The Bowery by Theodore
Whenever I see a plastic bag dancing in the wind, which is regrettably often, I remember a line from the movie American Beauty:
That’s the day I realized that there is this, entire life behind things. And this incredibly benevolent force that wanted me to know there is no reason to be afraid, ever….But it helps me remember. I need to remember. Sometime’s there’s so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can’t take it, and my heart is just going to cave in.
This quote helps me remember something I need to remember, that beauty surrounds us. Ricky Fitts (the character that says the line) was able to look beyond the bag and see the divine. For Ricky, the bag was not just one of the five hundred billion plastic bags that are produced each year in this world, it was not one more piece of trash; it was a window into that which unites us all.
I need to remember that there is beauty in the world because I seldom see it. It is difficult, if not impossible, to see beauty in the face of sexism, homophobia, racism and the other forms of injustice that diminish and belittle life, therefore degrading the imago dei, the image of God, that is in us all. But what I need to remember, what we need to remember, is that even in the midst of injustice beauty persists as the universe dances a ballet to the symbiotic symphony we call life.
The work that we have set before us is not to make the ugliness of injustice beautiful by covering it up; by no means. The work we have set before us is to reach for the true aesthetic, the imago dei, the ground of our being, by reaching out and working towards the kindom of God. “The Bowery” speaks to me because it forces me to confront the ugliness of life and remember to strive for beauty. It is a song about people living in despair, people that have lived lives that a “priest would call sin”. Justin Kinkel-Schuster sings, “The priests never go to the places she’s been. If they did, how could heaven exist?” We must admit, as religious leaders, there are a number of places that we have not been and moreover we seek to avoid. How could heaven exist? Through beauty, truth, and justice.
Will you go to the places where heaven does not exist?
Will you bring beauty to those that have only known repulsiveness?
Will you go to the Bowery?
~Nate
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Everything
Everything by Lifehouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_M0H5nrY8E
Scripture focus: John 20:19-31
The most transforming moments in the resurrection story are when Christ reveals himself to his followers when he returns to Earth. Christ gives his disciples specific instruction: to continue work with the marginalized in society that he began.
In one of these moments we meet Thomas, a character who is forever dubbed “Doubting Thomas” but really, when I think about Thomas, I wonder if his doubt wasn’t honest questioning and serious examination of a series of events that caused upheaval in his close community of disciples and in the community of Jews in Jerusalem.
Jesus shows Thomas his wounds, the most vulnerable and sensitive parts of his body. Jesus says, “Look at these wounds, touch them”.
With these words, Jesus turns again the attention of his disciple to the parts of the body that hurt - the parts of Jesus that hurt. And today Jesus turns us to the parts of our body that hurt.
Maybe not our physical body, but think about the Body of Christ, think about the people in today’s world that hurt. Think about the vulnerable, the weak, the homeless, the poor and the hungry. Think about the people in our church who hurt. Where is our woundedness? Think about members of the GLBT community who are denied ordination and sometimes church membership. Think about the immigrants in our churches and communities who are criminalized for seeking employment and a better life. Think of minorities that are living in the aftermath of generations of neglect and poverty because of the color of their skin.
Jesus said, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe”.
Today, we are still called to touch those wounds. And having seen the wounds, we are called to action, to continue Jesus’ ministry with the poor and marginalized.
Upon recognizing Jesus, Thomas has an “aha moment” and says, “My Lord and my God”. We must live with the same assurance that Christ has risen.
The wounds we see in today’s world -as in Christ’s world- are caused by social injustice. God calls us to live the resurrection. To be witnesses to be living and breathing examples of the love of Christ. Let’s be Easter people fighting injustice, loving and standing with oppressed sisters and brothers charged with living the resurrection.
~Katy
Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.
You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything,everything
You're all I want your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.
And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_M0H5nrY8E
Scripture focus: John 20:19-31
The most transforming moments in the resurrection story are when Christ reveals himself to his followers when he returns to Earth. Christ gives his disciples specific instruction: to continue work with the marginalized in society that he began.
In one of these moments we meet Thomas, a character who is forever dubbed “Doubting Thomas” but really, when I think about Thomas, I wonder if his doubt wasn’t honest questioning and serious examination of a series of events that caused upheaval in his close community of disciples and in the community of Jews in Jerusalem.
