entitles have had. The program has created an atmosphere of transcendence and embraces an all-encompassing worldview.

We all need transformation.  This is the essence of the Gospel and what all of our faith communities should be about.  Jesus said, come as you are.  Acceptance, love and grace is what an AA meeting offers where stories are shared, forgiveness is offered, and hope is renewed.  We read in the Bible from many writers that speak of this idea of reaching a low point, a dark night of the soul where we must release, let go of our ego and give up into the grace of God’s arms.  The writer of Isaiah wrote about this in Isaiah 38:12-24, “My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent; like a weaver I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom; from day to night you bring me to an end; I cry for help until morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones; from day to night you bring me to an end.  My eyes are weary with looking upward.  Oh Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.”

We have to expose our wounds, our pain for the Light, the true Light to begin to shine on them and heal them.  It is not just about changing our exterior; we must be changed at our core.  Christ says that my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.  God is not requiring us to get our lives together, so we are worthy of God’s love and astounding grace.  The Light is available to us now in our brokenness.  God doesn’t withhold this until we clean up our act.  God beckons and calls to us now.  God always goes right to the pain asking us for humility and honesty.  But we must let go of our ego.  Step 3 talks about a radical surrendering of our will to Another whom we trust more than ourselves. Many in the program say this is the most important step.  Jesus’ way is a way of weakness and powerlessness.

This radical transformation requires a different way of thinking.  We are dealing with our reptilian brain that wants us to think in a dualistic way.  We categorize and contrast everything as that is how our brains are wired.   We go to an all or nothing place in our minds.  This is how our ego rules ourselves and brings us into a constant state of fear and potential loss.  We fear change and death.  When we think in a dualistic way, we typecast people and then we will find the evidence that supports our beliefs.   Thomas Aquinas says that no one intentionally does evil.  In our dual minds and in our addictive systems within  our ego brain, we explain our behavior  by rationalizing we are doing some good for something or someone.  We can do evil without calling it evil.  We become blind.  Letting go of ego, recognizing that we submit to a higher power starts us on a journey of thinking in a more non dualistic way.  Everything is interconnected.  We truly are beings that are united within.

Another tenet of the AA program that is profound for the experience is not requiring to name God but a Higher Power as one knows it.  I have a dear friend that is a fundamentalist Christian that is dealing with a daughter with an addiction to fentanyl.  She is currently in treatment but has not responded to the 12 Steps and does not want to be a part of that program.  They both do not like that the language used in the 12 Step Program that names a Higher Power or whatever you want to call that versus God.  They both feel like one must call this Being God because that is the Truth.  I understand they struggle with this language, but it feels like the founders were visionary in not quarreling with what to name this Higher Power.  The church often gets too tied up with the naming of God.  This Higher Power is really unnamable as we heard from Moses at the Burning Bush – I am who I am.  This has allowed AA to reach millions that struggle with their religion of upbringing and those of faiths outside of Christianity.  I wonder if our churches would expand if we stopped fretting over the naming of God.

Richard Rohr writes in Breathing Under Water, “I truly believe that the Twelve Step program (also known as Alcoholics Anonymous or A.A.) will go down in history as America’s greatest and unique contribution to the history of spirituality. It represents what is good about American pragmatism. There’s something in the American psyche that becomes mistrustful and impatient with anything that’s too abstract, theoretical, or distant. Americans want a spirituality that is relevant, that changes people, and that really makes a difference in this world. For many, the Twelve Steps do just that. They make the Gospel believable, practical, and even programmatic for many people. Worthiness is not the issue; the issue is trust and surrender. As Thérèse of Lisieux said, “Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.” A.A. had the courage to recognize that you don’t come to God by doing it right; you come to God by doing it wrong, and then falling into an infinite mercy. Any talk of growth, achievement, climbing, improving, and progress highly appeals to the ego. But the only way we stay on the path with any authenticity is to constantly experience our incapacity to do it, our failure at doing it. That’s what makes us, to use my language, fall upward. Otherwise, we’re really not climbing; we’re just thinking we’re climbing by saying to ourselves, “Look, I’m better today. Look, I’m holier than I was last week. Look, my prayer is improving.” That really doesn’t teach us anything or lead us anywhere new.  

Rohr wrote  Breathing Underwater inspired by a poem by Carol Bieleck that speaks of this common message that I’d like to share with you –

Breathing Under Water

I built my house by the sea.  Not on the sands, mind you; not on the shifting sand.  And I built it of rock.  A strong house by a strong sea.  And we got well acquainted, the sea and I.  Good neighbors.  Not that we spoke much.  We met in silences.  Respectful, keeping our distance, but looking our thoughts across the fence of sand.  Always, the fence of sand our barrier, always, the sand between.  And then  one day, - and I still don’t know how it happened – the sea came.  Without warning.  Without welcome, even.  Not sudden and swift, but a shifting across the sand like wine, less like the flow of water than the flow of blood.  Slow, but coming.  Slow, but flowing like an open wound.  And I thought of flight and I thought of drowning and I thought of death.  And while I thought the sea crept higher, till it reached my door.  And I knew then, there was neither flight, nor death, nor drowning.  That when the sea comes calling you stop being neighbors.  Well acquainted, friendly at a distance, neighbors. And you give your house for a coral castle, And you learn to breathe underwater.

