Return of the light

The days are slowly getting longer and I am grateful.
There is a brief period of time in the weeks just before and after the winter solstice when it is too dark to let the chickens out before I leave for work and yet, by the time I get home, they are already in for the night.
With the chickens as our solar counters, it is possible to realize the lengthening days even when it is still dark in the morning when I rise. Each day the chickens stay outside a little longer, retreating into the safety of their coop only when they have determined that the light is insufficient for keeping night time predators away. The time they choose to go in varies a bit each day but as the days go by the variation is quite noticeable. And then, just a day ago, the first egg of the lengthening days appeared and today another: a sure sign that indeed the days are getting brighter.

People who walk by our house especially those with children often linger to watch the chickens running around in the yard. Inevitably there are chicken questions. The other day a couple with children were stopped at the gate as my granddaughter and I left for our walk to the light rail line. I said mostly in passing that we had found the first egg of the new year. One of the ladies asked, "is it because it is getting warmer?" But no, it is not. It is because the light is returning. I often explain to people who eat eggs year round that they are either eating eggs that have been refrigerated for months or else they are eating eggs from chickens who are forced with the use of artificial lighting to lay eggs year round. Most people really don't know this... or anything much about how the seasons affect the habits of the animals who assist them in their lives. Then again many people are only just learning about the habits and needs of the plants that serve them as well.

I have been walking about every other day down the trolley trail and into town. (Town is just a small suburban city outside the big city, but it is big enough to provide most needs if not the wants of people in the area.) The route I walk keeps me moving for about 30 minutes and then I am at a small coffee shop where  can buy an almond milk-half-caff latte for a whole dollar cheaper than in the big city where I go to work. With my latte in hand I can then catch the light rail back home and feel quite refreshed. I love seeing how Earth is beginning to respond to the longer days. Walking the same route allows me to see a progression of little things; small sprouts, water eddies, buds and the evidence of little creatures - and big ones as well.

Today my daughter came to walk with me. We walked into town and I bought my latte while she waited as she was already "coffeed up" for the day. Then we caught the light rail to the next stop where we could easily access a hiking/biking trail that goes through a nature preserve. It was lovely to walk and talk even though the rain was coming down quite steadily. We walked down into the nature area by a creek that has the bad habit of flooding when the rains are particularly intense. The water was rushing along but well within its bounds. We could see where the Park's people had marked the water height during the most recent flood and we were aware of people camping in the dense forested areas. My daughter wondered about their safety near a creek that is prone to flood, while I thought it was a shame that people are forced to camp in the woods in the rain in this wealthy country.

Along the way I could not help but stop to pick up garbage. The returning light always seems to bring out a number of human creatures who can't clean up after themselves. I would rather just pick it up than let the garbage continue to grow in the midst of the other growing things. By the time we got back to the light rail we were wet through and through but I had the good fortune to have gained new insights from my intelligent and thoughtful daughter-- which is of course another way for light to return.     

Evolving into th Future

For many Christians, Sunday marked the end of the Christmas Season.

The season ends with a reflection on the story of Jesus answering the call of John the Baptist, stepping out into the public world of first century Palestine through baptism in the river Jordan.

Christmas is the Season when Christians stop to remember the Good News that God is with us - and not with Christians alone but with all people. Deep Incarnation.

In this there is hope not just for today, but for the possibilities of the future.

We have learned from the gift of science that our world, in fact the whole universe, is in a process of becoming, evolving toward some future that can not even be imagined. Theologians, scientists and philosophers are all trying to envision what this continuing process of becoming can mean.

Too much time has been spent by theologians imagining that there was some previous moment when the universe or at least the earth was in some kind of perfect, or pristine condition - when all along it has been evolving steadily toward some future moment. Our sacred stories try to tell us of the time when humans arrived – but they can do so only imperfectly and always from our human point of view. The story of the Garden of Eden might be telling us that conditions at one moment were just right for the first step toward human existence, consciousness, and self awareness, but at the same time, all of the universe was in motion, evolving, becoming something as yet unknown. Evolution did not stop for humanity’s step into being, rather it seems that from within the continuing evolution a space was created that humans were able to fill and from that time on our ancient ancestors made steps that allowed them to continue growing and evolving into creatures capable of recognizing the Grace of God’s presence.

Jesus came into this world and made the same journey that each of us must make, from infant to adult, from birth to death. And by making this same journey validated our lives and the incremental steps that we make from generation to generation as we evolve within the presence of God who is Love.

The ancient texts tell of the hope people held as they struggled to make sense of their journey through life, through time. They had they hope that one day all would be well, that the Divine presence with them would be recognized, healing them and leading them ever forward out of agony and despair, into the fullness of joy, light and peace. Christians believe that in Jesus God's Presence was at last revealed. This is the miracle so recently celebrated throughout the Christmas Season. God is here. God has always been here though it took the presence of Jesus to make the Divine presence known.    

Jesus shows us the way and invites us to follow. It a way of humility, trust and love. 

We do not know where the end of our journey will be. We only know that we have been invited to come along. Trusting that the gentle, inclusive, and love filled path that Jesus walked will get us where we need to go at the moment we most need to be there.

But in order to follow this path we need to look forward, not backward. And that has been a problem with religion for some time now: clinging to the belief that the past held the perfect moment, the Garden of Eden, the right law, the perfect followers of Jesus, the correct words for praise, the right steps for peace and all along missing the reality that the universe is still evolving and as it moves, everything is evolving toward something more.

There is evil and brokenness in our world that comes from human sinfulness, our neglect and carelessness. But there is also the imperfection that comes with being a creation not fully finished, still evolving, always moving toward the path that makes for the fullness of life.

