Christmas continues for 6 more days by Heidi Jakoby

It is the 6th day of Christmas and Christmas carols are no longer heard on the radio and everyone seems to be looking straight at the New Year and they are done with Christmas, but Christmas day was just the beginning of the 12 days of christmas which end on January 6th with the celebration of Epiphany and the arrival of the Magi. I personally love this Christmas season knowing that we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus. I found an interesting site that shares some thoughts about the urban legend or truth about the song
"The twelve days of Christmas". As this story points out the Christian meaning behind the song seems to be a myth but I enjoy linking the Christian meaning to the song, because it reminds me that I need to continue to practice kindness and love, even after Christmas and Epiphany. Is there anything wrong with linking new meanings to old songs? We often link meanings to songs, or at least memories to music. Music is very powerful and I try to continue listening to Christmas music up through January 6th but it isn't easy.



I have a difficult time staying focused on the "meaning of the season", but this reading from Colossians3:12-17 reminds me that love is the reason for the season. How can I continue to clothe myself in kindness when so many things in the news and around the world remind me that many people are not kind or caring? How do we rise above the external conflicts to focus on compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, and discipline? It has taken me a long time to embrace the peace and power of being even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense and I know I am not perfect but if I continue to aspire to it each time I do it, it comes quicker and easier.



Did you hear the report about the Grocery store that was left open by accident and the people who came in and took items and then left the money for them at the register? These are people who practice kindness, discipline, and caring. What would you have done given the opportunity they had? You can read the story and reactions for yourself. I thought it was a great reminder of the many honest people in our world.(Safeways left unlocked)

I know this Christmas season was one filled with planning and accepting what was not planned. I have been working hard at staying centered on kindness but often it is my family who challenges my kindness and forgiveness the most. I do find that some members of my family and some of my friends seem to enjoy stirring up tension, and I am not quite sure why? Sometimes I am the one pushing the buttons of my family members. This year I have tried to be more conscious of old habits and became aware of some of the buttons I push and tried to stop myself. Awareness and changing behavior is hard work, and takes practice as does, being kind and forgiving quickly. Practice and reminders of the meaning of Christmas can help.

I hope you continue to think about the meaning of Christmas through out these next 6 days and practice putting on the clothes God has provided for you throughout the new year. Have a joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year.

God’s healing shines in the darkness... by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

That smile on the outside's fading fast
Like the things that you thought for sure would last
But they didn't...

These words from Chicago’s 2006 song, “Feel,” struck a chord for those of us who were gathered at our “Service of the Longest Night” Thursday. It felt good to be in a supportive group that could be honest about how much it hurts when we lose what we never thought we would. Honesty is the beginning of the journey toward healing.

Our three reflections led us to begin by being honest with ourselves, then being honest with God, then finally taking Jesus seriously when he says we can let go of the heavy stuff weighing us down… and pick up a pack that will give us new meaning and purpose. So enter in, if you like, and see where these reflections and prayer-words take you: http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/2009/12/reflections-and-prayers-service-of.html

What got your attention in those readings? Did anything get you thinking about your journey of healing, and where it can begin? Please feel free to put your thoughts into words by clicking on “comment” at the bottom of this post. Perhaps by the way can be a supportive community for you by “listening” to what’s going on with you this holiday season.

Those gathered at the Crowne last night had a rich discussion about how a song like Chicago’s Feel can give us permission to move out of numbness and just feel what we need to feel. And the Psalm 42 paraphrase got us into how we deal with God. What good things can happen when we just pour out to God all we are going through, even if it means spewing rage and doubt and neediness! And then when we’ve cried ourselves out, we can let God’s caring presence hold us and sing us through the night… that we might wake up with a new song and a new God-given energy.

The third reading actually inspired a burst of group laughter when one person pointed out that this version made it sound like Jesus was giving us an info-mercial! Here’s a more traditional version, if you like: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=128145967

After our discussion we had some time to roam around the room and experience God’s grace in a variety of ways: reading, chatting, making a remembrance chain, receiving healing oil… but by far the most memorable was partaking of the most gorgeous and delicious loaf of challah bread we’d ever seen (thank you, amazing baker Matthew!). And thank you, Jesus, our savior and friend, for being our bread, for feeding us with all you are.

We ended in a circle of candlelight, hearing some words from gospel-writer John about God’s light shining in our darkness, and singing Silent Night.

May you have some heavenly peace in your sleeping and your waking, as you navigate these last days before Christmas and beyond. May the light of Christ find its way into your soul and back out through you as you care for those around you.

Peace,
Kari

PS:  I recommend the book A Decembered Grief  by Harold Ivan Smith, if you or someone you love could use an inspiring and filled-with-practical-ideas resource for getting through sad holidays.

Go ahead and feel… by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

Supporting people who are grieving and going through painful transitions has been at the heart of what by the way has been about, since our beginning days some 3 years ago. In many and various ways, we’ve tried to be a community living this message: God walks with you through good times and awful times, and we’ll all walk together to make this good news real.

By the way will again be holding our “Service of the Longest Night,” a time of reflection and prayer, acknowledging that the pre-Christmas season is not merry for everyone. For those who live anywhere near the Nashua NH area, this can be an in-person experience (Thurs. 7pm at the Crowne Plaza, at exit 8). For others, this can be a virtual experience of community, beginning here with this blog post, and continuing on through the week. Feel free to leave your comment, whether you’re one in need of support or one willing to offer it to others.

If you’ve been to this blog before, you may have noticed our community is formed as we dive into a piece of God’s word and see how it intersects with our lives and with the world around us. This week we’ll start with Psalm 42, which you can find at this link: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=127903163

This psalm starts with being honest about a painful need, a need for understanding and company, a need for God. The honesty takes this hurting poet on a journey… of memories, soul-searching longing, and eventually: hope.

I tried a little creative project of my own, re-writing this psalm for those searching for relief from loss during this holiday time. My hope is that it would get you thinking about what you’d like to ask of God… and of God’s messengers, like the btw community you find here.

So here’s my attempt at a re-write:

Pre-Christmas Grief a la Psalm 42
As a deer leans forward, aching for water,
     so am I thirsty for you, O God.
I so need to know that you haven’t dumped me.
     I have to somehow see your face.
I’ve sobbed myself dry; still relief eludes me.
     I ponder good times, but they feel far away.
Christmas songs in the air
     leave me breathless with loss.
Deeper I sink, ‘til there’s just nothing left,
     nothing but you, God, nothing but you.
I grope in the darkness, some presence is there.
     I remember you once were a rock in my storms.
I’ll give trust a try; I’ll peek out of this hole,
But you, God — oh please, God —
     must make a move, too.
Hum your tune as I sleep,
     so I’ll wake warmed with song.
Let me feel my wounds healing,
     and I’ll know you have come.
Confident once more,
     I’ll have hope for tomorrow,
My whole life a prayer, to the God of my soul.

I’d love to see your re-write, too, if you feel so inclined. Just click on comment below.

For more exploring, here are some links to a Chicago song that’s always a good listen for me when I need permission to go ahead and feel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJn7azWR2i8
http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/chicago/feel.html

Let's all be watching out for those who are hurting, those who've lost jobs and homes, those who are missing loved ones who have died. Watching and praying...

God, we come to you during this Christmas season, many of us with pain growing inside us. As the nights have been growing longer, so has the darkness wrapped itself around our hearts. We need to know you are here… that you are here for us. Be our rock in the storm, God. Bring us safely home. In your name we pray... amen.