Friends we all must learn to breathe under water.  We will face pain, we will have difficult realities in our lives, disappointments and we must learn to turn our homes into coral castles. 

I think one could go quite in depth with each step of this program but I want to read all 12 steps adding the words of our addictions versus alcohol. 

Step #1: We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol (or whatever our addiction is)—that our lives had become unmanageable.

Step #2: We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Step #3: We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Step #4: We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Step #5: We admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs.

Step #6: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Step #7: We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Step #8: We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Step # 9: We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Step #10: We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

Step #11: We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Step #12: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics (or our faith communities) , and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

I close this message with the Serenity Prayer by the 20th century theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

"God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

As we enter our time of waiting worship I offer the following queries:

• Have I done a searing inventory of my heart?

• Do I embrace that God loves me in my brokenness?

• What is my part of building a community that loves and accepts all?

• Do I hold myself accountable as well as others?

5-12-24 - Embraced By Our Mother God

Embraced By Our Mother God

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

May 12, 2024

Good morning Friends and Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers! The scripture text I have chosen for this morning Proverbs 1:20-24 from The Message version.

Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts.
    At the town center she makes her speech.
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand.
    At the busiest corner she calls out:

“Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?
    Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
    About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you;
    I’m ready to tell you all I know.
As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear;
    I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

As Quakers, our understanding of God is mostly shaped by our individual experiences, and Friends use a variety of descriptors to help them find meaningful ways to connect to and describe the Divine.  A while back I gave a message about God as Love and often, we, Quakers, talk about that of God in each of us or as our Inner Light.  Yet, even when we talk of that Love or Inner-Light we do not ascribe it a gender.

Most of our gender descriptors actually come from the Bible.  On Mother’s Day, I always like to take a moment to return and look at God from a feminine perspective.  

The patriarchal world of the Bible has often limited us to using only male descriptors of God.  But that may not be the way it was before the Bible was written. Doing a little exploratory history, one is quick to find a slightly different story arising outside the pages or Scripture. 

In doing a little research, it’s worth noting that many anthropologists today believe the ancient Upper Paleolithic societies are likely to have followed a matrilineal structure, meaning women held supreme status at the center of the household. [Just the opposite of what most Christian churches teach today – when stating and defending the man as the head of the household. Something I gave up for Lent almost a couple decades ago, now.]

Merlin Stone explains that these communities revered ancestor worship, whereby “the concept of the creator of all human life may have been formulated by the clan’s image of the woman who had been their most ancient, primal ancestor.”

In other words, the Divine Ancestress – meaning early on God may have been characterized with feminine qualities rather than male.  

I also learned in my research, anthropologists studying the rites and rituals of Paleolithic communities over the last two centuries have discovered countless stone figurines of pregnant women across Europe, the Middle East, and India. Some dating as far back as 25,000 BC point to the worship of the divine feminine.

It seems during this period in the ancient world, worship of female deities was widespread and immensely powerful. But it was with the advent of agriculture after the Paleolithic age that Goddess worship really started to take off.

Statuettes from that period representing the Mother Goddess have cropped up in Canaan (now Palestine/Israel) and Anatolia (now Turkey), and Goddess figurines have appeared all over the Neolithic communities of Egypt dating back to 4000 BC.

What I believe history is teaching us is that when women rise to prominence, misogyny often ensues, and by 1500 BC, Goddess-worshipping civilizations had mostly fallen from grace. Scholarship differs in its analysis of why, but many experts assert that the dominant masculine religions and patrilineal customs brought to Europe by invading Indo-Europeans seriously upset the state of play.

The suppression that followed makes for bleak reading. Activist and author Lynn Rogers says that “At the dawn of Western civilization 25,000 years of ‘her-story’ of the Goddess’ bountiful creativity were obliterated.”

Creation myths were rewritten (one of the reasons why we have so many creation stories, today), symbols of Goddess worship were denigrated, and “the ancient belief in the Goddess as the Ground of Being, The Universe from which The All emerged, was overturned.”

And THEN comes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which evolved in the Middle East and in Europe.  These monotheistic religions began to cement the worship of a new, exclusively male order: God, King, Priest, and Father. 

I found this research fascinating, because it changes the view of some things I have wondered about in the Old Testament. Actually, it is rather easy to find the remnants of this feminine understanding and view of God right in the pages of the Bible.  

In several places in the Old Testament, we find the personification of God as Wisdom – and wisdom is almost always given a female gender.  

Take for example our scripture for today from Proverbs 1 – I love Eugene Peterson’s translation of the personification of wisdom – which he actually labels “Lady Wisdom.” 

Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts.
    At the town center she makes her speech.
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand.
    At the busiest corner she calls out:

More significantly the Apocrypha (the books of the Bible that were not considered cannon but were accepted as historical) often utilize the female descriptors for the wisdom of God.

Sadly, for most of our history (and still for many faith communities today), a female version of God seems threatening, demeaning or even heretical. But that might not have been the way it was in the beginning.

As I said earlier, I sense in most eras this was misogyny alive and well, as it sadly still is today in many (if not most) Christian churches.  Some are now calling for the church to have its own Me Too moment. 

A while back Christian Author, Scott McKnight wrote a book called The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible which had people debating and wrestling with how we see women in the Bible.

Then came The Junia Project – which advocates for women’s equality in the Church and uncovered several translations that had women’s names in scripture replaced with men’s to keep women in their place. The most notable was Junia, a female apostle of Jesus who for many generations was literally removed from scripture.

In some ways this was the beginning of the church’s “Me Too” moment. But more needs to be done.  We need to continue to do the research and discover the impact of women and the importance of the female in understanding and relating to God.

Just listen to how one of the Apocryphal books - the Wisdom of Solomon personifies the Wisdom of God. 

There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy…loving the good…humane…steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful, overseeing all, and penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle. …For she is a breath of the power of God…in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with Wisdom. (7:22b-30)

As Quakers who call themselves, Friends, that one line should stand out and be quoted often – “She passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets…” That, to me, is absolutely beautiful.

Pastor Chris Glazer says the following about this passage from the Wisdom of Solomon,

“If you saw all these qualities in a personal ad or on a resume, you just might want to meet this person! I say “might” because this is a list so awesome many of us would feel intimidated. This is a description of Sophia, Greek for Wisdom, and in Jewish wisdom literature, you could say she was the feminine side of God…”

In another text it is said that Sophia was with God from the beginning—without Wisdom nothing was created that was created. If this sounds familiar, the mystical Gospel of John takes as its prologue a similar assertion, that the Word, or Jesus, was with God from the beginning, and without Jesus, nothing was made that was made.”

Maybe it would do us good in our overly male-dominated society to find comfort in scriptures that emphasize these aspects of God, such as:

Isaiah 66:13 – “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you,” God declares through the prophet Isaiah.

Or Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 – “How often have I desired to gather your children together as a mother hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing”

Or as the Psalmist in that same Psalm 131 from last week’s message gives us that comforting goal of resting in God:

“I hold myself in quiet and silence,

            like a little child in its mother’s arms,

            like a little child, so I keep myself.”

Just maybe, in our current day, it would do us good to embrace a Mother-God-understanding.  It might help us sense more accurately how God wants to interact in our life.  Rather than the dominate, judging, power-hungry, controlling, manipulative aspects we often are wrestling with in the male dominated views, it would be refreshing to embrace a nurturing, caring, loving, and comforting understanding of God.

It reminds me of back in my doctoral work when I studied the people known as the Desert Mothers and Fathers.  They chose to go into isolation by heading out into the wildernesses of the Middle East to pray.

An interesting part of their theology was that they did not believe Jesus came to save only Christians—rather, they believed that Jesus could save the whole world from its excesses, its materialism, prejudices, hatred, self-absorption, violence, and cruelty.

In many ways, I consider the Desert Mothers and Fathers the first real Quakers. Like us they believed that God speaks to everyone, but that in order to hear God’s voice, one must learn to be still and actively listen for it. Just what I have been talking about the last couple of Sundays.

Their focus was on the interior life that later, Quaker founder, George Fox would label and define as our Inner Light.

Along with their inward journey, just like us Quakers, there was also an outward expression as well. The Mothers and Fathers labored to create self-sustaining communities that could welcome and feed the stranger, the refugee, the pilgrim, and those escaping mistreatment and injustice, including women.

Mary C. Earl in her book specifically on the Desert Mothers, or “Ammas” as they were known, shared this about what they taught her, she said…

“…the ammas have taught me to set aside time for quiet. There are so many pressures that lead us to be fragmented. The tradition does not deny the pressures. The ammas tell us that God is present even in those daily struggles.”

I can remember that more readily if I have taken time for quiet, for rest, or holding myself in the Light.”  

She also says,

“…the ammas take me back to basics. We live in a time in which so much polarization has happened in both the national political arena, and within the church. The ammas invite us to look beyond all the divisive fussing — not to deny it, but to see it as surface reality. They invite us to gaze more deeply, especially in the most tensive of circumstances.”

And lastly, she says,

“…the ammas tell me that from the beginnings of the life of the Church, women have been initiators of new patterns and teachings, opening the way for knowing the wholeness that God offers in Christ. When I am reading the stories and sayings of the desert ammas, I am struck by their utter confidence that no matter what, this world belongs to God, is loved by God, and that each person, each creature, each aspect of the created order, is an expression (some would say a theophany, a showing) of God’s love.

