An Elder Pilgrim's Reflections

"Finally, be strong in the Lord  and in the strength of his power.  Put on the whole armor of God,  so that you may be able to stand against  the wiles of the devil."  (from Ephesians 6:10-20 ) In 1944 the inexperienced U.S. Third Army was about to invade France. To inspire the troops, Gen. George S. Patton gave several motivational speeches urging them to do their duty in spite of personal fear. Their coming combat required powerful and constant offensive action. The speeches recalled their heritage and promised honor resulting from their bravery, assuring them that valor, not numbers, will prevail against the mighty army they were battling. In 63, the small church of Christians in Ephesus endured oppression by Emperor Nero and Jewish leaders The apostle Paul, in chains, relying on God’s army for prayers and depending on the Lord’s strength composes a motivational letter to the Ephesians urging them to proclaim the gospel no matter what opposition the...

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. (from Ephesians 5:15-20 ) A wise person once said to me, "On Sunday, you will find me in church someplace." I also practice this discipline because I believe that emerging from Sunday worship is a strengthening of one’s spirit through the “Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” we sing to the Lord. So, as I enter a church, I am eager for the strengthening of my spirit through the music as we sing to the Lord and encourage each other. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians encourages them (and us) to live a life filled with the Spirit giving thanks at “all times and for everything” in Christ’s name. This is the beginning of wise living emerging from individual Christians and Christian communities. My understanding of evil days is the tension created by violence, hatred, and discrimination resulting in a lack of hope for people experiencing these hostilities....

Suddenly an angel touched Elijah and saying, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. (from 1 Kings 19:4-8 ) Since retiring from a preaching schedule and special needs school bus driving, I spend more time reading historical novels, biographies, and memoirs. One memoir I appreciated was “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier” which is story of war through the eyes of a child soldier. The author tells how, at twelve years old, he fled attacking rebels in Sierra Leone, wandered a land made unrecognizable by violence, and by age thirteen, been picked up by the government army, and trained as a soldier. By age 18, he moved to the United States finishing high school at the United Nations International School in New York. In 2004 he graduated from Oberlin College with a B.A. in political science. Elijah’s memoirs would include competition with the prophets of Ba‘al on Mount Carmel followed...

Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven he rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven. Mortals ate of the bread of angels; he sent them food in abundance. (from Psalm 78:23-29) The Sunny Side Diner in Bennington, VT. is about halfway between home and bow, NH, the first stop on our journey to Maine. We arrive there just about noon, while breakfast is still being swerved allowing us to have their generous sized blueberry pancakes and real maple syrup . It's also possible to order a 3-egg omelet served with toast and freshly made strawberry-rhubarb jam. It's the relaxed, friendly spirit of the diner that makes it a refreshing stop on our journey. We mortals, having driven three hours, enjoy God's gifts of wheat real maple syrup freshly made strawberry-rhubarb jam available in abundance. Psalm 78 recalls the Israelite’s journey out of Egyptian slavery towards the promised land. The Psalm reminds the people of their c...

Then Jesus took the 5 loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” (from John 6:1-21 ) Rev. Dr. Tracy Blackmon tells the story of her “most holy” of Holy Communions. Dr. Blackmon tells of being fed by Cathy “Mama Cat” Daniels. Mama Cat had been serving Sunday meals to demonstrators outside the Ferguson Police Department’s headquarters nearly every week since Michael Brown was shot by Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9, 2014. In Mama Cat’s words, “These [sic] our mothers, and fathers, and brothers, and sisters, and nieces and nephews. It’s our people, so when we say black lives matter, we need to know that we need to include every last one. I can’t sleep at night knowing people is laying out in the cold. I spent the night out here two days before Christmas because you got to understand w...

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (From Mark 6:30-34) Sometimes I just feel like I need a Creemee (Google it) to take me back to the beginning of my pastoral ministry in Vermont. I feel a need to get grounded as I reflect on the road of my pastoral ministry and where I am still traveling. Like the disciples, I have worked and taught faithfully in each parish and the Lord’s work in retirement. I’m experiencing the world in a precarious, ever-changing situation politically, nationally and globally with continuous brutality and new challenges. Jesus call to the disciples to “come away to a deserted place” seem like just the place to go. Deserted places are critical places, places to get re-grounded. Significantly, the Gospel of Mark begins in a deserted place: a wilderness of forty days. Jesus is baptized in the Jordan, the heavens are opened...

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. (from Psalm 83) Friday, July 12, was a day in which I felt a sense of deep peace gently surrounding me.  One place was sitting on a bench alongside a quiet pond surrounded by trees a view of nearby mountains with billowing clouds above. Another was the peaceful singing of Psalms by a small group accompanied by acoustic guitars. Psalm 85:8–13, portrays the abundant life that God wills for all people in all times and in all places. Later, into this pastoral scene of deep inner peace burst the exterior scene of violence at a political rally leaving physical and spiritual wounds. In Psalm 83, the Lord speaks peace to his people by summoning and challenging his people “to look for and pray for” the abundant life that God wills and to work toward that abundant life for all. The basic challenge is to shape a world where everyone is fed, clothed, and c...