Grieving the Process

The election of 2016 for President is winding down, but the ugly rhetoric is increasing. As I view Twitter, Facebook, and various blogs, I am deeply grieved by what I see. It doesn't matter which candidate or political party you are supporting, social media is replete with attacks, half-truths and out-right lies. What grieves me is that followers of Jesus are as guilty as blatant unbelievers in posting such trash. 

In my observation, it seems that the underlying philosophy is, "The end justifies the means." My childhood pastor often repeated, "It is NEVER right to do wrong in order to have a chance to do right." Yet, that is exactly what is happening, especially on social media. It seems it doesn't matter if the damaging headline is misleading or even true. The goal is to defeat "the enemy"--and anything goes in accomplishing it. Articles are posted from unchecked (and often scurrilous) sources, just because it supports my position. Photos that are clearly photo-shopped (and therefore, a lie) are propagated--again just to defeat "the other side". Documentaries are praised, but never checked for the veracity of their claims, as long as they agree with me. It seems it doesn't matter--use any means to succeed for your position.

There are real issues involved in this campaign. There are also very serious character issues to consider with both candidates. It is right to have a position or to take a stand. But, without a commitment to TRUTH, none of this really matters in the melee of campaign fervor. The damage done to our country in how we approached this campaign will leave deep, putrid sores.

I fear we've played into the hands of the Enemy as the people who call themselves Christians (or Evangelicals) have engaged in God-less, ugly practices. . . often even worse that those who do not have a relationship with Christ.

I am grieved by what I've witnessed. I believe our God is grieved also. He is Truth--and never resorts to lies or half-truths (which are the same as lies) to speak His message or work His plan. God is also full of grace and mercy. He repeatedly commands us to "love our enemies" and "pray for our enemies". He never condones creating unfounded fear or using shoddy practices. He calls us to love, to be kind, to show respect (even when we disagree) and to "go high when others go low". He tells us to "consider others above ourselves". He calls us to serve, not to attack each other.

Again, this is not a campaign speech for any candidate. It is a call for fellow believers to engage in the political process with the same attitude as Jesus--in truth, beauty and goodness.  

How will recover from this election trauma and the grief that it has caused?

Sounds of Silence

As I sit peacefully on the deck of our little cabin in the North Carolina woods, I realize that the silence is never without a cacophony of sounds--

• singing of birds that call from one to another;
• chirping cicadas and crickets;
• rustling leaves, blown by the gentle breeze;
• falling branches and pine cones;
• scurrying of voles and mice in the fallen leaves;
• chattering of squirrels;
• buzzing of bees;
• dripping of water from the leaves due to last night's rainfall; and
• periodic claps of thunder or rainfall.

These sounds celebrate the existence by each facet of God's creation and join in the chorus of praise for the Creator. These sounds do not decide to be filled with praise. . . it is inherent in their creation. Psalm 148:7-10 declares this reality,

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!"

What we as humans consider to be "silence" is merely the absence of the human voice, technology or the evidence of "civilization". These things may actually create noise, not sounds. This noise may or may not be offered in praise. It is this noise we seek to flee in order to find rest or be restored.

Finally, a thought from Mother Teresa on "silence":

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.

May we bring praise to God in the understanding that "silence is beauty" (Makoto Fujimura).

The Numinous Experience through Color

I have to admit--this is a "blog-in-process" and not one that I can write emphatically. But, as I am doing research for my next book, fulfilling the "homework" given to me by my mentor, and attempting to engage in experiential learning (which I believe is the most transformative), I want to share what I am learning.

Recently, my husband and I went to Washington, D.C. and spent an extended amount of time in the Rothko Room of the Phillips Collection gallery. This gallery was the first one for modern art in the United States and contains an amazing number of quality--both well-known and obscure--pieces of contemporary art. But, my specific assignment was to spend time in the one small room that contains four large Rothko paintings and a bench in the center. As I entered the room, I was struck with the depth and vibrancy of the colors used by Rothko in these squares or rectangles of color. But, the longer I focussed on these canvases, the more profound they became.

As I stared at the colors that seemed to be hanging or hovering on the canvas, the more I was aware of the power of color. Each painting elicited an emotional response dependent on the colors used-- peace, disquiet, joy, wonder or delight. Just from the use of color.

As art often does for me, my mind was taken back to the source of creativity, the Creator God. While I've much yet to understand, I realized that these colors were but refractions of the light waves. All colors are the result of light being broken or bent. Amazing. As I thought of God, the source of Light, I mused on the possibilities of what existed before the Creation when only the Triune God existed. . . pure, blinding Light. Did color exist at that time? Does color exist when there are no eyes to behold the broken or refracted light? Obviously, I have much yet to learn about color theory, but sitting in the midst of the luminous offerings of color, my mind did dwell on these questions.

Also, I meditated on the spiritual truth that as the Light of God shines forth through the brokenness of our world and of our lives, it results in the beauty of color that brings healing, peace and joy. I remember my own experience of hearing from God in an abstract art gallery when in deep despair and grief. God clearly assured me that He could make something beautiful out of the broken pieces of my heart and soul, if I would trust Him with my pain. And so He has done. How often do we prevent our lives being God's prism of brilliant colors because we deny the Light to shine through our brokenness?