What if you and I took some time this Mother’s Day to embrace and gravitate to the qualities and attributes of our Mother God, to sense her nurturing love and seek her wisdom.  Allowing ourselves to be wrapped in her safe embrace and comforted by her care? 

As the Desert Mothers and Fathers, maybe we too should take time to slow ourselves down, to pause, to hold ourselves in the Light and seek our inner life?

To do that will mean we have to face some difficult things such as our excesses, our materialism, our prejudices, our hatred, our self-absorption, our violence, and our cruelty. 

And once more, as the Ammas or Desert Mothers remind us, during our quiet and alone times this week, we should try and make time for acknowledging the pressures, polarizations, and tensions that we are experiencing – all while remembering no matter what this world throws at us - Mother God is always with us and ready to embrace us with her love!

Let me end this time this morning with an invocation by Chris Zydel that speaks to this process. Allow these words to enter you into our time of waiting worship this morning.

Oh Mother Of The Vast Sweetness Of Silence

I bring to you my worried mind
My spiraling out of control obsessions and anxieties
My endless stories of comparison and judgment
My multitudinous fears both real and imagined
My endless litany of self criticism and self recrimination
And lay them at your feet
Trusting that they will gently dissolve into the starry night of your blessed emptiness
Vanishing into the cosmic depths of your spacious expansiveness
Effortlessly transformed into the energy of soundless, wordless light and gently pulsing peace

Oh Mother Of Steadfast Love

I bring to you my deepest needs for connection
My yearning to be witnessed and valued
My burning thirst for acceptance and belonging
My desire to be seen as precious
My aching to be loved
Allowing them to be held in the boundless compassion of your mamas heart
Letting myself be a child again
Pulling greedily on the hem of your silken robes
Hungry for the sweet embracing smile that is always there
For me and me alone

Oh Mother Of Miraculous Healing

I bring to you my perfectly imperfect body
My lifelong chronicle of illnesses and injuries
Those multitudes of traumas and ailments
That have left me feeling
Damaged, wounded, limping, scarred
I ask for your powerful restorative touch
Your capacity to make whole again that which has been diminished by time and ordeal
Your ability to bring harmonizing grace to my body and my soul
To teach me to cherish myself in my all too human limitations
As I know you are able to cherish me

Oh Mother Of Expanded Mercy

I bring to you my broken heart
My seemingly bottomless well of grief
My shattered dreams
My darkest disappointments
My most shameful defeats
And nestle them in your ample arms
Where they can be bathed in the golden honey of your tender beneficence
Melting away like butter on warm toast
Soothed and comforted by the infinite store of blessed kindness that radiates from every pore of your celestial being
Like a dazzling, sparkling golden sun

Beckoning me to remember my most essential truth
That I am both human and divine

And to invite me to rise up out of the landscape of loss
To step into the world again
From the deepest luminous core of who I truly am
Who I always was
And who I was born to be.

Now, let us take some time and let those thoughts center us down into the arms of our Mother God.  To help us do that here are some queries to ponder further.

1.     Rather than the dominate, judging, power-hungry, controlling, manipulative perspectives of God, how might I embrace a more nurturing, caring, loving, and comforting understanding of God?

2.     How am I being invited to look beyond all the divisive fussing in my world and see it as surface reality, and be invited to gaze more deeply, especially in the most tensive of circumstances for hope?

3.     Where this week, will I take time, slow down, and allow my Mother God to embrace me in her loving arms? 

5-5-24 - Which Will It Be: Intentional or Unexpected?

Which Will It Be: Intentional or Unexpected?
Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting
Pastor Bob Henry
May 5, 2024

Good morning, Friends, and welcome to Light Reflections.  The scriptures I have chosen for today are familiar and from Matthew 11:28-30. I will be reading them from the New Revised Standard Version. 

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Since, next Sunday is both Mother’s Day and my last Sunday with you before I head out on my sabbatical, I thought today might be a good day to talk about the necessity of rest or sabbath in our lives.

Back when I was in seminary, I had a professor who talked a lot about the need for people to find the “pauses” in scripture. At first that was a difficult task, but it forced me to really consider how people communicated in the Bible and how well we translated it into our modern language.   

Often in the pauses, whether it is Jesus pausing before asking a probing question, or the psalmist writing in a Selah, which is a musical notation written into the psalm text to require one to intentionally pause and reflect, I came to find the pauses to be often just as important as the words. And the same is true in life. 

For our purposes this morning, I want to label these pauses Life Selahs (which I have talked about before at First Friends).  Life Selahs can be defined as interruptions to all that is normal, necessitating or demanding a pause, that forces us to listen and look carefully at life, and reflect on our priorities and that which is truly important. 

