Michael Davison Blog

A Balanced Faith: Jesus & Honest Abe
by Rev. Drew Kirtley

Sometimes a film comes along that demands more attention than the average hour and a half runtime in a theater. For me, that film was 2012’s Lincoln[1], which was directed by Academy Award winner, Steven Spielberg, and starred Daniel Day-Lewis in one of his three Oscar-winning roles

I remember watching this movie on the “big screen” upon its release, and the feeling of uncertainty that entered my mind as the lights dimmed and the opening credits began to roll across the screen. After all, this was the first time I could remember seeing anyone portray the 16^th American President on screen. Anything I knew about him before then I read in textbooks, and the only image I had in my mind was the same as everyone else’s… a tall, skinny man with a beard and a top hat. Then I saw Lincoln and that all changed. This performance was mesmerizing. The things I’d heard about the man began to make sense because the character onscreen brought all the stories and historical facts to life. And the result has given me a glimpse into what Jesus the person may have been like.

The movie opens with President Lincoln visiting soldiers during the end of the Civil War in January 1865. This is where most of the movie exists, in conversations. This is the focus of the story while the political and historical events serve as backdrop. This is where the Christ-like attributes begin to surface.

The President displays a balanced, graceful, tenderhearted, yet fierce persona, all while maintaining his character in the process. The more the story progresses, the more this seems less like an accident, and more like the result of a lifetime of practicing a similar lifestyle and moral code as that of Jesus of Nazareth. Abraham Lincoln comes across as a kind, gentle, and caring man. When he is in conversation (which is most of the movie), he looks people in the eye, seeks to better understand their lives, asks questions about their thoughts and beliefs, and truly lives life with the people around him, whether family, friends, advisors, colleagues, or complete strangers. Even his enemies can’t seem to comprehend how his steady, calm personality and confident, firm leadership style (all blended with great humor) can be so consistently cohesive.

Some of the most tense, chaotic scenes come in the form of the heated debates on the floor of the House of Representatives. People yelling at one another, Republicans and Democrats insulting each other, name-calling and even threats being posed seem like the accepted norm. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, we never hear or see Lincoln become mean-spirited toward a single individual. He loves people and accepts them as friends first. He treats everyone equally as a neighbor and a fellow human being. After he establishes his sincerity and genuine concern for someone, he then allows himself to engage people with whom he disagrees.

After each viewing, I reconsider how I interact with others. Watching this portrayal of a historical icon unfold reminds me that no matter what position I may hold or what I consider my place in society to be, as a follower of the way of Jesus, I need to be reminded of the importance of people. Loving God, self, and neighbor is a lifestyle. Every person is deserving of my time, my authentic concern, and my unconditional love. May you explore the joy of real, human encounters by being faithful to the way of Jesus.

________

[1] Day-Lewis, Daniel. Lincoln. Blu-ray Disc. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Burbank: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2012.

Memories of Life
Travis Carlson (RYC Adult)
First Christian Church in Cyril

When I was growing up my mother would talk about those important moments in time that she could clearly recall where and when she was.  I would say “Sure mom.”  and keep on doing the stuff I thought was important.  As I grew older one of those moments happened to me.  I was in seventh grade sitting in the school office waiting to be picked up because I was sick.  When over the radio I heard that the first teacher who was going to space had died in the Shuttle Challenger explosion.  It was a huge blow because we had been following her story on the news and in the paper since she was chosen.   I can see this scene to this very day. Sometime those places we go in our minds hurt, and sometimes they give us that warm feeling, and other times just make us so proud to be a Follower of the Way.

One of the greatest moments in my life and great memory was the General Assembly in Kansas City.  My partner and I went because I was pastoring the Hobart First Christian Church.  We arrived and checked-in to our hotel and grabbed a shuttle over to the event center.  When we got there, however, a group of people were outside of our bus stop with vulgar signs and saying very hurtful words to all us as we walked in.  This was my first time as an adult I had ever seen a protest live against the LGBTQ+ community.  I was mortified and angry that people could act that way toward friends of mine.  Why would someone do something like this?  How could I respond and not get thrown in jail?  You also have to remember that this is when people were very hateful and used degrading remarks just walking down the streets. This went on for a couple of days.  I felt a level of hurt that I didn’t understand.