God’s peace,
Kari

Taking Time to Pause by Heidi Jakoby

Obviously I decided to take some time to pause after my last blog I realized that I needed to take some of my own advise and have a simple weekend, after all this is my birthday month. Anyway to get back to the reflections posted on our Bread for Your Journey blog. Besides the passage from Luke and the poem, All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten, I added a song by Van Morrison Keep it Simple. On Thursday we had a Skype conversation about these reflections and here are some of our insights. It would be great to hear what you think.

In case you have not heard the 2009 most fascinating person according to Barbara Walters is Michelle Obama. After watching the Barbara Walter’s special it was interesting to see some seemingly outrageous individuals seem very down to earth and at least two women on the list because of what their husbands did.

O.k. let’s get back to John the Baptizer, one of the most fascinating people in the Bible (just my opinion). His boldness in telling the people what they need to do is admirable; he was able to know that his purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. He instructed the people simply and they continued to come. Was being baptized by John just the popular thing to do at the time or did those being baptized fully understand what was happening and who was coming? Does it matter? What have you done lately just because it was the popular thing?

How does our culture of consumerism play into this idea of “doing the popular thing”? We are bombarded with advertising and marketing telling us what to buy, what we need and what to do, how do we begin to see through all of this and spend time exploring faith? In the second reflection All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten one of the lines is “Share everything”. This line flies in the face of consumerism. This is saying that everything we have we should share. During this holiday season I often catch myself questioning what I want versus what I need. This weekend I decided it was more important to be present with my husband and sleep in late on Sat, and then spend the day with friends doing some wine tasting and conversing. It was a simple day but very refreshing. So what did I accomplish on Sat? Some would say nothing but others would say I shared, played, and laughed with friends, and sometimes that is the best way to spend one’s day. Dustin who was on the Skype conversation Thursday mentioned one of his favorite quotes from Into the Wild was “the most important part of life is to share it.” Taking time to share your life with others can be rewarding in ways we cannot predict.

If you look at the song by Van Morrison you will see his response to his life and how society mocked his work, how he was misunderstood and in some ways how we (society) may not have been supportive of his bold vision. There is much in this song and it makes me curious about Van Morrison’s life and art. Sometimes when our lives get out of control the only thing we can do is to try and break it down into simple pieces.

I hope you take the time to slow down, pause and to appreciate some of the simple things in life and share your life with others. What do you think; please comment?

Simple Lessons during this busy time. by Heidi Jakoby

As the year comes to an end I am beginning to see everyone’s top ten lists and tomorrow Barbara Walters special the 10 most fascinating people of 2009 airs and many are wondering who will top that list See 9 of the 10 most facinating poeple . Well if I had to put together a list of my favorite 10 characters in the Bible John would definitely be on that list. Maybe I will work on that for a New Year’s blog?


Anyway, I will be curious to see what the values and experiences make someone fascinating? In this Bible reading Luke3:7-18 John is fascinating, he is unconventional but he is giving the people a rather simple message. He tells them to “Share with one another, Be Kind to one another. Don’t fight. Be fair. Don’t hoard, or lord it over one another.” Hum, some of the most popular movies, TV shows, especially reality television, are making money on the fact that we do not want to see anyone doing any of these. There is more meanness, fighting, injustice, hoarding and lording on television today than I can ever recall. Does this all make for good television and great movies? I know there are exceptions but I think they can be hard to find. What are you watching? What is entertaining to you?

As I read a number of blogs and commentaries I kept thinking about the poem by Robert Fulghum, All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten. I could comment on every line, “Share everything.” During this holiday season this is one we could all be better at. I find myself thinking about how much I have and am aware of so many in need. Today I was heading to the grocery store and I was hungry, and in that moment I actually tried to think about being hungry for more than a moment. I was hungry not because I did not have food but because I did not feel like eating what I had. In some ways I had an abundance of food to choose from and definitely once I got to the market I had an over abundance to choose from. What do you have an abundance of that you can share? Many of our Food Pantries  are low on food, consider sharing what you have. Another line is, “Play fair.” I have great respect for people who play fair, unfortunately in life many things do not seem fair and what I think is fair others may not. What have you noticed about playing fair recently? Having two older brothers growing up I thought they never played fair. Now as an aunt to a number of children I find myself wanting to teach them the rules of the game and to encourage them to play as the game was intended. Unfortunately I am finding that not all parents think playing by the rules is a good idea, what have you noticed?

This poem influenced my life greatly it taught me that many complicated things come down to a few simple values, acts of kindness and sharing. That if we could be more patients and loving everything would seem a little better. Is this too optimistic, too simplistic? What do you think?

Join in on our live Skype conversation on Thursday at 7PM and share your thoughts, or comment here. So put bythewaycommunity on your Skype contact list and join us.

What gives you JOY? by Heidi Jakoby

Some of my favorite face book or twitter posts are those acknowledgements of unexpected joyful moments. Those moments of joy when you find your keys that were lost, or when a young child spins in circles laughs and makes himself dizzy for the first time are moments of joy. One friend posted some of the most beautiful pictures from the ice storm last year and there was such joy in the sky and sun reflecting in the ice and snow.

Last night my husband and I discussed the readings I posted earlier this week and a beautiful advent prayer a friend posted. ( Luke1: 68-79 and Philippians1:3-11)


It was fascinating to talk about what brings us joy and to find out that for both of us it is very simple things not the things the media puts out but the things that touch our hearts. He said that the quiet that comes with snow brings him joy. As I thought about it there is a different silence when you wake up to a neighborhood covered in snow. For me it is watching people enjoy my cooking or watching someone un-expectantly smile/laugh when they least expect it and no matter how hard they try to stop they can’t.

So how can we choose our joy? Maybe it is more about trying to be present in each moment of this time of Advent. To allow yourself to be distracted by what is most important and to not spend all of your time caught up in the frenzy of the season. In order to avoid some of the craziness of this holiday season I have discovered some great times to shop and I try and get together with friends more than worry about what will be happening in a few weeks. Take a breath realize what is truly the meaning of the season. Take some time and read these two passages from the Bible again.

Take care not to sit in the darkness, take time to find joy this season. What are the bright spots in this season? How might you create some joy in another person’s life? I know that during this time of year when my friends are struggling I just want to help, but that takes time and effort. What would make a friend who is struggling happy today? Sometimes it is a simple phone call, e-mail and sometimes a wall post.

I hope you remember that you are special and loved. You are important to the world and as you begin each day during this time of waiting, expect joy each day, expect good things to happen and help spread kindness. I know that sometimes I forget that I am special and that I can expect good things to happen each day. I hope each day of Advent brings you a little closer to God.

A friend shared this Advent prayer written by Henri Nouwen:

Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy or your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”


Amen

Prepare the way, one step at a time. by Heidi Jakoby

Didn’t we just get done preparing for the holiday of Thanksgiving? What are we preparing for now? The next set of holidays. Whether it is Chanukah, kwanza or Christmas you are preparing to celebrate. A celebration is to be joyful, so what is with all the stress? Why don’t we enjoy the days leading up to the next holiday. For me Christmas is a time to celebrate and December is also my birthday month so I like to enjoy December. For many December is a difficult time, of trying to fit everything in, achieving our own expectations, sometimes unrealistic ones?


I recently read an article called “Make room for joy!” by Cricket Cooper in the New Hampshire Episcopal News where she talks about choosing joy. Say no to some things so you can experience joy this holiday season. Find a balance in your preparation and your joyous waiting. What do you think how does one strike this balance?

Today is also World Aids Day twitter has gone red and Alisha Keys is having a special concert tonight which you can see online on YouTube live. You can actually donate to her foundation to help Hiv victims in Africa Keep A Child Alive A very big part of this season is giving, giving gifts, giving back, and offering gratitude. I have been trying to balance the media blitz of Christmas things with the expectant waiting of this Advent season. The waiting for a child, a child that will bring hope to the world, is what some of us are waiting for, and then on Dec. 25th the 12 days of Christmas begin. It is amazing to me that the real Christmas season begins with Christmas Day yet all around us the retailers and media started Christmas before Thanksgiving.