In my further exploration, I have learned that we can categorize two different types of Life Selahs:

1. Those that are planned, prepared for, and engaged willfully, and

2. Those that are unexpected, unplanned, and demand a pause almost grudgingly.

Probably, all of us remember a Life Selah of the 2nd type, just because they catch us off guard or in a rather defining moment. It could have been losing a job, getting a divorce, receiving a difficult diagnosis, experiencing the call that a dear loved one has passed, or even as simple as finding you have been blocked by someone on Facebook.

Whatever the event, it causes us to stop in our tracks, to realize the fragility of life, and center us again on what is important. I have been with several of you as you have gone through these experiences that demanded a pause. They are not easy.

I still remember the moment my office phone rang on July 30, 2014.  It was Sue’s birthday and we had decided to celebrate after work, I dropped off our children at school and had just arrived at my office. I hadn’t even turned on my computer when the phone rang. When I picked up the phone, my life took an unexpected Life Selah. 

I was not prepared for what I heard. I was informed that my parents were in a horrific head on collision, that they were not in good shape, and that I needed to get to them. I stumbled up the steps of my office in shock, told my secretary what had happened, got in my car and tried to head to the accident sight.  I called Sue to inform her of the horrible news, I was having such a Life Selah that I went the wrong way and Sue had to help me get to the accident sight.  This was not the Life Selah I needed or expected. 

Now, many of you have met my parents and know that they came through this Life Selah, but it was definitely unexpected, unplanned, and not the pause any of us wanted or planned for. 

I wish all my training, education, and pastoral experience could prepare me for these Life Selahs, but as I have learned on many occasions, it’s just not possible. No one can be fully prepared for these moments. They grab our fast-paced busy lives and present us with a new reality on the spot – and often with little or no warning. 

Quaker Thomas Kelly said it well when he said we live so much of our lives in “an intolerable scramble of panting feverishness.”  Do you know the “intolerable scramble of panting feverishness”?  I do. 

That is, until we are thrown an unexpected Life Selah and it quickly all comes to a screeching halt.

Often in these difficult times, we need guidance and wisdom from others who have already traveled these difficult roads and have something to share.  As well, many of us turn to the scriptures or comforting authors in these times for the same reasons. We hope we can connect to the characters of scripture or another person’s experience and learn from them.

This is one of the reasons in difficult times, I find myself turning to the book of Psalms. Just as I said last week, I relate to the Psalm writer, David who often cried out in frustration, in confusion, in doubt seeking to understand life and what all God was up to. David (as is the case with many characters in Scripture) encountered Life Selahs – some unexpected and some of his own doing.    

Part of pausing or experiencing Life Selahs for David was not just taking a pause, but literally learning to rest. Actually, it is a common theme in David’s psalms, here are just a couple of examples:

·        My soul finds rest in God alone.

·        Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to me.

Also, there are what are considered resting psalms such as Psalm 131 which one verse reads,

“But I have calmed and quieted my soul.”

And there are many Psalms which speak of restoring – which that word itself implies that to restore something one will need first to include rest.  It is actually makes up part of the word: rest-ore.

And then I was reminded of Jesus’ invitation to us all in the scripture for today,

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.”

This is where we must turn and look at the first type of Life Selahs – those that are planned, prepared for, and engaged willfully. 

Planning and preparing to take a pause and find some needed rest is one of the best answers to unexpected interruptions of life, but rest should also be part of our makeup and weekly, even daily, routine.   

The God of the Old Testament said, “Remember the sabbath to keep it holy” meaning we should remember to keep sabbath rest as a normal part of our life.  We need space in our lives. It is almost like the first type of Life Selah helps prepare us for the second type of Life Selahs. 

You and I should intentionally pursue Life Selahs or pauses for rest. Yet most of the time, we skip intentionally pausing and resting and end up forced to pause - quickly, without much thought, and with much urgency. 

I used to think not much of this, until I noticed my body understood this better than me. We all have worked too hard, been too stressed, did not take time to intentionally pause or rest, so our body shut down, we became sick, and were forced to take a Life Selah.  It is literally how we are wired.    

When we intentionally take a Life Selah and stop and allow ourselves to pause and rest from the chaos and confusion swirling around us, we often are more able to find a sense of stability or even serenity, of growth and health. The pause and rest clears our minds and helps us find focus and attentiveness to what God is doing in our midst. We may even see new possibilities, new opportunities which did not seem available in the moment, or renewed hope.

That is exactly why I am considering my upcoming sabbatical as an intentional Life Selah – a life pause and time of rest from all the doing.      

As Anne Lamott says, people often want us to be human doings rather than human beings. The beauty of taking a Life Selah or intentional pause and rest is that it returns us to the healing space of human being.

Or go back a few years to the Anne Lamott of her time in the late 16th century, Madame Guyon, who said that in the midst of life we should find time to,

“Rest. Rest. Rest in God’s love. The only work you are required now to do is

to give your most intense attention to His still, small voice within.”

Boy, she could be Quaker.

Intentional Life Selahs, pausing and resting often goes directly with the process of holding oneself in the Light as I talked about last week. You almost cannot attempt to hold yourself in the Light if you are not able to find time to pause or rest.    

