The TED Prize

The TED prize is awarded annually to three exceptional individuals who each receive $100,000 and the granting of “One Wish to Change the World.” One of this year’s winners is Karen Armstrong, the writer of more than 20 books around the ideas of what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common. In recent years I have found her book, The History of God, to be a valuable resource for my own teaching. It traces the history of how humanity has perceived and experienced God from the time of Abraham to the present through these three strands of monotheism. So, it was with great interest when I heard her accept her award and present her wish: The Charter for Compassion. I invite you to watch and listen to this most fascinating challenge. (approx. 20 minutes)

P.S. I have also found her latest book, The Bible: A Biography, to be a very important addition to my library.

A Good Read

For months, The Year of Magical Thinking, has been on my bedside table waiting to be read. I find it most interesting that I finally chose to read it during Holy Week for it is a story of living after a loved one’s death. Well-known writer, Joan Didion, explores her experiences and thoughts during the year following the death of her husband. This is not an overwrought widow’s sentimental account that will evoke great emotion on the part of the reader, Neither is this written with the voice of one on a spiritual journey, but rather as a wife’s honest struggle to make sense out of her time of grief by reconciling what was in her marriage to her new state of being.

Didion’s matter-of-fact writing style with engaging use of language immediately captured my attention. She reflects on the difficulty of change and letting-go as she copes with her grief as the result of her husband’s death. During this same time period her daughter, their only child, was critically ill. Sometimes she seems to so detach herself from these events through this exploration of her mental state that I was left wondering how she is healing her heart. She did indicate that she sought answers through literature and uses brief quotes from some of the authors. Didion also references her Episcopalian background. However, we really are given little insight to her inward journey during this time.

In her year of mourning, Didion does seem to arrive at some state of acceptance of what she understandably has been resisting. Throughout the book, her italicized refrain is
Life changes fast.
Life changes in the instant.
You sit down to dinner and life as
you know it ends.

In her suffering she realizes that she has never been very amenable to change and finally surrenders her illusion of control. Her husband's words keep repeating to her:
Why do you always have to be right.
Why do you always have to have the last word.
For once in your life just let it go.

I found this psychological adjustment based on pragmatic reflection to be exemplary of much of the contemporary experience of grief and I can maybe too easily say that I have what I think to be a well-grounded faith that offers comfort and hope. For as Didion says, “Grief turns out to be a place none of us know until we reach it.” Therefore, I recommend this to be well worth reading and would like to know what other readers think about it.

Easter 2008

Shannon and Dan with sons, William and Ethan

and two happy grandparents

O God, we give you thanks for filling our hearts with joy, our minds with hope, and for leading us along as an Easter people. Amen.

The Shack

As a result of conversation with several persons, I have just read The Shack by William P. Young. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to take the time to read it as it didn’t seem as though it was the type of book that usually interests me. Several times during the first sixty or so pages I was ready to quit. Yet, the twists and turns in the story line began to capture my interest and theological insights were emerging in most interesting ways. The author uses this fictional account of a father in the midst of “Great Sadness” following the murder of his young daughter to explain a lot of things about God as revealed in the Trinity. The wrestling with some of the timeless theological questions that most of us face at some time or another leads the reader into important reflection and that is the value of this book.

Each one of us finds God in different places and ways. Sometimes it is in fictional writing. However, because of the limitations of this genre it is difficult to really know what the author means by what he says. The author cannot always adequately offer explanations or provide footnotes to scripture. Also, the emotional impact of reading fiction can become manipulative and thwart our ability to discern what is true and what is not. So, proceed with caution and discernment if you choose to read this book.

Soul Music

Yesterday, Tim, First Church’s choir director, sang one of my favorite hymns at our Seagull and Snowbird gathering. As usual, It is Well with My Soul took me beyond knowledge to insight. It released the part of me that needed to be in tune with God.

Lately, I have been struggling with some the challenges of ministry. Because I am the one who is often thought to have the answers, I forget to ask the questions that help maintain a healthy perspective on what is happening in my life and I cannot truthfully say that it has been “well with my soul.” I often feel an urgency to answer God’s call in my life and become impatient, overbearing and abrupt when events aren’t unfolding as I think they should. I forget that God’s time, kairos, is different than that linear process that directs so much of my thinking. “When sorrows like sea billows roll” I need to refocus and know that “my sin…is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.”

Music is the one thing which I cannot hide from my soul. It touches my pain, my hope and my faith. It gives me something that I need for the journey, God’s justifying grace. Then, “it is well with my soul.”

