Thanksgiving Yearnings

Blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving. I would encourage each of us to bow with me and reflect upon how even on our most discouraging and helpless days there are blessings we can be thankful for. This is a day to put aside that which weighs us down and thank God for even the smallest awareness of life's gifts and bounties. We are, for God has graced our being. This is also a day, inherent in the word Thanksgiving itself, of giving, of ourselves, our bounties, in thankfulness for our blessings. Even if we can offer no more than a smile, let us graciously warm another's heart with our gift of blessing this one day of the year set aside for thoughtfully expressing thanks in the spirit of gratitude. Open your hearts to one another. May your humanity reflect divine attributes in your loving actions one towards another.

As you read these words, open your arm's wide in the spirit of gratitude and symbolically open yourself to the lives of others and draw them into your heart. Take time and visualize individually those in your life and those who come to mind as you reach outward and embrace them and feel and breathe in the connection between you. Hold them in your heart, even those who are passed on, for in this one moment they are as real to you as those you will physically encounter again. This moment is a blessing for the clouds of people past and present who are even in this brief interlude, a blessing in your life and who you can be a blessing for. Carry on the love of those who have gone before you and those who are with you still.

Know deeply that you are blessed and that as deeply as you have felt the presence of one another, God embraces you, blesses you moment by moment and goes before you in blessing to others. Let us read with new eyes the words of D&C 163 and understand how our personal thanksgiving is a moment of awareness that calls us to compassion with God towards all.....none are excluded.

"God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering. Such conditions are not God’s will. Open your ears to hear the pleading of mothers and fathers in all nations who desperately seek a future of hope for their children. Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare."

It is difficult to read these words. It is exceedingly difficult to dwell upon those images, those sounds that come to mind. How, O Lord, do I answer the tug on my heart now that it is open? My friend, that is what Mission is all about! Together in community we can better answer that call we inwardly feel. With your heart open, in the spirit of sensed thanksgiving and your experience of blessing towards others, become a catalyst of grace and hope that opens others hearts to respond with you.

May you find peace, the peace of Christ, that dispels the burden of thanksgiving accountability through your compassionate response in Mission.  May abounding grace and fervent thanksgiving erupt with passionate self-giving from your life......today.

submitted by Kerry

Action

The more I spend time with the Words of Counsel presented at the 2013 World Conference, the more I see.  Of course that is exactly the reason President Stephen Veazey asked us to dwell in those words, isn't it?  What I observe now is that the document is a blend of direction and instruction or education, all of which is intended for our active guidance.  This writing is focused on direction.

Have you noticed how this document is full of action words and phrases?  Here is a partial list.

follow

shape

invite

see

undertake

abolish

end

pursue

align

move

free

discover

listen

remember

accept

embrace

be not consumed

be passionately concerned

offer

live, love and share

bear

remember

trust

Each of the above words or phrases undoubtedly could rate its own post in this blog, however for today, let us at least note that this document calls us to action.  While there is a true need for us to contemplate this counsel spiritually, if we are to be faithful to its guidance we must do more than that.  These are not words of encouragement to keep on keeping on, or continue with business as usual.  This is a call to "be about our Father's business," actively, passionately, seriously.

What call are you sensing as you dwell in these words?  Which words call you to action?

Posted by Carman

Observe

Here’s one of those words that appears to have a couple of opposite meanings. I’m guessing that many of us (Dare I say “most”? Probably not, that’s dangerous territory) would give a definition related to “watching.” To observe is to see, to look at, to take notice of in a kind of passive way.

Monday was the first day of Ramadan. Muslims around the world will be “observing” Ramadan for the next month. It’s a central element of their faith. And there is nothing passive about it! To observe the fast calls for a major commitment. From sunrise to sunset, faithful Muslims will abstain from food or drink. Any of us who’ve just spent a super-hot long weekend at the beach might have some idea about how difficult that would be.

No matter. To a faithful Muslim the rules don’t change for heat waves. No food and no water during daylight hours brings to their attention the needs of others. They think about their own blessings and they make donations to abolish poverty and end the suffering of those who have need. It is a requirement of Islam. It is something you must do if you would be a faithful observer of the faith.

If you ask what makes someone a Muslim, she will tell you that they pray five times a day, they take care of the sick and the poor, they fast regularly and they “observe Ramadan.” If you ask someone what makes them a Christian, they will likely speak about some of the things they believe. Christians are much more inclined to speak about beliefs than about actions, at least in my observations.

Maybe Christians need a Ramadan--something to shake us out of our notions about “observing” as merely watching. Earliest Christians spoke about their belief in Jesus as “The Way.” Disciples of Jesus tried to live in a way that was different from others around them. No more “just believing” but living in a way that showed they followed Jesus.

