Wandering Elder

On the night of the 21st, our church held what is called "The Longest Night" which is a service designed specifically with those for whom this time of year is most difficult.  Not a 'high attendance' service by any means, but it did what it was supposed to do, which is to offer what I would call 'tidings of comfort.' When I was in seminary, I was in a class called "Pastoral Care" which, I have to admit, I didn't care for at all.  Not because of the subject matter, but largely because of the teacher and the attitude of the class.  It would take a long time to explain all that, but perhaps this example shows how we were at odds. One of the questions we were asked to respond to hypothetically was with someone who was suffering at the death of a loved one.  One particular small group responded with the rhetoric, "Friday is here, but Sunday is coming!"  The 'Friday' being Good Friday - the day that commemorates the death of Chris...

I am truly grieved at the mounting loss of life that we hear of nightly on the news.  Especially the death of children - in particular in Pakistan where the Taliban have killed so many children.  It is truly an offensive story. I am reminded of the story in the Gospel of Matthew in which we find that the good news for all people which was to be Christ was not good news to Herod.  However one might feel about the nature of the story - historical or legendary - it does present a larger truth. What it tells us rather clearly is that when we begin to believe that our power places us above one another or above the power of God, when God does act or offer a new revelation, it may very well frighten us.  By that I mean that if we find ourselves comfortable, when God acts differently, we might seek to curtail the revelation. Herod did not want to lose his power.  And the arrival of the sages let him know that things were happening in his province that were n...

I have become quite taken by the show 'Blacklist.'  I think it is a compelling, well crafted and well written show that weaves itself into a great story.  What I have found quite surprising in the show, though, is how often I am surprised when a character tells the truth. For example, when Redding is asked directly if he killed someone, he hesitates.  I remember thinking, "He's going to say no," even though we (the audience) knew that he had.  But then he answers "yes."  I was stunned. I suppose part of that is conditioning.  Television shows, dramas, movies have conditioned us to expect people to obfuscate.  That's why I am so amazed at just how surprised I am when characters actually tell the truth.  It's sadly unique. And I suppose that goes for society as well.  In a world of false online personas we seem to have gotten all to used to disbelieving people - no matter what it is they say.  Yet when truth is told, it shocks us and...