General Conference 2008

In my world, the buzz concerns the upcoming General Conference and legislative actions that might impact not only the UMC in general, but also our local churches. Since this happens only every four years, good refresher information may be found at this website. Delegates from the South Carolina Conference are busy preparing for this event. Let's be in prayer for and with them as they take on this most important work.

The Legacy of Friendship

In a recent NY Times op-ed column, David Brooks wrote that “William F. Buckley Jr.’s greatest talent was friendship. He showered affection on his friends, and he had an endless stream of them, old and young. ” This led me once more to consider the matters of friendships. Although there has been much discussion about people in the United States having fewer close friends than in years past, we also are told the value of friendship and its importance to our well-being. As a result of so many strained families, friends have become surrogate family and the primary source of support and affection. “Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure” ( Sirach 6:14) To be a friend and to have a friend supports the understanding that we are social and relational, not solitary and autonomous. There is a special kind of grace expressed in friendship for a friend is someone who makes us feel more like our true selves, one who recognizes the person we were meant to be. Buckley seemed to understand that this is the way we are called into fullness of life. I am coming to realize that I haven’t spent enough time and energy in recent years nurturing such relationships.

Jury Duty

Just when I thought that I couldn’t do one more thing, I was summoned for jury duty this week. Trying to maintain the proper attitude about this rite of citizenship, I ventured forth each morning muttering something about my civic duty and I was sure it certainly would be the last day of this adventure. Finally, by noon on Thursday, I was headed to my office and ready to resume my usual routine without having to pass judgment on anyone; i.e., in any official sort of way. However, I have made these observations:

During the seemingly endless time of waiting, Horry County residents upheld the Southern tradition of making personal connections by asking – Where do you live? Who do you know? What church do you attend? Even two guys from New York played the game and discovered they knew someone in common in their home state.

The court officials were very courteous, reminded us frequently how important our service was and explained the events of the day with clarity. The new courthouse means that the needs of all are accommodated comfortably. This was definitely my best jury duty experience from this standpoint.

This part of South Carolina is becoming quite diverse as evidenced by those of us in the jury pool room, but folks here still haven’t learned to do it right like they do it back home in New York or New Jersey. (So, why did you move here?)

Even with the distraction of doing some serious people watching, I got to read much of an interesting book, The Shack by William Young. Comments about this will probably appear in another post.

The consensus of my new friends is that the latest Grand Strand traffic nightmare will be the area around the Hard Rock Park and that Stuart Axelroad puts on quite a show in the courtroom.

And, trial lawyers don’t seem to be interested in having clergy serve on juries. Thank you, Lord!

Pew Research Study

Headlines of the past week about the changing religious landscape in America are generating conversation in a variety of ways. This is the result of the most recent Pew Research Study. Of course, many claim this information as affirmation of what they perceive to be wrong with their denomination or organized faith affiliation and I am sure that this will be freely quoted at our upcoming General Conference. So, it is interesting to read Larry Hollen’s thoughts about how we might interpret this new information in a constructive way. He says, "These figures lay out a landscape for significant ministry if we listen with sensitivity and reach out compassionately.

Everyday Blessings

Material and mundane matters seem to have been filling my thoughts lately and borrowing from Shakespeare and Steinbeck, I have been experiencing a winter of discontent. I have failed to see the interesting and profound in my days and as a result the blog postings have been sparse. In retrospect, this makes me very sad as I feel that everything in life is a potential blessing. It only depends on how we view it and what we do with it. There are elements of the sacred that underlie all facets of life. So once more I need to listen with my heart as I journey through Lent. The daffodils and tulips that we planted last fall offer a good place to begin as I seek a "thin place." (An early Celtic Christian metaphor for those times or places when the boundary between the sacred and the everyday feels “thin,” when God’s presence is more strongly felt.)

Each time I see their blooms they become moments of joy and these beautiful, simple words come to mind:

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Thanks to Ron, another blessing in my life, and Pixel Pics for the photo.

Greenville, SC

As a result of a surprising turn of events, the Osbornes moved to Greenville, South Carolina in 1980. Almost immediately we became interested in the history and culture of this part of our country and began claiming it as home. However, Ron’s employer, NCR, called us to Columbia in 1983 where we lived for the next eighteen years and in 2001 we moved to Myrtle Beach so that I could serve at First UMC. During the intervening years since we discovered the red clay and textile world of the Upstate, lots has changed in Greenville. Last week we spent a day enjoying the updated version of the downtown area even on a rainy day. The new picture on the banner is of the bridge across the Reedy River Falls and this pilgrim remembering an important part of her life while looking forward to the future wherever the bridge might take her.

