So, today's text is about lamps. We don't put lamps under blankets. We let them shine so we can see. So what does it mean when Jesus says the eyes are the lamp of the body? I get two things actually.
1. The most obvious is that we are not to hide who we are. We are to keep our eyes open and our light shining. This means we must continually look at who we are and how we are treating our fellows. Our light comes from our thoughts. For me, my thoughts do not always need to be aired. I can take a moment at shine God's light through them. Feed the light rather than the darkness.
But there is another way to hide: and that is to not share who we are, what our greatest desires are, what our needs are. If we do not share these things, I do not believe we can be truly known. This is my challenge in discerning where to apply to do a PhD - being able to share what excites me about Hypatia and her world and also what I would like to learn and research. I was at a conference last weekend where this was made very clear to me. I have a hard time meeting people and articulating what I'd like to learn, what I want and who I am. It is time to stop hiding from myself and from God.
2. We cannot close our eyes to the plight of others. I don't think this was the original intent but I think it's important. It is so easy for me to close my eyes or look the other way. My desire is to learn to keep my eyes open and to let others in. That is the flip side of hiding - when we are hiding we cannot see others and we cannot love them nor they us.
And all of this reminds me of St. Francis' prayer: Make me a channel (an open channel!) of your peace. I cannot do that and hide.
B
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Life is Precious
Today, I was on a walk along the lake. At Fargo Beach, the waves were whipping up against the rocks. No sun to glorify them. At Howard Beach I saw a couple throwing a ball for their dog and another man whose dog really wanted to join in. His son was enjoying running a stick along the fence. Then I walked by an older dog with two people standing in a driveway. As I thought about that dog, my thought was "Life is Precious." Except, it wasn't my thought - it was like someone was teaching me. I was overwhelmed by gratitude that I felt that way.
I am not known for feeling that way. Yet I am grateful that I right now have the privilege of time to reflect. Time to write and study. Time to edit my presentation on Hypatia and time to learn more. I have not always been so grateful - in fact, I'm often rather fearful. But today, this evening, sitting here with my husband and listening to the rain, I am grateful.
And I think that everyone deserves to feel that way. I know there are people who are trying to stay dry in that rain. They will head for bridges and hope there is no flood. They will hope that the police will leave them in peace. There are so many people for whom life is precious, yes, but more difficult than it has to be.
There are people for whom life is cheap. Especially here in Chicago. While I am lucky enough to live on the North side, I live in a neighborhood that sees a shooting about once a month, some of them fatal. Life is cheap here. For people who have no hope for a future, who can see no way to a better future, life is cheap.
And Christ says no to that. For Christ, life, human life was and is precious. He came and healed people, listened to their problems, and tried to show us a better way to live. But it is hard to see the hope that Christianity offers. We are called to believe in the future promise of an earthly paradise and do what we can to make that happen. But life was just sucky when Christ was here. It was pretty sucky in Abraham's time too. And yet, they had hope. They saw the future promise and gave their life to it.
This is not optimism but faith. I have little of this kind of faith. I pay too much credence to what I see with my eyes and read in the news to have that kind of faith. But I try. And I think recognizing that Life is Precious - not just my life but everyone's life - is a good step on the way.
I am not known for feeling that way. Yet I am grateful that I right now have the privilege of time to reflect. Time to write and study. Time to edit my presentation on Hypatia and time to learn more. I have not always been so grateful - in fact, I'm often rather fearful. But today, this evening, sitting here with my husband and listening to the rain, I am grateful.
And I think that everyone deserves to feel that way. I know there are people who are trying to stay dry in that rain. They will head for bridges and hope there is no flood. They will hope that the police will leave them in peace. There are so many people for whom life is precious, yes, but more difficult than it has to be.
There are people for whom life is cheap. Especially here in Chicago. While I am lucky enough to live on the North side, I live in a neighborhood that sees a shooting about once a month, some of them fatal. Life is cheap here. For people who have no hope for a future, who can see no way to a better future, life is cheap.
And Christ says no to that. For Christ, life, human life was and is precious. He came and healed people, listened to their problems, and tried to show us a better way to live. But it is hard to see the hope that Christianity offers. We are called to believe in the future promise of an earthly paradise and do what we can to make that happen. But life was just sucky when Christ was here. It was pretty sucky in Abraham's time too. And yet, they had hope. They saw the future promise and gave their life to it.
This is not optimism but faith. I have little of this kind of faith. I pay too much credence to what I see with my eyes and read in the news to have that kind of faith. But I try. And I think recognizing that Life is Precious - not just my life but everyone's life - is a good step on the way.
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