In the lesson from Luke Luke 1: 68-78 we hear about the birth of John the Baptizer who will be the one to prepare the way for Jesus. How have you prepared the way for Jesus and God in your life? Have you considered inviting Jesus and God into your life? Have you asked god to leave and go away?

This is  often called the “Season of Joy” and the lesson from Philippians Philippians1:3-11 talks about joy, how are you making sure you are finding joy this month? How do you find joy each day?

These are some of my thoughts and I look forward to meeting a few of you at Applebee’s Thursday at 7pm in North Nashua on 101A. After this conversation there will be another post with some more reflections and thoughts. I hope this has caused you to pause and take a minute to think about what you want this time to be for you.

Is it ever too late to say thank you? by Heidi Jakoby

On this day of thanksgiving I am taken with the importance of living in a world with others. I have recently noticed how some of my friends and family have a very small view of the world. They barely think beyond the moment or beyond their immediate family. I know that when you are going through difficult times sometimes it is best to think about what you need to do in the next hour rather than the next five years. I am reflecting on people who have stability and many things to be thankful this day.


As in the first reading(to see the reflections and readings for this week you can link to Bread for your journey) about the story of putting 5 grains of corn on each empty plate and having each person share the things they are thankful for this day, I am sure for many those things go beyond themselves and to the world. What are you thankful for locally, nationally and globally? I try hard not to get too caught up in my own little world but try to think of others, help out where I can and be thoughtfully thankful. In the last reflection we are called to be thankful, and to spread God’s love.

Earlier this week the local TV station in Nashua, NH was interviewing people online for a turkey and food at the Nashua Soup Kitchen see story at: Nashua Soup Kitchen What struck me about this report was how each person online was helping one another and they are were thankful. Even though for a number of people this was their first time in line they were thankful and figuring out how to get through these difficult times. One particular person even re-gifted some of his food to a larger family to help out. The circle of giving and gratitude was wonderful. I also find great comfort in knowing there are places people can go for help and places I can give to out of my thankfulness for the blessings in my life.

If you are feeling truly blessed and thankful this day I challenge you to consider how you can share that with others? A sign I past recently said, “Give as much as you can and be thankful for what you can give.” What are you giving away today?

I need your help I am looking for your thoughts on the following thankful dilemma.

When I grew up my parents taught me to send thank you cards for gifts received and I have noticed how thank yous are fewer and farther between these days. I try and write out thank you to people or at least acknowledge their thoughtfulness but it isn’t always easy. I recently found a stack of thank you cards I wrote out over two years ago that I thought were mailed and they were not. Is it too late to send them? Is it ever too late to be thankful and express your gratitude? What do you think?

Don’t forget to play, relax and enjoy the day!

Closure and beginnings... by Heidi Jakoby

It is interesting with how busy we are in life we often do not take time to close things, whether it is a draw, cabinet or a relationship or job. What is it about closure that many of us don’t; want to do it or think about it? I believe it is about time and feelings of loss. It takes time and thought to put closure on something. It takes time to honor what has occurred and to value what has happened. That brings us to the first reading from “Reverence: the Practice of Paying Attention” by Barbara Brown Taylor. You can see the readings, reflections and prayers at http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/  .In the first reading there is a quote “The practice of paying attention does take time.” Paying attention to others, to yourself, to the world around you takes time. Do you notice what is around you? Do you appreciate those around you? Do you take the time to honor the many moments in your life? The idea of reverence that is spoken about in this first reading causes me to think about the many things and people I take for granted the things I do not take time to be thankful for or to offer reverence.

On Friday Oprah announced that she would end her show after next season, more and more television shows announce their ending at the beginning of their last season so they and their fans can have closure. Why is closure important? I think it helps us to move on to the next thing with less regrets and more joy especially if things end well.

Some of the discussion last Thursday centered on losing one’s job and how that was handled by the employer. Many of us commented how our employers just wanted us gone and seemed to fear what we might do if we had time to pack up, say good bye or create some closure. How have you found closure to your jobs? Were people kind or were you escorted from the building?

The second reading from John, reminds us that Jesus came and died for us. Jesus helped the Disciples have closure through the act of a meal of bread (Jesus body) and wine (Jesus blood) a continuous ritual reminder of all that Jesus gave for us. Rituals are very powerful during joyous times and sad times. What are some of your rituals during different times of your life? What are some cultural rituals?

The last reading I really love because it brings hope and joy. Knowing that any closure in my life whether good or bad Jesus is there and that is a great comfort.

What do you think of these comments and the readings? Please share them here.

All’s well that ends well (and begins well)... by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

Two people are given the news that they’ve lost their jobs. One is handed a pink slip and ushered out the door. The other is given six week's notice, an appreciative send-off party, and a good severance package. Both people have lost something important to them. But only one has a sense of closure.

A compelling book is only as good as its ending. Two in a relationship that say, “Let’s still be friends,” will have to work at it to make the transition. Closure is important. Things can just come to an end, or they can end well. And when things can end well, there’s room for healthy beginnings.

Part of ending well must be telling the truth, being honest about what’s happened, how it’s affected us, and where we intend to go from here.

Soon we’ll be coming to the end of 2009. The end of a decade. Incredible!  I’m sure the world around us will be coming up with all kinds of lists: the best of this and the worst of that. And maybe we’ll even do some reflective truth-telling to find some closure… and to look forward to new beginnings.

The faith community known as by the way has travelled through its two-and-a-half years with many endings and beginnings. We’ve often used the word, “organic” to describe ourselves and our way of making transitions from one phase to the next. The old ideas and resources become the compost for the new seeds that are sprouting. We keep flowing on, shaping ourselves to the changing circumstances, according to where we see God is leading us.

This Thursday by the way will be marking an ending and a new beginning. Two things are coming to an end: 1) our pattern of weekly worship at the Crowne Plaza, and 2) our goal of becoming a congregation that’s rooted in one local scene.  And what’s springing forth from this rich soil that is our past? Some new patterns and some new goals! I won’t go into the details here, but I will say that I am confident that the Spirit is leading us to make a broader impact on this world this God so loves.

So this week we’re working on some healthy closure and looking forward to what God’s going to be up to next. We’ll dig into a story from Jesus’ life that has us facing up to his time of endings, that time when he looked like he was a washed-up loser whose glory days were over. But the reality could not have been more different. The new life was only just beginning.

Take a peek into the last chapter of Jesus’ life, where we see the “powerless” Jesus on trial before “powerful” Pilate, the person who could sentence him to death, or not. If he had any sense at all, Jesus would be on his knees begging for mercy. Instead, he’s standing tall calmly trying to teach Pilate a thing or two about true power: the power to tell the truth. The power to look beyond this world’s power and see God’s kind of power at work.   Read it here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2018:33-37&version=CEV

There’s so much more to say about Jesus’ radical kind of power — power FOR others instead of power OVER others — and the amazing beginnings that come for all of us who follow this strangely powerful leader. Please share any thoughts you may have on closures and new beginnings, truth-telling and empowering, by clicking on “post a comment” below. Come, if you can, to the Crowne Plaza (at exit 8 in Nashua NH) Thursday 7pm. And come back to the blog at week’s end for more.

Reaching closure for now,

Kari

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors. by Heidi Jakoby

Please go to http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/ to read, listen and reflect on the poem, song and gospel chosen for Nov. 12.