Jesus shows Thomas his wounds, the most vulnerable and sensitive parts of his body. Jesus says, “Look at these wounds, touch them”.
With these words, Jesus turns again the attention of his disciple to the parts of the body that hurt - the parts of Jesus that hurt. And today Jesus turns us to the parts of our body that hurt.
Maybe not our physical body, but think about the Body of Christ, think about the people in today’s world that hurt. Think about the vulnerable, the weak, the homeless, the poor and the hungry. Think about the people in our church who hurt. Where is our woundedness? Think about members of the GLBT community who are denied ordination and sometimes church membership. Think about the immigrants in our churches and communities who are criminalized for seeking employment and a better life. Think of minorities that are living in the aftermath of generations of neglect and poverty because of the color of their skin.
Jesus said, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe”.
Today, we are still called to touch those wounds. And having seen the wounds, we are called to action, to continue Jesus’ ministry with the poor and marginalized.
Upon recognizing Jesus, Thomas has an “aha moment” and says, “My Lord and my God”. We must live with the same assurance that Christ has risen.
The wounds we see in today’s world -as in Christ’s world- are caused by social injustice. God calls us to live the resurrection. To be witnesses to be living and breathing examples of the love of Christ. Let’s be Easter people fighting injustice, loving and standing with oppressed sisters and brothers charged with living the resurrection.
~Katy
Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.
You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything,everything
You're all I want your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.
And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Friday, April 25, 2008
Defying Gravity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s7n7dNl5Hg
Defying Gravity from the Musical Wicked
Have you ever seen a whale breach? It’s amazing, while I’ve never seen one in person, pictures and videos which capture this chance occurrence are stunning. A breach occurs when a whale flips itself entirely out of the water, twists in midair and lands loudly on its side. Whales often breach in groups, performing multiple breaches at a time – each breach takes about 1% of a whale’s daily intake. The immense cloud of bubbles and underwater disturbance caused by a breach can’t be faked thus if neighbors detect these bubbles they know a breach has taken place. Why do whales breach? When do they breach? And how do these mammoth animals catapult their massive bodies out of the water?
While scientists have not determined the reasons why a whale might breach here are some of their theories:
*Communication – the sound from a breach carries farther than their underwater sonar noises, what they are attempting to say can only be guessed. Perhaps they are altering friends to plentiful food, enticing mates, merely announcing their presence or warning of danger.
*Exfoliation – the impact of the landing is enough to break off a great deal of dead skin and barnacles.
*Feeding – the forceful impact has been known to knock prey unconscious long enough for the whale to swallow it.
In the Dance of the Dissident Daughter, Sue Monk Kidd describes her journey from traditional Christianity to the Sacred Feminine as a breach. She shares her story as a way of calling out to other seekers both warning them of the dangers she faced as well as her joys. I see this devotional as a collective breach by our faith community. Each writer has taken the time to share a part of who they are, certainly using more than 1% of their daily intake. Sharing our thoughts and music with you is a risk, when we jumped we had no idea how you’d respond, would you like it, hate it, be changed, or concerned?
One of the beautiful parts of breaching is that it’s intent is determined by the breacher (warning or joy)…what others make of the super-sized water ballet is up to them. As a community we need to breach when we can and feel called to. Some of us will be breaching this week in Texas and others of us will continue to boldly breach in our home communities. No matter where or what forms your breaching takes, I appreciate our communities risk taking in defying gravity together.
Rachel
GLINDA: (spoken) Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for once, instead of flying off the handle! (sung) I hope you're happy!/ I hope you're happy now/ I hope you're happy how you/ Hurt your cause forever/ I hope you think you're clever!
ELPHABA: I hope you're happy/ I hope you're happy, too/ I hope you're proud how you / Would grovel in submission/ To feed your own ambition
BOTH: So though I can't imagine how/ I hope you're happy right now
GLINDA: (spoken) Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry: (sung) You can still be with the Wizard/ What you've worked and waited for/ You can have all you ever wanted:
ELPHABA: (spoken) I know: (sung) But I don't want it - / No - I can't want it/ Anymore:
Something has changed within me / Something is not the same/ I'm through with playing by the rules/ Of someone else's game/ Too late for second-guessing/ Too late to go back to sleep/ It's time to trust my instincts/ Close my eyes: and leap!