The past gives us lessons to learn from but it cannot give us the path forward because no time has been like this time. This moment in 2016 -- with all the possibilities and difficulties and resources that are available to us -- is a unique moment that will never exist again. In the light of faith, people are invited to view the world with Love and to be filled with hope and anticipation for what is to come.

In Laudato Si Pope Francis wrote: The universe did not emerge as the result of arbitrary omnipotence, a show of force or a desire for self-assertion. Creation is of the order of love. God’s love is the fundamental moving force in all created things. (77)

That should be comforting. We don’t need to be afraid of evolving, of growing and learning because the moving force in all created things is God’s love. Called beyond the fear of evolving, we are called to be attentive to the evolution of the universe. Writing in his book Resting on the Future, John Haught says: 

I believe a radical shift in cosmology and metaphysics could do much to liberate Catholic ethical reflection from the lingering effects of centuries of impatient otherworldly pietism, clericalism, and moralistic perfectionism. Once the horizon of religious expectation shifts toward concern for the cosmic future, our ethical idealism may give priority to the thriving of all creation, rather than the mere perfecting of our own souls. We may find, after all, that by attending to this wider concern – uniting our thirst for the kingdom of God to our sense of the world’s ongoing creation—our moral aspirations may gain fresh focus and motivation.” (145)

So what does this mean for people of faith today?

I think we generally keep our faith perspective too small.

The challenge from theology today is to consider something much larger. The whole of the Universe is evolving and we are a part of it. 

Jesus came into a world where there were deep divisions and troubles. The way he led his life facilitated healing and grace while others chose to feed into fear and suffering.

What we do each day matters. Our choices large and small make a difference in the evolving world and in the evolution of humanity. Scientists can tell us how at each tiny juncture, creation always opts for life whenever that pathway exists. This then is our clue about the importance of the choices we make. We are a part of this marvelous creation, the world, the universe and what we do matters because everything is connected and our choices should reflect our beliefs.

Everyday people are given the opportunity to choose what is life giving and loving at each tiny juncture, knowing that the force that keeps everything moving is Love. People can hinder movement with selfish acts, but like the path of water when it encounters an obstacle, Love will keep things going around or over us if necessary.

By grace, each day is a new day to respond. We may step out uncertain about the result, but knowing that we too must respond, as long as we are alive.

There are deep divisions and troubles in this world and we can either facilitate healing and grace or feed into fear and suffering.

I am encouraged and invigorated by the fact that Pope Francis and others are challenging Christians and all people to expand our consciousness. 

May this 2016 year be for you an exciting and inspiring journey. 

Moving around again

Transitioning from young to older is a transition that I have not yet mastered.
I learned the hard way that standing up while putting on my socks is probably not the best thing for me to do. When I was younger and lost my balance I likely had a bit more resiliency! As it turns out I cracked a rib and caused just enough trauma to my neck and back to take me out of action for a few days! Ever eager to get on with things I went back to work as soon as I could move around and depleted every last ounce of energy by working overly long days back to back. I got a lot done and was able to help at the winter shelter for 5 or six hours but I ended up with a horrible cold that made my last day of the work week seem endless. Now, after a couple of days of sleeping for long periods, I am back in the swing of things --- with a little less swing at the outer edges.
Sometimes it is just hard to remember that I must be a little more thoughtful about what I can endure!

My community was able to provide shelter for 65-85 people every night for seven nights starting just before the end of the year and culminating a few days into the new year. Is is a rewarding experience to host the severe weather shelter. People are for the most part very grateful to be inside which helps to limit behaviors that can be disruptive to others. No one really wants to go out into the cold or to send anyone else out there either. People who live outdoors most of the time are generally quite reluctant to come indoors so the first few nights usually have the lowest numbers of people. But by the end of an extended cold snap people are worn out trying to stay warm and come indoors even though they hate to do so. We try to make lots of allowances for people knowing that people are not used to being so close to so many other people. Spending days and days together is very difficult - much like an extended slumber party - and by the end of a week people are ready to find 'alone time' anyway they can.

We have been lucky in the last few years to find people from the homeless community who are capable of hosting the overnight shift. These trusted folks know the community and the issues of the community well enough to know when to step in and when to let things go as only people who are on the inside of the group can do. In the last year we have also had some funding for the emergency shelter which allows us to give the overnight crew some payment for their time and efforts.

If I didn't spend time with homeless people as I do, I am sure that I would be afraid or suspicious of them just as so many people in our city tend to be. For me they are just people, sometimes with issues that set them apart from people who live indoors, thought usually the difference is in degree and in the visibility they must have with the public at large. Many people fight or argue with their spouse or partner from time to time but usually in the privacy of their own home. It can be disconcerting to reflect on what it would be like to live your whole life in public. Sure movie stars and public figures are used to being watched, but even they can shut their doors and pull down the shades. The people in the homeless community only wish they could.       

My favorite part of hosting the shelter is coming in early in the morning to make and serve oatmeal. I like to bring some extras: chopped walnuts or almonds, raisins, cranberries, cinnamon and the like. I find that people respond very well when they are given some choices in their lives. It might seem unimportant to people who have their own dwelling places and can choose what they want to eat day after day, but for people who are used to being given a plate of food already prepared with foods they may or may not really want to eat, having a choice is a good experience. Affluent people just expect to be treated as individuals. Those who live in poverty very often expect that they will be treated as a nameless, faceless member of a homogenous group. As a community we can do better. 

I was grateful to be out and about today and grateful as well to see my friends and the members of my community including the many homeless or low income people who come to be with us. Along with all who live outdoors in the winter time, I am hoping that the rest of the winter will be mild and without the ice or freezing rain that makes their lives miserable. But if we need to open our doors again, I will be there -- unless of course I forget how to put my socks on!