Sunday, June 19, 2011

Nebulas and Creation

(Lagoon Nebula)

My husband Jeff is spending part of his summer working with incoming freshman at Ball State as an academic advisor. In other words, he helps them put together their schedules. This time of year always makes me think back to my college years and the class selection process. Freshman are excited to get started on their majors. Then they are introduced to this little thing called “general education requirements.” Math, English, Personal Finance, and Science. Though a little jarring, these general eds help create well rounded individuals who see the value of understanding different dimensions of the world, regardless of their major. Jeff’s stories of freshman take me back to my freshman year, which included science. I chose astronomy for reasons I can’t remember. I didn’t know as a freshman that this 4 credit science course would shape my view of God in profound ways. Throughout my college years, I kept taking astronomy and other Earth Science courses, enough to acquire a minor. Through these classes I found that by looking through the small lenses of a telescope, I could see God’s work in Genesis 1 in action. Star clusters, billions of lightyears away. The rings of Saturn, galaxies containing mind boggling planets. My freshman mind thought “God made it. And it was good.”

God said “let there be light. And it was so. And God saw it was good. God saw that creation was good. The image behind me on this screen is a picture of the goodness that is creation. The closest we can come to capturing on film God’s call “let there be light.” It is a nebula, the birthplace of galaxies, planets, stars, and future heavenly bodies. Nebulas are unimaginably large collections of gases and particles, millions of light years across. Over the course of billions of years, these gases and particles come together, fuse and create…creation.

Genesis 1 is one of the most familiar passages of scripture. If people know any passage beside the resurrection, it is likely the creation story. We learn it in Sunday School. We create paper cutouts of Adam and Eve. We take a felt sun and place it on a red felt board, above a blue cut out of the earth. We know this story. We see creation alive around us in the animals, plants, sunrise, and sunsets. Creation is good. Few people would argue this. What God has done is good.

Hold your thumb out, and close one eye while looking at your thumb. In the space that covers your thumb, there are hundreds of galaxies. That’s how vast God’s creation is that is described in this one chapter of Genesis. Whenever I have experienced personal questions, fears, or doubts, today’s first reading, paired with the beauty of creation that I have seen through the lens of a telescope have assured me that there is more to this world that what is before our eyes. God’s awesome power to create the heavens and the earth, to create the sun and the moon, to create the oceans, teeming with life, it. Is. good. We are a product of this awesome, often incomprehensible creation, and seeing the big picture, a nebula, God’s voice calling forth “let there be light” can uplift our faith. When we understand the vastness of creation, we know we’re not alone. And we are assured it. is. good.

But, how do we take this story of creation, and our belief that creation is good, and live lives that are sometimes frankly, don’t feel so good? How do we continue to hold onto the faith that what God creates is good, when our lives are in turmoil? When the diagnosis is terrifying. When surgeries don’t work. When a community loses a firefighter, a father of 3, days before Father’s Day. When Father’s Day brings us grief as we mourn the fathers we lost, or remember those who were less than we hoped. How do we continue to profess the faith of Genesis 1, that creation is good, on the days that are not so good? These are real questions that don’t mean you have a lack of faith. They don’t mean you don’t recognize the beauty or power of creation. They mean you are alive, human, and living in a world that is far from perfect.

Friends in faith, I want to remind you that this is Genesis 1. It’s not the end of the story. We soon hear the story of the fall, when sin and brokenness entered the world. We then travel into the New Testament, where creation continues. God made the world and declared it to be good, and after the fall, he gave us Christ, who declared that all will be redeemed and returned to good. I want to you to return with me to our nebula. Nebulas are never complete, and God’s voice in creation isn’t complete. Once a nebula forms to create a new galaxy, it doesn’t become stagnant. The explosions that destroy stars and solar systems are the beginning of new creations in God’s universe. Rest assured, Genesis 1 is not complete. God isn’t done creating the universe, and He certainly isn’t done creating a new thing in you and me.

So on the days that creation is good, but life is not so good, we hold onto our faith in Christ. And we seek out others to hold onto,-to steady us, to provide us when balance when we need someone to hold us. Creation never ends, even when it seems life has come to a halt. We read these familiar words, knowing God continues to breathe life into our dusty bodies, even when we are gasping for air. God uses the broken creation that is already around us to create a new thing, even when we fear we may be barely hanging on to life.

This isn’t to say “life is good” when it’s broken. It’s to profess a faith that God isn’t done restoring this good, broken, creation. I don't believe tragic events like these are "part of God's plan." The forces of evil and the powers of darkness are real and present in our broken creation. But, death and evil do not have the last word. We are an Easter people. There is more to creation than death, and Christ has the final, victorious word. God was there, God is there, and God always be there for all of us, in the ashes of our own lives to breathe new life in what seems like a world filled with death.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Spinning for Communinty

If you interact with me in person, you're probably aware that I've started doing some significant workouts in the past year. I'd never been an athlete, and started exercising for the health benefits. But, what keeps me coming back is the community I've found at the Yorktown YMCA.