It's time to try/ Defying gravity/ I think I'll try/ Defying gravity/ And you can't pull me down!
GLINDA: Can't I make you understand?/ You're having delusions of grandeur:
ELPHABA: I'm through accepting limits/ 'Cuz someone says they're so/ Some things I cannot change/ But till I try, I'll never know!/ Too long I've been afraid of/ Losing love I guess I've lost/ Well, if that's love/ It comes at much too high a cost!/ I'd sooner buy/ Defying gravity/ Kiss me goodbye/ I'm defying gravity/ And you can't pull me down:/ (spoken) Glinda - come with me. Think of what we could do: together.
(sung) Unlimited/ Together we're unlimited/ Together we'll be the greatest team / There's ever been/ Glinda - Dreams, the way we planned 'em
GLINDA: If we work in tandem:
BOTH: There's no fight we cannot win/ Just you and I/ Defying gravity/ With you and I/ Defying gravity
ELPHABA: They'll never bring us down!/ (spoken) Well? Are you coming?
GLINDA: I hope you're happy/ Now that you're choosing this
ELPHABA: (spoken) You too (sung) I hope it brings you bliss
BOTH: I really hope you get it/ And you don't live to regret it/ I hope you're happy in the end/ I hope you're happy, my friend:
ELPHABA: So if you care to find me/ Look to the western sky!/ As someone told me lately:/ "Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"/ And if I'm flying solo/ At least I'm flying free/ To those who'd ground me/ Take a message back from me/ Tell them how I am/ Defying gravity/ I'm flying high/ Defying gravity/ And soon I'll match them in renown/ And nobody in all of Oz/ No Wizard that there is or was/ Is ever gonna bring me down!
GLINDA: I hope you're happy!
CITIZENS OF OZ: Look at her, she's wicked!/ Get her!
ELPHABA: Bring me down!
CITIZENS OF OZ: No one mourns the wicked/ So we've got to bring her
ELPHABA: Ahhh!
CITIZENS OF OZ: Down!
Defying Gravity from the Musical Wicked
Have you ever seen a whale breach? It’s amazing, while I’ve never seen one in person, pictures and videos which capture this chance occurrence are stunning. A breach occurs when a whale flips itself entirely out of the water, twists in midair and lands loudly on its side. Whales often breach in groups, performing multiple breaches at a time – each breach takes about 1% of a whale’s daily intake. The immense cloud of bubbles and underwater disturbance caused by a breach can’t be faked thus if neighbors detect these bubbles they know a breach has taken place. Why do whales breach? When do they breach? And how do these mammoth animals catapult their massive bodies out of the water?
While scientists have not determined the reasons why a whale might breach here are some of their theories:
*Communication – the sound from a breach carries farther than their underwater sonar noises, what they are attempting to say can only be guessed. Perhaps they are altering friends to plentiful food, enticing mates, merely announcing their presence or warning of danger.
*Exfoliation – the impact of the landing is enough to break off a great deal of dead skin and barnacles.
*Feeding – the forceful impact has been known to knock prey unconscious long enough for the whale to swallow it.
In the Dance of the Dissident Daughter, Sue Monk Kidd describes her journey from traditional Christianity to the Sacred Feminine as a breach. She shares her story as a way of calling out to other seekers both warning them of the dangers she faced as well as her joys. I see this devotional as a collective breach by our faith community. Each writer has taken the time to share a part of who they are, certainly using more than 1% of their daily intake. Sharing our thoughts and music with you is a risk, when we jumped we had no idea how you’d respond, would you like it, hate it, be changed, or concerned?
One of the beautiful parts of breaching is that it’s intent is determined by the breacher (warning or joy)…what others make of the super-sized water ballet is up to them. As a community we need to breach when we can and feel called to. Some of us will be breaching this week in Texas and others of us will continue to boldly breach in our home communities. No matter where or what forms your breaching takes, I appreciate our communities risk taking in defying gravity together.
Rachel
GLINDA: (spoken) Elphaba - why couldn't you have stayed calm for once, instead of flying off the handle! (sung) I hope you're happy!/ I hope you're happy now/ I hope you're happy how you/ Hurt your cause forever/ I hope you think you're clever!