Folks, it is clear that we all have limits and that there is a finiteness to our time and energy – especially in the midst of difficult situations or the second type of unexpected Life Selah.

I believe, we were created this way. And I believe needing to rest is both a divine and human attribute. If we acknowledge that of God within us, then we must also acknowledge the God who has taught us to intentionally rest. 

It was God who instilled the need for Sabbath rest in the hearts of the Hebrew people and led by example by taking a rest at the end of the creation story.

Jesus continued this intentional practice, often during some rather difficult times, by going off and resting and allowing himself to center and reconnect to God’s will.

What I have learned in my studies is that rest is both a physical need and spiritual act. Rest is an act of surrender to a dependence on something greater than you and me.

And as Quakers it is also a centering-quality. That when we willingly take time to rest – we connect more fully with our inner light or the God within us and then also with the God within our neighbor.

Rest is restorative to our own soul and the soul of our community. 

Just maybe the best thing we could do, that may change our world for the better is find more time for intentional Life Selahs, pauses, rest…amen to that, right?  

And one last thing I want to emphasize, I don’t want someone to walk away from this morning thinking, Pastor Bob thinks we all need to take a nap or get more sleep (that may be a priority and needed for many of us), but for some people taking time to read a book, play a game, listen to music, do some type of craft or art, yoga, spend time watching a movie, laughing with a friend, experiencing nature or a sunset, even taking a drive, riding a bike, cooking a wonderful meal, or for some (not me), running, and the list goes on…all are ways we can rest our souls and re-center ourselves during intentional or unexpected Life Selahs.

Let’s now take an intentional Life Selah this morning as we enter waiting worship. Allow yourself to pause and rest this morning, feel the presence of this place and the people within, and take time to center in on the connection with that of God within you and your neighbor.  Here are some queries to help you pause and reflect:        

·        When have I experienced an unexpected Life Selah? How did I respond?

·        When have I intentionally entered a Life Selah? Do I need one?

·        How might I develop a better discipline of rest in my life? 

4-28-24 - More Than Just Prayer

More Than Just Prayer

Indianapolis First Friends Quaker Meeting

Pastor Bob Henry

April 28, 2024

Good morning Friends and welcome to Light Reflections. We are so glad you joined us today.  The scripture I have chosen for today is Psalm 31 from the New Revised Standard Version:

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;

    do not let me ever be put to shame;

    in your righteousness deliver me.

Incline your ear to me;

    rescue me speedily.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

    a strong fortress to save me.

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

    for your name’s sake lead me and guide me;

take me out of the net that is hidden for me,

    for you are my refuge.

Into your hand I commit my spirit;

    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,

    but I trust in the Lord.

I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,

    because you have seen my affliction;

    you have taken notice of my adversities

and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;

    you have set my feet in a broad place.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

    my eye wastes away from grief,

    my soul and body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow

    and my years with sighing;

my strength fails because of my misery,

    and my bones waste away.

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,

    a horror to my neighbors,

an object of dread to my acquaintances;

    those who see me in the street flee from me.

I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;

    I have become like a broken vessel.

For I hear the whispering of many—

    terror all around!—

as they scheme together against me,

    as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;

    I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hand;

    deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.

Let your face shine upon your servant;

    save me in your steadfast love.

Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord,

    for I call on you;

let the wicked be put to shame;

    let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.

Let the lying lips be stilled

    that speak insolently against the righteous

    with pride and contempt.

O how abundant is your goodness

    that you have laid up for those who fear you

and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,

    in the sight of everyone!

In the shelter of your presence you hide them

    from human plots;

you hold them safe under your shelter

    from contentious tongues.

Blessed be the Lord,

    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me

    when I was beset as a city under siege.

I had said in my alarm,

    “I am driven far from your sight.”

But you heard my supplications

    when I cried out to you for help.

Love the Lord, all you his saints.

    The Lord preserves the faithful

    but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,

    all you who wait for the Lord.

The other day, I was talking with Sue in the car on the way home from the store and the topic of prayer came up.  Sue had had an experience with a Christian person who considered prayer the only thing Sue needed to do in a challenging situation.  Maybe even praying harder was going to solve the problem.  What ensued was a conversation on the purpose of prayer. 

I mentioned that sometimes prayer is more for the person praying than it is for the person being prayed for.  As well, we talked about how prayer is often used like a vending machine – put the quarters in by praying hard and then expect God to grant us our desired outcome.  We have to be honest there are some magic qualities or hocus pocus connected to some people’s understanding of prayer.

With almost 30 years in ministry, I have come to find that many simply use the idea of prayer as a cop-out.  Often when people say, “I will pray for you” they simply don’t.  They forget, or never intended to in the first place. When someone posts the words “thoughts and prayers” on social media, these days I find my eyes rolling.  And sadly, that is probably because it is being misused or abused.     