If you’ve been around any good campfire this summer you’ve probably sung “They’ll know we are Christians by our love…” If we give it some good thought we’ll realize that “they” won’t know us by the beliefs in our heart, but by the things we do that truly show that love.

We have plenty of scriptures that teach us this lesson:

“Peter do you love me?”
“You know that I love you.”
“Then feed my sheep.”

But we need to be reminded. That’s alright. Muslims need to be reminded too. Every year for an entire month they reflect on the needs of others as they observe Ramadan, abstain from food and drink and make offerings to abolish poverty and end suffering in the world.

How will we observe the teachings of our Master? By watching and believing? Or will we find some sheep to feed?

Posted by Marion

Action

At the invitation of Kris Judd, a number of people in our mission centre and beyond have adopted the practice of “dwelling in the word” of selected passages of scripture. Each day for a month, we read the designated verses and listen to discern their voice in our lives. The scriptural selection for June is from Doctrine and Covenants 163:1-4.

As I ponder this document this morning, I am struck by how many action words are contained within its verses; in fact the text is a virtual call to action. Here is a partial list of the verbs this selection contains.

Discern
Embrace
Discover
Become
Go
Come
Receive
Follow
Share
Restore
Create
Strive
Challenge
Pursue
Be alert
Open
Awaken
Equip
Prepare

Significantly, all these imperatives and more are contained in only the first four verses!

From the time this seminal document was given to our community four years ago, I have had the sense that it has the potential to transform the church. That earth-shaking potential is dependent, however, on our willingness to live within its images, discern its call to us, and invest ourselves in its invitation. Only if we are willing to do so can we discern and embrace its full meaning. Only in this way can we discover the potential of its powerful inspiration.

We are called to action, and that action begins with contemplation. What is the Spirit's prompting to you?

Posted by Carman

Winds

Many of us have been dealing with the effects of wind this spring. My drive to work every morning is marked by noting which neighbourhood has the worst tree damage! Everything from stray branches to huge, hundred-year-old trees tipped right out of the ground.

A couple of mornings ago I observed the canvas and aluminum tubing shelter from the corner fruit and veggie stand draped unceremoniously around the cemetery gate and fence around the corner and across the street!

Of course, I've recently returned from Missouri where the tornado sirens kept me and Tiona in the basement most of one day. This after watching the horrific news pictures of tornado damage in nearby Joplin.

Are you thinking of the winds of Spirit this week? I've had a moment or two to reflect on the notion of the winds of Pentacost. It's much more traditional--maybe a whole lot more comfortable--to consider the wind of the Spirit as gentle and balmy. Not often is it thought of as an unstoppable power, a roaring freight train, though that's the most common descriptor of these tornadic forces we've been experiencing.

How are you thinking of the winds of the Spirit today?

Oh, and by the way, I began this post with the thought that your CEM staff is cast to all the directions of the wind this weekend. I had supposed I would give you a quick list of just how many things are going on today, tomorrow and Sunday. We'll be in the land of the mighty waters, the nation's capital, GTA West, Grand Valley. And you all will of course be doing what you are doing, blown by whatever wind blows you.

What kind of winds are blowing in your community? Are you feeling calm and refreshed by a gentle breeze? Or are you feeling a great and mighty blast from a Spirit on the move?

Looking forward to hearing how all these amazing events unfold.

Posted by Marion

Ideas

My In-Box today has been just over-flowing with ideas!
It does appear that everyone has been busy over the weekend dreaming up good stuff.

Here's a recommendation for a book that might be great for the CPI pastors (and others too). Here's a great web site with wonderful preaching tips. Here's a terrific report from a congregation who had an amazing service on Sunday morning with a whole bunch of visitors, who'd come at the invitation of a young adult via his facebook page. What a great idea!

I've managed as well to collect two boxes of books from a dear friend who's downsizing and thought I'd have an idea about what to do with them. And invitations. I have invitations to attend any number of amazing activities and events. I really must pace myself, or I'll have so many good ideas of new things to do, places to go, people to see that I shall run out of time for them all.

So here is my advice to all you dear friends who keep sending me your excellent ideas:
Don't send me any more of them. Keep them and Do something exciting with them. Then send me the story of what your idea was, what you did with it, who helped you and what was the amazing and surprising result that was even more than you expected.

Now I'm not suggesting that all these good ideas that are coming my way are ALL being offered for me to do with by myself--although, all too frequently there is a tiny hint that "CEM should do something." But I am saying that my time is limited and is getting shorter every day. So do get busy yourself, because that will happen to you one day and you'll be glad of all the ideas you acted on.

And I shall love to hear your stories. Now, off with you. Get busy working on one of those great ideas yourself. Permission granted!