ELPHABA: I hope you're happy/ I hope you're happy, too/ I hope you're proud how you / Would grovel in submission/ To feed your own ambition
BOTH: So though I can't imagine how/ I hope you're happy right now
GLINDA: (spoken) Elphie, listen to me. Just say you're sorry: (sung) You can still be with the Wizard/ What you've worked and waited for/ You can have all you ever wanted:
ELPHABA: (spoken) I know: (sung) But I don't want it - / No - I can't want it/ Anymore:
Something has changed within me / Something is not the same/ I'm through with playing by the rules/ Of someone else's game/ Too late for second-guessing/ Too late to go back to sleep/ It's time to trust my instincts/ Close my eyes: and leap!
It's time to try/ Defying gravity/ I think I'll try/ Defying gravity/ And you can't pull me down!
GLINDA: Can't I make you understand?/ You're having delusions of grandeur:
ELPHABA: I'm through accepting limits/ 'Cuz someone says they're so/ Some things I cannot change/ But till I try, I'll never know!/ Too long I've been afraid of/ Losing love I guess I've lost/ Well, if that's love/ It comes at much too high a cost!/ I'd sooner buy/ Defying gravity/ Kiss me goodbye/ I'm defying gravity/ And you can't pull me down:/ (spoken) Glinda - come with me. Think of what we could do: together.
(sung) Unlimited/ Together we're unlimited/ Together we'll be the greatest team / There's ever been/ Glinda - Dreams, the way we planned 'em
GLINDA: If we work in tandem:
BOTH: There's no fight we cannot win/ Just you and I/ Defying gravity/ With you and I/ Defying gravity
ELPHABA: They'll never bring us down!/ (spoken) Well? Are you coming?
GLINDA: I hope you're happy/ Now that you're choosing this
ELPHABA: (spoken) You too (sung) I hope it brings you bliss
BOTH: I really hope you get it/ And you don't live to regret it/ I hope you're happy in the end/ I hope you're happy, my friend:
ELPHABA: So if you care to find me/ Look to the western sky!/ As someone told me lately:/ "Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"/ And if I'm flying solo/ At least I'm flying free/ To those who'd ground me/ Take a message back from me/ Tell them how I am/ Defying gravity/ I'm flying high/ Defying gravity/ And soon I'll match them in renown/ And nobody in all of Oz/ No Wizard that there is or was/ Is ever gonna bring me down!
GLINDA: I hope you're happy!
CITIZENS OF OZ: Look at her, she's wicked!/ Get her!
ELPHABA: Bring me down!
CITIZENS OF OZ: No one mourns the wicked/ So we've got to bring her
ELPHABA: Ahhh!
CITIZENS OF OZ: Down!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Let the Rivers Run by Carly Simon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rCPwhC6R8A
I can remember the first time I heard this song. It’s the theme song for Working Girl. I was too young to watch the movie in theatres but when I finally did see it, it really spoke to me. Here’s a hard-working woman, who through perseverance and sharp intelligence, moves up in corporate America never losing her sweet personality. For a quick minute, I had dreams of moving to New York and having a financial career. Yes, a very quick minute. Then I returned to my ordinary life.
I began working within a department stores corporate headquarters outside DC about five years ago. I had dreams of making my way up the fashion ladder to becoming a buyer. I had a five-year plan. I had bought a car. Right around the corner was the husband, house and 2.5 kids and let’s not forget the cute little dog and white picket fence. But then came the disastrous news. My company was about to be gobbled up by an even bigger one. Like good little workers, we figured if we worked hard enough, they would keep our branch office open. We worked our fingers to the bone. Long hours, back breaking store visits, tons of coffee but the inevitable happened. They announced that we would be closing. There was talk of severance packages, new temporary roles and perhaps new jobs with the new company. I submitted my resume and had the job interview. I was given an offer to come to New York. But this is not what I wanted. I wanted to live in the suburbs with my husband and our 2.5 kids. I wanted relaxed paces and warm smiles from strangers. New York did not fit into my plan.
