An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

'It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and pity  it was he who redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried  them all the days of old." (from Isaiah 63:7-9) The week of December 13, 2025, was one filled with tragedy and violence . The tragedy and violence began when a gunman entered Brown University and began firing on students taking their final exams resulting in two student deaths, and nine seriously wounded. The motivation of the shooting at Brown University seemed to be related to a professor at M.I.T. As the weekend progressed, two gunmen attacked Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, resulting in 15 deaths with numerous wounded.  Occurring on first night of Hanukkah, the probable motivated was anti-Semitism The most tragic event, for me as a fan of “All In The Family”, was the murder of Rob Rainer and his wife by their son. With this difficult week of tragic events and senseless violence, I began searching the Scriptures f...

Mt. Mansfield, Underhill, VT They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the  Lord      as the waters cover the sea.   (from Isaiah 11:1-10) At 1:30pm on October 26, 2018, an ordinary church service began in The Hague, Netherlands.  The worship service lasted until January 30, 2019. One continuous worship service for 96 days. Dutch law states that no legal action can interfere with or disrupt a religious service.   Sheltered within the walls of Bethel Church was an Armenian family — the Tamrazyans — who, after living in the Netherlands for 9 years under asylum claims, after winning their case in court twice, recently had their case overturned and were set to be deported, despite credible death threats in their home country.  So our siblings in Christ at Bethel Church in The Hague did what Christians are uniquely equipped to do — they started worshipping and they just…didn...

John the Baptist From    Matthew 11:2-11 December is full of cozy things—twinkling lights, Christmas trees, cookies, and carols.  But then John the Baptist shouting, “You brood of vipers! Repent! The kingdom of heaven is near!”  Repent! God's kingdom is coming! “Something huge is happening!!! Repent and be baptized!!!” Crowds see John emerging from the wilderness, hear his yelling and repent and are baptized by him preparing for the coming kingdom of heaven.  Baptism in the Jordan River is a reminder of Israel’s entering the promised land. John’s presence and wake-up call message from the wilderness’s silence is an urgent, thundering cry “repent and be baptized!! “ Get Baptized! God's kingdom is coming! Prepare yourself with genuine self-examination and transformation for a new beginning!  You will need a true inner change shown through actions, not just words. John tells-off religious leaders, those brood of vipers who misuse power, reminding eve...

  "All shall be well,  and all shall be well,  and all manner of thing shall be well," Julian of Norwich   (1342-1416+) In the fourteenth century, a woman named Julian was living the solitary life of an anchoress. An anchoress was a woman vowed to chastity and stability of abode. She was enclosed in a cell until her death. Her life’s purpose being contemplation and unceasing prayer focused on God. Her cell was one hundred square feet with three windows for viewing the sacrament and taking communion.  There Julian lived and prayed, ate her meals and slept, worked at some simple task such as needlework, meditated on her revelations and wrote her book for the next twenty, thirty, perhaps forty years, never leaving the cell. At age 30 she was struck with severe illness, nearly dying. A priest called to her bedside to administer the last rites, held up a crucifix before her face. Suddenly, she felt all pain cease. During the illness, she received 1...

Preti, Mattia, 1613-1699 Therefore you also must be ready,  for the Son of Man is coming  at an hour you do not expect. (from Matthew 24:36-44 ) Never, perhaps, has this Advent gospel been timelier. “Watch!” Jesus says in the closing to his apocalyptic warning. It's timely as our North American culture becomes increasingly secular and “mainline” churches are shrinking, being sold for condos and housing, or abandoned. But even where the church is thriving—in many parts of Asia and Africa, for instance—violence that denies the peace of Christ, along with the suppression of Christian faith, is real.  Whatever the situation Jesus tells us to “stay awake”—to keep eyes, hearts, hands, and minds on the hope of his coming. Since we don’t know when “the day of the Lord” is coming we need to keep watching, working, and living by grace. My way of working and watching in hope is through feeding those who are hungry. Each Sunday, before the beginning of our worship, I see pe...

  On December 7, 1941, Ens. Maurice was performing his duties when fighter planes flew overhead dropping bombs attacking and sinking ships. He stayed at his post until his battleship was hit and he abandoned ship barely making it to safety. In the Spring of 1995, a small group of Japanese people raising funds for a school asked to stay with members of our church. Maurice was one of the members who housed them. You know, what happened here is pretty amazing. Maurice, who once barely survived an attack from Japanese planes during the war, later opened his home to a group of Japanese visitors. By choosing kindness over old hurts, he showed how forgiveness can start with simple actions. It’s proof that even small gestures—like welcoming someone—can help heal old wounds and bring people together. This is what Christ’s reign really looks like in humility and sacrifice. As Christians we are expected to extend God’s grace around us, even when it seems difficult. Sometim...

