Being the Light

Every so often I get a thought that comes out of left field, this thought will not be in my  stream of consciousness, and I have come to think of these as coming from God. Maybe not the voice of God, but a thought that seems out of sync with the other random strange thoughts that can occupy my mind. I think we all have these moments, we call the epiphanies, an insight into life. I had one the other night. I was woken in the middle of my sleep to be told.

          “You are to carry my light of peace into the world.”

I don’t think this means that I am the new apostle, nor do I think this calls for my own television show or YouTube channel. There is nothing grandiose in this message. It is also a message to all of us.

          We live in a world of anxiety, inflation, environmental chaos, international conflict, and economic turmoil. Also many of us are contending with personal challenges, failing health, making financial ends meet, familial drama, and other personal struggles. We seek what we are to do as we go through life.

          The answer given to me was “You are to carry my light of peace into the world.”

Its grandness is the simplicity that this embraces. I know I risk being repetitive, but it is true. Every encounter is a call for this light to be shared. The driver that decided that he needed to be in front of me, so he passes me on the right, then cuts me off. The cashier that is having a difficult day as people are tense with how little their money can buy. The waitress for the duration of our dinner who is funny and engaging.

         Carrying this light is a responsibility. The light we are called to carry is to light the way to a different way of life. Not by exposing the faults of the other person, but by lighting the world around us so that we recognize that there is hope, that things can be different. Although in carrying this light, I am called to live my life differenty, it is not to showcase my life. Despite my best efforts, and the healing presence of the Spirit within me, my flaws can be glaring, and at times even ugly. Perhaps it is to showcase my life, that in someone with such struggles there is still some light that can be found.

          One might call this evangelism. I don’t. It is not about getting another person to change, that is none of my business. It is about living my life in gentleness, compassion, and love. It is hope that one might see me and understand that there is something that exists deeper within our world. It is a hope that in my being different that another might feel hopeful and start to carry the light as well. Together the world becomes less of a dark place.

Anyway, that is my opinion.

Does God really not change?

One of the attributes assigned to God is that he does not change. I say, write, assigned for the verses used to support this idea are a little vague. We know that God changes his mind, at least if we take scripture seriously. I think the unchanging nature of God is his love for us. God is not fickle, he doesn’t love me less when I mess up. (Let me tell that is incredibly relieving.)

            Most often I hear the claim that God does not change is when people want to win an argument. Generally, this argument has to do with me agreeing with them on who is or isn’t in the “Cool Kid’s Club.” It is also used in trying to get me to do what they want, which is usually excluding those people who they think God doesn’t love.

            In principle I agree with them. I don’t think God changes, I think he is the same today as he was yesterday, and he will be the same tomorrow. But, my understanding of God reflects Paul’s comment, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” (1 Cor 13.11) God does not change, I change.

            I liken this to one of my favourite road trips. I love the drive up to and past Yexyexéscen (Striped Rock aka Mr. Robson). If you have never done this trip, I would suggest that you do. If you can do it on a motorcycle even better, a convertible might do. I think it is best viewed without a frame and screen. As I approach Striped Rock it gets larger, and more magnificent. As I start to drive by it, I see different sides of it. Then, as I move past it the view of it changes yet again.          As I have journeyed through faith, with some very interesting detours, my understanding of God has changed. God hasn’t. What is required of me has become simpler, not easier. Within this simplicity has come a more profound realization of his love and grace for us. The only way to experience this is to not stop.

            If I stopped on the road to Striped Rock I would not experience the fullness of its grandeur. If I had settled for my understanding of God and not continued the pursuit, I doubt that I would be Christian these days. We need to allow the love of God to be more compelling that our fear of changing our understanding. I believe whole heartedly, that when we pursue God, our missteps are but just interesting detours. We need to understand that his message does not change, the context of our lives is what changes.

Anyway, that is my opinion.

Why I respect Atheists.

One of the differences between those of faith and atheists is the perception of life and of life after we shuffle off this mortal coil. Atheists, generally seem to believe that we die and that is it; there is no dread hereafter or reward of eternal bliss. Thus, this is it! Some atheists that I have talked with and listened to make this comment; this is not a dress rehearsal. 

            I think the danger for those of us of faith, is that we tend to miss the sanctity of human life, and in doing so tolerate the intolerable. There is this idea that if this life sucks the next life might be better. That being the case, there is less urgency seen in people’s circumstances. I have had a career of serving those marginalized by our society. I was always amazed by how callous we could be regarding these people. Far too often, people would assume that those who were drug addicted, street entrenched, criminally involved, and otherwise on the fringes of our society were the authors of their own misfortune. This included the adolescents I cared for who were trafficked for sexual purposes, many of them still children when it started.

            If all we have is the time between taking our first breath and our last, this is intolerable. If this is our only shot at existence, we cannot tolerate the abuse we heap on each other. To this end I would include animals. There are some that hold that they are lesser beings, that they don’t suffer the same way we do. They have yet to see the sadness in my cat when he knows I am going away. In our claim that we have a divine nature, we forget that the story of our origin is that we came from mud. We might not be that special. 

            Despite this, I am not moving towards atheism. There are many atheists for whom I have more than just a begrudging respect. Often, I think that they might even be prophetic, they speak truth to power, and reason to our faith. This is the one point I have to admire. Yet, it is within my faith that I also see this sentiment.

          In the Goat Herder’s Guide, Jesus makes the following statement, “Whatever you do to those who you consider as being the least, you have done to me.” (Paraphrased) I need to be mindful that I cannot be dismissive of the plight of others. I cannot simply walk by and hope for a better day. In the words of Jimmy Carter, “I have one life to live, and one chance to make it count for something… My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”

Anyway, that is my opinion