It is said that Rothko stated about his paintings during his abstract period, "tragic experience is the only source book for art" and that these paintings were "experiences of tragedy and ecstasy, as the basic condition of existence." (Jacob Baal-Teshuva in Rothko ). While I believe he understood the power of these paintings, I wonder if he ever comprehended the spiritual depth of them. . . of how they spoke of the Creator Himself. 

For me, sitting in the midst of this designated Rothko Room, it was a numinous experience of transcendence and transformation. God be praised.

Challenging Ethnocentrism

We are in the midst of one of the most divisive and harsh presidential campaigns possible with the choices being terribly bleak--truly a case where neither could be considered even the "lesser of two evils". Much of the rhetoric and motivation is based on fear and ethnocentrism. We are also experiencing the explosion caused by the deep wounds of racism in our country. Answers seem to be elusive, at best. The future looks bleak. And where are the voices of those who speak of love, peace and the freedom from fear?

As an Intercultural Trainer and a Christian, I am especially disturbed by the harshness of the attitude towards people of different nationalities, skin color or cultural expressions than ours. Erroneous, negative conclusions are drawn about anything "different" than our own cultural norms. There are many contributing factors, of course, but the underlying cause is ethnocentrism--the belief that my cultural or personal ways are "normal" and therefore, preferable. Ethnocentrism is ALWAYS wrong. It is definitely sinful.

In teaching how to appreciate difference as I trained people to work and live in another culture, I had to confront this inherent ethnocentrism that is found in every culture--but is especially evident in our "white, anglo-saxon, protestant American" response. Because I am a member of this group, I'm speaking to myself and my own culture. I grieve that this is the case.

In Cross-Cultural Theory, we learn of a pervasive response that is found when confronting another culture called, "Attribution Theory". This means that when we encounter someone from a culture different from ours, we attribute the actions or responses of a few to the whole. For instance, if you are in Paris and you are treated rudely by a waiter, we tend to attribute rudeness to the whole of the culture and declare, when we return home, "All French waiters are rude"--or, even worse, "All the French are rude." On the contrary, when we encounter a rude waiter in our own country (and race), we say, "That waiter was certainly rude."  

I read of such attribution happening daily in our media. Whether we are talking about Islam, black men or policemen (for example), we attribute the actions of a few to the general populace. This goes beyond mere stereotyping (which can be positive or negative), it creates the justification to make policies, give speeches that promote fear, and even vote for candidates in order to underscore our ethnocentric, sinful attitudes.

God calls us to a very different response. He broke down the ethnocentric divisions by 1) creating all mankind in His image (Gen. 1:27); calling all ethnic groups into His Kingdom (Gal. 3:28; Rev.5:9-10); 3) commanding us to love even our enemies (Luke 6:27); 4) setting the rule of love for others as the standard for His children (1 Cor. 13); and 5) challenged us to think only on those things that are lovely, commendable, and excellent (Phil. 4:8). This is only a sampling of how God expects us to treat others and doesn't allow for either the attribution of characteristics nor ethnocentrism!

I honestly don't know how to bring this blog to a conclusion. I'm deeply disturbed by what I see in our culture, and yet I refuse to live in fear or despair. Somehow we must each choose to make a difference and treat others as we wish to be treated (Matt. 7:12). . . and love them as God loves each of us. May we each, personally, work to destroy ethnocentrism wherever it be found. For the sake of our country. . . and our world. For the sake of ourselves and our children. But, mostly, for God's sake and to His glory.

"Seated at His Table"

My challenging task this summer is to bring my book, "I Choose to Forgive" up-to-date and expand it with other materials. In attempting to do this, I'm re-visiting my journals and the voluminous correspondence between myself and the man who murdered our son. Grief, pain and the memories of our loss threaten to overwhelm me at times. But, there is also the amazement of God's grace, healing and forgiveness that are so abundant.  My relationship with God and with the man (now a brother-in-Christ) who killed Tim has deepened and become so sweet to recall.

A key part of the journey was the vision I experience while singing in church one day about "once enemies, now seated as His table". In that changing kaleidoscope of images, was the crowning vision of our dining room table, with our children and grandchildren sitting around it, plus the man who killed Tim and his children were sitting with us. At the head of the table was Christ. So powerful!

This image from God eventually led us to work towards the release of this man from prison and to our precious meeting with him this spring. I believe God is assuring me that not only will this "enemy" be with us at His table, but that God is working in the lives of his children to bring them to the table as well.

I was reminded of this recently as I engaged in worship at the "Ancient-Future Faith Convocation" in Jacksonville, FL. As part of the liturgy of worship, we sang a song by an 18th Century hymnologist, Isaac Watts. The final stanza brought tears of joy as we sang,

The sure provisions of my God attend me all my days; O may Thy house be my abode, and all my work be praise. There would I find settled rest, while others go and come; No more a stranger, nor a guest, but like a child at home.

 Yes, we who once were enemies of God, are invited to sit as his heavenly table. But it is even better than that, we're invited, not as strangers or guests, but like a child at home. Amazing.

There is no greater joy in my life than to have my children and grandchildren enjoying a meal around our table. It boggles my mind what the celebration will be like when we are in the presence of our Heavenly Father! 

The interesting thing is that God wants to live in this reality NOW, not only in eternity. We are ever in His presence. THAT is reality--far more than the brokenness and we see all around us. Do I celebrate, a precursor of that heavenly table, being with other "children of God" as I should? Do I delight in the provisions of God as He serves us at His table?

Oh, may I live in this glorious reality of being God's child!