Morning Walk

Dear Urban Abbey Members and Friends:
I LOVE the way Steve Garnaas-Holmes paints such vivid pictures with words.  His first paragraph gives a prescription for being present to each moment of the day.  How wonderful that sounds to give such focus and acknowledgment to the presence of ‘God with us’.  Could I live such that my mind is so uncluttered with worry, envy, greed, pride that I can give my full attention to what is before and around me as I go through my day?  That is my goal.

But, in his second paragraph, Steve reminds us that we are fallible humans and will perhaps fail in being really present – my mind has wandered and skipped about to other things even as I write this.  With God’s grace, we can return to the present…and the more we practice this, the more we can remain in the present.  As Steve points out, we can work at being present to God no matter where we are or what we’re doing.

What speaks to you in Steve’s meditation?  I invite you to share your thoughts and insights with the Community.

Shalom and blessings, George

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Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.

Each morning I begin the day with a walk in the woods.  It's not for exercise, though I sometimes go quite a distance, nor to walk the dog, though he comes along.  It's to begin the day by being on the earth, being in a body, being alive.  I practice being there, and not being somewhere else in my head.  I use my senses, taking in what is around me.  I look at everything and notice stuff.  I notice the trees, the colors and textures and shapes and shades.  I notice the air, and how warm or cold it is, the wind, the clouds, the moon.  I notice gravity, and how my body works with it.  I feel my breathing.  I listen to the little sounds, the conversations of the grasses, the birds, the brooks beneath the other sounds of distant traffic and planes.  I'm not analyzing, judging or thinking.  I am simply mindful of being a mammal moving across the ground, moving through the presence of God, being alive.

Oh, I'm not Thich Nhat Hanh.  My mind wanders.  I think of the coming day, or imagine some silly scene, or carry on some argument with an imaginary person.  But then, by grace, I return. I come back into the woods.  I return to the present.  Sometimes it takes a while, but I get there.

I've discovered you can do this anywhere, whether or not you have woods.  In cities and suburbs, alone or in crowds, you can pay attention.  You can begin the day by being mindful, paying attention, returning moment by moment to the present, here and now.  Even in this moment, sitting at your computer, you can stop and look around, or close your eyes and breathe.  You can be alive.  Sometimes that is enough.  Sometimes it is important that that is enough.

Deep Blessings,

Pastor Steve
____________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

Hold me -- a Psalm for the Brokenhearted

Dear Urban Abbey Members and Friends:    We are all broken people; we all suffer in some fashion.  Several years ago when I was going through Stephen Minister training, I came across a book by Henry Nouwen, the Wounded Healer.  Nouwen emphasizes that from our woundedness, we have a great capacity to minister to others.  Because we suffer, we can more deeply understand the struggles other go through and be present for them.  Our Lord, Jesus, was also wounded both physically and emotionally – bearing our sins.  He demonstrated for us how our woundedness can break down barriers and allow us to really be present for others in need.

The poem below by Steve Garnaas-Holmes paints for me a very vivid picture of my brokenness.  But, knowing that I am God’s beloved, even though broken, gives a peace and strength.  Because I am God’s beloved, I can reach out to others and be the conduit of that Presence to others.

What images does this poem bring to your mind?  What does it call you to do or be?  I invite you to share your thoughts with the Community so that we can all be enriched.

Shalom and Blessings, George

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Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.

O Thou Mysterious Love, hold me.

When I cannot stand, be the ground that holds me.

When I have fallen apart be the gravity that binds my pieces.

You are the Presence I do not see, cannot feel,
the Steadiness that lets me tremble.

You are the darkness I stumble through;

you are the way and the not knowing.

You are the well of my tears, the soft place for me to fall.

You guard my tenderness, and defend my wholeness.

You are the fiber of my making, the love that brings me through.

You keep me in your hands; you bear me on your hip.

Hold my shattered fragments in your hands, until I am ready to be made new.

Wrap my unknowing in your arms of darkness until my dawn is ready to rise.

Holy One, Creating One, I am your Beloved.

I am yours.  I am yours.

Deep Blessings,

Pastor Steve
____________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

Community

Dear Urban Abbey Members and Friends:

In the past two weeks we have had three long-time St. Georgians die –Martha Williams, Mae Guill, and Al Brevard. These three individuals all led long and full lives and were examples to us of Christian living and care of others. Their deaths leave a large hole in our community and sadness in our hearts.