Temple Remains   As for these things that you see,  the days will come when not one stone  will be left upon another;  all will be thrown down.” They asked him,  “Teacher, when will this be,  and what will be the sign  that this is about to take place?” (from Luke 21:5-19 ) There’s a story about a fourth-grade class that winning an attendance award. As a class they could vote between a homework pass for the day or bringing a stuffed animal to school. Amazingly, they chose to bring a stuffed animal. As one student explained, there’s no such thing as a homework pass because you might skip it today, but you still gotta learn it. There’s a truth here: homework is inevitable, but school is unpredictable. Homework guidelines are clear, but lunchroom rankings and playground bullying persist. In the gospel, Jesus overhears a discussion about the beauty of the temple and the many offerings given there. Instead of joining the conversation, Jesus shif...

Cutting the Gordian Knot  Jesus said to them,  “Those who belong to this age  marry and are given in marriage,  but those who are considered worthy  of a place  in that age  and in the resurrection from the dead  neither marry nor are given in marriage. (From Luke 20:27-38 )  King Gordius tied a famously complex knot that legend claimed only the future ruler of Asia could undo. When Alexander tried but failed to untie the knot, he solved the puzzle by cutting through it with his sword. That is pretty much what was going on when Jesus was confronted by some Sadducees. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection, so their question is really about the how unrealistic the whole concept is. The Sadducees' beliefs stemmed from their reverence for scripture and their focus on legacy. According to the Law of Moses, marriage and children keep a man’s name alive here on earth therefore a widow marrying her husband’s brother does that. ...

Michelangelo Buonarroti,   “And afterward,      I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,      your old men will dream dreams,      your young men will see visions." (from Joel 2:23-32) Why did God let this happen? This past summer we experienced a record-breaking drought destroying fields of grain. Devastating rainstorms followed with flash floods demolishing people’s homes. Camp Mystic, a girls' camp on the Guadalupe River was hit in the middle of the night among devastating floods, killing 27 campers and counselors. Clearly, we are in trouble as these natural disasters disrupt our daily lives. The prophet Joel was asking the same question. There was a violent invasion of locusts destroying people’s livelihood as the creatures laid waste to the crops. A devastating fire swept the land devouring pastures and trees. These disasters have caused severe financial...

Frank Wesley, 1923-2002 . To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector (from Luke 18:9-14)   “A Pharisee and a tax collector walk into the temple to pray.” The Pharisee, confident in his relationship with God, thanks God by listing the ways he’s more righteous. He stands by himself to be sure he’s not touched by anyone less righteous than himself. The tax collector, even knowing he’s a sinner, goes to the temple to pray. He stands far away, feeling unworthy as a sinner, and prays anyway. The tax collector doesn’t look to heaven, beats his chest, and prays, “God have mercy on me a sinner.” The Pharisee is trusting in himself while praying before God. The tax collector trusts in God. The tax collector, comfortable telling God the truth, trusts in God’s promise of salvation. Through God’s promises, Jesus moral teachi...

Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. (from Luke 18:1-8 )  Early African converts to Christianity were sincere and regular in private devotions, praying and reading scripture. Each convert had a separate spot in a grove to pour out their heart to God.  Eventually the paths to the groves became well worn.  So, if one of these converts began to neglect prayer, others soon noticed. Other converters would kindly remind the careless one, “Brother, the grass grows on your path.” Each Sunday as I listen to people lift their prayer requests asking God to change something, a sickness or a situation, I notice some of the prayer requests are repeated week after week. This persistence prayer request carries a sense of hope within it. Forgetting that God hears and answers prayer in God’s ways and God’s time, grass may begin to grow on the path. It’s then that a sense of hopelessness can set in. It’s time to begin walking the path to their gro...

From the CodexAureus Cleansing of the ten lepers   "Then he said to him,  “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” (from  Luke 17:11-19 ) The Chaos Chaos describes a leper’s life. Lepers, according to Leviticus 13.45-46, were forced to live as roadside beggars with cover their mouths crying out, "Unclean! “Unclean” a warning to others. This left Lepers feeling the emotional pain of separation and isolation caused by living apart. The Calling Fear and shame burdened them since Leprosy was seen as God’s punishment for serious sin. The only way out of this exile was healing and confirmation by a priest, which was considered as difficult as raising the dead. It’s no wonder that when Jesus approached, the lepers cry out: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus instructs them to visit the priests, and while obeying, their leprosy is cured. One leper returns, loudly praising God at Jesus's feet leading to a changed behavior and greater spirit...