As we lisented to the words of Robert Frost the phase "Good Fences Make Good Neighbors" resonated for me as it was put to me in High School in the form of a question for the debate team for the year, "Do good fences make Good Neighbors?" and for the entire debate season we had to be able to argue both sides of this question.  With last week being the anniversary of the Berlin wall coming down, it has been interesteing to think about that wall coming down and the walls being built in the United States between the US and Mexico and those being built between Israel and Palestine ( check out this link to learn more about Peace Not Walls, campaign for peace http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Peace-Not-Walls.aspx )

Also, in the reading form Mark Jesus talks about how the temple will be desctroyed. If you look at ruins of ancient cultures we all know that nothing lasts forever. Walls and fences will not stand forever, they too will come down.  As we look at our individual lives what walls do you have in your life? What are you walling in ore walling out?  What walls do you need to break down in order to live your best life?

In the song from the Newsboys they talk about the secrets we keep that may be preventing us from really knowing love or truly knowing how wonderful life can be.  What secrets are you not facing?  What are you afraid to share with the world?

One cannot look at the reading from Mark and not reflect on the end of the world.  As you may know by now on Friday the new movie 2012 came out and was #1 at the box office.  Why do we enjoy these apocolyptic movies?  What do they offer us?  This movie is based on the belief held by some that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012 and this was concluded from the ancient Mayan Calendar.  If you knew when your life would end would you live each day differently?  Would you go on a trip?  Would you stop working?  Would you spend more time with your family? Martin Luther when asked what he would do if the world would end tomorrow, "I would plant a tree today." When I think about Luther's statement I know that the best is yet to come and that when my life ends I will be with God so it is all good and I get great comfort from my faith. Where do you get your comfort each day?

I look foward to your comments and thoughts on these reflections.

How do you wait expectantly? by Heidi Jakoby

Mark 13:1-8 (New Living Translation)


Jesus Foretells the Future

1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”
2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, 4 “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 6 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’[a] They will deceive many. 7 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 8 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

As I have been reflecting on this reading I think it is telling us to be ready and to live our life expectantly. As I live in the northeastern United States this is a time when all the leaves fall and there is a clear ending to Summer and the beginning of a new season. Living all my life in an area that has four seasons I am always expectant of the next season. I am not quite sure how to describe that sense of expectancy. It is thinking of those favorite activities, smells and tastes of each season.

In the beginning of this lesson Jesus talks about the temple being demolished. All of the walls will fall. John Meunier commented on his blog “I think of it [Mark 13:1-8] as a metaphor for the walls we construct in our own lives and our own psychology. When they fall, how terrible it can seem. Even when the collapse is necessary.” What walls do you have up? John's comments reminded me of Rihanna who last Friday was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on 20/20 where she outlined her abuse at the hands of Chris Brown, is she letting some of her walls down? http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1625783/20091107/rihanna.jhtml

Then this week was the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down. As a person whose parents are German and with a Mom who had to escape from East Germany to West Germany it is still amazing to me that Germany is again one country, united. How did these walls fall? Were people on both sides expectantly waiting for that day? With walls going up between Israel and Palestine, I wonder if people on both sides are expectantly waiting for those walls to fall?

How do you wait expectantly? If you knew you only had 6 months to live what would you do differently?

These are just a few thoughts. Consider joining us for Bread for you journey on Thursday Nov 12th 7pm at the Crowne Plaza or come back to this blog and see what we talked about.

Putting your whole self in ain’t hokey

by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

Have you heard about the bumper sticker that says, “What if the hokey pokey really is what it’s all about?”

That’s how last night’s Bread for Your Journey got started, just after the theme of the evening was announced: “you put your whole self in” (see this blog’s previous post for more on the theme). I can’t take credit for it. It bubbled up out of our circle of those gathered. Lying in the center of that circle was a black scarf of mourning, holding a small cruet of oil, a bit of flour, a couple of shekels, and some random-looking chains. You’ll see why in a minute…

If you’d like to enter into this time of reflection, prayer, and discussion hop over to http://www.breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/  and then come on back to hear more.

+ + + + + + + + +

All three stories show us people who threw themselves into something, not planning to be heroes at all. But those actions were noticed. And a kind of energy exudes from the telling of their stories. Sometimes that’s exactly the energy we need to get us connected again, connected to what we are passionate about – what we’d like to put our whole selves into.

In the story from Mark’s gospel, we see Jesus pointing out two different kinds of passion. Over in this corner, we see some guys who put their whole selves into dressing well and looking good. In order to pull it off, they have to strong-arm the weakest folks, get some extra income by stomping on the poor. This kind of passion leaves people feeling like they themselves are gods. Not good for the relationship with the real God.

And in this corner… where did you say to look, Jesus?... oh! over there! There she is... the one whose putting her whole self into her gift to God. She’s passionately connected to the God she serves. And she becomes for us a beacon of light. Even though she has so little, she has what really matters: trust in the God who loves her.

Even as Jesus points at her, she’s pointing back to Jesus, in a way. And that’s what REALLY makes her a hero. Her giving of her whole self lights the path that is ahead of Jesus… as he walks into dangerous territory, putting his life on the line. Jesus puts his whole self into connecting all people to the God who loves them. And when we accept this gift of life, we are freed to give our whole selves with abandon, with joy.   This passionate joy multiplies as we share it in community, the community God's spirit draws together, whether it's at the Crowne Plaza, or here on line. 

And THAT’S what it’s all about.

At least that’s what I think. How about you? Please comment as the spirit moves you. Start some conversation and see where it goes…

Peace,
Kari

you put your whole self in

by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

I do a lot of listening for a living. And here’s what I’m hearing: Lots of people are wandering these days, in some kind of uncharted territory. Joblessness. Cluelessness. Homelessness (physical and/or spiritual). Rug-pulled-out-from-under-me-ness. All kinds of “lands of the lost".

Sometimes wanderers look around for a hero, someone to inspire them, cheer them on. And sometimes they look into their own past, to find the hero they once were.

I’m not talking super-heroes here. Just people who know what they are passionate about, and they go or it. They put their whole selves into what they’re doing. And they make a difference.

Can you look back into your story and locate an episode where you put your whole self into what you were doing? Did you feel the aliveness that comes from being focused and determined? Or was it just the freedom to be who you are and do what you do best?

I can think of work weeks where I hammered or painted or cleaned up messes with a great group of volunteers. I gave a week of my time to do something out of my comfort zone, for someone else. It wasn’t easy, but it felt great. And I still reach back to those experiences, when God’s energy was so tangible and sure… especially during my times of wandering.

There came a time in Jesus life when he was in uncharted territory. Now I’m not saying he was wandering, because I don’t want to project or assume… but he was human, and he had some mighty tough realities to face. Like when he was in Jerusalem, not at all his home turf, and he knew that if he kept challenging the system there’d be serious consequences. He mentioned more than once that he saw death row in his future. But he didn’t let that stop him.

Take a look at this episode from Jesus’ life and see what he sees, the injustice as well as the hero he admires.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark%2012:38-44&version=NCV
She gave all she had. She might as well have climbed up and put her whole body-and-soul into the offering box. Unknowing, she gave a gift of life to Jesus, even as he walked forward to put his life on the line… for her and for all of us.

There’s so much more here to talk about here. Please share your thoughts by clicking on “comments” below. Better yet, if you’re able, come to the Crowne Plaza in Nashua (at exit 8) where we’ll dig into the good stuff of this story and stories happening around us as well.