We visited the new Upcountry History Museum which depicts the events and resulting culture that defines this part of South Carolina. Several films and multimedia presentations provide good insight into the who and why of today’s stories. The film, “Pocketbooks, Prayer Books and Datebooks: Stories of Ambition in Upcountry South Carolina,” is excellent and a great introduction to one’s visit to the museum.

We encourage others to discover Greenville in her newest version. Then retreat to some of the hiking trails through the thousands of acres of the Upstate that have been so thoughtfully and carefully preserved. This is another story of vision by the leaders of the this corner of South Carolina that we all should applaud and emulate. Twenty-four hours in Greenville provided us lots to think and talk about as we returned to the beach.

Teaching Ministry

I have been immersed in Christian Education theory and practice as the result of some of my extracurricular activities. (I am a teaching assistant for a Columbia College e-college class and have been doing some church and district workshops about educational ministry.) As a result I have been taking a hard look at how we teach and learn at First UMC and have come to these conclusions:

Pro: Our classes are welcoming and are important fellowship entities.
Con: Our classes are territorial and do not welcome new classes which is the most effective way to grow this ministry.

Pro: We have some great teachers/leaders in our classes.
Con: We have teacher/leaders that resist growing in their understanding of faith issues and teaching methods.

Pro: We present a lot of good information through curriculum and teachers.
Con: We struggle to share it in a way that is transforming in the lives of class members.

Pro: Our classes present a variety of faith topics and issues.
Con: Much of class discussion is based on secular based thinking.

Pro: We continue to offer in-depth Bible study in small group settings.
Con: Many of the participants are the same faces year after year.

Pro: We have many families that consider Christian education to be important.
Con: We have many families that fail to regularly participate in Christian education experiences.

Pro: We have classes and groups for those interested in nourishing their mature faith.
Con: We do not offer classes for those who are seeking basic understanding of faith matters.

This analysis of our Christian education ministry could continue, but I think that I have enough to think about for now. I encourage others to further define this list and help me to get rid of some of the “cons”. What do we need to be doing to enhance our teaching ministry?

Naming

In this season of name calling I remember what we said as children, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” I’m no longer sure of that after years of observing the pain of such naming experienced by many of God’s children. It has become obvious that the name we give to someone shapes our attitude toward him or her. Children do resent being called “Piggy”, “Four Eyes” and other demeaning names. But, how much worse to be called “nigger” or “fag” - names of ridicule all your life.

We give life to things and make relationships with them by the act of naming.. This offers identity, direction and character. It is a tradition as old as the Old Testament itself. When Moses asks God, “What is your name?” God says, “I am who I Am.” After Jacob steals his brother’s birthright and wrestles with the angel, God calls him “Israel,” the one who has striven with God. Sarai becomes “Sarah,” the one who laughed at the thought of being able to have a child in old age.

Our son, Robert Ronald, is named for his grandfather and father and his son is Jackson Robert. Daniel Taggart carries forth my grandmother’s family name as does his son, William Taggart. William is his Grandfather Amick’s name. We use family names to remember who we are and what we’re expected to be. It keeps our history alive in us.

Naming is clearly a holy act, an act of creation. It gives identity. But it can also destroy relationships. It’s a powerful device that deserves to be used with caution and sacred trust. Calling someone by name can be a mark of worth. “Hey you” is not naming a relationship of value.

Winter Realities

While traveling the highways and byways of South Carolina this past week, I was struck by how the stark, barren landscape of winter reveals the reality of what many persons now understand to be our relationship with the Earth. A hardwood tree here and there dots the horizon, decaying structures are everywhere and roadside trash abounds. We realize that we plunder and rape the Earth for our own purposes and fail to live in partnership with it. If we are to live in sacred community with the Earth, we have to rethink how we use the natural resources which we have been given.

Often these days of winter reveal the landscape of our souls, also. Lifeless and barren, we give no evidence of new growth and our spiritual life seems dead. Then comes Lent and we have the opportunity to be in a season of reflection and new life. Through study, worship and prayerful discernment we can reclaim faithful living and know that we are part of a sacred community with the Earth. We can restore that which we have wasted and neglected and the Earth and its peoples can flourish.

Refer to First UMC’s Lenten calendar for guidance.