At first I tried Zumba, which can be best described as a bunch of 30 something moms trying to dance like 20 something ladies in MTV music videos. I felt awkward and unsure what was coming next. It seemed everyone already knew the moves, and knew each other. No one really talked to me much.
While I liked the music, I never felt like I fit in. I began to think Zumba specifically, and maybe even working out in general, was really for "someone else." Not for a "nonathlete" like me.

But then I found a community of welcoming "spinners" (fast paced stationary biking). The first day I came to class, I was a few minutes late and everyone was already spinning away. The instructor, Angie, got off her bike, introduced herself, and took the time to make sure my bike was set up correctly. She told me 8 years ago she was new, and that I shouldn't be intimidated. She shared words of assurance "just keep peddling, even if you can't do everything. The most important thing is you are here. And we're glad you are." At the end of the class she said she was "proud" that I made it through the whole class that I was doing great. No one had EVER told me they were "proud" of my athletic abilities before! She then invited me to come back to class the following Monday.

I kept coming back. When my legs hurt, I stretched before. When I didn't want to go to class, I pushed myself. When I felt to busy, I found the time. In part, this was because the music was great, and I was seeing results. But the reason I continue to make time, stretch, and push myself is that I've found community in Angie's class. She is living out her faith and using her God given gifts to help us be as healthy as we can be. Angie takes time to learn our names, to ask about our families. We, in turn, do the same. We celebrate retirements, new jobs, and new babies. We support one another through all kinds of losses--the death of parents, job losses, and daily stresses. We notice when someone has missed class and members are encouraged to check in with each other. One day in class, as we were working through an especially tough climb, Angie said "come on ladies, you can do this! You're to good an athlete to quit!" For the first time in my life, I felt like an athlete!

In addition to physical health, spinning has helped my spiritual health. As a Pastor I try to consider how to make Church more like this class. A place where those who have never felt like they fit in can find a sense of belonging. A place where people support one another. A place where people are missed when they don't come. A place where people don't want to miss.

The principles that made me feel welcome in Angie's class are fairly simple. Notice the new person. Encourage one another. Take time to hear one another's stories. Invite people to come back. These simple steps have the potential to transform a person's mind, body and spirit. I won't ever be a spin instructor, but I will use my God given gifts to (hopefully) enrich lives as Angie enriched mine.


Thursday, June 9, 2011

Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery

Well, if the title of this blogpost doesn't get you wanting to read more, I don't know what will! I understand that most people would prefer reading about a bit "lighter" topic. But, this is the topic for the day, and I have a question for you as well: How should the Church respond to the issue of modern day slavery and human trafficking? This isn't a rhetorical question. I want to hear your answers.

This question stems from a continuing education presentation I attended in Chicago, hosted by the International Organization for Adolescence and led by my friend and colleague, Shelby French (www.iofa.org). The organization focuses on domestic and international slavery, including labor and sex trafficking of adults and minors. Domestically, IOFA is working to bring into focus the problem of modern day slavery through training programs, information on interventions for those who may find people who are being trafficked, and government reforms to stiffen penalties for those who enslave others. Internationally, the organization has begun pilot programs in Cambodia and Ethiopia to assist orphans who are aging out of the system. These young people, who are at high risk for enslavement, will receive job training, life skills, and transitional care.

If you are still reading, I know that, as uncomfortable as this topic is, you know we need to bring voice to the voiceless. Shelby asked me what it was that created a passion in me about slavery. I responded "I believe we are all members of the Body of Christ. That every person is a precious child of God who deserves love, respect and care. We, who are the Body, are to bring a voice to the forgotten, the marginalized, and those who are abused." I also shared that the brokenness of our world is not "God's plan." As people of faith, we are called to live out Christ's message to bring wholeness and restoration to all people.

So, what about the Church? How do we give voice to modern day slavery? I'm trying to begin the conversation by getting the word out that slavery still exists. More people are enslaved today than in any time in human history. I also suggest that we learn more, and know the signs of trafficking, which I learned occurs in cities large and small, among people of every ethnicity. Don't forget the enslaved when planning your adult education sessions, when you're preaching, and when your in conversation with others.

I would like to see training opportunities and partnerships continue to form within the Lutheran Church. A day of training entitled "Pastor as 1st Responder" came to mind where we could bring together those who know about this topic and other issues (such as addictions, abuse, etc) and help Pastors and leaders learn what resources are available in our communities.

On a national level, I challenge the Christian Church, and the Lutheran Church specifically, to consider ways to partner with domestic and international anti-trafficking programs. The ELCA's moto is "God's work, our Hands." Our hands do incredible work with partner churches throughout the world, bring education, health care and other resources to all God's children. I now challenge our hands to work as Christ's hands and voice. Standing outside the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus cried out "unbind him!" and Lazarus came forth. We are now challenged to continue this cry "unbind him" and set the captive free.