Wandering with you,

Kari

Love can bring you to your knees. by Heidi Jakoby

You can link to the readings and prayers at http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/

As we came together and reflected on the Eulogy Maria Shrive gave for her mother, it struck me that in the poem there is a line “your love has brought me to my knees,” both love and loss have brought Maria to her knees. How have you been stopped by your emotions or what triggered you to fall to your knees? In the case of Jesus the loss and the love Jesus had for Lazarus brought him to his knees. He was both angry and compassionate simultaneously. Jesus experienced a flood of emotions as he came into the village. So what does this have to do with us?


I thank Helen for commenting on my initial thoughts. It is very difficult to share with anyone a loss that stops you in your tracks. I cannot describe the situation that brought me to my knees. I know what caused it but it is difficult to articulate and even more difficult to share with others. My poor husband witnessed it and he was at a loss for how to help. In many ways there is no way to help in the moment other than to be present and to love a person through it. As the person brought to their knees it is important that you can hang on to a ray of hope that you will get through the next hour, the next day and so forth. Maria Shriver said at the Women’s Conference 2009 round table discussion on Grief, Healing and Resilience, “The real truth is that I am not fine.” She goes on to tell how she is working through the grief. Lisa Niemi, Patrick Swayze’s wife also spoke. Lisa said, “When the grief takes you, it’s like your body is not your own. I’m just going with the flow. I know I have to go through it.” Lisa will also appear on Oprah today, to discuss her life. Maria Shirver shared that Kelly Preston had agreed to join in the roundtable but she had called and said "it was just too painful to talk about Jett, the grief was still too debilitating for her".  http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20315810,00. Everyone grieves differently and time passes differently.

Everyone who has been able to live through the grief generally references, friends and or family who accompanied them through the process of grieving and the passage of time. This week on the Biggest Loser Abby Rike was voted off, she had lost her husband and children and she used food to cope and the opportunity to be on the Biggest Loser helped her, “join life again”, check out her story http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/10/29/biggest-losers-abby-rike-i-have-rejoined-life/
 .

The reason I chose the second reflection the song Soul Cakes by Sting is some of the commentary I heard from Sting. Soul cakes were put outside the house for the souls that had been lost but were really there for those in need. The people who needed food would eat the soul cakes and say a prayer for the family. It is interesting that there are many traditions around remembering the dead. I know I grew up going to the cemetery regularly to honor my grandparents, who I really did not know in life. I only recently realized that not every family had rituals around remembering those who had died. I find it comforting to reflect on what those who have died had taught me. I feel that I honor their life whenever I pass on what they have taught me. Sting talks about winter as a time of reflection you can link to this interview to hear more about his motivation behind this new cd http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/29/sting.music/.

I would encourage you to spend some time thinking about what you have gained from those you have lost. Take a few minutes and write down what you want others to learn from you and continue to give that to others. Also, what did you learn from a loss that you remember often and want to share with others?

I know that my understanding of God’s love helped me through my difficult times and I want to share that lesson with others.

May you find peace and comfort this week.

What loss has brought you to your knees? by Heidi Jakoby

This week we are exploring loss and grief. What kinds of losses have you experienced in your life? Did it have a physical affect on you? How have you gotten through that grief?

As I read and reflected on the lesson for this week John11:32-44 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John11:32-44&version=MSG this is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The part of this story that makes me wonder is Jesus physical reaction to the death of Lazarus. Jesus wept and he was physically disturbed by the death of Lazarus.

At the Women’s Conference 2009 http://www.californiawomen.org/  this week Maria Shriver and others spoke about their grief over the loss of a loved one and how they have been getting through each day.

I read the following in the Los Angeles Times: “Maria Shriver has long sought to protect her privacy as California's First Lady, but today she brought thousands to tears with an extraordinary evocation of her grief two months after the death of her mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. During a luncheon session at the Women's Conference she is chairing in Long Beach, Shriver told attendees that she stood before them "with a broken heart." She said she has told people that she is holding up well, but "the real truth is that I'm not fine.”

"The real truth is that my mother's death has brought me to my knees," she said. "I had feared this my entire life. . . . She was my hero, my role model, my very best friend. I spoke to her every single day of my life. I tried really hard when I grew up to make her proud of me." Maria Shriver has long sought to protect her privacy as California's First Lady, but today she brought thousands to tears with an extraordinary evocation of her grief two months after the death of her mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. (Here is the link to the entire article http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-maria-shriver28-2009oct28,0,5125731.story?track=rss  )

Has grief or loss brought you to your knees? I know this has happened at least once in my life and when I think back to that day I need to not think of it for too long or else I can get lost there. Going on with grief is never easy but I know that those I have lost have taught me many things, but I still grieve.

Please comment on these thoughts and questions and consider joining us for Bread for your Journey this Thursday night at the Crowne Plaza Nashua NH 7PM. See you there.

The truth sets your soul free. by Heidi Jakoby

Check out the reflections and prayers from Oct 22 at http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/

Our discussion began reflecting on the statement from Anita Atina;

The duality of truth,

Fights for resolution,

and yet, coexists

Quietly, when it needs to

This sense of the duality of truth that we each in our own way have our own truth is intriguing. What is your truth and how does that differ from someone else’s? Is there only one truth? How do facts like two plus two differ from the truth? Check out the addition Don Tanner made to Anita’s Poem.

If you lie at what point does the truth come out anyway? We have all heard the expression “the truth will set you free”, free from what? Free from lies and deception but there still may be consequences. With the story of the “balloon boy” ultimately the 6 year old told the truth. This truth may put his parent in jail, how does that set him free? It frees him and his family from keeping up a lie. Being free of lies and secrets is a freedom we can choose, just as we can choose to follow Jesus, to learn about the example his life is to us.

In the Gospel of John Jesus simply asks us to believe in him and his teaching. Jesus calls us to love one another and to do our best and if you believe Jesus you will be free.

As we listened to the Eric Clapton song Tell the Truth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYiCxZcO5j4 )

I especially noticed the line “you better come to terms with your fellow men soon,” to me this sounded that if you do not come clean with the truth your world will be constantly unsettled. There is no foundation on which to move forward in peace and freedom.

Truth and Freedom how do you link the two in your life?

These are just a few of the thoughts expressed at bread for your journey.

Truth does it set you free? by Heidi Jakoby

This last week the media has been all over the "Balloon Boy" story. I don't know about you but I was listening to the radio in my car as this now hoax was unfolding. The radio commentator was clearly upset and asked us all to say prayers for the boy and his family, so I said a prayer. The radio commentator at one point hoped that the child was not in the balloon but was hiding, as small children sometimes do when they think they will be in trouble. What happened in the days that followed this incident was absolutely disturbing to me.

The truth about the incident came out on Larry King Live and it was revealed by the 6 year old boy Falcon. It then came out that his Dad was trying to land a reality television show. What??? This is so perplexing to me. Even though he did not put his son in danger the family put rescue workers in danger delayed many flights and had upset people all over the country.

I know I felt used and I still am not sure what the complete truth is. My hope is that the rest of the story will come out. In John8:31-36 (below), Jesus is described as the truth. This is the part of the Bible where the quote “The truth will set you free” is taken.

Often when I think of this phrase I think about the quote “honesty is the best policy” and I flash back to my parents telling me to “tell the truth” especially when I did something wrong. It always felt like telling the truth was the right thing to do but facing any consequences was not very appealing. Most of the time I think I eventually told the truth after blaming my brothers did not work.

Anyway it was ultimately Falcon Heene age 6 who told the truth as he was probably taught.

How do you feel about hoaxes, are they o.k.? do you feel duped? Is it all in fun?

How do you feel about the truth? Do you always tell the truth? When do you hold back the truth?

What does it mean to you that “Jesus is the truth”?

Join us Thursday to explore what truth means to us today. We will be meeting at the Crowne Plaza Nashua, NH at 7PM.



Please feel free to comment.