5th Century Baptism  Font But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. (from 1 Timothy 6:6-19 )   Gwendolyn Brooks wrote: "Live not for battles won. Live not for the-end-of-the-song. Live in the along.1" Trekking: A long-distance adventure to explore remote or rough areas, usually including overnight camping. 50 Miler hikes with Boy Scouts are like this definition. During the hike, scouts have opportunities to learn, develop skills, and interact with others in the group. The scout who cooled his feet at a lake during a rest learned about blisters. Eager for relief, a younger scout ran to the water’s edge and soaked his feet. The combination of damp boots and tender feet became a lesson as he soon nursed a painful blister, learning a small but memorable lesson Trekking daily gave me a sacred time to reflect deeply, to listen for God’s voice in the quiet for...

"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?" (Jeremiah 8:22) Rapper BigXthaPlug, behind bars for his son’s first birthday, unraveled, with behavior landing him in solitary confinement. "I knew I was mentally gone when I was counting the bricks in the cell.” “One day I just screamed out my door, ‘How the hell do y’all stay sane?’”. How does one stay sane? That’s a good question, especially today filled with external and internal violence and turmoil around us? Jeremiah’s calling from God was to speak a message to Israel of God’s coming judgment and destruction due to idolatry, social injustices, and moral decay. The judgement and consequences were Jerusalem’s siege and Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah's message in the catastrophes was: Yes, there is death, destruction, and multiple catastrophes, But there is life and restoration on the other side. Begin with Prayer. Staying sane, I believe, begins wi...

The Widow's Coin “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” (from Luke 15:1-10 )  People lose stuff. The woman in the parable lost a single coin equal to her day’s wages. Naturally, she’s looking desperately for the single coin! Desperate Search As a poor woman, without status in Jesus’ time, she’s frantically searching thoroughly , extremely thoroughly. She’s looking everywhere by lighting a lamp, first making sure she has enough oil to keep the candle lit. She is sweeping an earth floor stirring up dust and dirt. Finally, she finds it! Celebration When she finds the coin, she celebrates by throwing a huge party with friends and neighbors probably spending all ten coins a well. Jesus’ parable tells the listeners this how God works. Embraced By Love Mr. Perkins was living in a group home for men He was lost to his family who were unable to care for him. Sun...

‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ (from Jeremiah 18:1-11 ) The Lord instructed Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house.  Jeremiah watches the potter at work, notices that the clay on the potter’s hand spoils the pot. The potter destroys that one, picks up more clay’ and begins creating a new one. Jeremiah gets it. If the potter can do that to clay, can’t the Lord do that? Can’t I, the Lord, also destroy and create? I’m about to destroy, but I can also create. If the people change from their evil actions, then I will not destroy them. Repent and turn from your evil actions. God is waiting for the people to decide if they will behave. God is open to changing directions, rethinking possibilities, and relenting from devastation. God’s actions are ultimately affected by the people’s willing to turn from destructive beh...

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (from Psalm 1 ) As I was reading Psalm 1 again as if for the first time, I rediscovered by the obvious message that humans always have moral choices. Additionally, all our moral choices, even the smallest of decisions, construct a life path for us. We are not born good or bad, we are made one or the other through moral training and choices. So, the ancient wisdom of choosing God, such as Deuteronomy11:26-28 or Joshua 24:15, "Choose this day whom you will serve..." promises new life to those stuck on bad roads. It seems to me that praying Psalm 1 will help strengthen my moral choices. To pray Psalm 1: First: Begin by reading slowly, several times, the meaning of each verse as it applies to your life. Second: Personalize your prayer by lifting to Go...

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (from Ps.103:1-8 ) Thomas Merton, American Trappist monk, writer and theologian, once asked himself a question he immediately answered:   How does an apple ripen? The apple, by simply being in the sun, fulfills its purpose of ripening, The apple doesn't try to ripen faster, it simply allows the sun to do its work.   There is nothing it can do to ripen itself. It can’t do workouts, tighten its muscles and then suddenly be a red, ripened, juicy apple in the morning. The apple just hangs on the branch in the sun, naturally ripening, where it receives its daily nourishment. This is the basic plan for how Christians ripen in their relationship to God. The difference is that Christians don’t naturally ripen in their relationship to God, we have to place themselves where we can be nourished. The beginning place of nourishment I find most helpful is the Guide to Prayer For All Who Walk With God. The daily walk in the...