This meant that I needed a new plan. Either stay in DC and continue with plan A or switch to a new scary exhilarating plan B. I would sell my car, pack up all my belongings and make the transition. I can remember my first drive into the city. I was scared out of my mind. This big city with its big city traffic and horns and yelling. I had my ipod hooked up to the stereo system and randomly the song Let the Rivers Run came up “It’s asking for the taking. Trembling, shaking. Oh, my heart is aching”. Those lyrics washed over me. I could be strong. For there is a psalm that says “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” from Psalm 9:10.There are moments in our lives when fear can grip us. Largely the fear of the unknown. But never mind our plans, God has a plan. And God’s plan will focus on our actual needs and not what we think we need or want. It is very difficult at times to remember this. Not when moment after moment seems to be going wrong. But you have to remember to go with the flow of the power river that is God’s way. He will bring you where you need to go. You may not get there when you want to, but you will get there. I may be trembling, I may be shaking but I am standing with my God and my God will see me through.
~Latoya
We're coming to the edge, running on the water, coming through the fog, your sons and daughters.
Let the river run, let all the dreamers wake the nation. Come, the New Jerusalem.
Silver cities rise, the morning lights the streets that meet them, and sirens call them on with a song.
It's asking for the taking. Trembling, shaking.
Oh, my heart is aching.
We're coming to the edge, running on the water, coming through the fog, your sons and daughters.
We the great and small stand on a star and blaze a trail of desire through the dark'ning dawn.
It's asking for the taking. Come run with me now, the sky is the color of blue you've never even seen in the eyes of your lover.
Oh, my heart is aching. We're coming to the edge, running on the water, coming through the fog, your sons and daughters.
[guitar]
It's asking for the taking. Trembling, shaking. Oh, my heart is aching.
We're coming to the edge, running on the water, coming through the fog, your sons and daughters.
Let the river run, let all the dreamers wake the nation. Come, the New Jerusalem
I can remember the first time I heard this song. It’s the theme song for Working Girl. I was too young to watch the movie in theatres but when I finally did see it, it really spoke to me. Here’s a hard-working woman, who through perseverance and sharp intelligence, moves up in corporate America never losing her sweet personality. For a quick minute, I had dreams of moving to New York and having a financial career. Yes, a very quick minute. Then I returned to my ordinary life.
I began working within a department stores corporate headquarters outside DC about five years ago. I had dreams of making my way up the fashion ladder to becoming a buyer. I had a five-year plan. I had bought a car. Right around the corner was the husband, house and 2.5 kids and let’s not forget the cute little dog and white picket fence. But then came the disastrous news. My company was about to be gobbled up by an even bigger one. Like good little workers, we figured if we worked hard enough, they would keep our branch office open. We worked our fingers to the bone. Long hours, back breaking store visits, tons of coffee but the inevitable happened. They announced that we would be closing. There was talk of severance packages, new temporary roles and perhaps new jobs with the new company. I submitted my resume and had the job interview. I was given an offer to come to New York. But this is not what I wanted. I wanted to live in the suburbs with my husband and our 2.5 kids. I wanted relaxed paces and warm smiles from strangers. New York did not fit into my plan.
This meant that I needed a new plan. Either stay in DC and continue with plan A or switch to a new scary exhilarating plan B. I would sell my car, pack up all my belongings and make the transition. I can remember my first drive into the city. I was scared out of my mind. This big city with its big city traffic and horns and yelling. I had my ipod hooked up to the stereo system and randomly the song Let the Rivers Run came up “It’s asking for the taking. Trembling, shaking. Oh, my heart is aching”. Those lyrics washed over me. I could be strong. For there is a psalm that says “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” from Psalm 9:10.There are moments in our lives when fear can grip us. Largely the fear of the unknown. But never mind our plans, God has a plan. And God’s plan will focus on our actual needs and not what we think we need or want. It is very difficult at times to remember this. Not when moment after moment seems to be going wrong. But you have to remember to go with the flow of the power river that is God’s way. He will bring you where you need to go. You may not get there when you want to, but you will get there. I may be trembling, I may be shaking but I am standing with my God and my God will see me through.
~Latoya
We're coming to the edge, running on the water, coming through the fog, your sons and daughters.
Let the river run, let all the dreamers wake the nation. Come, the New Jerusalem.
Silver cities rise, the morning lights the streets that meet them, and sirens call them on with a song.
It's asking for the taking. Trembling, shaking.
Oh, my heart is aching.
We're coming to the edge, running on the water, coming through the fog, your sons and daughters.
We the great and small stand on a star and blaze a trail of desire through the dark'ning dawn.
