Looking Up

Lately, I have found myself looking up a lot. I don't know that there is any particular reason, but it is a noticeable change. Looking up I noticed the moon clearly one Saturday in the light of an early summer evening. That same moon was there in the early morning, Sunday, as I left for church. Besides being drawn to it's beauty, I was reminded of our Creator who set the sun, moon and stars in their places in the heavens. And the Sustainer who continues to watch over all of creation, even when it's not so obvious as the moon was for me.

I have recently been immersing myself in a contemporary application of the ancient monastic tradition and Rule as St. Benedict instructed his community. These traditions can help us realign or re-balance when life has gone astoundingly awry or when life seems just a little out of balance.  Sometimes life is just a slog, and you put one foot in front of another until you climb out of the hole, and, one day find yourself able to look up and see the beauty of the moon, a reminder that there is one who is constant in our lives.  God.  One of the most enriching parts of my vocation is the new Benedictine Life In Balance gathering that meets on Thursday evenings at First Trinity in downtown Washington, DC.  The Rule has something in it for everyone, at any point in your life - young, old, somewhere in the middle...on top of the world or haven't yet hit the bottom, but it's all downhill and backwards from your perspective.  It is an enriching, often winding journey that we are called to live; may you live it well.  Peace on the journey. 

30mph - "Strictly Enforced"!!

For a couple of days this past week I attended a conference in Ocean City, MD but stayed in Lewes, DE, some 27 miles north of Ocean City.  Highway 1 was my convenient daily route from one place to the other.  At a couple of points along the way, there were signs that said “30mph – Strictly Enforced”.  And, they weren’t kidding – not once did I travel between the two locations that I didn’t see an officer giving out at least one ticket! 

But it’s the off season and a 30mph speed limit on a long stretch of relatively deserted road got me thinking.  Here in DC, regardless of the posted speed limits, which someone recently referred to as “speed suggestions” if there is open road space, most drivers take that opportunity to fly as fast as they can to the next light, stop sign or intersection, fully ignoring the speed suggestions.  Here in DC, most of us don’t know 30mph anymore, unless we are bumper to bumper, and certainly not with open road in front of us.  And, I tell you, 30mph felt S—L—O—W.

It is also true that most of us don’t live slow, 30mph lives either.  We are constantly running and rushing from one thing to another.  We are trying to juggle vocation and family and/or personal responsibilities and trying to throw in community and relationships.  I was out running (for exercise) one morning and saw people leisurely, but with purpose, walking toward the Metro, and I thought, “I don’t know that speed”.  We know it would be better for our physical and mental health if we did slow down, but…

We know a lot of things would be better for us, but without ‘strict enforcement’ we continue to speed through life.  Maybe we need Sabbath police?  No, not really, but faith communities to help us be responsible stewards of our time and life space through prayer, sharing and accountability.  Conversations that share experience and hope in this area and about all areas of our lives can deepen our sense of God, others and our callings in life.  Together we can help each other recognize the signs to s-l-o-w down.  It is not easy, there will be road signs and turns, but the scenery, shared with others, is a beautiful landscape, indeed. 

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.”

                                                                                                                                        1 Corinthians 13:12

Posted via email from revwendyindc

Do I need to revise my opinion?

I feel like I've learned a lot about Facebook, but I know very little about Twitter. As I've been investigating Twitter, this perspective came to my attention. Hopefully this link will take you there, please take a look at the blog, and be sure to look at the comments!

http://tribalchurch.org/?p=1337

I have not noticed anyone "twittering" a "tweet" during worship, but what if they do? Would we say, "how disrespectful" or could we say, "that person was set on fire by the Holy Spirit, moved to share something with their friends?"



Our liturgy - the order in which we do things in worship - is by definition "the work of the people" and we usually think of it as interaction within the gathered community. Perhaps twitter invites others into our worship and praise, widening the reach of our ministry and proclamation.



What do you think?