I need to be honest, and this might surprise you, but my idea of prayer has evolved a great deal both in my life and ministry.  I have come to prefer utilizing the Quaker phrase “holding you in the Light” instead of the word prayer because of all the misuse and abuse.  Much like I would rather call myself a Quaker than a Christian in public. 

I believe this terminology of “holding in the Light” commands more substance than just sending “thoughts and prayers” which often seems to lack sincerity or at least sounds hollow in our current day and age.

Now, for some, “holding someone or some situation in the Light” is not much more than keeping it in their thoughts and prayers, but when looking deeper at the meaning of this phrase, I find it to resonate in my own soul and cause me a deeper spiritual exploration. 

The New York Monthly Meeting writes this about the phrase, “Hold in the Light.”   

To “Hold in the Light” means to ask for God’s presence to illumine a person, situation, or problem, whether in concern or thanksgiving.

Bethesda Friends takes it a little bit further saying,

However, holding someone in the Light is more than a simple supplication on behalf of that person. Instead, there is a sense of joining with Spirit, or the Light, to enfold the person in love and comfort, or of joining with the Light in the faith that the Light will reveal what is deeply true for that person. Holding someone in the Light does not preclude trying to be of concrete use. One’s actions may be guided by one’s experience.

Quaker Doug Bennet emphasizes that last part by saying,  

…talking of holding someone in the Light makes it more tangible. We can feel the Light and feel the warmth around us.  When we say we’re holding someone in the Light I have an imagine[sic] of bathing that person in Light, and I imagine that we expect or hope the Light will have a healing effect.  And we’re doing something. We’re not just waiting for God to do something. We’re holding someone, lifting someone into the Light. 

I remember when I first had someone tell me they were “holding me in the light,” it honestly took me back to when our oldest child, Alex was born.  When we brought them home from the hospital, they were a bit jaundiced and the doctor recommended we, “hold them in the light” to allow the light to heal them. I didn’t get that beautiful metaphor for this spiritual principle as a young parent, but I definitely do, now. 

And I know that many of us need to sit in the sun or by a sun lamp after a long winter to get our needed Vitamin D to feel whole and healthy.   

Yet, I find for someone unfamiliar with this Quaker terminology, it causes them to wonder or even try and imagine this Divine Light. 

If you look at early Quaker spirituality, you find that the image of light often represents the mysterious presence of God (much like it often does in Scripture.)

Like Quaker Edward Burrough (one of the Valiant Sixty) who said,

“All that dwell in the light, their habitation is in God, and they know a hiding place in the day of storm; and those who dwell in the light, are built upon the rock, and cannot be moved, for who are moved or shaken, goes from the light, and so goes from their strength, and from the power of God, and loses the peace and the enjoyment of the presence of God.”

But sometimes, when people are going through difficult times, you and I are being called to hold them in the Light, because they cannot do it for themselves. That is a beautiful image and idea. 

When someone is going through a battle with cancer.

When a couple is going through a divorce.

When parents are having challenges with children.

When life is just overwhelming… we need people to “Hold us in the Light” because we may not have the energy or ability to do it ourselves. 

To be the ones called to hold someone or a situation in the light, I believe, is to help bring our neighbors, friends, relatives, even strangers into deeper contact with that of God within each of us.  

Some Quakers imagine the person for whom they are holding in the light to actually be bathed in a beautiful, gentle light, or picture them surrounded with a halo-like quality or aura.

Even our Christian scriptures use the illustration that Jesus is the Light of the World and that his Spirit “illumines” our lives and brings us into Truth.

So, for me personally, when I hold someone or a specific situation in the Light, I imagine God’s grace, love, joy, wisdom and peace engulfing and surrounding their life and situation. 

A Quaker from Ann Arbor Friends Meeting put it this way,

“I like to think of ‘holding in the light’ as being ‘holding in Love.’  The Light to me represents God’s love and some of its qualities, and so when I think of holding someone in the Light, I picture them surrounded by visual, bright Light, but also surrounded by something with warmth and a soft texture. In the Psalms there is reference to being born up on the wings of an eagle, and I like the image of an eagle’s wings as part of God’s love. The wing can be powerful, strong, and uplifting, but on the ground the wing can encircle us in a warm and comforting way. Thus, I envision someone being held in brightness, warmth and softness.”    

Over time, I have also realized that holding someone in the Light is more than just thinking, meditating, or praying. Quaker Alan Schmaljohn puts words to this. He says,  

“…tangible action, no matter how banal on the surface, is also a manifestation of holding someone in the light. To deliver a casserole, to send a card, to offer a room for visiting relatives, to recommend a specific and highly skilled professional relevant to the situation—these and many other “mere actions” are filled with magic and Light.” 

This is the action that many feel is missing when asking for thoughts and prayers. To consider Holding someone in the Light as tangible action means you and I are the bearers of the Light in our neighbors’ lives.  Our Light (that of God in us) is literally holding them and offering them tangible hope.