The next night after dinner was worship, and there they were again.  Same signs and same foul things spewed forth and same mean spirit.  After worship I walked back outside to get a breath of fresh air… and this is what I saw.  Several youth groups from around the nation were standing in a line outside singing “Jesus Loves You” back at the people across the street.  They did this for a long time.  They were the ones that created this moment that sustains me in my walk with the Spiritual.  The next day the angry mob had left, and it was beautiful to see the way the assembly from my point of view became a community of believers.  We are made in love and in an image of wondrous light.

Just as I am finishing this post on February 14th (Valentines Day, Ash Wednesday), we had another school shooting in our country.  Several people were killed in Parkland, Florida.  Also some adults sacrificed their lives so others might be saved.  As an employee of a school system in Oklahoma, my heart breaks for those involved.  As I sat in Ash Wednesday service tonight, I reflected on the story I was telling in this post and on the frailty of life itself.  This jarred me awake and realize it must start with me, no, with us.  We must take a stand and step out in love.  We must be those young people standing on the sidewalk singing until we are heard.  Are we going to stop it all? Well, no, but we can make a difference in our own way.  

So as we journey to the Cross, I implore you to look through your life at the injustices you may have seen.  Gaze upon your present with a eye of kindness. Look to the future for the ways you can show The Holy to all of those around you. We are all called to follow the way of Jesus.  He didn’t just stay in the shadows.  He was present in the lives of the oppressed, those stepped upon by society, and those who needed to experience unconditional love.  Be the people who sing songs of love against the evil sights and sounds of hate.

This following verse reminds me be brave and to step out.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)*

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel: “Be strong and bold, for you are the one who will go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their ancestors to give them; and you will put them in possession of it.  It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

*New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Lent (def) verb: simple past tense and past participle of lend.

Lend (def) verb

1. to grant the use of (something) on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned.
2. to give (money) on condition that it is returned and that interest is paid for its temporary use.
3. to give or contribute obligingly or helpfully;
4. to adapt (oneself or itself) to something;
5. to furnish or impart;
[lent. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/lent (accessed: February 8, 2018).]

I am beginning the season of lent at sea.  My companion and I are on holiday touring the southern Caribbean on a cruise ship.  We like cruising and we’ve been to the ports of call many times.  What we can see from our limited perspective are islands recovering using tourist’s dollars and the other aid they can get.  May the odds be ever in your favour.  If you live in an area that is prone to nature’s cleanse, it will be your turn to lend a hand cleaning up or seeking a hand to rebuild what is lost.

The first full day and night and the second day at sea we sailed for Puerto Rico.  The wind was blowing 25-35 knots from the south southeast.  The ship navigates along a similar course sometimes head on and sometimes broadside the wind and wind driven sea.  Normal seas are 4-6 feet.  The first full day and night the seas were 8-12 feet and transitioned to 12-15 feet.  I can be prone to motion sickness on the sea.  My sea legs are not deep within me.  That disorienting queasy feeling settled into my brain and stomach.  Pressure point bracelets that once helped were adorned too late to make a significant difference.  Non-drowsy motion sickness medication eased the disorientation and queasiness, but it did not completely go away.  Now, calmer seas and moored at the dock of our second port of call I still have a sensation that the ship is pitching and rolling through the water as I write and reflect on the experience, though without the sick feeling.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by the Satan; and Jesus was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” [Mark 1:9-15]

Maybe that is what I need to experience: a queasy lent, O God.  Something disorienting that is not soothed by reading the sacred stories, singing the hymns, or participating in the ancient rituals.  The ancient ways and stories are meant to disorient, but have become a medication for the sensations caused by believing in Christ instead of following Jesus.  Being a follower of Jesus can make, will make, you queasy more often than not.  My “Jesus legs” may not as deep as I thought.

And from the rolling sea rises a response.  Michael.  Why is following Jesus disorienting?  Is he not what being fully human looks like?  Don’t you want to be fully human and touch the Imago Dei, the divine spark, in you?  Is it not tempting?  The kindom is near.  Believe the good news.