John8:31-36NRSV

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ 33They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’

34 Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there for ever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Everything's amazing & somebody's happy

by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

Ok, here’s your time to make some connections, with your own inner self, with God, maybe even with the universe, who knows. See if these readings and prayers, chosen for this week’s Bread for your Journey, take you anywhere. Try slowing down enough to pause between phrases, to really listen to what God might be saying…

http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/readings-and-prayers-for-oct-15-2009.html

So here’s Joyce Rupp, calling us to notice the gift of life, take in all the beauty, receive the abundant energy, hear the groaning and the sighing as well as the call to oneness. She beckons us to drink from the cup offered to us. It’s amazing stuff, and its challenging, too. Drink it all up.

How is this cosmic cup similar to (or different from) the cup that Jesus is talking about to James and to John and to all of us who have so much and yet ask for more?

Keep that question in mind while you hear another voice calling you to notice amazingness, using the link below. (If you’ve already checked this out from my last post… well, go ahead and see it again! It’s worth a second look. But remember my disclaimer, about how if you’re easily insulted, just chill a bit and enjoy the ride…)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk

Yeah, it’s kind of fun to hear from both a deep mystic and a crass comedian about appreciating amazingness. I really think both voices would have been appreciated by the approached-by-James-and-John Jesus. There really is so much that we take for granted, and we end up with the wanting-more disease. Jesus invites us to drink from his cup as an antidote to this spiritual illness. As our third reading says, this cup is full of amazingness, alright: the amazingness of self-emptying love. Quite a contrast with what James and John thought they might get out of Jesus.

But this is God’s way. And something inside us has to die in order for us to truly receive all that God is offering.    We have the whole amazing cosmos, ours to savor and marvel over. But when we try to grasp onto it, control it, keep it for ourselves, we become a mess inside… and we leave the world a mess, too.  Jesus leads us on to die to the old, sickly dream, but in turn to find a mysterious new one.

Revel in the awesomeness. Feel the overwhelming gratitude. Drink in the cup of energy that powers you up to give yourself to the world. Serving out of pure, overwhelming gratitude! That’s LIFE. That’s life lived next to Jesus, right there on his right or on his left, in his glory.

Well, that’s all I’m going to say, but I hope you have something to share. Please leave your comments, so we can expand our awareness even further.

If you happen to be hungry for more, scroll down and read my blog post from yesterday, in case you missed that. And for another tasty morsel, check out this REALLY amazing sermon preached by Dr. King.  

http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/documentsentry/doc_the_drum_major_instinct/

All the richness of the cosmic cup to you,

Kari

Everything's amazing, nobody's happy

by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

So you want it all, and on some level — conscious or un — you feel you deserve it. Life is one amazing thing after another, and you’re missing out on the wonder because amazing is the norm, and you just want more. If you’re one who’s afflicted with this inner illness, you are not alone. And I’m arguing that it’s hardly new to the 21st century.

I just started reading this astoundingly rich book of art, prose, and poetry called The Cosmic Dance: An Invitation to Experience Our Oneness by mystical author Joyce Rupp and artist Mary Southard. It’s opening me up in really cool ways to the inviting mysteries of creation and its Creator, and I’m wishing everyone could be experiencing this with me… and then I pause to check Facebook and there at the top of my home page is this video clip called, “Everything’s Amazing Nobody’s Happy” (Thanks, PastorLindafromMontana!). And in a much less mystical but equally jarring way, I’m hearing this comedian Louis CK spouting off his wisdom that went viral some months ago. Want to see it?

Take note: If you’re someone who was practically born with a cellular device in your hand and you’re easily offended, then you can either choose not to watch this clip or choose to find the wisdom behind the insults, ok? Remember he’s really harping on ALL of us spoiled idiots, not just the youngish ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk


It’s nothing new. Since the beginning of everything, it’s been amazing, and we humans have had glimpses of this amazingness we are part of… in between our moments of taking it all for granted as nothing more than we deserve. Getting those glimpses is a gift. Getting a wake-up call is refreshing, even if it’s from Louis CK. Or if it’s from another wiseguy named Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus hangs with these characters we now call The Disciples but gospel-writer Mark calls Not-yet-enlightened Idiots. One of the best/worst stories of all that Mark passes on to us is this episode of the Two Brothers who Want it All.

James and John and those ten other guys live in an almost constant climate of AMAZING. Jesus, by their side, is God-personified, Healer-extraordinaire, Awesome-truthteller, and he’s letting them in on the secrets of the universe every day. Or trying to, I should say.

But the J&J brothers aren’t HAPPY. They want to take-it-to-the-next-level. They don’t just want to experience this amazing life; they want to have some power over it, and they probably think they deserve it.

As you read through this episode in Jesus’ life, please resist the temptation to bash J&J further and examine your own self. How do you fit into this scenario, and how is Jesus wake-up-calling you to a change of heart?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2010:35-45&version=MSG

I’m looking forward to digging deeper into this on Thursday night, and I hope you’ll be there (at the Crowne Plaza, exit 8 in Nashua, 7pm). Please add to the conversation if you’ve got some wisdom of your own, by clicking on “comments” below. And feel free to come back here on the weekend for more. 

Amazed and even happy,
Kari

(For a peek into Joyce Rupp's cool stuff:  http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/we-are-one.html)

Don't Hurry, Share Your Gifts by Heidi Jakoby

Dustin led us through an evening reflecting on how we use the gifts God has given us. Check out the readings and prayers by linking to: http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/

How do you share your gifts and care for the earth, others and yourself?

We began by reflecting on the second reading where Brian D. McLaren states, “The same forces that hurt widows and orphans, minorities and women, children and the elderly, also hurt the songbirds and trout, the ferns and old-growth forests: greed, impatience, selfishness, arrogance, hurry, anger, competition, irreverence – plus a theology that cares for souls but neglects bodies, that focuses on eternity in heaven but abandons history on earth.” The idea that hurry is hurtful is something that we all need to spend a little time thinking about. When is hurrying not helpful? What do you miss when you are hurrying through life?

As we discussed hurrying and missing things, I thought of this story I saw on Oprah. A stay at home Mom was not enjoying her life and not noticing the sacred in the everyday; she was given the opportunity to spend the day with Stephanie Nielson, a Mom, who suffered severe burns and almost died in a plane crash. Stephanie is a mother of 4 and this video shows her daily struggle and the revelations that came to Andrea the stay at home mom after her experience.

http://www.oprah.com/media/20090924-tows-stephanie-struggle-crash

So why are we hurrying through life? I know I need to be a little easier on myself and realize that sometimes it is the simple moments that are truly God moments.

When we discussed the reading from Mark 10:17-31 I always think about what we are being asked to give up, and I think we are not being asked to give up things as much as to share my gifts which God has given to me and to care for others and the world. I know this seems simple but we all know it is not easy. The question of what do I need versus what do I want is just one of the many questions I struggle with. We talked about how we use the resources we have. What are we good stewards of and what could we do better? One of the things I am still struggling with is the amount of food I am wasting. My husband and I bought a share in a farm so we get vegetables each week and sometimes I do not have time to prepare the food for storage and it goes bad. I am doing better this year than last year but it is time consuming and I do not like to let anything go to waste. I have also noticed that I am much more purposeful in how I run my errands so I am not going out for just one thing but I am going out with a plan. I am one of those people who have a lot of stuff and sometimes I feel I really need to get rid of some of it, but again that takes planning and time. It is also difficult for me to figure out what the best use of my stuff would be.

It is easy for me to help others and to share my gifts, in the community or at church, but when it comes to taking care of me I am not always the best at doing that. I want to end my reflections with a quote from the song Messages by Xavier Rudd.