Posted by Marion

Busy

Once upon a time, in my former life, I worked with many professionals from other countries, especially developing countries, who would come to Canada for several months, usually a full year, to learn the nuts and bolts of “value-for-money-auditing.” (Canada leads the world in its expertise with this particular type of audit, for which I am very grateful as it has given me lots of valuable experience and good friendships around the globe!)

I loved being with the folks from other nations as they learned about auditing, but it was way more fun to watch them learn about us, our country, our culture, our climate. I recall once hearing one African gentleman explaining to a newly arrived Caribbean fellow how to walk in snow. “You might think it’s like sand but really it’s quite different. As you step on it, it just goes away under your foot.”

Then there was the day we had to keep stopping class to photograph the first snowfall as the snow piled up on the street, on the grass, on top of the fire plugs and street signs. The time lapse photography was remarkable to see; I gained a new appreciation for this amazing but very common Canadian experience. I recall Regina, a good friend from Swaziland, coming into my office early in September, wrapped in parka, gloves and scarf! “I’ll never use the word ‘cold’ again when I go back home!” she exclaimed.

One thing these international friends all picked up very, very quickly in their Canadian stay. They would discuss it among themselves. They soon realized that the answer to “How are you?” which they may have used back home, or learned in an English conversation class, was quite different here. More than once someone has asked my why they had been so misled. (I tended to be the person to ask such questions.)

The answer to “How are you?” is not some version of “Fine thank you,” or “I am very well, how are you?” as they had been taught. No, the answer is always: “Busy!” Usually there is a long sigh and then often there will be a litany of the many projects needing work, the long to do list, the many appointments to be kept, the children’s schedules, the renovations underway, the spouse’s equally long and impossible lists.

My international friends could not understand how we had allowed this to happen to us. It just didn’t make sense to them. And it really did tend to slow down the work day to have this ritual conversation every single time. My friends found it exhausting, but unavoidable. Think about it. What is your first response when someone asks that question: how are you? Can you keep yourself from responding: Busy!

A new element has been added as I’m considering my imminent retirement. (You may have heard of it.) Retired folks I know invariably confide that they’ve never been so busy as since they’ve retired. And they tell me with a confusing mixture of despair and satisfaction. It’s as if they were afraid they might fade into nothingness once they’ve stepped off the clock, but now realize they still have purpose because they are still busy.

Congregations and pastors I visit deal with this phenomenon all the time. Scheduling is just so difficult; people’s lives are just so busy. What have we gotten ourselves into anyway? My international advisers tried to teach me, and I’ve tried to learn how important it is not to let myself get so busy that I don’t have time for the things that are most important to me. How about you? Any thoughts on this issue?

Posted by Marion

Protest

My sister recently sent to me the notes of a sermon she had just offered in the Ottawa congregation. Great message! And I'm not about to give it all to you in this blog post; a good sermon is what is delivered in the congregation on the day it's given. If you were there, you were blessed by it I'm sure.

But there was a line that caught my attention. I've been sitting on it, letting it percolate, considering what -- if anything -- to do with it. Maybe this week when we've been thinking about preventing child abuse, of ending domestic violence or listening to news of new troops advancing or corrupt elections or the leaked secrets of trusted officialdom is the right time to come back to it.

The sentence I grabbed out of the midst of that Advent sermon was this: Jesus only raised his hand in blessing or in protest. That's it. It stopped me short.

Here we are in the midst of Advent, the "waiting season" and this thought just catches me. We await the coming of Jesus, fully human, fully divine, that great paradox and along with it comes this notion of the fully human Jesus raising his hand.

How often do we excuse even small acts of violence, a slap, a harsh word, an icy glare or injudicious gesture, with the words "I'm only human"?

So might we expect that the fully human Jesus might have fired off a smack with the back of his hand or a gruff toned remark some time when one or other of his only-too-human colleagues did one more stupid thing? But no! Apparently not.

Only in blessing or in protest did he raise his hand.

"Forbid them not."
"Don't stop me Peter; I must wash your feet too."
"Allow her to use her precious perfume. Don't exclude her."
"You have made my house a den of thieves."
"He who lives by the sword will die by the sword."

Where are the injustices that still endure? What would Jesus be protesting today? Where must I draw the line? It's up to me now to either bless or to protest. May I have the wisdom and the courage to do the right thing.

Posted by Marion

Bracelet

I’m still seeing lots of folks with various coloured wrist bands—I’m choosing to call them bracelets, if that’s ok. Most recently I had dinner with a women wearing a white band. “It’s for Make Poverty History” she shared with us at our shared table. “It’s my third one; I’ve worn out two already.”

Here’s the place she’ll order a new one when this one wears out.