Knowing that commitment unleashes energy, what can I commit myself to today? 
(Daily Question, Gratefulness.org, Jan 31, 2018)

It’s that time of year that followers of Jesus begin thinking about a discipline or practice for the season of Lent.  This year, Ash Wednesday is February 14.  Yes, if you’ve not thought about it yet: Ash Wednesday on Valentine’s Day.  If I was in Godspell, I would expect to receive a heart imposed on my forehead rather than a cross.  Maybe that’s what we need in our context.  To have our hearts and heads better connected, realigned, or reset.  Realigned head and heart religion instead of “you are dust and to dust you shall return.”  There is an abundance of dusty death throughout the centuries and in our midst.  All kinds of Christians still struggle with “love God and love your neighbor as yourself.”

When you think about Jesus of Nazareth, without a christological faith claim, a heart on the forehead represents how Jesus met people at wells, along the road, and at banquets.  Jesus had a heart for people seeking better health, inclusive community, and for the comfortable complacent ones assured they would be first rather than last.  Would it be an edgy faith statement to sport a heart rather than a cross this Ash Wednesday?  It would invite conversation, which we need more of, and less debate.

On Ash Wednesday, members of the Regional Youth Council will post a weekly devotional on my blog page, Old Camp Hat, hosted on the Region’s website.  Yes, you may not know that Pam, Leslie, and I each have a little blog page on the Region’s website.  I confess that we are not very active writers, but we want to be.  Each Wednesday, one or more RYC members will offer some thoughts about Lent and their experience of being a follower of Jesus.  So, please stop by each week, as RYC unleash the energy of a discipline during Lent.

I’ve been asked what my discipline will be this year.  I’ve ‘practiced’ a variety of disciplines, from thirty minutes of silence to learning to roller blade.  Quick aside, I’ve got a nice set of roller blades, size 8, and accessories, if anyone is interested.  Rather than give something up, I add something to my living during Lent, which requires me to shuffle my priorities and let something go.  This year, I’ll be adding sermon prep as my discipline and posting thoughts on the Lectionary texts each week on Old Camp Hat and my personal blog, davisonsdoodle.com.   Why is this a discipline? I’m not an every week preacher.  I’ve been a witness to ministers’ schedules and preaching preparation, so this will help me deepen my understanding of what local ministers experience.  If I was a weekly preacher, I most likely would blog about the process — kind of a ‘back of the house’ look at the formation of the sermon and my thinking.  It would not really be a full blown text, but thoughts working on me as part of the process.  I’ll post on Tuesday afternoon during Lent.

Commitment unleashes energy.  What will you commit to this Lenten season?

“The true price of anything you do is the amount of time you exchange for it.”  
Henry David Thoreau, Walden

The cool northern breeze, however brief of late, reminds me that soon fall and winter will sweep into life.  Daylight is growing shorter as the earth spins the sun below the equator and another year into memory as the two busiest holidays approach.  Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, Day of the Dead, All Saints Day, provide a moment of pause to remember the significant ones, loved ones, and moments: grace, wisdom, love, life lessons, hard conversations, and people on whose work and living provide me (us) opportunities for which I (we) can never say thank you, enough.  As I’ve done in the past I invite you to ponder:

Are you a good steward of your experience?

When we where children my mother required my sister and me to write a list of people and situations for which we were thankful this past year.  This task kept us out of her hair on Thanksgiving morning, but it was more than  busy work.  It was mother’s way of teaching gratitude and reflection.  The other instruction: fill the blank page you are given no matter how long it takes.  Sometimes we shared names and moments from our list.  Names spoken through tears.  Moments spoken of between belly laughs.  The metaphor of life lessons shared.
“You know, it’s like . . .”

Here is some space for you to ponder and create a list.  It might help you determine how you will covenant to participate in your congregation or the Region next year.  You are a blessing.

Peace . . .
Michael

The Children’s Defense Fund created the idea of a National Observance of Children’s Sabbath back in 1992.  During October of each year many places of worship, non-Christian and Christian alike,  will participate in Children’s Sabbath by following a devotional, holding a special worship service, participating in service projects benefiting children, holding an educational event, or adding something to worship through October 22.