The Value of Child Care

We are blessed at First UMC with the quaility of our Child Development Ministry. Many factors come together to create an excellent nurturning center for preschool and afterschool children. However, my personal opinion is that the director, Jeanne Voltz Loomis, is the key player in making it all happen. This morning I was most pleased to see her thoughts about the value of child care expressed in the Sun-News. What do you think?

Amish Grace

Amish Grace is the second book that I have read recently that gives understanding to those folks known as the Amish. This one is focused on the October, 2006 school shooting in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania and how the Amish responded. Their spontaneous act of faith, forgiveness, caught the attention of those who were reporting these senseless murders and much conversation about it ensued. The authors, Donald B. Kraybill, Steven Nolt and David Weaver-Zercher, have written extensively on Amish culture and the media used them as resources in the days that followed this tragic event. Again, I have found the telling of the Amish story to be interesting and one that asks us to reflect on our understanding of living in faithfulness.

In addition to the insights into the Amish habit of forgiveness, I find their rituals which surround grief to be interesting. Although public grief is often restrained, the authors report that tears do flow freely and deep anguish is felt among the whole community. This grief is acknowledged through specific practices such as daily visits to the family for the first two or three weeks by community members. This is followed by a year’s worth of Sunday afternoon visits. Women wear black when they are in mourning which serves as a sign to the community to respond with care. Memorial poems are written expressing the depth of grief and the thanksgiving for the deceased person’s life. All of this leads those in grief to “a new normal.” How often we seek to rush through our grieving so that our lives can return to normal. The Amish recognition that death changes lives and that the healing of emotions is a process leads me to believe that they are better prepared to accept the next season of grief, and if need be to extend forgiveness, than many of us are.

The Amish community is bound together by strong ties of family, faith and culture. They readily adhere to the biblical commandment to bear one another's burdens. Living into the Word can truly be powerful.

Election Year Thoughts

It has been another interesting week in South Carolina with presidential candidates and their entourages, the national media attention and the abundance of political advertisements offering voters insight into the issues that are part of this election year. Of course, the economy has taken center stage and we continue to hear about immigration, health care and war. But, concern for worldwide poverty, the threat of global warming, foreign policy based primarily on military action and the other injustices that shape the lives of children here and around the world seems to be almost non-existent. I am sure there are position papers and expert political analyses that could give us a better of understanding of each candidate’s views, however, most of us rely mainly on sound bytes and headlines to shape our opinions. So, as the glitz and glamour subsides, I plan to spend more time digging deeper into what I need to know to vote in November.

Focus the Nation

After being overloaded on presidential primaries and economic woes, it is interesting to know that college students are calling us to focus on climate change and related environmental issues. Their understanding of this important topic might be the most important news of the week. We are proud of our daughter in-law, Kristen, and her leadership in Focus the Nation at Clemson University where she teaches. Our son offers some insight into her efforts on his blog.

Go, Tigers!

A Good Movie

I enjoy movies, but do not consider myself to be a real student of this art form or entertainment media. So, I usually refrain from reviewing or promoting them. However, we have just watched the heart-warming movie, Akeelah and the Bee, and think others would enjoy this inspiring story. Akeelah is a 11 year old student in a mediocre school and a challenging world. When her spelling skills are recognized, she finds herself being propelled into a series of spelling bees that culminate in the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC. Although it has a number of predictable elements, several twists and turns leave the viewer reflecting on the life lessons presented. The young lead actress, Keke Palmer, is delightful and should be receiving more opportunities to act in movies. Preachers will find this movie quotable and the rest of us will think about it for quite awhile.

The Family Story

After many weeks of Old Testament study, the Disciple Bible Study group that I facilitate is reading the Book of Matthew. (Yeah, we finally made it!) With this background, the genealogy that begins this account of Jesus the Messiah has taken on new meaning for us. Jesus pedigree connects the Old and New Testament in exciting ways. It stresses Jesus’ relationship to Abraham, the father of the Jews, and to David, the greatest king of the Jews, instead of to Adam, the first man. We also are discovering women’s names included in this listing and are learning how their stories of faithfulness are important to the continuation of God’s covenant with Israel.

After 28 years in South Carolina this kind of knowledge of family histories should not be a surprise to me. To a native son or daughter, there is never anything trite or dull about retelling the family stories, no matter how many times they have been heard. There is a sense of joy in the discovery of how one is part of the continuing story. To Jewish Christians, this web or series of interconnecting events led directly from Abraham to Jesus and revealed much about God’s plan of redemption. How interesting and exciting to know the story is still unfolding!

Teach us, O God, how to submit our years to you so that they may be woven with grace and beauty into the pattern of eternity. Amen.