As I reflect on their lives and their deaths, I am struck by the importance of community and prayer. Each of these people got to a point where they were not able to physically be with us at Sunday services or other Community events. The Community responded by sending Eucharistic Ministers and visitors to bring Community to these people who weren’t able to be with us. The linkage continued to be strong and the frailer in our community knew they were not forgotten. While only a few of our members were called to visit or bring communion, especially as they became frailer, the larger community responded by shrouding them and their families in prayer. This made a marked difference in their outlook and ability to deal with limitations on what they could do. These prayers were powerful not only for those who were ill, but reached their families as well. Knowing there was a network of people who cared buoyed the spirits of the families.

What a blessing community is. But community can also be fragile; it needs to be nourished to be kept strong and vibrant. When we become part of community we share in that responsibility and must give as we are able to support it. I invite you to consider how you support our community.

Shalom and blessings, George

A Blessing for Today

Dear Urban Abbey Members and Friends:    Below is a poem from Steve Garnaas-Holmes this past week.  I ran across it again this morning as I was working through some e-mail.   As I read it again, I felt warmed and well loved by the Holy, Steadfast, Divine, and Delightful One.   This reminds me once again to open my eyes and see God’s WONDERFUL creation around me.   Though it’s overcast and the sun isn’t out (yet), there is a peacefulness in the seeming gloom that invites reflection.   This is another very blessed day….my task for today is to keep awake to each moment of it, look for that odd happening,  and meet each of you as we join together in God’s eternal present as the day unfolds.

 Shalom and blessings, George

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Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.

Today may the good earth hold you

with the unfailing love of the Steadfast One.

May the sun illumine you

with the loving wisdom of the Holy One.

May the air fill you

with the Spirit of Life.

May the human family surround you

with the Divine Presence.

May birds remind you
of the joy of the Delightful One.

Today may some thing gracious happen

to speak to your heart.

Today may something odd happen
that awakens you.

Deep Blessings,

Pastor Steve
_________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

Manna

Dear Urban Abbey Members and Friends:

Steve Garnaas-Holmes meditation for today struck me on several different levels. First, the Holy One gives us SO many blessings each day. Our God is extravagant in showering us with good things – people to help us along our path, food, health, beauty…

Second, the Holy One gives all this manna (grace) with virtually no strings attached—God asks only ONE thing of us: that we open our hands, hearts, and selves to receive these blessings given. This second part can be real stumbling block for some of us—I know it is for me. As many of you are aware, I had surgery this past week (Sep 6) to remove a cancer from my body. The surgeons and nursing staff were very skilled…the surgery went perfectly, I am recovering quickly and have a good prognosis for the future. The hard part now comes in accepting the help, lovingly given, by spouse, family and friends. I am not back to 100%, but I feel well and want to do more. In the midst of this I need to realize that, just as in opening one’s self to receive the good gifts God gives, it is important to open one’s self to receive the ministry and blessing of others. I am not good at this; in fact, I get irritated with those who are trying to be generous to me.

So, Steve’s message to me this day is to be aware of this shortcoming and to work at accepting the help & hospitality of others with a more loving heart. What does this meditation hold for you this day? I invite you to share your thoughts and insights to enrich our Community.

Shalom and many blessings, George
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Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.

In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron “You have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." Then the Holy One said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” … In the morning thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the Holy One has given you to eat.” The people of Israel called the bread manna. —Exodus 16. 2-4, 13-15

We sigh as we sit hungrily in our tents, amidst fields of manna. We never seem to recognize it at first, and even when we do it's a mystery. (“Manna” is Hebrew for “What's that?”) But God provides for us grace we haven't earned, a harvest we never planted, blessing that comes from the heart of God.

Every day is manna. Each breath is a feast of life, granted by the hand of mystery, full of infinite blessing, offered for us to have abundant life. Every moment is a gift, overflowing from God's grace, connecting us with God, inviting us to digest that grace, to take it in and make it a part of ourselves. You can't analyze it, understand it, or make sense of it; you can hardly describe it, or even name it. “What's-it?” may have to do. All you can do is receive it, take it in, and live on it.

Every moment is manna. It looks unremarkable or even unidentifiable, but it's God's grace. Today, look for the manna. Take what you need.
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Weather Report:

Bread.
A low-pressure system of extravagance
will rain blessing upon us,
coming out of a direction we never suspect.
Despite partially clouded awareness,
low-lying hearts may be inundated with gratitude.
Expect flash floods of grace today and tomorrow,
with drifts of blessing reaching two feet—or two hands.

Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

The Legacy of the African-American Spiritual

Dear Urban Abbey Members and Friends:

Last week I listened to a lengthy unedited interview of Krista Tippett with the late Joe Carter, a celebrated performer, educator, and traveling humanitarian who took the Negro Spiritual to audiences around the world. It is a wonderful interview and gives a marvelous insight into the culture of the slaves: their roots, their spirituality, and their outlook on life.

One of the things that struck me most, though it wasn’t particularly articulated, was the way the people lived in the present moment. Their songs were the expression of the great pain and sorrow. But at the same time, they were always looking upward, always reaching. There was always some level of hope, always the glory hallelujah someplace saying, "Oh, and on that glory hallelujah, then we fly."

They lived life to its fullest and weren’t afraid of death. Some of the songs give a prescription for how to live and yet be ready when called home. Here are a couple that spoke to me.

Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus
I've got to steal away, steal away home
I ain't got long to stay here
Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus
I've got to steal away, steal away home
I ain't got long to stay here
My Lord He calls me, He calls me by the thunder
The trumpet sounds within my soul
I ain't got long to stay here
Green trees are bending, poor sinner stands atremblin'
The trumpet sounds within my soul
And I ain't, I ain't got long to stay, to stay here.

Let the work that I've done speak for me
Let the work that I've done speak for me
When I come to the end of this road
And I lay down this old heavy load
Let the work that I've done speak for me
Let the life that I've lived speak for me
Let the life that I've lived, Lord, speak for me
When I come to the end of this road
And I lay down this heavy load
Let the life that I've lived, oh, Lord, speak for me.

These remind me to keep my focus on the Lord: be open to God’s call, live unafraid, help those in need, show joy in my life. I’m reminded that my ultimate home is in Jesus and with God.

There are 11 of Joe Carter’s spirituals on the web site at http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2010/joe-carter/gallery.shtml. I encourage you to download them to your music library and listen to them when you need a lift.

I invite you to share your thoughts and insights to enrich our Community.

Shalom and blessings, George

Take up Your Cross

Dear Abbey Members and Friends:

WOW! What a marvelous approach to the Love of God and what it means to be a follower.

I have to admint that when I'm confronted with the phrase, "Take up your cross", I'm drawn to the things that trouble or irritate me -- the annoying aunt, the neighbor who doesn't like me, illness or some disappointment in life.

As I read the words Steve has this day, I realize I am called to a joyful service, not a grudging one. This call is one I've heard before -- to take up my cross by opening myself to God's will. When I am able to be vulnerable, to yield my will to God's, to try and be as I percieve God's call, that is true joy. I experience a deep, soul-filling joy and closeness to God. To be sure that doesn't happen to me often, but it is something I strive for.

To me, Steve's words give an ideal I can work at -- be a channel for God's love and reconciliation, a listening presence for those who need to be heard, the hands of God that bring comfort and healing. Taking up this cross is not an easy task, but it is a joy-filled one.

What does Steve's meditation have for you? What call do you find in his words? I invite you to share your thoughts and enrich our Community.

Shalom and many blessings, George
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Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.

If you want to become my followers, deny yourselves and take up your cross and follow me.” —Matthew 16.24

The aunt who annoys you is not your “cross to bear.”

The cross is not an annoyance, nor something thrust upon you.
It is your free, willing and unresentful choice to be gentle,
to be nonviolent for the sake of justice,
to be vulnerable for the sake of healing,
to open yourself to other people's suffering,
to enter into the shame of the world with the enormous grace of God.

To take up your cross is to enter into God's fierce longing for healing and justice,
even at your own loss,
confident that being wrapped in God's love,
even amidst the suffering of the world,
is heaven.

To take up your cross is to trust that God alone is our security and our power,
that grace is absolute and death is relative,
that the world can get along without us but not without our love,
that forgiveness is more powerful than force,
that love is stronger than fear,
more lasting than death,
more real than anything else.

To take up your cross is not to go alone,
but to follow the Humble One, the Trusting One, the Gentle One,
the one who already bears your cross, your sin, your suffering, your death,
who wants to bear your light, your blessing, your soul, in love.

To take up your cross is to die with Christ
and to rise with Christ into a new life that can't be killed,
in which you can suffer but not be hurt,
and die but not be dead,
in which you are truly alive,
because it is no longer you but God living in you—
wholly present and infinitely loving,
and deeply joyful.

Deep Blessings,
Pastor Steve
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net