This year’s theme is, Moving Forward with Hope: Love and Justice for Every Child.

That is an ambitious vision here in 2017.   I say that because the past 60 days have been full of events to which we can only react.  And, react is something we’ve become good at doing.  Social media is often the tool of choice for many as we post messages of thoughts and prayers, we donate dollars (Week of Compassion has one of the lowest overhead costs of all non-profits receiving money for natural and human made disasters), create Clean Up Buckets and Hygiene Kits for Church World Service to distribute, and prepare for the mission trips to help neighbors recover and rebuild.  All good reactions.

Individuals cannot stop hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, or other creation events that damage lives.  Systems, public and private, cannot stop hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, or other creation events that damage lives.  Individuals and systems cannot stop all bad things from happening that are human made events that damage lives.

But, individuals and systems, public and private, can mitigate the potential that children will want for or dream about having basic necessities: food, shelter, healthcare, safety, education, equality, an opportunity to make their dreams of life real.  Individuals and systems can mitigate the potential that children or adults will be shot or injured with weapons created by the industrial military complex.  All this starts with individual and systemic, public and private, proaction that is based in universal desires for justice, love, and hope.  These are ideas and feelings that transcend race, nationality, religion or political ideology; or at least they should be.  Maybe that is the first step to reconcile and be proactive. Reclaiming justice, love, and hope as universal needs.

Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name
in the world which God created, according to plan.
May God’s majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime
and the life of all Israel, and all who dwell on earth — speedily, imminently.

Blessed be God’s great name to all eternity.
Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded
be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel,
and all who dwell on earth.

May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us
and to all Israel and all who dwell on earth.

To which we all say, Amen.(1)

______
Note
1. An adaption of the Kaddish Prayer from Reformed Judaism [http://www.reformjudaism.org/practice/prayers-blessings/mourners-kaddish] with the edition of “all who dwell on earth.”

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12: 17-18

Noble or nobility are not words we use much in our context.  When we do it is associated with board games, the latest HBO or Netflix period piece, or with European history of a hereditary class of persons.

Noble (def): of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence; admirable in dignity of conception,  manner of expression, execution, or composition.(1)

Watching the drama of Hurricane Harvey on TV and social media we saw the nobility of humanity on display. Neighborhood flotillas, strangers rescuing persons from cars and homes, it was hard to watch and inspiring as we see the best of what the human family can be and do.  There are, no doubt, hucksters out there that will demonstrate our need to profit at another persons pain, loss, and despair.  And, it is not only the scam artist taking advantage of tragedy because our system of supply and demand effects all of us flooded our not.  Have you filled up a car this week?  It is a scarcity/abundance cycle we’ve yet to tame as a system of government and as the Church universal.

A guy named Paul, that many Christians revere, suggests another way people who claim Christian faith might behave and interact with one another and our neighbors (Romans 12).  If it is true that one’s character or true self is on display in times of tragedy or high stress, then we have another example of the good that is in each one of us.  It is more than a compassionate melody of ‘heart strings” when we think of loading up our own boat, giving to the Week of Compassion or the Red Cross, creating clean up buckets or hygiene kits for Church World Service, giving blood, clearing our calendar to be ready to go and lend a hand, or other ways we might help our neighbors in south Texas, Louisiana, India, or in our own home town.  Somehow, we need to learn how to harness that “goodness” to address everyday tragedy to break the cycles of hunger, poverty, injustice, and violence.  It starts with us and trickles up, maybe becoming a wave racing toward those in government that are tasked with problem solving and governing for the common good.

Children and youth know how to do this “common good” thing.  Goodness is instinctive, I think, that is buried as a learned response to negative experience.  We cannot mitigate all negative experience, because those are learning opportunities, but we can “transform ourselves by the renewal of our minds.”  It is why, I think, images of selflessness become moving human interest stories of unbelievable courage.  In times of tragedy people can embody the nobility of, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  How do we do that in ordinary time?  Reconcile?

———
Note
1. noble. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/noble (accessed: September 1, 2017).