It's asking for the taking. Come run with me now, the sky is the color of blue you've never even seen in the eyes of your lover.
Oh, my heart is aching. We're coming to the edge, running on the water, coming through the fog, your sons and daughters.
[guitar]
It's asking for the taking. Trembling, shaking. Oh, my heart is aching.
We're coming to the edge, running on the water, coming through the fog, your sons and daughters.
Let the river run, let all the dreamers wake the nation. Come, the New Jerusalem
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Our First General Conference Devotional - Black Bird
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ERnT1X9HPw
Blackbird – Lennon-McCartney, White Album
Now is the moment to arise and be free….
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8: 31-32 TNIV
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another humbly in love. – Gal. 5:13 TNIV
When Paul McCartney wrote this song in 1968, he wrote it for Black women in the U.S. and their personal struggle with racism. Listening to the words of Blackbird I am keenly aware of the people who struggle throughout our world today. Those with “broken wings” are those with broken hopes, the broken hopes of the struggle towards true equality for all people. Those with “sunken eyes” are the tired and weary who have been waiting and fighting for LGBT-Q rights, waiting and fighting for an end to poverty, hunger, and homelessness, waiting and fighting for peace. People who have been waiting and fighting for so long that their souls have sunken to a place where they doubt…
When I read the words of John and Galatians above I am reminded of the truth that we are called to be set free, and that freedom is often felt when we “serve one another in love.” This freedom is when we serve the hopeless and heal their broken wings. This freedom is when we wearied from the fight see and realize our moment to be free and arise is now. There is a charge of electricity in the air, a charge of change, a charge that tells me that I can no longer watch injustices, but must arise, must fly freely, and act.
While we may feel we are in the dead of night, we can anticipate the light of day coming when hunger is no more, peace is a reality, and inequality is a thing of the past.
We’ve been waiting for this moment to arise, and the moment is now. Sing with me, sing like the blackbird, sing bravely, sing without doubt, sing with joy, hope, anticipation, sing with a new found freedom, and then FLY “into the light of the dark black night.”
Prayer: Creator of Hope, give us a spirit that is eager to fight for an end to all the injustices we see in the world. Give us a spirit of perseverance, compassion, courage and wisdom that never denies your love for all, but makes your never-ceasing love for all a tangible reality. AMEN.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.
Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird – Lennon-McCartney, White Album
Now is the moment to arise and be free….
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8: 31-32 TNIV
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another humbly in love. – Gal. 5:13 TNIV
When Paul McCartney wrote this song in 1968, he wrote it for Black women in the U.S. and their personal struggle with racism. Listening to the words of Blackbird I am keenly aware of the people who struggle throughout our world today. Those with “broken wings” are those with broken hopes, the broken hopes of the struggle towards true equality for all people. Those with “sunken eyes” are the tired and weary who have been waiting and fighting for LGBT-Q rights, waiting and fighting for an end to poverty, hunger, and homelessness, waiting and fighting for peace. People who have been waiting and fighting for so long that their souls have sunken to a place where they doubt…
When I read the words of John and Galatians above I am reminded of the truth that we are called to be set free, and that freedom is often felt when we “serve one another in love.” This freedom is when we serve the hopeless and heal their broken wings. This freedom is when we wearied from the fight see and realize our moment to be free and arise is now. There is a charge of electricity in the air, a charge of change, a charge that tells me that I can no longer watch injustices, but must arise, must fly freely, and act.
While we may feel we are in the dead of night, we can anticipate the light of day coming when hunger is no more, peace is a reality, and inequality is a thing of the past.
We’ve been waiting for this moment to arise, and the moment is now. Sing with me, sing like the blackbird, sing bravely, sing without doubt, sing with joy, hope, anticipation, sing with a new found freedom, and then FLY “into the light of the dark black night.”
Prayer: Creator of Hope, give us a spirit that is eager to fight for an end to all the injustices we see in the world. Give us a spirit of perseverance, compassion, courage and wisdom that never denies your love for all, but makes your never-ceasing love for all a tangible reality. AMEN.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.
Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Go Ahead, Get Your Dream! - General Conference Devotional
Yesterday morning I had a dream that I was playing Elphaba in the production of Wicked. It was towards the end of one of my big numbers, “Defying Gravity” when I woke up…on the bus in Harlem. Sleeping on the bus is not embarrassing in and of itself, lots of people do that, but being nudged awake because you’re singing in your sleep on the bus is another story…I’m sure you can guess what not-so-happy ending my day began with.
As I looked around at my traveling companions (equally embarrassed for me and I was to have exposed them to my performance) I said, “Did I miss the stop for the Apollo?” A guy on the bus grinned saying, “Yeah, Ma, you missed your stop but go ahead girl, get your dream!”
While performing at The Apollo is not one of my conscience dreams, I have a lot of dreams for my family, friends, community, world and self that help my life journey take shape. Most recently I’ve been concentrating on dreams I have for our church…dreams I hope I’m brave enough to help birth into existence. But my dream alone is not enough for this church many of us are fighting to weaving our spiritual journeys into. My dream is one thread in an intricate design whose beauty is revealed by the gift and challenge of knowing your dreams and seeking the other dreams I carry.
One way we can share our dreams is through music and one place we as United Methodists need to act out our dreams is General Conference…but more than our dreams we need to share our realities and the paths we see and are creating to reach our dreams. This year OnFire is compiling a devotional for General Conference called “More Than A Dream”. We’re inviting people to share music that speaks to them spiritually complemented by a written or drawn explanation of why you picked the song, and what dreams you are hoping to make a reality. The theme, more than a dream, is just that our jump off point…where we’re taken it is up to you.
We’re hoping to share devotionals/songs for each day of General Conference (14 total). If you’re interested in creating a devotional and sharing a song, or you have any questions related to the devotional please contact us at umonfire@gmail.com. We need to receive devotionals and song titles/artists by April 10th. Devotionals will be available in a paper form at General Conference and posted on this blog daily. Music will be made available through OnFire iTunes accounts and via YouTube videos.
This devotional is also a way for us to care for and encourage each other during General Conference. Some of you may not be able be physically present, but your voice can be heard through your words or the images you submit. You may not be able to physically be in solidarity with those witnessing in and outside the convention center but you can encourage and challenge those present to act through the message in your song choice.
Whether you create a devotional or not (and I hope you do) I encourage you all to do as the wise (and sassy) man on the bus told me, “go ahead, get your dream!”
~Rachel
As I looked around at my traveling companions (equally embarrassed for me and I was to have exposed them to my performance) I said, “Did I miss the stop for the Apollo?” A guy on the bus grinned saying, “Yeah, Ma, you missed your stop but go ahead girl, get your dream!”
While performing at The Apollo is not one of my conscience dreams, I have a lot of dreams for my family, friends, community, world and self that help my life journey take shape. Most recently I’ve been concentrating on dreams I have for our church…dreams I hope I’m brave enough to help birth into existence. But my dream alone is not enough for this church many of us are fighting to weaving our spiritual journeys into. My dream is one thread in an intricate design whose beauty is revealed by the gift and challenge of knowing your dreams and seeking the other dreams I carry.
One way we can share our dreams is through music and one place we as United Methodists need to act out our dreams is General Conference…but more than our dreams we need to share our realities and the paths we see and are creating to reach our dreams. This year OnFire is compiling a devotional for General Conference called “More Than A Dream”. We’re inviting people to share music that speaks to them spiritually complemented by a written or drawn explanation of why you picked the song, and what dreams you are hoping to make a reality. The theme, more than a dream, is just that our jump off point…where we’re taken it is up to you.
We’re hoping to share devotionals/songs for each day of General Conference (14 total). If you’re interested in creating a devotional and sharing a song, or you have any questions related to the devotional please contact us at umonfire@gmail.com. We need to receive devotionals and song titles/artists by April 10th. Devotionals will be available in a paper form at General Conference and posted on this blog daily. Music will be made available through OnFire iTunes accounts and via YouTube videos.
This devotional is also a way for us to care for and encourage each other during General Conference. Some of you may not be able be physically present, but your voice can be heard through your words or the images you submit. You may not be able to physically be in solidarity with those witnessing in and outside the convention center but you can encourage and challenge those present to act through the message in your song choice.
Whether you create a devotional or not (and I hope you do) I encourage you all to do as the wise (and sassy) man on the bus told me, “go ahead, get your dream!”
~Rachel
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