With each gift that you share

You may heal and repair

With each choice you make

You may help someone’s day

Well I know you are strong

May your journey be long

And now I wish you the best of luck

...with each gift that you share, you may heal and repair...

by Dustin G. Wright

Wow, I've heard it said countless times throughout the by the way community, but I just have to say it here again: it's amazing how often our weekly Bible passage feels so pertinent to what's going on in our individual lives.  When I offered to write this week's blogpost and lead Bread for Your Journey (as long as my car allows me to get there), I had no idea I was signing up to write about exactly what I've been feeling over the last few weeks.  Maybe I'm just bending scripture too much to my own individual experience, but maybe not... you can be the judge :)

At any rate, we're picking up right where we left off last Thursday in chapter ten of the Gospel of Mark, this time in verses seventeen through thirty-one:
17As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.  19But to answer your question, you know the commandments: You must not murder.  You must not commit adultery. You must not steal.  You must not testify falsely.  You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.”
20“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
21Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him.  “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him.  “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”
22At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”  24This amazed them.  But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.  25In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
26The disciples were astounded.  “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
27Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible.  But not with God.  Everything is possible with God.”
28Then Peter began to speak up.  “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
29“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution.  And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” (New Living Translation)

Jesus has a great way of turning the world upside down, and he definitely does just that in this passage.  It's easy to think of those who are "the greatest" or "most successful" (whatever that means) in this world to be the most blessed by God... I'm sure it was easy for many in Jesus' day to think the same.

I personally made a decision two months ago to give up what was a fairly financially lucrative job (working 80 hours a week) to find another job that would allow me more time to pursue a couple voluntary ministry opportunities while also preparing to start seminary in a year or two.  After seven surprise car breakdowns and a tough economy slowed my new job search to halt though, I'm still unemployed and now moving back home... For the first time in my life I think, I wouldn't be what most people would call a "success."  I began almost thinking like Job or something, sort of angry at God for my situation, but only over the last couple of days have I really come to see that in many ways, I've never been so blessed.

When you have a lot of money, you also have many more options and it's a whole lot easier to entertain yourself (at least in a shallower sort of way).  Also, when you have a lot of money, you can seemingly be completely independent... having financial means and independence certainly isn't bad thing in and of itself, but Jesus was right... it does make it a bit harder to find God.  Having more free time lately has given me a lot more time to read, write, pray and contemplate my relationship with Him.  Not being financially independent has done a couple of great things: 1) it's made my relationship with my father much closer, and 2) it's made me realize that even when I can become "independent" from my father again, I should never try to be independent from my Father (if you dig what I'm saying).

Not having much in the way of resources also really makes you think more about how you use those resources, which is the other thing I think Jesus was getting at in our passage this week.  Due to my new-found lack of resources, stewardship, in every sense of the word, has really started to become a central tenet to my faith.  As we'll talk about more this Thursday at Bread for Journey, as Christians we can't just concern ourselves with saving souls... we need to concern ourselves with being good stewards of God's creation here on Earth as well.  Messages, a song by Xavier Rudd, one of my favorite singer/songwriters really touches on that fact:


LYRICS HERE

At first listen it seems like Xavier Rudd is just talking about being a good steward of the environment, but I think he's digging quite a bit deeper here too... we need to start seeing ourselves as part of God's creation again... a really important part of it.  Taking care of our bodies, making the most of our time, and realizing that whatever resources we do come upon during that time (financial or otherwise) are just being borrowed from God, are essential aspects of stewardship as well.  And finally, with the caveat in mind that we need some of our borrowed resources to take care of ourselves and our families, we should use whatever we can to help other folks, the environment, and the rest of God's beautiful creation.  I look forward to talking more about all of this @ Bread for Your Journey this Thursday.

God's peace,
Dustin

Disrespect and Disreguard by Heidi Jakoby

At Bread for your journey Kari shared three readings the last being a poem she sung to the tune of Danny Boy. You can link to the readings by going to http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com

As we moved from the last reading into our discussion we were asked what struck us about the song and the poem. It brought images of the movie Pocahontas and the song "Colors of the Wind" to mind for some.
For me the last line of each verse "God Loves us, so let us love each other with no demands, just open hands and space to grow" is very powerful.  The sense of loving someone with no demands but recognizing that they are growing and moving. We need to encourage and support the growth of people around us, to love them and to help them to know God's love. I also like the contraditions in the second verse about being free while we are being embraced and that it is this sence of embrace, support, love that frees us to take risks and seek out what God wants us to be.  Often it is not only risky to seek out who we are truly meant to be it is also scary, uncertain and anxiety causing. Are you trying to figure out what God is calling you to do?  Are there risks involved with the direction you are being pulled?  Can you ever be sure about your next step or do you just need to trust that you have people who love and support you and you know God is always with you.

From the third reading we went up to the reading from Mark and also the first reading. In the first reading Grounded and Moving Richard Rohr talks about the key to wisdom: being grounded in the center and still, from that deep foundation, knowing how to move out. How do you hold on to your center and move out at the same time?

The reading from Mark looks at the ease of divorce in Moses day. A husband just needed to sign a paper and say we are done, but Jesus does not agree with this. Pretty much a husband could just dismiss his wife, the ultimate diss.  We discussed how we sometimes disreguard one another, how we sometimes can easily overlook someone or stereotype someone.  When we are in a hurry we often assume a lot about the peole we pass on the street.  Sometimes we can be in such a hurry that we can miss God in our midst.  One participant spoke about walking by an individual sitting on a loveseat on the front lawn of a house drinking some coffee just looking like he was watching the day go by. The person who shared this story said the site of this man seemed odd, and he had decided just to walk by but the man on the loveseat was friendly and wished this person a good day.  It caused the participant to pause as he reflected he wished he woudl have had a longer conversation with the man in the loveseat. Another person pointed out that when political parties with differing opions go after one another they often attack the person with mean stereotypes or short phrases which do not do much to further the discussion.  Dissing someone or disrespecting their opinion shuts down communication and doesn't allow either person to grow.

I believe we all need to try to respect and listen to one another.  Think back to a time when you felte dissed or disrespected, how did that make you feel?  For me I felt worthless, I felt that my thinking was in someway flawed that I was flawed because this other person did not want to have a civil conversation with me. Through conversation and listening we can help each other to grow and stay grounded. I encourage you to think about who you may have dissed this week and figure out ways of listening and respecting all the people around you.

Finally at the end of the reading from Mark, the disciples try and shoo the children away from Jesus and Jesus tells them to bring the children to him for, "unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child you'll never get in."  Children were often dissed in Jesus day and Jesus wanted everyone to notice, respect and learn from them.

My parents always taught me that you can learn something from everyone and they never put an age on it. They also taught me to treat everyone with respect and to try not to make assumptions about them.  These are great lessons but they are not always easy.

Well these are just a few of my thoughts about last Thursday's Bread for your journey. Hope to see you next week.

Re-respecting the Dissed

by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

There are so many reasons for dissing people. Though we don’t all have the same ones.

She’s just a Freshman. He’s a drop-out. She’s too intellectual. He’s a socialist. She’s an atheist. He’s a bigot. She’s missing teeth. He’s handicapped. She’s blonde. They’re Yankee fans.

So many ways to dismiss people as irrelevant. To cut them off. To close our minds when they start talking. To see them as somehow less than human.

Just recently I was involved in a big group discussion. I offered what I thought was a powerful point. The moderator waved me off with a few words, dismissed my point entirely, and I felt personally disrespected. I got over it and moved on. But it got me thinking about people who are regularly dissed, and how I sometimes do it myself, as hard as I try not to.