One of the bloggers I follow recently went on a real rant about all the Pink! that surrounds us. Pink ribbons, pink clothing, pink facebook pages, pink comic strips. She was a breast cancer survivor and was downright furious that the whole “pink campaign” had become so commercial and phony. It reminded me of the criticism that Oprah’s Buy Red blitz generated a year or so ago. Do you remember why we were encouraged to choose all things “red” when we went shopping at The Gap, or Old Navy, or Banana Republic or the I-store? Me neither! Which was exactly the point.

This blogging cancer survivor had all kinds of suggestions for ways to make life better or easier or more comfortable for actual cancer sufferers. She had little regard for those of us who choose to buy a pink kitchen appliance and pat ourselves on the back.

Which brings me back to my friend with the white bracelet. Her I deeply respect. Because she’s a board member for Niagara Falls Community Outreach. She’s active in her community to feed the hungry and house the homeless. She knows the local politicians and lobbies them regularly for better policies to deal with the issues poverty creates. She’s currently busy raising funds to ensure those living with less, or with nothing, have a refuge where they can get a meal or a bed for the night. But she’s also taking a long look and campaigns for those whose values line up with hers, the elimination of poverty.

“We have no excuse to still have this much poverty in a country as rich as ours. I’d be happy to start with the children,” she said. But it’s clear she’s not willing to stop there! She really doesn’t care if we notice her white bracelet. It’s just to keep her focused.

If you’re wearing a similar band, of whatever colour, my question to you would be “what are you doing to make that wish come true?

Posted by Marion

Acts

I'm writing this on the evening of the day Section 164 passed into our scripture. There are no scheduled sessions this evening; I think the original intention for this "open" Wednesday evening at Conference was to allow for a break mid-week when participants and leadership are likely tired. I AM tired. (How many people have used the night to schedule another full evening of stuff?)

But it has been a good experience. The times of spiritual formation and preparation, the non-legislative sessions, and finally the formal legislative discussion and passing of the motion to approve these words for inclusion. You'll hear more, I'm sure. I'm going to take it easy for a bit.

I did want to share one thought I've had this evening as I'm reflecting on "what comes next." Hence, my good word for the day: Acts.

You remember that the name of the book that follows the gospels and talks about the story of "what came next" after the resurrection is Acts*. It's not "Standing Around Thinking About It" or "Sitting Down to Wait" (not even "sitting under a fig tree")-- it's Acts!

Here we are "poised to fulfill God's ultimate vision for the Church" [D&C 164:9a]. We have come through our Easter and we need to move forward. We will now write the next book of Acts. How will it read? I'm excited. What about you?

[*Note: that would be the second part of Luke-Acts, for you Bible experts reading this.]

Posted by Marion

Heroes

There are a few people I think of as my heroes; or more accurately as heroes of the gospel. For instance, in the High Desert in California, in the city of Victorville, there is a man whose name is Gary. Gary was/is a drug addict who came to church one Sunday morning with his girlfriend Tracy looking for help to get their lives back on track. Gary was in trouble with the law, with Family Services, with just about everybody you could name, but he wanted to do better.

Gary and Tracy knew there had to be a better way to live. They showed up at church and asked for help. Though no longer together, three years later, Gary and Tracy have been baptized and are still off drugs. Gary has custody of his son, attends church every Sunday, and helps wherever he can. He also goes to school. His goal is to become an addictions counselor so he can help others the way he was helped. I love Gary and Tracy deeply; they are my heroes.

There are also other heroes in this story, and they are the people from this little congregation in the desert who supported Gary and Tracy and others while they went through this enormous change in their lives. They are people who really didn’t know how to help drug addicts, but also knew they had to say yes when asked. They learned how to support people who were getting clean, and be patient with them while they learned what it means for them to live a Christian life. It took great courage and patience for them to do that. The members of this little congregation are true heroes of the gospel, and they will always have my undying respect and admiration.

Do you have heroes? Who are they? What do they do that makes you admire them?

Rest

It really does seem that many of the folks I know about, Monday has become a "day of rest."

What a busy weekend this has been! I'm still waiting for updates from a number of folks. But I think several of them are still catching their breaths.

Fired Up! launched at a camp-out this weekend. Seventy-five women gathered at a Ziontario retreat. Ottawa welcomed Doug Bolger, CPI coordinator for a couple of workshops. Hamilton was setting up for today's Joybringers gathering. Niagara Falls Community Outreach is swinging into another season of feeding the hungry and housing the homeless. New leaders are ordering Temple School course books to prepare for expanding ministry.

And I could go on and on. That's just a few of the Monday morning reports that are in! I need to rest myself. Whew!

Keep those reports coming in. You're doing a great job everyone.