  “ “I have come to bring fire on the earth,  and how I wish it were already kindled! (From Luke 12:49-56 ) As I write this post, the sky is hazy with smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Currently, the Canadian government reports over 700 wildfires burning, primarily caused by human activities, lightning strikes, and climate change. The majority of the active fires are labeled "out of control," meaning they are not contained, spreading the smoke, causing the world's worst air quality.  For me it's like Abraham looking towards Sodom and Gomorrah watching smoke rising from God’s destroyed land  Jeremiah wrote about God's fire as destructive while Malachi 3:2-3  wrote about it as refining, both bring about change As a rabbi, Jesus, knowing the scriptures, wants to set a refining fire of change. As the Son of God, Jesus asks that God’s kingdom disrupt the world bringing it to perfection through a refining fire.. This perfection means no oppression, greed, or idolat...

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, the owner would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (from Luke 12:32-40 ) I regularly watch Grantchester; a murder mystery set in 1950s England. The main characters are a local detective and an Anglican priest who, as a team, solve mysteries set in the town. Two aspects of Grantchester impress me. First, the simplicity of the 1950’s police communications done by a landline phone and not cell phone. Second, the simplicity of daily life with little television and fewer possessions allowing the characters to focus on their vocation of detective and priest. This simplicity is more than a nostalgic return to the “good old days”. Instead, it’s a Shaker type of simplicity where austerity allows freedom from distractions to focus on worship and community. Today’s distraction-filled world has seemingly countless activ...

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (From Luke 12:13-21 ) Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken , is among my favorite of his. In the poem a traveler comes to diverging roads and needs to decide which to take. One road doesn’t look as though it’s been used as much while the other looks well used, so the traveler ponders, which shall I take? It’s difficult for the traveler to make a decision not knowing where each path leads. The traveler makes a choice recognizing that in the future the choice may have been wrong, but it’s impossible to go back and change the choice. This is he sense of the parable of the Rich Fool, which choice does one make? Here’s a rich land owner with an abundance of whatever crop and so a choice must be made. The choice made is to build a larger barn to store more crops. Celebrate! Eat, drink, and be merry! This choice is made based on greed ...

"If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (from Luke 11:1-13 ) At a healing group I led, someone asked for prayers for a friend whose child a severe cold. We all prayed for recovery of the child. The next morning about 10 a.m. the person called me asking if the child’s cold was healed. I replied that I didn’t know because I hadn’t called the mother yet. In today’s culture of instant response, the question was understandable. In Jesus culture, someone knocking at your door in the middle of the night broke all rules of basic hospitality, and personal dignity. The disciples were asking Jesus to be taught how to pray. Jesus tells a parable about persistently knocking until the door is open. Is persistence the lesson? Persistence may imply God is reluctant, unaware, and needing harassing by our prayers before God will do what we want. Must we bang on heaven’s doors to get...

"Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!" (from Psalm 25:1-10 ) Israel’s King David, a skilled warrior known for defeating Goliath, also led numerous other victories, expanding and securing the kingdom’s borders. Politically, he united Israel’s tribes, established Jerusalem as capital, and created a strong central government. Despite his successes, he made serious moral mistakes, like the Bathsheba affair and killing Uriah. David's trials included Tamar’s betrayal, Absalom’s revolt, and his death in battle. Nathan, David’s prophet, confronted him about the sin, and David repented. God’s punishments consisted of a series of family tragedies, including the death of his infant son and conflicts with his children. Our life journey isn’t King David’s, but that doesn’t me...

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things,  but few things are needed—indeed only one.  Mary has chosen the better part,  which will not be taken away from her.” ( from Luke 10:38-42 ) There’s a famous legend about Martha told after Jesus’s resurrection. Martha becomes a traveling preacher ending up in a small French that, unfortunately, has a chronic dragon problem. Martha slays the dragon which wins the whole town over to Christianity. In the same legend, Mary, on that same trip, starts a monastery in the wilderness. In this legend, they both complete their assigned roles in Christian history: Martha acts and Mary studies. Martha represents an active faith, while Mary represents a contemplative faith. Martha shows Jesus hospitality while Mary sits at his feet listening. They represent different parts of Christian discipleship and both are seen as positive characters. They are both doing good things. There is no villain in this story. T...