I feel awful when I spot my own prejudices, the ways I categorize people without intending to at all. And when they really start bugging me, I take those pre-judgments into my prayers and into my conversations with friends. Somehow, exposing them is the beginning of overcoming them. For me, it’s a journey of learning to respect beyond the lines, learning to see the way God sees.

This week many Christians around the world will be digging into the story from Mark’s Gospel where Jesus talks about the issue of divorce and then about how children are respected (or not) in his culture.

Take a look at this story: Mark 10:2-16  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2010:2-16&version=MSG

There’s so much to talk about as far as what divorce was like then as opposed to how it is now, and we’ll do that on Thursday night at Bread for your Journey, but I’ll just get us going a bit here… Jesus is talking about the kind of divorce that a husband could do simply by writing a letter of dismissal, leaving his ex-wife to fend for herself in a woman-unfriendly world. She’s dismissed, disrepected, and terribly alone. She’s damaged goods and will never live the label down… unless…

Unless someone breaks through old attitudes and prejudices and does something about it. Unless someone creates a new kind of community where the dissed can be re-respected. Even children, the most dissed of all, can be seen and held as people of worth we can learn from admire. Is that what Jesus was getting at?

How are you someone that is dissed sometimes and needs to be re-respected, re-connected, re-deemed? And what difference does it make that Jesus is working through us to restore respectful community? What needs to change inside of us for that to begin?

Let’s explore some more this Thursday night 7pm at the Crowne Plaza. And we’ll continue as well on here on the blog this weekend.

Whirling, twirling thoughts.

by Heidi Jakoby

Whirling, twirling, out of control. This is what I think of as I think about the evening’s readings and discussion. http://breadforyourjourney.blogspot.com/
We began with the reading from Mark and talking about how sometimes we feel like we have failed and we see others who are succeeding and we might envy them, as it looks easy from the outside looking in. As we moved to the second reading we read the whines as a group out loud. You could really feel the complaining and how common their reasons for complaining were. I could really relate to this. Sometimes it seems easier to complain than to take action or make a different choice. What is really great about the reading from Numbers is that, at least for me I can relate and that God had an answer for Moses. The Spirit will be shared among a group of leaders. Moses' was no longer alone, in leadership. I believe that by sharing leadership people can be better served. Then the third reading although brief is packed with movement, taking listening which is often thought of as passive to something that helps energize and expand people causing growth. I truly agree with the thoughts expressed in this reading.


We had a lot of discussion about feeling out of control and how we seek help in these situations. Do we delegate some of our tasks, do we find a friend to vent too so our thoughts and actions can become clear, or might we retreat into ourselves which doesn’t help things to move forward or to get done. So many choices and each reading gives us a different way of reflecting on the times when we feel out of control.

During the discussion Kari also had us view this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeca3isOoW4
This explanation of the Sufi Whirling Dervish was very enlightening to me. There is something so natural about spinning around. Children do it all the time for seemingly no reason. There is a sense of freedom when your twirl. In this video the narrator explains that this is a meditative process and as you whirl there is a point when your center becomes still. I love this idea. I think when you reach this point there must be such a sense of peace and hope that anything is possible. My personal twitter and IM name is “twirlingforfun” and this came from a very difficult time in my life when my husband and I were going through infertility treatment. I was trying to discover ways of coping with this process and the rollercoaster of emotions I was feeling (which is often equated to the feelings and emotions of dealing with a terminal illness). We attended a mind body program in which they introduced us to Loretta LaRoche (http://www.lorettalaroche.com/) who was very clear that you should laugh everyday and twirl everyday whether you felt like it or not. These actions help you to feel better. I have never forgotten that and when I am having a bad day my husband will often twirl with me in the kitchen.

As we moved into our time of reflection Kari offered us three different ways of reflecting on the theme for this evening. The first was a listening station where there were two songs one by Hoobistank called “Out of Control” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ZA0xX6_g4

And the other called “Swim” by Jack Mannequin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA8PaIw5gcE&feature=related 

These are both very different and caused me to reflect on being out of control but persisting.

The next station was a reading station and there were many things to look at but one particular poem I just loved from “Something BIG Has Been Here” by Jack Prelustsky. The poem entitled “I Should Have Stayed in Bed Today”. This poem just describes a very particular day of small annoyances that can really cause you to be discouraged. It made me smile with its silly phrases, “I squirted toothpaste in my ear” or “I knocked my homework off the desk, it landed on my toes.” Chaos can be little things but how we react can make all the difference.

The third themed area was called “pick your own metaphor” when life is crazy and out of control what are some of the metaphors you think of. There were a wide variety of options. Do you try to cling to an anchor? Do you spin out of control? Do you end up with the fuzzy end of the lollipop? to name a few. A couple of things others had written, spinning wheel – turns a lump of wooliness into a strong and useful yarn that binds things together; God is…a guest, a sympathizer, all around me, a loved one, an empathizer, a breaker of boundaries, an unknown, an energizer. What is your Safety Net or your Security Blanket? What about your, Uplifting Wind, or Swimming Buddy?

As you can see there was a lot to think about and reflect upon these are only a few of my wonderings. I hope you share some of yours and that you might join the conversation.

when life is out of control

by Kari Henkelmann Keyl

There’s “out of control” and there’s “seriously out of control”. The first is when a few nasty things happen that get your head spinning, but there’s enough steadiness in your life that you can almost handle the craziness. You share your frustrations with a friend or two. They share their out-of-balance stories. You realize you’re ok. You might even be grateful to be doing as well or better than they are.

But then there are times when life has become practically unrecognizable. So many of your count-on-ables have crashed… that you can hardly breathe. Vulnerable, volatile, on the edge. How do you handle it? Lots of tempting, unhelpful ways to choose from…

Some pretend everything’s fine, and refuse to open up to others. Some dump it all out ad nauseum until their friends are tempted to disown them. Some turn a resentful eye to the world around them and blame everyone else for their out-of-controlness.

These temptations are nothing new, of course. Jesus’ followers had to deal with being out of control, too. And we get to learn from their unhealthy choices. Aren’t we lucky?

Picture this: Jesus’ disciples are sorting through some tough realities. They’d previously seen so many incredible healings happen, both by Jesus’ hands and their own. They knew what they were doing and they did it well. In control.

But then they tried to heal someone with a nasty demon, and it didn’t work. What’s going on? Are we losing it? Their teacher Jesus had to come in and take care of it. That was bad enough, to feel like you’re slipping, like the bad things are controlling you instead of you controlling them. But it got even worse, when Jesus got all gloom-and-doom, lecturing them about how it was his job to give up his power and die. Completely out of control.

In the middle of this, the disciples encounter someone who’s successfully healing people, using Jesus’ name to do it, but he’s not someone of their in-group. So here’s some uncertified healer doing something the disciples themselves couldn’t do yesterday! Geez, Jesus, what’s the deal? What can we count on anymore? Is it all falling apart?

See how John tattles on the do-gooder and how Jesus responds:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%209:38-41&version=CEV

There’s lots here to talk about… how the disciples resort to “us and them” thinking and how Jesus won’t let them sink into that… how we also are tempted to take things out on others when we’re frustrated… how God might be acting through all this to take us through our struggles to new places of insight… how Jesus knows what it’s like to voluntarily become out of control… and that he does it for us.

And how is it that we, as a community of Jesus that is both local and virtual, support one another in our out-of-control struggles?  Lots of good stuff to munch on...

Do come to this Thursday’s Bread for your Journey (7pm, Crowne Plaza, Nashua, exit 8) for more of these tasty morsels, if you happen to be reasonably local. Otherwise, come back to the blog on the weekend to continue the conversation. Feel free to comment here: Any thoughts you have, any links you’d like to share, are most welcome.

Peace in the storm,
Kari