Alan also shared this story about how Holding someone in the Light affects more than the one we are holding in the Light.  He says,

In Worship today, a Friend spoke through tears of a colleague fighting for her life in Shock-Trauma after being stabbed multiple times and left for dead by an acquaintance, himself deranged by demons yet undescribed. The Friend asked our Quaker community to hold the injured woman and her family in the Light, and the Friend continued to speak of her own epiphany, cast upon her by her husband, from his understanding: that to hold someone in the Light (an image, a metaphor, an action) is by necessity to stand in the Light oneself, thus its effect is to offer healing not only to the other but to oneself.

When I mentioned to Sue that sometimes prayer is more for the person praying than it is for the person being prayed for. This is exactly what I was thinking about. Sometimes when we hold others in the the Light, it puts us in the Light, as well, and illumines and offers epiphanies in our own lives. 

And that leads perfectly to one last aspect of Holding in the Light that I think is very important – that of holding oneself in the Light.   

Often holding oneself in the Light is the hardest to imagine or even do. We often do not take the time we need to inwardly process our own thoughts and beliefs.

And that means we probably don’t take much time to hold ourselves in the Light – to be held in Love – to ask the Divine to illumine our own lives, problems, and situations. 

Most of the time, we are thinking about others and not recognizing our own needs. 

Please understand this is not a selfish act – no, rather I believe it is an essential act. 

Our scripture text for this morning is what I consider a verbal expression of what may go through one’s mind as we hold ourselves in the Light.  The text is a Psalm of David. 

Many times, I find David’s writing as though he is holding himself in the Light and seeking the presence, attributes, and love of God. 

As David often does, he shows us just how hard it is to enter the presence of the Divine and get our own selfish thoughts and needs out of the way, so we can truly enter into the presence and hear the still small voice.  Each week in waiting worship, we have an opportunity to hold ourselves in the Light, to listen to our inner Light, and even to respond to that Light. 

Also, please understand holding yourself, someone else, or a situation in the Light is more than utilizing a wrote prayer or formula.  Sometimes those are helpful when we don’t have words, but often when we don’t have words, we need simply to hold that situation in the presence of God until something further is revealed. 

When I consider holding someone, something, or myself in the Light it is a mixture of all sorts of things - of prayers, praises, and professions of confidence in God and I don’t know about you, but for me there is also often some doubt, frustration, even first shaking at God and big questions from the depths of my soul. 

I relate so well to David and his psalms. As I read them, I often hear his words as holding himself in the Light.  I think you will see his interesting “mixture” of prayers, praises, doubts and frustrations coming forth. 

To make it a bit more personal or relatable, I would like to read David’s Psalm 31 from a modern translation titled Psalms/Now by Leslie F. Brandt.

As I read this, try and imagine holding yourself in the Light and allowing these words to express or bring to the surface your own personal feelings, images, or thoughts – if it helps, close your eyes. 

For now, just listen to the words and let them speak to your condition.

Psalm 31

I am up a blind alley, Lord.

The props have been knocked out beneath me.

I feel as if I’m grappling with the wind.

                for some support or security.

I’ve been pulled up short, Lord.

Now, I realize how much I need

                something or someone

                beyond and above myself.

                To give stability to my tenuous existence.

Maybe it was Your doing, Lord.

It is Your way of bringing me back to home port,

of correcting my focus

and reassessing my goals.

I return to You with empty hands, Lord.

You know well, my sorry plight.

I did not find that secret treasure,

                that pearl of great price.

The bright lights that beckoned

                only led me astray.

I became entangled in the bonds of self-service.

Everything I touched turned to dust in my hands.

I despise myself today, Lord.

Even those I thought my friends

                Turn their faces from me.

There is no place to go, nothing to cling to.

I can only come back to You

                and cast myself on Your loving mercy.

You are my God.

You have never let me out of Your sight.

Even when I strike out on my own,

                You pursue me and hold on to me.

I’ve stopped running, Lord.

From this point on

                I will dedicate my hours and days

                into Your loving hands.

 I seek only Your guidance

                and the grace and strength

                to carry out Your purposes.

Restore me, O God,

                To Your program and design for my life.

Thank You for taking me back, Lord,

                for renewing my relationship with You.

I seek now to walk in Your course for me.

I shall abide forever in Your steadfast love.

I will proclaim Your praises

                and live out Your Purposes.

Enable me to be faithful to You.

                whatever the consequences,

                and to celebrate Your love

                                and communicate it to everyone around me.

May that now, lead us into waiting worship where I encourage you to hold yourself in the Light.  Allow the Divine to speak to your condition, to illuminate you heart, to put on your mind and hearts those who need to be held in the Light around you.   If you need a little help in processing, I have some queries for you to ponder.

·         What does it mean for me to pray for or hold someone/thing in the Light? 

·         Who in my life needs me to hold them in the Light? In what ways will I do that this week?

·         How might I go about holding myself in the Light this week? When will I allow myself the time and silence to listen?